The Lore of the Two Blue Wizards in Lord of the Rings - Detailed Lore & Sources - Tolkien LotR Lore 

I hope you enjoy the video. Did not plan that it would become this long, but I had a lot to say about this topic. Let me know what you think about this "format" (the "freesytled" lore video; though ofc I did my research and prepared, but did not write a script). Let me know what you think about it and also your head canon for the blue Wizards ^^ Also Shout-outs and thank you to the artists: Kimberly80 - deviantart.com/kimberly80 Ted Nasmith - tednasmith.com Jenny Dolfen Art - patreon.com/jennydolfen or goldseven.wordpress.com - etsy.com/de/shop/JennyDolfen Sara Morello Art - deviantart.com/samo-art Pete Amachree - artstation.com/summerpudding

It seems to me that the names, "Darkness-Slayer" and "East-Helper" are very good clues as to the the potential individual missions or tasks of both blue wizards. The one named, "Darkness-Slayer", would have had the direct mission to intervene physically against the designs of Sauron and his achievements on the east. Probably he was the more aggressive hunter of the two, who tracked down and destroyed the dark cults that Sauron had planted among the men he corrupted in this region. He may have been a kind of hunter like the Valar Orome who tracked, located and destroyed the dark plots, beasts, cults and evil orders of men as well just like Orome did in the first age against Melkor. As for the one named, "East-Helper", maybe he was more like Gandalf, a re-builder of the peoples, a guide and Istari of wisdom and council sent to bring the men of the east out of bondage, throw down the corruption they may have endured and brought them back to the light so to speak. To set them on new paths of social stability, peace and prosperity so that they avoided the need or desire to push into the West and cause war through invasion and so on. To me I believe the two Blue Wizards probably did not always travel together but were often separate due to their clearly different missions and may only have met up together for brief periods to keep each other informed as to what was happening. I also speculate the Dark-Slayer may have entered a particular region first, thrown down the yoke of corruption and evil and then moved on to another region and started all over again. The one named, East-Helper might have then entered the region where the corruption was removed and helped to re-build the societies there and bring about order and prosperity. Basically, Sauron enters a region first, corrupts and creates cults, then moves on to another region to do the same over and over. When the Blue wizards arrive Darkness-Slayer enters these regions one by one destroying by force all evil and corruption, then moves to the next and does the same thing over and over. Thirdly, East-Helper arrives, helps to rebuild and restore. Basically making the Blue wizards the janitors of the East, cleaning up the mess made by Sauron and making it clean again...

This is actually going to be one of ur finest, succinctly put down in spoken word histories. The blue wizards enigma and travels has long required a good think, told. Bravissimo

This is the first time in 4 years I’ve watched from this channel, and I’m glad to see the quality is still top tier!

Absolutely Love the Blue Wizards. They have so much mystery, as well as potential for the lore. Really Cool.

It's just very good to see us revisit this topic of the Blue wizards again. Love the channel as always

Got to admit, I absolute love the idea of Melian being the chief of wizards in the first age. I’m going to have to draw a picture of this including “young” versions of all the original 5. My head cannon mixes all these stories together, regardless of contradiction. You can always blame the scribes!

PS. Impeccable artistry. You do find and earn the best of the best, in my esteem. Thank you All! 💙

Radagast did not stay true to his task . Yet he was not corrupt . the Blue Istari also did not stay true to their task . This does not mean they fell to darkness

Great stuff Chris, really enjoyed this 🧙‍♂️

New lotr lore video of the philosopher, always good news!

I've missed so many videos! I can't wait to catch up over the Christmas period. I know this is going to be a fantastic video. Best wishes to you Chris and hope you are well

Just got the notification! Super excited for a Blue Wizards video by you.

Honestly, can not tell, scripted or not. Just another well put together video ❤

Perhaps as Radagast was lost due to his fascination with the birds and animals the blue wizards were drawn to the waters with which they shared their robe colors. Some old tales tell of humans who gain the power to change shape to that of an animal but lose their humanity and stay in that form living as they do. I could see them living in an ocean or lake as fish.

I've been intrigued by the narrative of Melian's involvement and potential chief position among the Istari. There's an idea embedded in this theme of Morgoth and Sauron's respective rings being based in the materials of Arda, while Melian may have contributed her essence to a generational "ring" based in the lives and lineage of Numenor, and other free peoples.

Thanks for this. I am trying to write what I would consider middle earth fanfic, because these things deserve more light and to be expanded. I read the silmarillion and was blown away by how much you wont know if you only saw the movies.

Thank you Chris, this is equal in quality to your scripted videos.

Love learning about the Blue Wizards so thank you so much for this video. Looking forward to your upcoming Hobbit watch parties.

"Tell me: where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak. with. him."

He just left their adventures open to allow for any possibility. Whatever happened to them it must have been extremely difficult. The 50's texts just talk about their ends (as they surely did), the People of Middle Earth stuff meanwhile hints at the heroic tale of their mission before the fall and the complicated situation in distant lands influenced by Sauron. I think he was just trying to flesh out some people and add a bit of nuance to certain situations as he aged. I like the later revisions - not sure about the guardians bit.. sort of in another life maybe? It gives a great reason for Melian to be lurking around and fall in love with Thingol.

A nice and deep take on the topic. Regarding the Sauron's enemies in the south... It is said in UT: "Of this Order *the number is unknown;* but *of those that came to the North* of Middle-earth [...] the chiefs was five". So the five known Istari chiefs came to the north, two of which went east, at least at first, but who knows how many unknown istari came to the south? BTW Palacendo and Pallando sounds like almost the same name, maybe just a different accent, also Hravandil and Aiwendil might be just a result of language evolution.

I love that, after all this time, the blue wizards are still a fascinating mystery. I've spent a couple decades wondering about them. What little we know about them creates so many exquisite possibilities for new stories!

Wonderful. Much food for thought

If you combine this with Aragorns travels it would make a really great book

Oh, at 14:36, refering to Manwe as "the elder king" got my back hair all up. :-) Melkor is the Elder King: Melkor, first and mightiest of all the Valar, who was before the world and made it.

Love the backstories and possible connections.

If Mandos had been Gen Z, he would be the DOOM SCROLLER of the Valar :)

Nice work dude thanks

"Darkness slayer" suggests he went to the "Darklands" which were home to ungoliant while Easthelper is pretty straightforward.

I think there is potential for fan fiction about the Blue by a talented writer.

I could see the two blue wizards setting the Eastern forces into disarray and weakness, but also succumbing to the darkness. So it's not necessarily a contradiction.

21:40 The Blue Wizards were murdered by Saruman. Gandolf thought he wanted all of their staffs and so that’s why they never returned.

Names change depending on what they have done, currently do, and will do. I can see the same Wizards changing names over time depending on what they become. It is also clear that all these different names can be interpreted either as of the five, or of another constellation of five with a different purpose, some being ones we know, and others being new adding more to the mix.

JRR Tolkien left many loose ends such as are there any more dragons, how far east did the blue wizards travel and did they stay true to themselves? The beauty of Tokens works was he wrote and allowed all his tales to be subject to our individual interpretations.

Great video! I wonder if the purported cults established in the East could have played into the cult element of the 'New Shadow' unfinished sequel. We'll never find any evidence of a conscious link, but that could've been a way to tie the sequel to previous works

I’m wondering if Tolkien wanted to reserve the blue wizards for a later exploration of eastern and Egyptian mythology and magic. When he says they may have become founders of magic traditions, it reminds me of Hermes Trismegistus. The body of JRRT’s work pulls on Norse and Greco-Roman pantheons. Perhaps he was leaving a door open to explore Eastern, African, Māori, and even MesoAmerican mythology.

This is excellent. Thank you!

Hey Chris…WooHoo, I’ve been a member for 1 year, 5 months amd 5 days as of this comment 🤘Also, I didn’t get a notification from YT that you had uploaded. I’m Glad I rolled in here to check what was up! God Jul (belated).

Wonderful content as always. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the following question; why was Sauron no longer able to assume a 'fair' form after the destruction of Numenor? (If you've already addressed this, I'd be happy to be directed to the relevant video). Does the adoption of a fair form require greater 'energy' than an evil form?

There's some of interesting possibilities when it comes to the Blue Wizards since the publication of The Peoples of Middle-Earth. If they came in the 2nd Age, did they remain through the 3rd Age or did they return to Valinor and then return with the other 3 in the 3rd Age? They could have also succeeded in hindering Sauron's efforts in the East (and possibly the South) for quite a long time but eventually became corrupted or killed by Sauron or even possibly Saruman before the latter returned to the West. In that sense, they could have both succeeded and failed.

It's incredible how you're able to stretch "we don't actually know shit about the blue wizards" to over 45 minutes and still have it be interesting.

My head canon for the Blue Wizards is: They are in the East trying to help the good Easterlings to organize against Khamûl and Sauron's forces. In my mind, the main kingdom that embraces them has a ruling Queen who is doing everything she can to keep her people on the path of righteousness and resist getting involved with Sauron's wars. They would form alliances with other good peoples of the region including Avari Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits that never migrated West. There would also be trouble from at least one dragon that was on nobody's side but liked to wreak havoc and gather treasures. Maybe one of the two wizards gets killed sacrificing his life to save one of the kingdoms. I believe the Blue Wizards are the only ones who can help the realms keep out evil influences from within. Alatar and Pallando will be able to detect those who have sold their souls to Sauron. Maybe they outed Khamûl and he was expelled from one of the kingdoms. Then he went to Sauron, got a Ring of Power, then took some of Sauron's army to wage war on the realms that refused to align with Sauron.

This deep dive is verily appreciated :>

It would be great to see a film or read a book about the blue wizards if it was well done

Tolkien quote from a radio interview about the Blue Wizards; I really do not know anything clearly about the other two - since they do not concern the history of the N.W. I think they went as emissaries to distant regions, East and South, far out of Númenórean range: missionaries to 'enemy-occupied' lands, as it were. What success they had I do not know; but I fear that they failed, as Saruman did, though doubtless in different ways; and I suspect they were founders or beginners of secret cults and 'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron. If the Blue wizards went to East, in Post-LOTR writings Tolkien implied that there were more Istari in other regions (probably Harad): Of this Order the number is unknown; but of those that came to the North of Middle-earth, where there was most hope (because of the remnant of the Dunedain and of the Eldar that abode there), the chiefs was five.

It is totally not clear what happened to them. Tolkien gives us serveral options and say they are possible. It seems to me you kinda tend towards them perishing or turning evil. But there is a problem with these options. If they died, since they are mayar they are not really dead, would they Valar not have send them back, like they did with Gandalf? Certainly that would have been a known event, but that never happended, so we can rule that out. If they would have turned evil like Sauruman, they should certainly together be able to build an indepandant army, but at least in the LOTR all the men from the east are under Saurons control. And if they fell in the Saurons control, woulf he not have send them, or at least one, the aid in the assult on Minas Tirith or any of the other assults on the West? Yes he would have. But it didn't happen. Furthermore it is stated that the Nazgûl are Sauron's most powefull servants. Surely the wizards would have been more powerful.than mere human, even with their rinhmhs of power. All of this also did not happen so we can rule that out. I think they just kinda failed like Radagast failed. Not dying ir turning evil, but just preoccupied with other stuff, and neglecting to do what they were supposed to do. Whatever that was, I don't know, really could be anything. But perishing or became servant of Sauron...no that seems unlikely. Speakinhlg if which, Sauron is also a mayar, very powerfull. When the ring is destroyed he's done in Middle-Earth, but won't his spirit live in and go to the hall of Mandos? What happened to him?

Hi everyone, thinking about the line "they were founders or beginners of secret cults and 'magic' traditions" according to the fact that they, as alatar are related to Oromë huntsman god (so related to hunt and animals or beasts) makes me clearly think about the haradrims who led oliphants to war. they are intrinsectly related to the tribal idea and a kind of more cultistic way to handle animal, beasts and great beasts as you can classify oliphants. This is marvellous to think that this can be a really light a shady reference to the blue wizards effects no matter if they were or not more or less successful on their task. And this expandes the idea that maybe there are a thousand more little thing thith which Tolkien can still surprises his fans.

well done, M8. Thank you.

I think it wouldve been very cool to see the Blue Wizards appear out of nowhere at the fall of Sauron and the destruction of the one ring. I think that if they did succeed with their mission, the would have merited a spot on the return ship with everyone else and somehow, would have been present on it. Which leads me to think they died or turned evil.

I'm completely convinced the Blue Wizards plans unfold at the last era. Tolkien loved our own mythology. And what's greater than the Last Struggle? It makes sense on it's face. Along with Ungoliant and a reborn Morgoth. I'm convinced of this cycle of rebirth Tolkien hints at. A Chekovs Gun or Red Herring? The Blue Wizards definitely have a bigger part of his story. It's just at a last battle. It was always about the long con.

I don't think the Blue Wizards died. Otherwise, their spirits should have went to the Halls of Mandos. I also don't think they fell to Sauron's influence because that would have been too easy. But, I definitely think that they are still alive, probably hiding in plain sight, and will reveal themselves to help in Dagor Dagorath

Gandalf’s name in Valinor was Olórin.

Withards 😂😂😂 made me laugh subbed👍

i always assumed that the two blue wizards went to the far east lands the other tribes of the eastern men came from and helped free them from the shadow but then went native after a time there its something that happens even in our own world in the past it was common

Great video, however your use of nineteen hundred... makes me feel ancient.

The two Blue Wizards, according to Tolkien, headed into the East. However, Pallandro & his friend were sent to Middle Earth in the Second Age, to stir up opposition to Sauron. The two Blue Wizards returned to Middle Earth after Numenor's downfall. These were followed later by Saruman after he accompanied Rhadagast to Middle Earth. We have no information to say how successful or disastrously this incursion was. Saruman returned West, wether persued or retreating to safer territory, again is unknown.

No one says "nineteen hundred fifty-eight" anymore but rather "nineteen fifty-eight".

Good video

I've asked this before, circa 2016 maybe, but Ive forgotten. Where are you from? Where's your Grandma from? Better yet, what was your name for your Grandma? It's no secret your videos are of the highest order. Thanks 🙏

The blue wizards created the rule of two.

What happened to the other rings of power after the one ring was merked?

What did the Myar know that made them turn 🤔 did they see sympathy for morgoth corruptions of the song? Was this like a fallen angle concept 🤔? The fact Sarumon corupted them also doesnt seem like its their fault persay? Idk

Are you saying at no point did they run into the two blue wizards? Even during the war, they were never seen again?

Do the colours of the robes have meaning?

Wouldve made a much better theoretic story for ,Amazon to work with. I said this initially.!

Gandalf 2.0. :-) I think there is only one Gandalf. Mithrandir, the Grey Wizard. :-)

I rely on subtitles and it’s not clear, yiu saying E Study a lot? Because it’s not really subtitles well when you say that. I can’t tell. Otherwise, thank you for a wonderful video. Definitely following.

Only say 19 54 not 19 hundred and 54 it's incorrect just to let you know only time you'd use that is if you're saying the 19 hundreds talking about that century like. 12hundreds or 18 hundreds they're blocks of time not dollars or units

Who should have played the blue wizards in a Peter Jackson lord of the rings movie? My pics are Liam Neeson and Mark Hamill.

The Valars are some bad board of directors. Gave a project and left it to fate, never kept on eyes of their employees nor disciplined goofing ones.

This sounds like in Rings of Power we see one Blue Wizard? Seems to fit with what you say around 30:00-36:00

The Blue Wizards were named such for their dirty Dwarven jokes.

What if the blue wizards were actually the wicked witch of the west and the east

Withards?

🤘🏽💙🔥

There’s nowhere near enough information about the blue wizards to make a video this long.

Apologies for this - a boring note on your use of English at one point. You can't say 'I hope you find this remotely interesting'. Remote means far removed. The negative is 'I don't find this remotely interesting' ie not even at a distance. But it doesn't have an equivalent positive version on the flip side of that coin.

It seems to me that Tolkien wasted a lot of time on backstory. Imagine if he had put his energy into writing a new adventure set in the fourth age.