Even though The Lord of the Rings trilogy finished years ago, the rich lore and the detailed world keep fans engaged throughout the years, especially when it comes to Boromir/Faramir memes. Of all the relationships in The Lord of the Rings, the tumultuous relationship between Denethor and his two sons is arguably the most frustrating dynamic to be found.Denethor was the Steward of Gondor while no reigning King was in place after the death of Eärnur. And while he wasn't the actual king of Gondor, he certainly acted like it -- Denethor was arrogant, callous and had little sympathy for others. This reflected quite strongly in the relationships with his sons, Boromir and Faramir.
Boromir, being Denethor's first born, was the clear favorite. He was a great warrior, a beloved leader and a good big brother to Faramir. Denethor trusted in him to lead his people, which is why he was sent to the Council of Rivendell and joined the fellowship of the ring. On the other hand, Faramir, the youngest son, though an excellent warrior in his own right, was not well-received by his father. Even though there was this divide, it never affected his relationship with Boromir. In addition, Faramir had an ongoing relationship with Gandalf, which Denethor did not approve of, and this is reflected in how he treated Faramir.
Denethor even goes as far as to say that he wished Faramir had died in Boromir's place. And because of this clear choice in a favorite son, the internet has been awash with Boromir/Faramir memes that are both hilarious and scarily accurate. Most of them are quick to jump at the fact that, if it came down to it, Denethor would choose Boromir over Faramir, without so much as a second thought.
Denethor's clear favoritism, which is a terrible aspect of the character and the story, only resulted in one positive thing -- the memes. It's rough when a parent prefers one child over another, especially when they are unafraid of voicing this opinion, and this leaves many fans feeling sympathy, and possibly even empathy, for Faramir. Though Faramir winds up with a relatively happy ending, no amount of love or success can make up for the lack of love from a parent, which is why these memes are still relevant.
Even though the story of Denethor, Faramir and Boromir is long over, sympathy will always reign for Faramir. And that's why these memes are likely here to stay, as this tangled mess of a family has become an iconic part of internet culture.