Lord Of The Rings fans divided over real reason Gandalf chose Bilbo

The Lord of the Rings fans have been discussing the real reason why Gandalf the Grey chose Bilbo Baggins to take back Lonely Mountain.

When it comes to tales of epic adventures, it doesn't get much better than J.R.R. Tolkkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings universe, arguably some of the most influential tales of all time.

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In The Hobbit, Gandalf assembles a crew not only featuring Bilbo Baggins, but also Thorin II Oakenshield and his loyal band of dwarves, in the hope of reclaiming the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria, located in the heart of Lonely Mountain.

However, reclaiming this kingdom was a gruelling task, not only due to the perilous journey it would take to get there, but it had also been taken over by the magnificent and dangerous dragon known as Smaug.

For years, fans have been wondering why Gandalf had chosen Bilbo Baggins and members of Reddit were keen to provide the all-important answers.

“Is it ever explicitly stated why Gandalf chose Bilbo to partake in the quest to retake the Lonely Mountain?” asked GusGangViking18.

“Gandalf needed a Hobbit because, unlike dwarves, elves or men, Smaug had never eaten one and wouldn’t recognise the scent,” answered 4mer4mer.

“Also, out of all the Hobbits, Bilbo was a Took who had a family history of being adventurous. He was also a rich bachelor who could afford to be away from home for a year.”

“If I remember correctly, Gandalf had met Bilbo when he was younger and more adventurous during one of his visits to the Shire,” said colepercy120, adding further context. “So when he decided he needed a Hobbit, he picked the one he knew most likely to accept and succeed.”

So, there you have it, if you ever wondered why Gandalf chose Bilbo in The Hobbit, now you know.