What exactly is it that keeps J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy series as enduringly popular as it is? There are a myriad of different reasons. For one, Peter Jackson's movies spawned not only a whole new generation of fans that continue to proliferate today, and a very profitable entertainment franchise along with that (Rings of Power season 3 is just around the corner). Also, even without this boost, the land of Middle-earth is so rich in its lore and its characters that it is impossible for it not to pick up a loyal legion of fans just from the books. Perhaps most importantly, though, in the internet age is that all things LOTR-related translate seamlessly into the world of memes. From daft fandom in-jokes to relatable spiels about the ups and downs of life, we would be poorer for not having the genre of Tolkien-themed online humor in our lives.
