Which "Lord of the Rings" Villain Is Most Like Your Boss?

By: Zoe Samuel

Image: Collage; Gollum, Witch King, Smaug

About This Quiz

We've all had the character-building experience of a really bad boss - but each bad boss is bad in their own special way. Which particular Tolkien villain does your bad boss most resemble?

Does your boss micromanage?

So much, it's maddening

Not too much

No, he never communicates with anyone

No, he lets people get on with it

Is your boss willing to get their hands dirty?

No, he has underlings for that

Yes, he loves it

Yes, usually

He wouldn't let anyone else

How's your boss' temper?

Surprisingly level

When he goes, he goes big

Erratic

Fiery

Do people respect your boss?

Mostly, yes

No, but they fear him

Not at all

Some people do

Does your boss suffer from target fix?

Yes, it's creepy

She can manage a few things

She has only one thought in her head

No, she keeps a lot of stuff going

Can your boss work well with others?

Only underlings

Yes, if he trusts them

Occasionally

Is your boss smart?

Yes

No, he can be crafty though

Reasonably

Is your boss adaptable?

Not very

He can be, sort of

He's too powerful to need to be

Does he look after his own?

His favorite ones, yes

Yes, but he also takes them down with him

Nope

He has no "own"

Is she greedy?

Extremely

Sort of

Yes

Is he self-made?

Yes

No, he had a patron

He isn't successful enough to say so

Does she have style?

She thinks so, but no

Yes, very idiosyncratic

Not at all

She defines it

Was he always like this?

He was a jerk, then he got worse

Some say not, but I think so

He was the exact opposite

Yes

Is she intimidating?

Very

Not as much as she thinks

Immensely

Does he do business fairly with his equals?

Yes actually

Mostly

No, he is dishonorable

He does not see himself as having any

Is he a good boss in any way?

No, he's awful

Working for him is an adventure I guess

He's amusing

He's very rich and successful

Do you trust him?

Yes, he's predictable

No, he's nuts

Yes, he is clear about his expectations

Is he decisive?

Sort of, though he has no plan

No, he only reacts to whatever is going on

No, he's like a split personality

Extremely

Is she disruptive?

She thinks so

No but she's not trying to be

Unintentionally, and in a bad way, yes

Yes

Is he good at his job?

I'm not sure, actually

Reasonably

LOL no

Yes

Does he understand his industry well?

Not really, he doesn't get out enough

He knows his particular specialty

He doesn't know much of anything

Yes, I'll grant that

Is he obsessed with long hours?

Yes, he's always on the clock

He likes them

No, he flakes

No, he's quite lazy

How did he get the job?

Money

Nepotism

He knifed the last guy in the back

Hostile takeover

Does she demand a lot?

Yes

So much it's ridiculous

Not really

No, but she's very specific about what she wants

How stable is he?

Um...

Sort of

Not even a tiny bit

Mostly, until he gets riled

How does she treat people above her?

She's OK to her equals, I've never seen her with a superior

Respectfully

She grovels a lot

No one is, so I don't know

Are you basically desperate to get out?

Yes, this guy is nuts

I'm hoping for a promotion actually

I'm hoping he'll quit and I will get his job

No, the pay is too good

What are his priorities for the company?

Destruction of all competitors

Corporate espionage, mostly

Goodness knows, they change so often

Profit!

Does she set her employees against each other?

Yes

Not exactly

She doesn't mean to, but yes

No, she demands loyalty only to her

Does he communicate clearly?

About the mission, yes, but not the specifics

Only to his own team

No, he's too wild

Yes, in fairness

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