The Hobbit: 10 Dumbest Character Decisions

Just before the path of Thorin’s company took them through the dark land that was Mirkwood, they parted ways with Gandalf. The wizard sensed something even darker, and headed to Dol Guldur to investigate what would ultimately be the Necromancer.

More on that decision later, but he was imprisoned by the Nine ring-wraiths and left to hang in a cage. He did at least learn about the army of Orcs ready to march upon Thorin and the Lonely Mountain.

When Gandalf returned, he pleaded with the likes of Thranduil and Dain of the Iron Hills to abandon the battle for the mountain, as legions of Orcs were on their way. This was a much bigger threat than anything either army could throw at each other, and yet they all ignored him.

Gandalf is one of the wisest beings in all of Middle-earth, and when he came with reports of an entire army of Orcs, no one cared to listen. Instead, they focused on nothing more than the gold within the mountain.

It is of no surprise then, that they were woefully under-prepared when Azog the Defiler led his troops down on the fight at the foot of Erebor.