One of the Worst Hobbits in the Shire Barely Appears On Screen: Mocks Frodo, Sides With Saruman
This character's story can only really be traced through the books.
Before Frodo Baggins' great adventure in The Lord of the Rings, the Shire seemed like a peacefully idyllic place. And compared to the rest of Middle-earth, it was — but even among hobbits, there were their own dramatic stories. Viewers of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy remember how Bilbo Baggins tried to avoid nosy neighbors and greedy relatives. But one troublesome hobbit was left almost completely unnoticed: miller Ted Sandyman. Yet in the books, he was a true antagonist.
Ted Sandyman in the Lord of the Rings films
In the movies, he only appeared briefly in the extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring, during the celebration of Bilbo’s 111th birthday. There, he mocked Frodo, Sam, and their friends at the local inn. When the hobbits began speaking about “growing danger” and threats near the Shire’s borders, Ted just waved it off.
"You’re just like that old Bilbo — completely off your rocker. We don’t care what’s going on beyond our borders. Keep your nose out of other folks’ business and trouble won’t find you," the character snapped.
But Frodo and Sam were forced to join the War of the Ring. And while Ted seemed merely unpleasant in the films, Tolkien’s original novel portrayed him as far more detestable.
Ted Sandyman in the Lord of the Rings books
In the chapter 'The Shadow of the Past' from The Fellowship of the Ring, Sam also has a conversation with Ted at the Green Dragon inn. The miller refuses to believe anything magical—dismissing Bilbo’s journey to Erebor as fantasy. He called dragons and Ents pure nonsense. He even mocked the entire Baggins family, labeling them 'touched in the head' for their interest in the outside world.
Worse still, later Ted sided with one of the main villains of The Lord of the Rings. Unlike the movie version, Saruman survives the Ents’ last march and secretly travels to conquer the Shire. Ted joins his gang of thugs, helping the enemy industrialize their homeland. As a reward, he’s given a new, more powerful mill. When the hobbits return home, Sam tries to intimidate Ted, but the miller just sneers, confident in Saruman’s protection. Ted’s ultimate fate is never revealed. Like the rest of the gang, he either died, fled, or was imprisoned.
