A Lord of the Rings movie theory indicates that, in Peter Jackson’s beloved trilogy, Frodo Baggins didn’t know Legolas’ name. This would be a significant surprise since the Fellowship of the Ring members are often considered the closest of companions. The unlikely group included all the major races of Middle-earth—Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, and Men (and a wizard, of course) who traditionally shouldn’t have gotten along. However, with a common goal in mind, they all became steadfast companions.

However, it could be that some members of the Fellowship of the Ring weren’t as close as it would seem. As a whole, the events of the Lord of the Rings movies brought the group together. Losing Gandalf, surviving cave trolls and Balrogs, and meeting the lady of Lothlórien made unlikely friends of all of them. Legolas and Gimli developed a lifelong kinship, and Boromir accepted Aragorn as king. However, two members of the Fellowship never seemed to make a connection, and a hilarious theory guesses this is because one particular character couldn’t remember the other’s name.

Frodo Never Says Legolas’ Name In The Lord Of The Rings Movies

Throughout much of The Lord of the Rings, Frodo was pretty preoccupied with the crushing weight of the One Ring, but he still managed to interact with most of his friends at different times throughout the films. However, audiences have noticed that Legolas and Frodo rarely talked to one another. After the elf offered his bow to Frodo’s service (which could barely be considered a whole conversation), the two never spoke again—and though Legolas referred to Frodo in conversation with others, the hobbit never once said the elf’s name.

This could have a lot to do with the fact that both characters were beings of few words. Legolas has long been a fan favorite, and this came, in part, from his elegant, mysterious, and smoldering silence. What’s more, most of the elf’s character arc developed around his friendship with Gimli, so there wasn’t much time for him to have meaningful bonding moments with Frodo. However, a specific scene in The Lord of the Rings has led fans to theorize that Frodo and Legolas didn’t talk, not because of time, but because the hobbit didn’t know Legolas’ name (and was too embarrassed to ask).

Frodo Greets Every Fellowship Member By Name In The LOTR Movie – Except Legolas

At the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Frodo returned to Rivendell to recover from his injuries. Once he woke up, he was greeted by Gandalf, and, one by one, each member of the Fellowship of the Ring entered the room for a joyful reunion. The movie scene saw Frodo excitedly say the name of each of his friends (in slow motion) as they entered the room. However, when Legolas appeared, the hobbit only gave him an odd smile and a subtle “Oh!” before moving on to greet Aragorn—and it hilariously makes it seem as if Frodo awkwardly couldn’t remember Legolas’ name.

Ultimately, this could make sense since there was never a moment in the Lord of the Rings movie where Frodo was truly introduced to Legolas. At the Council of Elrond, when the members of the Fellowship were referred to by name at one moment or another, Legolas was only referred to by Aragorn in Elvish. Therefore, once the group was officially formed and their journey started, Frodo might have just been too embarrassed to admit that he didn’t know the elf’s name. Then—just as most people could relate to—the further they traveled, the more it would seem ridiculous to ask.

Frodo Definitely Knew Legolas’ Name In The LOTR Books

Of course, this fan theory isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. Since much of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring book takes Frodo’s point-of-view, it’s safe to assume that he knew Legolas’ name in canon. Moreover, it’s unlikely that Peter Jackson purposely decided to keep Frodo and Legolas from ever really interacting or that actor Elijah Wood was instructed to look as if he couldn’t remember the name of Orlando Bloom’s character. Still, it’s worth a laugh to notice that these characters had far less to do with one another than expected.

The emotional yet oddly comical Rivendell scene in Return of the King is one that has been at the center of jokes for decades anyway, so the realization that Frodo’s behavior towards Legolas was a little strange is simply the icing on the cake. Most people can relate to having to dodge around an awkward situation when a person’s name slips away, so it’s fun to think that the fantastical characters of Middle-earth have had a similar experience. The Lord of the Rings theory may not be groundbreaking or even related to the plot, but it’s still a fun one to consider and defend.