Speaking of a Silly Poll

[Eonwe]

Fingolfin, certainly:

Feanor is certainly a compelling character. Driven by passions and a fierce spirit, he most definitely goes down as the most glorious King of the Noldor. The rendering of the Silmarils, skill of his hands...and who can deny the sheer awesomeness of Feanor pursuing his foes to his death, his heart rejoicing and his voice lifted up in song...

However, Fingolfin is the mainstay of the Noldor. While Feanor is pidling around spewing wrathful venom, wreaking havock and whatnot.It is he that leads the greater part of the main body. He holds together the army when it would have been sundered. Where would they then have been? Feanor smashed by Melkors pinky, and the rest exiled and with no place to turn to. And Fingolfin also has passion and a fierce spirit, as shown in the crossing of teh Grinding Ice, and his despairing battle with Melkor, of which teh elves do not sing, and the Orc do not speak. Basically, he's the man.

[Lalaith]

Oh, how I *despise* Turgon.....

Which is why I like Fingon, the anti-Turgon (I agree btw Kuru, Finrod is even cooler but he wasn't High King...)

[Elu Ancalime]

I voted Fingolfin.

He wouldnt have been my first pick, but Finrod is another liked king of mine. But really, what a bout Finarfin? He was the High King in Aman after Finwe and the Flight of the Noldor really, all the others were High Kings in Beleriand (and Gil-Galad in Lindon). I mean after the Second Age, he was the man, right?(elf...)
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Mercedes-benz slk-class

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Lalaith

Oh, how I *despise* Turgon.....

He's one of my least favourite characters too. Of course he is not evil in the way that Morgoth was evil, but his behaviour is still highly questionable to me. I think that hiding away his city was a natural reaction to the threat his people faced, but in doing so he effectively condemned said people to a life (and an endless life, at that) in a prison. Gondolin, the Gated Community of Arda. Hmmm...

Then there was his reaction to the appearance of Eol. Rules of Gondolin aside, I think his sense of 'ownership' of Aredhel was questionable at best, and when trying to decide who was the bigger hot-head, Turgon or Eol, I find that they are not very different at all.

Turgon seems to have the attitude of the 'conqueror', and once settled in his new land, he becomes insular. I think that it was no mistake that attitude towards the first Men to enter Gondolin was very different to that expressed towards Eol; he may have come to realise that the hope to keep Gondolin secret was one held in vain.

I realise many will disagree with me, but this is one of my favourite topics of argument.

In terms of who was the 'best' King, I think it would have to be Gil-galad. But in terms of which was most interesting and complex, I may possibly opt for Feanor, even though I do not like him very much.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I realise many will disagree with me, but this is one of my favourite topics of argument.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I agree with you. Turgon, though he's sometimes quite sympathic, is the king of a prison.
Following this logic, it was actually a good thing that Gondolin fell, since all those "prisoners" who could escape alive would be free...

[drigel]

i dont mind being a dissapointment, and can argue the other side of Turgon if you guys want me to.

[alatar]

Fingolfin.

Whatever the accomplishments and failures of the others, I just can't help but admire an elf who gave the mightiest Ainur a permanent limp. Melkor never bragged about that fight, even though Fingolfin was slain.

And I suspect deus ex machina in Fingolfin's fall, and though an Eagle was sent so that his broken body could be recovered (a consolation prize), he was terminated before the big secret got out (psst! We can boot the Ainur out of Arda and take over...).

[Anguirel]

Reading alatar's post, it's just struck me that Fingolfin's duel with Morgoth is a sort of visual representation of Feanor's career-hopeless but glorious combat with forces beyond anyone's capabilities to defeat. Indeed, even Frodo's battle with the Ring is a similar valiant defeat. Interesting. Probably just a lesser spotted archetype though.