In the first Lord of the Rings move the Fellowship (for which the film and the novel are named) is formed a bit quickly, sort of on a whim by the beings who happen to be present in Rivendell for the council called by Elrond. That's not terribly strange, it's sort of a moment of necessity and they all understand that there isn't a lot of time to waste.
And still, there are a few things about this brotherhood/fellowship that raise a few questions even this long after just film audiences came into with the characters. Here is are just a few of the things that don't make any sense about the group.
Why Doesn't Gandalf Use Magic More?
Gandalf shows his full power when fighting the Balrog in the Mines of Moria allowing all of his friends to escape. The question remains as to why Gandalf didn't use this sort of defensive magic more often to protect the group he was leading.
What about the Watcher in the Water? The tentacled monster outside the mines that grabs onto Frodo? Why doesn't Gandalf use a little magic to help then? Gandalf seems to hold back quite a bit when he could be more helpful to the group he's assembled.
Why Didn't They Send More Elves?
Even just using Legolas's eyesight the elf is incredibly helpful to have along on the trek across Middle Earth. Since the group that became the Fellowship met at Rivendell, why didn't more elves the party? Why didn't Elrond even look for a few more elves to draft onto the team?
The elves are powerful and, from what viewers see, responsible. There was no rule that only one member per race could go (four hobbits, two humans, etc.) so it's kind of strange no other elves were asked.
Why Didn't They Get More ?
Of course, if the group were to travel with too many they'd be much more conspicuous and much slower as they moved around, but that doesn't mean a few extra helping hands would not have been a benefit.
Four hobbits were traveling with the group and they lacked certain skills that could have been made up if another elf or even another dwarf had come along on the journey. They also could have drafted beings with special skills.
Why Didn't Gandalf Call The Eagles?
Viewers know that Gandalf can call the eagles when he is in need (he does so to escape Saruman) and yet he doesn't think to use the eagles to speed up the travel of the Fellowship.
A lot of trouble could have been avoided and a lot of time could have been saved if Gandalf had called in a favor to transport his new friends, as a group, across the continent and at least closer, if not straight to, Mordor.
Why Were Men Allowed To Participate?
The race of men is particularly susceptible to the draw of the One Ring. Elrond, who leads the council in Rivendell, knows this from experience. He watched Isildur refuse to throw the ring into Mount Doom already.
Yet, when the Fellowship is formed he doesn't raise any protest to the presence of not one, but two men on the team. He allows even the troubled Boromir to tag along, even if it's understandable for him to allow Aragorn to go.
Where Does Gimli Get Another Ax?
Gimli, at the council in Rivendell, tries to destroy the ring using his ax. Gimli is thrown backward, his ax shattered, and the ring is unharmed. Yet, but the time the new Fellowship of the Ring is ready to start out on its journey Gimli once again has his ax.
He didn't have time to leave, retrieve another one, and come back, so the question as to where this replacement suddenly appeared from remains for movie viewers.
Why Aren't More Questions Asked About The Hobbits?
The hobbits are eyed with confusion when they show up in Bree, and Bree is much closer to the Shire than much of the rest of Middle Earth. Yet, as the Fellowship travels no one else seems to eye the hobbits with too much concern, despite the fact they are not a well-known race across the continent.
One would have thought the group would raise more questions traveling with not one halfling but with four. The fact that they don't is a bit odd.
Why Do They Let Frodo Pick the Route?
It certainly cuts down on the arguing amongst the rest of the group, but the fact that the Fellowship lets Frodo pick between traveling through the Gap of Rohan or the Mines of Moria is strange.
He doesn't have any real knowledge of either, or of much of the rest of Middle Earth to begin with. He's not basing his decision on any real details, only hope to get out of the snow. He hasn't really earned his leadership credentials when he's put in charge.
Why Isn't Legolas More Helpful With Elvish?
After Frodo picks the route through the Mines of Moria the group comes across a riddle in elvish written upon the doors. They cannot enter until they solve it.
Legolas, the only elf actually in the Fellowship doesn't really participate at all in reading or interpreting the riddle. It's his mother tongue, not Gandalf's and certainly not Frodo's. Yet, at this point, Legolas is all but useless.
The Break-Up
At the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring movie viewers watch as the Fellowship breaks up. Boromir and Gandalf have ed, Sam and Frodo have set off on their own, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli have decided to set off the rescue the kidnapped Mary and Pippin.
Yet again Frodo is allowed a bit more control than he should have been allowed at the moment. He tells Aragorn he has to go alone and Aragorn agrees. But they see that Sam has already followed Frodo across the river. And still, no one else goes along to protect Frodo.
