Middle-earth Bad Popularity Cup

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Unlike Nogrod, I prefer his name, too. Smaug, it reminds me of smog...

Exactly my point!

Smaug is not a primordial, mythical, your deepest unconsciousness-tingling terrifying evil you can't quite describe in any way, but more like "smog" or any other everyday thing that can be unsettling or even frightening but is not quite the same thing.

In this case the fact that we know so much about Smaug turns against it as it's clear Smaug can be grasped at some level as to being a petty and greedy monster whereas Glaurung is just some dark thing you can't quite get to grips with and whose name makes you shiver.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Exactly my point!

Smaug is not a primordial, mythical, your deepest unconsciousness-tingling terrifying evil you can't quite describe in any way, but more like "smog" or any other everyday thing that can be unsettling or even frightening but is not quite the same thing.

In this case the fact that we know so much about Smaug turns against it as it's clear Smaug can be grasped at some level as to being a petty and greedy monster whereas Glaurung is just some dark thing you can't quite get to grips with and whose name makes you shiver.

Ah but smog kills (according to the book Austerity Britain which I was reading recently) - you might think it's just a dark bit of fog, but it's a silent, deadly killer. Smog isn't an everyday thing but a dark and sinister thing that can have you fooled! Tricksy...

And Smaug also sounds better. It's like the expletive of an angry Scot - "Ach! Smaug!"

And reason three - it is also uncannily similar to smug. Which also describes the timorous beastie perfectly.




Facetious reason four - it makes me laugh too as it sounds like something you can buy in IKEA

[Tuor in Gondolin]

To date, the Worm of Greed has overcome an early
lead by Smaug the Golden:

Smaug-6
Glaurung-8

[Durelin]

Originally Posted by Lalwende

Facetious reason four - it makes me laugh too as it sounds like something you can buy in IKEA

Lol! No, it'd have to be Smaüg or Smäug then. Seems like a good name for a sofa.

And I mean...Glaurung and Gandalf?! Really?!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Durelin

Lol! No, it'd have to be Smaüg or Smäug then.

And I mean...Glaurung and Gandalf?! Really?!

Smaüg Side Table, £19.99. Please collect from Aisle 37, Row B, Shelf 17.

Then you get to the warehouse and there are none left so you have to settle for an Ancalagon coffe table instead...

[Nerwen]

Let's see...

1. They both have cool names.
2. They both have memorable (and evil) personalities.
3. They're both dragons.

It's almost a coin toss... but I believe I'll vote

++Glaurung.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Come on! Let's rally for Smaug! Let's give it a great finish! He's cooler! He can fly! He spits red and green flames! He talks to Hobbits!

Smaug! Smaug!

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Come on! Let's rally for Smaug! Let's give it a great finish! He's cooler! He can fly! He spits red and green flames! He talks to Hobbits!

Thank you, Legate! Glaurung's a worm (isn't that a bit disgusting when you think about it) Smaug is a full blooded dragon.

Originally Posted by Eonwe

And yet caused much more damage. Doesn't that make him even more amazing?

In a way. He was obviously bigger than any other dragon; ergo, the key to his success. I don't find it attractive how he's always accompanied by a great army when he goes fighting (except for those two times when he got seriously wounded and killed), dragons should be more independent.

And his "playing" with the children of Hurin makes him much more evil. Smaug just kills (yes, there was that bit where he was thinking of picking of the Lake men if I recall correctly, but he failed). Glaurung makes people suffer for his own pleasure. Doesn't that make him more evil?

Not really, he got killed by toying with his food. I like people, or dragons in this case, who are more straight forward with their work.