This Overlooked LOTR Line Proved Sméagol Was Just as Evil as Gollum

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Andy Serkis’ new film, The Hunt for Gollum, will center on the character of Gollum, with Aragorn playing a key role. Gollum will be pursued by both good and evil forces, all seeking information about the One Ring. This is the first live-action Lord of the Rings film in over twenty years, and its focus on Gollum is notable, especially considering Serkis famously played the character in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Gollum is a fascinating character, and Serkis clearly has a strong connection to him.

Gollum, from The Lord of the Rings, is a fascinating character because of his split personality. This internal conflict creates some of the most memorable scenes in Peter Jackson’s films, particularly when Gollum talks to himself. However, many viewers miss a crucial moment: a short, two-word line in the extended edition of The Return of the King that reveals a lot about his troubled mind and challenges how we understand him.

Gollum Was a Morally Complex Character in The Lord of the Rings

Let’s talk about Gollum, a truly tragic figure first introduced in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and powerfully shown in the opening of Peter Jackson’s The Return of the King. Originally named Sméagol, this creature was utterly corrupted by the One Ring, creating a split personality. Interestingly, Sam Gamgee, ever the observer, gave the two sides of Gollum nicknames – Stinker and Slinker – though most just knew him as Gollum, or sometimes still referred to the original Sméagol. It’s a fascinating portrayal of how power can twist and destroy even the most innocent of beings.

Gollum’s personality was twisted by the power of the One Ring, making him cruel and self-centered – he even mistreated the kinder side of himself. Sméagol, the part of him that remained more like his original hobbit self, still enjoyed simple pleasures like singing and games, as seen in The Hobbit, and truly cared for Frodo Baggins.

As a movie fan, I’ve always thought about Gollum, and it’s tempting to say Sméagol was his ‘good’ side. But honestly, that feels way too simple. Even before Gollum really took over, Sméagol was already messed up by the Ring. He wasn’t exactly a saint – he’d lie, cheat, and even kill, all on his own, without any pushing from Gollum. It’s not like there was a purely innocent part of him waiting to break free.

Tolkien established that Sméagol had a naturally unpleasant side long before he became Gollum, a point Peter Jackson also suggested in his films. Unlike characters like Boromir, who fought the Ring’s pull for months, Sméagol succumbed almost instantly. This inner flaw was highlighted by a quick conversation he had with Frodo near the top of Mount Doom.

Sméagol Showed His True Colors in The Return of the King’s Extended Edition

While Sam was carrying Frodo towards Mount Doom, Gollum suddenly attacked them, knocking Frodo down and choking him. As Frodo gasped for breath, he desperately reminded Gollum of his promise: “You swore an oath on the Ring! Sméagol promised to help!” But Gollum just grinned cruelly and said, “Sméagol was lying!”

It’s hard to say whether Gollum or Sméagol was in charge at that moment, but it didn’t really matter. Sméagol had become just as wicked as Gollum. Feeling betrayed by Frodo, he would do anything to get the One Ring back, even break a promise and kill someone he used to consider a friend. When he confessed this to Frodo on Mount Doom, any possibility of saving Sméagol vanished completely.

Sam foresaw this happening throughout the novel. In The Two Towers, specifically the chapter “The Stairs of Cirith Ungol,” he cautioned Frodo that the closer they got to their goal, the more dangerous things would become. While the conversation between Frodo and Gollum on Mount Doom was cut from the movie version of The Return of the King, likely to keep the film’s pace moving, it would have added significant depth to Gollum’s development.

The new film, The Hunt for Gollum, is set during the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gollum’s personality was still more clearly divided between Gollum and Sméagol. However, the filmmakers understand that this split isn’t simple – it’s not a clear case of good versus evil. Because they deeply understand the character, and with the help of the original screenwriters, they plan to portray Gollum and Sméagol with the same depth and complexity as they did in Peter Jackson’s trilogy.

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2026-03-11 06:39