32 LOTR Memes for Those of Us Who Were There, 3000 Years Ago

So, the fact that there are people of legal drinking age who weren't even alive when The Fellowship of the Ring hit theaters? That does not sit well with me. It makes me feel kind of… thin… like butter scraped over too much toast. I mean, sure, I look like I haven't aged a day, but deep down? I feel like I'm 111 years old.

I remember seeing those movies. I was there, Gandalf. I was there 3000 years ago, at the beginning of the First Age (or at least, at the beginning of the 2000s, which feels just as long ago). Back then, The Lord of the Rings wasn't just a movie trilogy—it was a way of life. We memorized entire monologues, we whispered "my precious" every time we held something valuable, and we all, at some point, dramatically muttered, "You shall not pass!" at a friend while blocking the hallway.

And now? The movies are classics. People who grew up after the trilogy ended are discovering it for the first time, and here we are, sitting in the corner like Elrond at the Council, knowing full well that we have no choice but to watch the next generation take up the mantle.

So whether you're an ancient being who saw these films in theaters or a new recruit who's only just beginning their journey to Mordor, these 32 memes will remind you why The Lord of the Rings remains the greatest trilogy of all time.