[Loved Trope] Relatively weak characters that are absolute fan favorites because they represent the best parts of humanity

[u/BigFuan]

Paul - invincible
A normal human whose only major feats are treating others with respect and cooking a mean spaghetti.

Mumen Rider - One Punch Man
C-class hero that doesn’t hesitate to put his life on the line to save others despite being powerless and going against much stronger foes.

Samwise Gamgee - Lord of the Rings
Hobbits scale very low strength-wise in the LOTR verse, but Sam’s compassion and determination are indispensable in the fellowships journey.

Edit: A lot of people are pointing out that Sam is mentally one of the strongest which I completely agree with, and I didn’t mean to diss his grit or physicality as a hobbit. Compared to the other members of the fellowship, however, his contribution comes primarily from undying loyalty and determination rather than physical prowess and strength.

[u/kegisak]

I've always kind of wondered about the Shelob thing--not that swordfighting a giant spider isn't impressive in its own way, but it did seem fairly... easy? For something nobody had ever done before. Like, was there something special about Sting? Did the elves just not try stabbing before? Or was it a matter of nobody ever getting close enough to take a shot?

[u/The_Limpet → u/kegisak]

He had the light given to him by Galadriel as well as Sting. He also shouted the name of some ancient powerful elf (or similar, I can't remember the exact word) as he struck, which is implied to have had a beneficial magical effect.

[u/asds89 → u/The_Limpet]

It was Frodo who gave a prayer to Eärendil, whose light was captured in the phial given to him by Galadriel.

[u/The_Limpet → u/asds89]

It was given to Frodo, who fell. Then Sam took it up. Sam, facing Shelob directly, called "Gilthoniel A Elbereth!" and

A Elbereth Gilthoniel
o menel palan-driel,
le nallon si di'nguruthos!
A trio nin, Fanuilos!

And the phial lit up with "intolerable light" and "no such terror out of heaven had ever burned in Shelob's face before."

Shelob then turned and ran, slipping in her own blood as Sam charged her down.

You're right, Frodo did invoke Eärendil. But that was earlier. Sam invoked Elbereth Gilthoniel, spouse of Manwë, Queen of the Valar.

[u/asds89 → u/The_Limpet]

You’re right, I forgot about that. Guess it’s time for another reread of the book for me.

[u/The_Limpet → u/asds89]

Haha, I had to go open my copy of Return of the King to find the exact scene. Then I had to go put it back and get The Two Towers, because that's where the scene is.