Right up there with the Thinking Fox's inner monologue and that moment when Sam beans Bill Ferny on the head with an apple, and just comments that it was a waste of a good apple.
Every LOTR video on this channel i end up thinking "wait, what? Really?", going to my bookshelf and re-reading the relevant parts of the books. It's always correct of course! (in this video i had not realized the Pony wasn't called Bill until Rivendell)
Sam's character owes so much to the 'lower-class' soldiers of the Great War that I can't help thinking that Bill probably owes a lot to its horses. Tolkien saw men and horses suffer and die all around him; even after the war, many of the surviving men were never the same again and the surviving horses were much more likely to be slaughtered for food than shipped home. Sam and Bill beating impossible odds to come back together feels like a cathartic moment for Tolkien. There was nothing he could do as a soldier to save the men or horses of his own war, but as an author, he could make sure that one small gardener and his pony lived through theirs to thrive in peacetime.
Probably a combination of Tolkien's and IDG's storytelling. Tolkien was a master wordsmith and IDG is excellent at retelling bits of the story like underlying plots. Frodo, Aragorn, Sam, and Pippin were the main characters of LOTR, but each character was the main character of their own story and Tolkien seemed to know that. He managed to thread enough of those stories into the main one and eagle-eyed readers like IDG are able to parse through them and extract the secondary stories.
Actually It's a ponys tale Or if you wants a ponytail 😂 And he lived a good and long life well taken care of by Sam Wanting for noting and giving love to his owner as he was given from SAM A unsung hero of the LOTR Every bit as important as any other of the fellowship Carrying FRODO when in the greatest of need and doing so whit stamina and fortitude as a real hero that he was Just saying 🇳🇴
@@JebbtubeSam lived a long and fruitful life until Rosie died and he went West but I don't think a pony would live that long. He definitely had a pleasant life in Hobbiton tho. 🤓😎✌🏻
I literally asked ChatGPT 4.0 this question. "No, Bill the Pony does not count as a ring-bearer in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. The term "ring-bearer" specifically refers to the characters who have carried the One Ring, the central object of power and the focus of the story. Some of the notable ring-bearers include Sauron, Isildur, Gollum, Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee. Bill the Pony is a loyal and brave character in the story, primarily associated with the Fellowship of the Ring. He is a pack animal, carrying supplies for the company. While he is an important character in his own right, he does not play a direct role in carrying the One Ring and thus is not considered a ring-bearer."
I love so much that Tolkien tells us what became of Bill the pony, and that Bill is fine and lives out a happy life with Sam. Little details like that are part of what makes Tolkien one of the great geniuses of all time.
2:13 That is a great point to bring up. Bill Ferny was one of the Nazgul's spies and accomplices within Bree, and yet his greed to take advantage of the situation unwittingly thwarted the goal of those he was working for. As you said, without Bill to carry their supplies and eventually carry Frodo, the group likely could not have made the journey to Rivendell that they did in time to escape the Nazgul. It's another great example of a theme we see throughout the series. As Gandalf puts it later, "Oft evil will shall evil mar." - that evildoers will unwittingly help bring about their own downfall through their own evil motives. The very selfishness and venality that enabled the Nazgul to recruit Bill Ferny was what ultimately thwarted the plans that they recruited him to help fulfill.
I never thought of it quite like that. Bill turned them in and then sold them the getaway vehicle. That's the kind of person that just goes around destroying lives without even trying. How angry is Souron's ghost at frickin Bill Ferney of Bree and Smeagol. Isuldur was just minor hassle compared to old Bill.
This is why I love Sam so much. It is Sam's love that touched Bill and helped him to thrive. In Middle Earth love is a very powerful magic - and I believe Tolkein believed it is just as powerful in our world.
I love asking people (in socially appropriate situations, not just at Wendy's) who the ten members of the Fellowship were. Bill was such a solid member of the party he deserves to be remembered.
The story of Bill really hit me as a kid when I first read LotR. It made me think long on how animals might view life. Ever since, I've been a magnet for lost dogs and stray cats. I've befriended local crows and have tended a new nest of what became very mellow wasps. I've been approached by deer and raccoons; sometimes I had tidbits to share, always I've had kind words. I've even made friends with skunks at a camping lodge my better halves and I used to frequent and have yet to be sprayed once. All because Professor Tolkien put it into my head to pay attention. ☺
Contente d'apprendre qu'une personne s'est liée d'amitié avec des guêpes ! Elles m'ont longtemps terrorisée puis un jour elles sont devenues mes amies....
@@julesjma I now have a pair of squirrels and a jay who stop by daily for food and a chat. Our youngest cat found a nest of red striped garter snakes to lounge around with this past late summer, too. 😁
There is so much in the Lord of the Rings that really pulls at the heartstrings but to have such a minor detail mean so much to the reader is one of those things that make this such a beloved story.
I didn't think I would cry over a horse's fulfilling character arc, but here I am. Tolkien's masterpiece is a gift that keeps giving, and so are you, Robert.
Bill was the second most powerful member of the fellowship. If Gandalf had allowed Sam to lead him into Moria, no doubt the Balrog would have been too afraid to even approach them.
My favorite novels have side characters like that. They’re all told from a single protagonists viewpoint, but each supporting character could be a protagonist of an interconnected but independent story.
That was a wonderful and unexpected treat. Tolkien created many animal heroes (and some animal villains) and Bill the pony is one of the most memorable. What a good boy he was! Tolkien never killed animals off, even villainous ones, unless the plot absolutely demanded it (rabbit stews excepted.) Huan died helping to save the world, but Bill's fate as a secondary character was never in doubt.
Such a sweet tribute to an unsung hero. A story about love, carring, protecting, and support. We love you Bill you have a huge heart and are a model for living a good life.
I liked this even before the video started😍. Everyone needs to hear the story of Bill the Pony. He is an invaluable member of the Fellowship and they wouldn't have made it far without him. And let's not forget, he kicked the shit outta Bill Ferny. I gotta say, he is much undervalued...
Thanks for this. I remember reading the books for the first time and feeling so sad when Sam set Bill free at the doors of Moria. And then how my heart grew when they were reunited at the end. You rekindled those feelings after so many years. Thank you thank you thank you.
This now takes it's place amongst my very favorite commentaries on Professor Tolkien's work! Thank you for this wonderful video and for giving our beloved Bill his due.
Its always interesting what animals in stories and in real life bond best with humans in their adventures, I think horses have lost some of the esteem they once had, but its nice to see a character like Bill, simple side character, but with a personality all his own. Good to watch.
Thank you talking about Bill the pony. It seems stupid perhaps, but I was very much invested in this "small" character and hoping for the reunion between Sam and Bill the pony.
I like to think all the members of the fellowship were carefully chosen in a way by manwe or eru. And that applies even to the prancing pony that we know as bill:
People give me weird looks when I tell them my favorite characters in the lord of the rings are Bill the Pony and Treebeard. Glad you have made videos about both.
Well I smiled my way through this entire video. When I read the books as a child, I was VERY concerned for Bill's well-being and was so happy he was okay at the end. A beautiful video.
first time I read the books I got really upset over Bill running away, i assumed he died and I felt really sad, but reading he was at Bree, being looked after was one of the fist punching happy moments for me.
Out of all the things they glossed over or left out of the Peter Jackson films, Bill the Pony was one that I wish they spent more time showing. He was really an integral part of the fellowship and a main character in his own way.
He got some love! ...and PJ wanted the Watcher to eat him! I think Fran and Philippa told Peter to pound sand, and that the audience would feel terrible if Bill wasn't sent back home, just like in the books. They won, he lost. Well done, ladies.
Good to see Bill the Pony get some love. He certainly deserves it for services rendered and his devotion to Sam. I was glad to read at the end that Bill had made it back to Bree safely, though I'd have thought he'd have been happier in Rivendell, or even going in search of Fatty Lumpkin at old Tom's place. 😊
You left out that Bill saved the quest. If Bill hadn't carried Frodo after Frodo was injured on Weathertop, the Nazgul (all 9 of them) would have caught them in the wild well before they reached the Ford of Bruinen.
@@Tzukaikari He mentions that Bill could spare his rider. He did NOT mention why Bill had a rider in the first place nor did he mention that saved the quest and without Bill carrying Frodo that the quest would have ended before they even got to Rivendell.
Bill was always one of my favorite feel-good minor characters from the novel, along with Gildor Inglorion, Butterbur, Farmer Maggot, Bergil, Ioreth, and Ghan-Buri-Ghan.
This also rings very true to me. I've seen the change that can come over an animal when they go from a bad situation to a loving home. Their whole demeanor changes, they go from shy and scared to open and happy, and they treat their new humans far better than they ever did their old ones. They will surprise you in that before and after way, and you will see things in them you never expected when you first met them. All you need, as they say, is love. And a few good meals.
I agree with all the comments listed so far; a great and much needed short discussion about Bill! Really enjoy your informative and researched style of video and analysis.
Fantastic! The wife and I were doing the first of our twice yearly marathon of the extended editions on Saturday, and we spent a good 20 minutes wondering about Bill. Perfect timing!
Man seeing this video on my feed put a huge smile on my face! Just last week, a couple days after my girlfriend and I watched Fellowship, I found myself wondering what happened to good ol’ Bill and now I know. Not sure if it’s due to the right content for me at the right time or whether you’ve just made so many videos so regularly Robert that this was inevitable and coincidental. Either way, you’re the man
Instead of the Gollum game we should have gotten a Bill the Pony game. The prologue could be the moment he and Sam say goodbye at the Gates of Moria and the actual gameplay would be him battling waugs, orcs, trolls, and Bill Ferny on his way back to the Prancing Pony. The epilogue being him reunited with Sam and family in the Shire.
As an actual cowboy who has worked with horses, I can personally attest to this: HORSES ARE SMART. They are more intelligent than most animals, sometimes have more common sense than humans, and have very real personalities. The character arch of Bill the Pony is, in my appraisal at least, within the realm of possibility (minus the wizardly blessings of course.) This is because I know what these animals are like from firsthand experience. Mind you, I am more inclined to ride a 4-wheeler when handling livestock than ride a horse, but I know that a "good" horse will aid their rider however they can, especially if they are experienced. Bill learning to spare the rider bumps and jolts is realistic, and a horse developing a deep bond with a human has absolutely happened many times before.
Finding Bill in Eregion and escorting him out of (wolf) danger was one of my nerdy happy moments while playing LOTRO. Bill needs more recognition and juicy apples.
Damn, the end got me all misty eyed - LOL Good 'ol Bill. To be honest, I think he should have been allowed to travel with Frodo across the sea as he carried a ringbearer. So he also carried the ring, from a certain point of view.
2:45 If you've never had to fight the highland midge before then I don't think you'll appreciate quite how horrific an experience that is. Mosquitos suck but being stuck outdoors with midges is a hell that I can't explain.
I have experienced horseflies, deerflies, mosquitoes, and blackflies in overwhelming assaults, but when the tiniest of all; the gnats come out to play, it's a whole new level of hell.
Bill is the 10th member of the fellowship. The bravest of the ponies. It warms my heart knowing that thanks in part to Gandalf magical protection, he made a safe journey back to Bree and later reunited with Sam. Such good pony deserves it ❤️
I love the equine whiplash between The Hobbit and LOTR. In one line in The Hobbit, Tolkien makes sure to specify to the reader that the ponies were absolutely eaten by the party's adversaries but come LOTR, Bill the Pony must have his mini arc and happy ending. Bill is truly a Wonder Pony.
Don't forget Merry's ponies who meet up with Tom Bombadil's Fatty Lumpkin and later get to live in the Prancing Pony! "So on the whole they were lucky: they missed a dark and dangerous journey. But they never came to Rivendell."
I love that you use images from Lord of the Rings Online. I love that game and it deserves more recognition. Their design of the Prancing Pony is very charming.
All joking aside, I'm legitimately pleased that someone thought to do a character study of Bill the Pony. He is such an overlooked character, especially because he made a not insignificant contribution to the success of getting the ring to Mordor.
In my last D&D campaign I was playing a Goliath and the whole crew scored steeds through some backhanded dealings. I named my tiny Shetland pony “Fill Berny” in honor of the good Bill.
Robert, your authoritative and friendly voice coupled with your keen perspective, is a welcome respite from the sad reality of the real world. Thanks for what you do.
I pulled out the map once and tried to figure out how Bill got from Moria to Bree. I could see how it could be done, but it was a long desolate journey through the wilderness.
@@Lelabear It's fun to imagine events based on bits and pieces from the books. I wonder if Tolkien played out stories in his head, or told them orally, without ever bothering to write them down? I'd like to think there is more to Arda than we know.
