The Ultimate Showdown: Sam vs Frodo - Would Sam Betray His Best Friend to Destroy the One Ring?

In The Lord Of The Rings, there are crucial moments where the course of Middle Earth could have been altered if events unfolded differently. One such pivotal moment occurs near the end of the trilogy when Frodo reaches the fiery depths of Mount Doom. While Frodo's inability to destroy the ring is often seen as a tragic failure, the story ultimately ends on a positive note due to external assistance.

Frodo's hesitation and refusal to eliminate the ring has sparked speculation among fans about whether Samwise Gamgee could have shouldered the responsibility to save the world. While many find it difficult to envision Sam forcefully throwing Frodo into Mount Doom, it is not entirely implausible. Under different circumstances, Sam might have taken matters into his own hands, joining forces with Frodo in a valiant effort to vanquish the One Ring and preserve the fate of Middle Earth.

What Happens At The End Of Return Of The King?

In The Return of the King, as the trilogy concludes, Frodo and Sam finally reach Mount Doom. Meanwhile, Aragorn and his forces are trying to distract Sauron long enough for the ring to be destroyed once and for all. This section of the films is incredibly tense and places the characters in more danger than ever before. The survival of Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Gandalf, and the Men of Middle Earth depends on Frodo successfully destroying the One Ring. However, in the end, Frodo fails to do so.

Instead of heroically throwing the ring into the fires of Mount Doom, Frodo gives in to the ring's temptation and decides to keep it. This decision disappoints Sam, but help arrives unexpectedly. Gollum appears and is determined to take the ring from the two hobbits by any means necessary. After a brief struggle and Gollum biting off Frodo's finger, he accidentally falls into the fires with the ring, which leads to its final destruction. Despite the lasting impact of the events and the ring's influence on Frodo and Sam, everything turns out well for the heroes in the end.

Would Sam Have Fought Frodo To Destroy The One Ring?

The ongoing debate among fans of The Lord of the Rings revolves around whether Samwise would have confronted Frodo had Gollum not been present. Throughout the trilogy, it is evident that Sam is not only fiercely protective of his dear friend but also willing to make difficult choices when necessary. The central question in this debate is whether Sam would have been prepared to sacrifice Frodo to save Middle Earth.

Given the ring's overwhelming influence over Frodo, it is reasonable to assume that, regardless of Sam's efforts, Frodo would have held onto the ring. Consequently, Sam would have had to engage in a physical confrontation with Frodo to acquire the ring. Although some argue that the books imply Frodo might have willingly disposed of himself in Mount Doom before Sam intervened, the films make it clear that, without Gollum, Sam was the realm's last line of defense.

The problem here is that, based on all the evidence, Sam would probably have allowed Frodo to take the ring, thus leading to the destruction of Middle Earth. Although the situation may have tested Sam's limits, it is crucial to consider his actions towards Frodo throughout the trilogy. Sam never takes actions that contribute to the ring's destruction; instead, he focuses on supporting and lightening Frodo's burden during his journey. He only takes possession of the ring when he genuinely believes Frodo is dead. Furthermore, Sam goes to great lengths to eliminate a group of Orcs on his own in order to reunite with Frodo, when he could have easily continued his own journey.

Many people use the word "devotion" to describe Sam's relationship with Frodo. Samwise Gamgee is completely dedicated to serving Frodo, making it difficult to believe that he would ever resort to violence. Although Frodo becomes invisible when he wears the ring in the final moments, he can still be interacted with. However, it is still probable that Sam would have been overwhelmed by shock and sadness.

Would Sauron Have Won If It Wasn’t For Gollum?

Given all of this, it is highly likely that Sauron would have emerged victorious if it weren't for Gollum's intervention. The destruction of the ring was the only way to put an end to Sauron's malevolence, and this act of destruction ultimately led to the success of Aragorn's army in battle. Without the ring being thrown into Mount Doom, Sauron's forces would have likely eradicated the realm's greatest warriors before Frodo could have been either captured by Ring Wraiths or voluntarily gone to see Sauron himself. Consequently, the ring would have eventually made its way back to Sauron, resulting in his dominion over Middle Earth.

This would have meant the complete obliteration of the original fellowship in a single day, leaving little resistance against Sauron. With the One Ring back in his possession, Sauron could have exerted his power and crushed the remaining demoralized forces of Men throughout Middle Earth. Without Gollum, Sauron would have triumphed, purely because Sam would never have resorted to violence against Frodo.

The Lord Of The Rings is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video