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Because we needed more nerdy threads around here. 
I've been rereading the history of Middle-Earth lately. Just finished the Council of Elrond, and I have to wonder, why was Legolas chosen?
So, Elrond wants there to be nine members for some reason. Frodo's the fellow who offered to take responsibility for the ring, and Sam can't be parted from him. Plus Sam proves to be an essential back-up ringbearer. Fine. Gandalf, as a Maia, trumps everyone else in the Fellowship on the Tolkien Asswhoopometer, so he's an obvious choice. Aragorn is the best representative to send for humans, plus he's got business in the region anyway. Boromir, well, Boromir isn't too useful, but he's essential to the plot so we'll overlook that. Merry and Pippin are in because they refuse to be left out, and as it turns out they're useful because they bring the Ents into the fight and Merry helps off the Witch-King.
For the last two, Elrond wants representatives of all the Free Peoples. I guess that's laudable, though it's kind of odd that the weaker races get much more picks proportionately. I'd have sent another dwarf instead of Boromir, at the least, since they're tough and more resistant to the lure of the Ring than anybody but the hobbits. But there are only two slots, and Gimli is as good a choice as any for the dwarves. The only other dwarf that's named as present is his father Gloin, who's a bit over the hill.
But for the elves they send...Legolas. Maybe I'm just biased by my distaste for Orlando Bloom, but why Legolas? It's not like they don't have plenty of elves to pick from, Rivendell is full of them. Legolas is basically the only elf available who is NOT an old friend of Elrond's, and apparently is the only moriquendi within like a hundred miles. For people who haven't read the Silmarillion intensively, Silvan Elves like Legolas are the bargain-basement of the elf world; widely available, but inferior. Sending Legolas with the Fellowship is like sending some guy who's second string for the Clippers as part of the Olympic basketball team. It makes no sense.
I'd have sent Glorfindel, who's already proven that he won't steal the ring even when its owner is completely in his power, and as a powerful Eldar has the ability to scare Nazgul and not fear them, which is gravy. Yes, Gandalf says, "even Glorfindel could not make a path for us by force," or something to that effect, but there's no good reason why an avari--and a young, unproven avari at that--is better than somebody who appears to have the blood of Finarfin in his veins.
I think Tolkien stuck Legolas in there to avoid overpowering the Fellowship. Gandalf and Glorfindel together could have pummeled the Balrog, especially if Glorfindel is in any way related to the Glorfindel who took out Gothmog. None of that self-sacrifice crap. Even if he hadn't, his presence after Gandalf's death would have kept Aragorn from feeling lost. Glorfindel, unlike Legolas, has been around a while and could give sound advice after Gandalf was gone. Pretty much any elf could have been of greater help than Legolas, who just came from Mirkwood and doesn't know diddly squat.
Fear my dorkitude.
I've been rereading the history of Middle-Earth lately. Just finished the Council of Elrond, and I have to wonder, why was Legolas chosen?
So, Elrond wants there to be nine members for some reason. Frodo's the fellow who offered to take responsibility for the ring, and Sam can't be parted from him. Plus Sam proves to be an essential back-up ringbearer. Fine. Gandalf, as a Maia, trumps everyone else in the Fellowship on the Tolkien Asswhoopometer, so he's an obvious choice. Aragorn is the best representative to send for humans, plus he's got business in the region anyway. Boromir, well, Boromir isn't too useful, but he's essential to the plot so we'll overlook that. Merry and Pippin are in because they refuse to be left out, and as it turns out they're useful because they bring the Ents into the fight and Merry helps off the Witch-King.
For the last two, Elrond wants representatives of all the Free Peoples. I guess that's laudable, though it's kind of odd that the weaker races get much more picks proportionately. I'd have sent another dwarf instead of Boromir, at the least, since they're tough and more resistant to the lure of the Ring than anybody but the hobbits. But there are only two slots, and Gimli is as good a choice as any for the dwarves. The only other dwarf that's named as present is his father Gloin, who's a bit over the hill.
But for the elves they send...Legolas. Maybe I'm just biased by my distaste for Orlando Bloom, but why Legolas? It's not like they don't have plenty of elves to pick from, Rivendell is full of them. Legolas is basically the only elf available who is NOT an old friend of Elrond's, and apparently is the only moriquendi within like a hundred miles. For people who haven't read the Silmarillion intensively, Silvan Elves like Legolas are the bargain-basement of the elf world; widely available, but inferior. Sending Legolas with the Fellowship is like sending some guy who's second string for the Clippers as part of the Olympic basketball team. It makes no sense.
I'd have sent Glorfindel, who's already proven that he won't steal the ring even when its owner is completely in his power, and as a powerful Eldar has the ability to scare Nazgul and not fear them, which is gravy. Yes, Gandalf says, "even Glorfindel could not make a path for us by force," or something to that effect, but there's no good reason why an avari--and a young, unproven avari at that--is better than somebody who appears to have the blood of Finarfin in his veins.
I think Tolkien stuck Legolas in there to avoid overpowering the Fellowship. Gandalf and Glorfindel together could have pummeled the Balrog, especially if Glorfindel is in any way related to the Glorfindel who took out Gothmog. None of that self-sacrifice crap. Even if he hadn't, his presence after Gandalf's death would have kept Aragorn from feeling lost. Glorfindel, unlike Legolas, has been around a while and could give sound advice after Gandalf was gone. Pretty much any elf could have been of greater help than Legolas, who just came from Mirkwood and doesn't know diddly squat.
Fear my dorkitude.
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