Second Breakfast Meme Template
About this meme
Template Name
Merry and Pippin Second Breakfast / What About Second Breakfast? / Pippin Smiling Merry Confused / Lord of the Rings Hobbits Breakfast Meme
Origin
This cinematic still originates from Peter Jackson's 2001 fantasy film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel.
During the journey from Rivendell, the party halts for a brief rest. Aragorn (Strider) calls out to keep moving, prompting an incredulous Peregrin "Pippin" Took (Billy Boyd) to ask about breakfast. When Aragorn replies that they've already had it, Pippin famously counters: "We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?" Aragorn walks away without answering, leaving Pippin smiling in hopeful contemplation while Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck (Dominic Monaghan) looks at him with deadpan, weary realism.
The still frame of Merry's serious, deadpan stare juxtaposed against Pippin's optimistic, goofy grin became a beloved reaction and object-labeling format across Reddit (notably r/lotrmemes and r/dankmemes), Tumblr, and Twitter/X. It serves as the standard template for contrasting someone focused on duty or realistic limits with someone who only cares about indulgence, snacks, or repeating a good thing immediately.
Key Vibes
Gluttonous optimism, stark contrast between realism and wishful thinking, doubling down on indulgence, and lovable cluelessness.
Visual Breakdown
- Merry (Left): Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc Brandybuck, sporting curly blonde/light-brown hobbit hair and wearing a grey travel cloak with a button clasp over a green coat and yellow vest. His face is set in a serious, skeptical, and grounded deadpan expression.
- Pippin (Right): Billy Boyd as Peregrin Took, with wavy brown hair, a brown cloak, and a patterned scarf tied around his neck. His mouth is pressed into a wide, sheepish, hopeful grin with slightly lifted brows, exuding cheerful anticipation.
- The Setting: An outdoor wilderness trail surrounded by scrubby green bushes and a distant hillside with patches of snow under an overcast sky.
Description Paragraph
The shot captures the dynamic of two partners-in-crime approaching the same situation with radically different energy. On the left, Merry represents the voice of reality—grounded, unamused, and acutely aware that their current predicament does not allow for luxury. On the right, Pippin embodies pure hedonistic optimism, blissfully unbothered by danger as long as another meal might be on the horizon. In internet culture, the template operates as an exploitable comparison format to highlight the clash between responsibility and temptation, such as having a second cup of coffee, buying another video game on sale, or taking an unnecessary nap in the middle of the workday.
Popular Caption Ideas
- "Merry: 'We need to save money.' / Pippin: 'What about an iced coffee?'"
- "Merry: 'You already took a 20-minute nap.' / Pippin: 'Yes, but what about second nap?'"
- "Merry: 'We have food at home.' / Pippin: 'Yes, but what about McDonald's?'"
- "Merry: 'You just bought three books you haven't read.' / Pippin: 'What about another book?'"
- "Merry: 'That was the last episode for tonight.' / Pippin: 'What about second season premiere at 2:00 AM?'"
