The Complete Travels of Gandalf | Tolkien Explained 

That talk between Gandalf and Tom! Imagine the pipe smoking and singing and comfort.

In two thousand years of wandering, Gandalf must have shat in about half a million bushes

Tolkien is a goddamn genius, honestly.

The fact that Shadowfax got to join him on the ship got me crying. I did not remember that from the book.

I dont know if any other single character in middle earth had more of an impact on its history. He really is one of the most awesome characters, and couldnt be portayed any better in the movies by Sir Ian Mckellen.

That was such a good telling of Gandalf's travels that it didn't even feel as though nearly half a hour had passed. I could have listened to an hour of this and I wouldn't have noticed how much time had passed until the video ended. Excellent video and execution!

Imagine if they did a series on Gandalfs journeys. Damn, 8 to 10 season show.

I can’t imagine how much research went into these videos. I love the quality, maps, and the linear timeline you include, it really brings another level of immersiveness in the story. I really didn’t realize how much power Sauron had in the North before the Hobbit, or how much Gandalf really contributed to every major story in LOTR. Other than the 2 Blue Wizards (who’s accomplishments are debated), Gandalf was truly the Istari that fufilled his quest to the fullest. Thanks again!

You just *know* that he snuck a couple of pipe-weed seedlings onto the boat to Valinor

This world is amazing, the detail, the world building, all the story lines, Tolkien was a mastermind

He probably is the most important person of the 3rd age. Without him all would be lost.

Really enjoyed this. So many casual viewers of LotR don’t realise the immense timelines laid out by Tolkien; thousands of years. But when you got to the events of that book my eyes filled with tears once again!

I never get tired of LOTR lore. I can look at the map of Middle Earth to daydream and escape the Balrog that 2020 has turned into. 😀

"The sole member of the Istari to remain true to his mission, Gandalf takes his final journey, sailing to Aman and becoming Olorin once more" Love that closing line, sent shivers down me spine.

I had never seen the extended edition of LOTR until about 7 years ago. My buddy kept saying “the mouth of sauron” and I would ask why Gandalf never used his staff in later battles and he’d say “cause the witch king shatters it.” I would argue and ask how he knew that and he asked how I didn’t. Then he rewatched the non-extended edition and realized it never shows any of that.

Man gandalf sure is an inspiration. I mean, he ddnt even wanna go to middle earth coz he was scared of sauron. And despite the betrayal he got from saruman whom he confide so dearly, he still managed to pull the W! Gandalf, u d real MVP!

What a great topic Matt! That makes sense as to why it was over twenty minutes, Gandalf did quite a lot lol!

Loved the video Matt, really well presented my friend!

I like to imagine, when Gandalf finally returned home, after his travels, he still wanted to be called Gandalf.

Can we also appreciate how the reason why Gandalf was so nutritious for his “fireworks” was more maybe to do with the fact he wore the Elven ring of fire (so they are more “works of fire”). Also if you analyse most of Gandalfs magic you come to realise it is fire based. He, as an istari, only has a very small percentage of his actual power. So the ring amplifies it a little but also focuses on fire magic.

Looks like Gandalf did his legwork back in the day. I bet he got to his 10 000 steps everyday.

I honestly expected this to be so dry I'd quit a few minutes in. But this was really well done. Just subscribed.

the third age was pretty much Gandalf vs Sauron

Gandalf’s luck: “When taken prisoner, resurrected or in any sort of other trouble have a 100% to get saved by an eagle”

I’ve heard a theory I quite like about how Gandalf may have performed one of his truly greatest feats while he was separated from the Fellowship, which we are never told about. On February 25, when Frodo stood on Amon Hen and was seen by Sauron, the ring bearer felt the overwhelming power of the Eye searching him, seeking to read his every thought and crush his will to resist. In that moment Frodo suddenly felt a surge of strength as something else seemed to push back the eye, as if another will had stepped in to battle Sauron’s, and it gave Frodo the chance to break Sauron’s hold on him and get the heck off the seat. The theory goes that the other will that saved Frodo was Gandalf himself, who somehow saw the event from afar and, with no time to loose, stepped into the psionic battle remotely and declared himself to the Dark Lord as Gandalf the White, facing him mind-to-mind in what was surely his greatest battle ever, just long enough to let Frodo escape his sight. That also being Gandalf’s last day in Lorien makes sense, as he probably then looked to see where everyone else was and realized he had no more time to waste, setting out to rejoin them once more in his resurrected form.

"Gandalf returns to bag end looking for someone to share in an adventure." And every fantasy and literature fan smiles at that concept.

Boy, am I tired of those travels!

I love how all of the character portraits he uses share a very vague likeness to their cinematic portrayals and then there’s just fucking Martin Freeman

I would love to have read Tolkein's take of Tom and Gandalf's chat... I doubt he would have ever written it, but I think it would have been extremely profound at times.

17:37 - he actually only learned in Lorien that Frodo had gone off on his own. When he meets the Three Hunters in Fangorn Legolas informs him that they believe Sam went with Frodo, which lightens Gandalf's heart.

That one dislike is from saruman

“You are in the house of Elrond. And it is 10 o’ clock in the morning on October the 24th, if you wanted to know”.

I like that Gandalf was like a direct counterpoint and rival to Sauron, but their principles were so different. They were both Maiar with great power who used their influence for evil vs good.

I've read all the books at various ages throughout my 62 years but I admit I struggled through The Simalrillion...Thank you for a concise reckoning of linear events...It brings back sweet memories of me under my covers reading with my flashlight...

Hmm, so Gandalf was the main character this whole time.

Even though I know of the story like the back of my hand, It felt refreshing to see Gandalfs location and what he was doing in chronological order. Great video! Would be interesting to see something similar to this, but following someone in the first or second age. Maybe Earendil in the first age or Elrond in the Second/Third age.

I'm so happy this was recommended to me. You just got yourself a new subscriber, my friend. Keep up the good work.

I have so much ❤️ for Gandalf. Thanks for making an amazing summary of his adventures. 🙏🙏🙏 "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the wise cannot see all ends." - Gandalf

As a 25 year old man who is a grew up with LOTR movies but HASN'T read the books i find your content very informative and friendly to my kind

Hi, NOTR! I first read Tolkien in 1973, starting with the Hobbit, and then LOTR and other works. Gandolf is my favorite fictional character, of Tolkien or any author. Far from perfect, Gandolf is humble, wise, courageous and influential. A person of many talents: councilor, confidant, historian, horseman, woodsman, wanderer, warrior AND wizard! He acts for the short term and plans for the long haul, associates with kings and queens, and parties with common folk and he parlays with Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits and other folks. Thank you for this amazing compilation and journey down memory lane!

I have to say, once I learned that many of the events in the Lord of the Rings where representations of the experiences that Tolkien experienced during WWI I was blown away. The scenes and the dialog completely changes when you overlay the horrors of WW1 on top of them, like how Crossing Mordor is like crossing No Mans land, or the Bodies in the marsh are like the bodies in the fox holes piled up, etc. Or how Frodo's wound from the Hilltop that never really heals represents the wounds of war no one ever heals from. Heavy Shit when you put it all into context and think about all the races of Middle Earth representing different Countries during WWI, etc, etc. After learning this, rewatching the movies was like watching them for the first time. Especially when a character delivers somes inspirational dialog about how good people will prevail, or when another character has a dialog about how can anyone prevail against such evil. Really Heavy.

The way you present maps and characters movements are amazing! Thanks for going through the extra effort with that

Man, I am really digging this channel. I was never into reading while growing up but a couple summers back while working a summer job with a lot of downtimes given the opportunity to read multiple books/series. Finally, nearly 40 years of age had fallen in love with reading books. I would like to tackle the entirety of Tolkien's books while working this summer but have no clue where to start.

23:33 The two-year talk with Tom Bombadil somehow makes me all cozy inside: a never-ending conversation with an old friend after a long journey... Our lives are too short.

This video kinda makes it seem like Gandalf needs to do EVERYTHING lol. He leaves Thorin & co for 1 errand and it all goes to hell lol. And I love Thorin

Gandalf’s real quote before letting go on the bridge out of Moria “sorry boys gotta slay this balrog and level up, I’ll brb”

This story shows how mobile phones would have been really useful.

I just started watching your channel and I'm officially obsessed. I feel like I can finally tackle the Silmarillion now that I've gotten much needed context and assistance from these videos. You're a national treasure!

Would be great to have a combined travels video showing how all the major characters zigzag among each other, with zoomed in views on Rivendel, Rohan and Gondor. Showing the different paths around Moria, the White mountains and Osgilliath.

Perfection 👏🏾! Good job, glad you used some scenes, mate 👌🏾. Great that you used some of the faces of the characters too 👍🏾. Thanks!

This is really cool. Well done, I'm sure this took a long time to put together. I'm reading LOTR for the first time currently and this is a great tool.

Your content is so amazing and addictive, it feels like a movie. Please don't stop making videos like this.

I'm so glad they kept my favourite scene from the books when Galadriel climbs the wall to fight the wildlings and the white walkers on Rings of Power!

One of my favorite parts of the books is when Gandalf describes how he spent years hunting down Gollum and doing research to try and figure out if they really were in possession of the One Ring.

Let me start by saying this video is amazing. The creator did a phenomenal job. I particularly like the clip from Fellowship that was inserted on the subject of "the other four" ring wraiths. An observation I made is that the name of the channel is of the utmost accuracy based solely on the narrator's impression of Gandalf after he defeated the Balrog. 100% LOLed.

Got recommended and was first afraid that it would be a generic background with a monologue. I was really happy to see you use maps, people and place names (and pictures of course) :') I would be even happier if u 'flashed' the name of the cities you are talking about for a few seconds and added the names yourself of the city/place when it is not written on the map :') anyways, great video and I did subscribe. Keep upnthe great work.

I only just discovered your channel and am currently on a tear watching them all. Wonderful videos, they make me want to reread everything now! I look forward to new videos!

Was listening to this high and thought of a timeline that made me cry. As gandalf finds out that Sauron is the necromancer he pleads the white council to try to fight, saruman says no fight, elves abstain, conversation goes long into the night and the option of rehabilitation of sauron is discussed and gandalf eventually agrees to set out on a voyage to find the blue wizards which are known for their dislike, if not animosity, to both camps and the desire for something else. Gandalf finds one and introduces the plan of powow with sauron. The blue wizard is absolutely extatic at first sign of common sense from gandalf. The blue wizard knows that AraAragorn will exterminate orks and be as sauron was going to be to humans, except worse, and that gandalf will be known as the exterminator. The two set back to west where they gather the white council, they set a invite to sauron to appear not as flaming eye nor as otherworld beauty but as common man and discuss. Sauron comes with intent of mocking and attack. Gandalf and saruman using their collective voice compel sauron to discussion, first sauron launches into a monologue with occasional "ahas" from gandalf on the merit of industrialization, much like what you'd hear musk talk to dalai lama. then Gandalf speaks of his vision if he was not bound at all by the benefit of eluvitars or mans desire and in the speech sauron notices that his role would be greater than gandalfs in his previous story, thus a greater opportunity for attack, and he launches to win the ground of the mind of gandalf and eventually the discussion after months or years of sitting in the shade of the trees sauron agrees that, as he did with the humans in his domain, he will not seek complete extermination of eluvitars creation, humans and elves, and ara aragorn agrees that it is unwise to randomly exterminate the orks, the discussions proceed from there, eventually the council agrees to find the one ring and toss it into mount doom after making sauron a non cursed body to reality tying enchanted artifact and end the madness of the ring, sauron will still be sauron but this path is concluded, more like Trump sauron than Hitler sauron, big difference, huge, the biggest difference, maybe ever. Eventually world settles more into Dragon Age elves = orks and elves = flat earth hippies. Was so beautiful it made me cry, now you can cry too, for different reasons.

Gandalf really is my favourite hero of any piece of fiction. He's wise, powerful, kind, inspiring and a bit mischievous and knows how to have fun with life. Always love the fact he seems to intentionally hold back and somewhat be quite subtle with his powers, never using his full power unless it was necessarily whilst all the while encouraging those around him to draw on their own strengths. Plus he has that big disappointed dad energy... he's not angry at your foolishness, just dissappointed.

2:15 "Yeah, why can't we have some meat?" P.S. This is one hell of a video. Well done making this it's a solid piece of timeline history.

Such a great, well done video! I love it! Thank you for this video, it was so much easier to understand Gandalf after watching this. I never really thought about the whole Moria door like that before and was always confused how he didn't know how to enter again. Thank you!

Gandalf? "Gandalf"?? ..... Oh yes! I remember: elderly chap, big gray beard, pointy hat. Not seen him since 2013!

I appreciate your use of the maps/imagery mate, helps with visualising what you're covering

Terrific. Captivating. Learned a lot I hadn't known. Gratitude!!

I like your interpretation of Gandalf's voice.

I cried at the end of your video. just like i cried at the end of "return of the king". Your vid is beautifull and very interesting. Thanks for your effort that you, obviously, put in this upload.

This video is one of the best videos i jave ever seen, the illustrations in this vid r really good

Beautiful ending. Almost brought me to tears.

Olorin is and always be my favorite character in any book ever. THANK YOU MELLON! Keep up the great work!! ECTHELION!

I want to imagine that there at one point was some dude who heard about gandalf, and put out a sign in front of his house that read "No wizards allowed, MAINLY THE GREY ONE!"

Very good representation of the Balrog at 16:22, far more in keeping with the book.

Something about the departure of Gandalf and Frodo into the Grey Havens being on my date of birth just makes me feel so touched in a odd way.

I needed this more than I could've possibly imagined. Thank you!

Wow what an amazing video! I've read the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit but I really never knew the backstory on gandalf and why he was in middle-earth. Really helps me put together a lot of pieces of the cannon I didn't understand!

I wonder if Tolkien ever thought, I should expand upon Gandalf's adventures in Middle Earth. Like, write an anthology of short stories and novellas. It wouldn't surprise me if it had crossed his mind.

Great video as always! I think even Gandalf would let you pass.

its kinda cool and funny how most people don't know that gandalf is a literal god.

Gandalf is the player character of the story. My dude did all the side quests, stole a massive xp gain from the Balrog and then went on to carry his bros to victory in the end game. And then when all was said and done he gave all his homies gifts.

Dear NOTR, Thank you for this! I came across your video and was enthralled. You did a wonderful job telling the story of Gandalf and the illustrations, fantastic. I will look forward to more of your posts. Thank you again!

your video has made me realize that, above all other kinds of worlds to inhabit, when full-immersion VR becomes a thing, and moderately decent gameworlds are created for it, I'd be an immediate life-time supporter of any world that sought to recreate Middle Earth.

Wow! Just wow! These knowledge to fill the gaps of the movies is perfect!

I am glad your channel was recommended to me, although I am an avid bookworm growing in the age of Harry Potter and all things fantastical, I never quite strongly leaned towards LOTR even though I had the books. The movies once again inspired me to pick them up and dive in but their effect waned. Partly because when I open the book everything is so detailed and complex that one needs an entire span of a day and full concentration. As an adult time never lends itself that way, so when I happened upon your channel, I was thrilled to learn everything in depth yet at an accelerated pace, having all my curiosities answered too. Your efforts, research and presentation are excellent and now I think with my newfound knowledge and education given by you, I am now listening to all AudioBooks of LOTR. finally, I can hop onto the LOTR train without any hesitation and full interest cultivated by your videos. Thank you! and keep em comin.

This is great. I got into Tolkein in the 70's but never found details explained this well.

Thank you so much for your hard work and effort put into these excellent videos! We greatly appreciate them!

This was soooo well done

Sweet topic!!! And 24min long? Yes please!

Awesome work mate, I love the history and characters of middle-earth and you explain it really well. You got yourself a subscriber 😆

Excellent presentation, great production values, pacing was on point, clear concise and compelling. Thank you for one of the best channels on YT.

This is just amazing. From this video I have again reconnected to the wonders that are Tolkien's. My heart is rekindled and I remember again why I lost my heart to this strange world and it's inhabitants. Thank you! 🙏 I've long intended to read some of the unfinished works of Tolkien. I have just decided now that I will! 😊👌

This represents a lot of work. Well done.

rlly makes you appreciate Gandalfs character much more, so much more depth than you realise

That was excellent. I was able to glimpse a bit deeper into Gandalf's character and his mission. Thank you.

I am fresh after rewatching the trilogy. When you mentioned that Shadowfax also boarded the ship, you made me burst into tears again.

Wow, 15:09 really reminded me that in the movies, there is so much going on behind the scenes. Learning the other 4 Nazgul were pursuing Gandalf was crazy

This video gave me more information than the entire hobbit trilogy.

Hey! Great content, I really liked it :D I have one thing to add: Before going to Helm's Deep with Erkenbrand, Gandalf rides to speak with Treebeard, achieving the help of some Huorns (key to winning the battle) and informing him about the coming of king Theoden and the three hunters. Keep up the good work! Love your videos 🥳🥳

I just stumbled upon your channel yesterday, and I'm surprised by the amount of research and content presented in such an entertaining way. Thank you.

Omg I'm so happy, after 20 years of RU-vid i found a channel that doesn't promote negativity. Very interesting and great listening material. Cheers

That was awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed that.