Quote:
Originally Posted by Quempel
I wonder where he would rank in the most evil ranking.
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Middle to low. Both Jackson and Tolkien make the Ring a semi-sentient entity that controls its destiny via others. Smeagol was chosen by the Ring, and for the Ring to move to that bearer, Deagol had to be removed. There being no orcs around, as in the case of Isildur, the Ring made Smeagol kill Deagol.
Note that Smeagol and Deagol previously hung out together, and the two always returned home, and so it's because of the Ring that only one returns that fateful day. Bilbo could have 'dun murder' as well, but that would not have served the Ring's purposes. If Bilbo slew Gollum before Gollum led Bilbo to the Goblin's exit, then it would have likely remained where is was for another eon - and just weren't the first 500 years just peachy?
Bilbo does not murder Gollum when he's exiting the cave as that would have drawn attention to the bearer, and hence the Ring. But this wasn't the Ring's doing (I think) as wasn't there another power at work that was trying to get the Ring into Frodo's hands?
Gollum may have been evil, but I'm guessing that he would have been listed lower than Sandyman if it weren't for the Ring.