The War of the Rohirrim, Ranked

Summary

• Despite new characters in “War of the Rohirrim”, the story set around Helm’s Deep showcases impressive new additions to the franchise’s characters.
• Legendary actors like Brian Cox bring depth to roles like King Helm Hammerhand in the film.
• Characters like Héra and Olwyn showcase bravery and resilience, adding new dimensions to the iconic Middle Earth universe.

The new Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim film has brought Middle Earth fans back to a period before the War of the Ring. While there aren’t a lot of appearances by known franchise characters, the animated adventure sees some of the same locations and much of the same style brought to Tolkien’s fantasy world.

Although familiar names like Gandalf are mentioned in the new film, the majority of the screen time goes to new faces behind the new legendary story set around the origin of Helm’s Deep. Those who populate the battle around the legendary fortress in War of the Rohirrim make for amazing new additions to the plethora of great characters from the series.

8

King Helm Hammerhand

The Complicated King

• The King of Rohan
• Voiced by Brian Cox

The legendary Brian Cox has a tremendous voice, and he brings a lot of presence to his portrayal of Helm Hammerhand. The King of Rohan is embattled throughout the film and makes some poor decisions, but he remains a good man in the face of much adversity. His conversations with Héra later in the film show the depth of his love.

It takes a mighty warrior to have a place such as Helm’s Deep named after him, and Helm proves himself in the film’s opening fight. While he is outmaneuvered and surprised by Wulf’s army, Helm still fights for his home to the bitter end. His legacy is untarnished. Though his leadership qualities were lacking when needed, his story remains one of ferocity. In reality, though, Helm was a tender man who loved his children and his home.

7

Lief

The Face Of Rohan’s People

• A Squire In Rohan’s Court
• Voiced By Bilal Hasna

Although he was mentioned little in the build-up to War of the Rohirrim, Lief was a great character with a lot to do. Though the Hornburg is filled with frightened villagers throughout the film, Lief is the face of their fear, and a rallying force in trying to keep people calm and escape the fortress when the battle reaches its height.

Lief is a simple character, who is easy for audiences to see as clumsy or uncoordinated. However, he is brave at heart and ready to fight for the safety of those entrusted to him. Lief is a symbol of Rohan’s heart, the people who make the place what it is. Though he doesn’t do a great deal of fighting himself, he is vital in the film’s cast of characters.

6

Hama

The Heir Apparent

• The Son Of Helm & Brother Of Héra
• Voiced By Yazdan Qafouri

Though they aren’t huge characters in the story, the two sons of Helm Hammerhand are significant in their own way. Hama, the elder son, is the heir apparent to Rohan at the beginning of the film. The story presents him as strong, fair, and supportive of his father.

Helm is a hard father, but Hama’s support is a big factor in showing the audience that he is a good man. Hama’s brightness and kindness also show the bright future that Rohan could have had without the war that came from Wulf’s army. Hama also shows his own impressive fighting skills in the initial battle, adding him to the impressive history of great warriors from Middle Earth.

5

Wulf

Spurned & Out For Vengeance

• High Lord of the Dunlendings
• Voiced By Luca Pasqualino

Although Wulf starts out with a plea to Héra for her hand in marriage before their fathers fight each other, he is spurned in multiple ways and left an outcast by the King of Rohan. However, this does not stop him from pursuing a path of vengeance and gathering an army as he rises to the position of High Lord of the Dunlending people, and there are some familiar faces in his army as well.

Wulf is complex. He starts out reasonable and measured, able to effectively raise an army and win battles against the likes of Helm Hammerhand. However, he becomes more unhinged as the film progresses, perhaps with frustration from the siege his army is locked into, or maybe because he is obsessed with Héra specifically, a path which is fraught with danger for him.

4

General Targg

A Great Warrior’s Mind

• A General In Wulf’s Army
• Voiced By Michael Wildman

Although Wulf does a great job of summoning an army of the Dunlending people, the real mastermind behind much of the attack on Rohan’s King is shown later. Wulf’s army starts to fall apart as he begins to listen to his own vengeance over the sage advice of his first advisor.

General Targg is happy to assist with Wulf’s campaign, possibly due to some loyalty to the Dunlending people or a hatred he holds for Helm Hammerhand himself. Arguably, if Wulf had continued listening to this calm military genius, he could have taken all of Rohan for himself.

3

Fréaláf Hildeson

The Unappreciated Cousin

• Nephew To King Helm
• Voiced By Laurence Ubong Williams

There are many great warriors and heroes throughout the history of Rohan. Despite War of the Rohirrim being mostly about Héra, it is her cousin whose name ends up being better remembered through history. Fréaláf is unappreciated by the King, his uncle, and is forced to leave before the initial battle that sends most of Rohan running to Helm’s Deep.

However, it is Fréaláf that arrives in a timely manner, after Héra begs for help through a giant eagle. He saves the day by defeating Wulf’s fleeing army. Although little was seen of this heroic figure throughout the runtime, he was clearly a good man, a hero of Rohan, and well-deserving of the crown he gained at the conclusion of the war.

2

Olwyn

A Heroic Shield-Maiden

• Aunt & Companion To Héra
• Voiced By Lorraine Ashbourne

Although Héra has various companions and friends who assist in her battles over the course of The War of the Rohirrim, Olwyn is the most significant. Her aunt and continual companion was a shield-maiden of Rohan. She fights alongside Héra both when she is kidnapped by Wulf, and later when they must defend the citizens escaping Helm’s Deep.

Olwyn is a phenomenally brave woman. She stands strong in the face of all opposition, and is a hugely capable fighter. She survives fighting Wulf while Héra escapes, escaping herself from Wulf and his men, and later when faced with an army of Dunlendings. In both cases, Olwyn proves she is still a shield-maiden and great warrior.

1

Héra

The Hero Of Rohan

• A Princess Turned War Hero
• Voiced By Gaia Wise

Héra is the protagonist of War of the Rohirrim, and she is also the best new character introduced. Despite her story apparently being forgotten by those in Middle Earth, she is both a fierce warrior and a gentle soul who feels for her people even as she tries to stand on the frontline defending them.

Héra essentially takes charge of Hornberg when her father disappears. She fights Wulf one-on-one, defies him consistently, and is a big part of frustrating him into making the mistakes that lead to the downfall of his army. Héra is a legendary Middle Earth character and immediately solidified her place in the franchise’s history with this feature, whether she appears again or not.