> Sam (the true lord) is never even touched by it. This isn't accurate, FYI. Sam has himself a Ringbearer moment when he imagines himself as a great warrior. S

> Sam (the true lord) is never even touched by it. This isn't accurate, FYI. Sam has himself a Ringbearer moment when he imagines himself as a great warrior. Sam's untouchability was more a function of the brevity of his exposure. Nothing escapes the Ring's corruption (however that mechanism actually works): this is what Gandalf and Galadriel both knew well enough to avoid the temptation in the first place.