By now, it’s safe to say that the dedication of the Middle-earth fandom provides some stiff competition to even the most money-hungry entertainment giants when it comes to reimagining and riffing on the legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien and his works. Fans know the lore inside and out, and they constantly find new, inventive ways to spin it into internet humor that keeps a whole legion of other fans consistently entertained. No new series or film can rival the sheer force of The Lord of the Rings as a meme powerhouse. It is one that would keep on thriving even if no more ‘official’ content were ever released. A big part of this endurance comes from the richness of the source material itself, which can be endlessly reworked and reinterpreted. Combine that depth with a goofy sense of humor, and you get the perfect recipe for the memes below.