What other questions about Middle-earth would you like to see me tackle on the channel? (And yeah, I couldn't resist making this thumbnail inspired by the Riddler meme. haha)
Might be a stupid question but I've always wondered how some elves can fight balrogs and other maiar. At the end of the day they are maiar so are god's.
An excellent video again. I find your videos explain everything so simply and easy to understand. I would love to understand the relationship between Elves & Dwarves and why there is hate between Legolas & Gimli then by the end they are friends, unless you’ve already covered it. It is just a simple matter of different races or is there something more to it. Thank you
"The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here... I'll wait till we're in Rivendell. It'll freak Elrond out; just wait till you see his face."
In the book aragorn also doesn't let the hobbits talk about mordor while walking to weathertop "with the enemies servants so close at hand'... But then himself says it outloud along with with the name sauron 😂🤦
Gandalf: * almost gives Elrond a heart attack using black speech * Boromir: " it's a gift" Gandalf: DID I STUTTER?! Ash nazg durbatulûk.... Elrond: * not again *
Bilbo's decision to leave the One Ring to Frodo sets him apart as a truly unique character in the story. No one else in the tale has the foresight and selflessness to willingly give up the ring, knowing the immense power and temptation it holds. He is truly a one-of-a-kind hero.
And that scene in Fellowship is done to perfection. The acting, the cinematography, the music, it all perfectly shows how much trouble Bilbo is having letting it go, he then rushes out the door once he does and when he's out, we see the relief on his face. It shows perfectly how much of a burden the Ring is and with this little context, we can already tell how strong Bilbo is to be able to let it go
Didn’t Frodo offer the ring freely to Gandalf when Gandalf first explained it to him in the Shire? Didn’t Frodo say to Galadriel that he would freely give it to her if she asked for it? And, didn’t Sam freely give it back to Frodo after Sam rescued Frodo in the tower of Cirith Ungol? My point is not to diminish in any way Bilbo’s exemplary attributes, but simply to show that the other hobbits of the Shire who possessed the ring share those attributes.
@@jneumy566 not even touching the anvil sounding noise when the ring hits the floor. Such a little thing, but it illustrates the “weight” that burdens the one who carries it.
@@jpe1 I think the difference there is that Bilbo had owned the Ring for decades, so it had all that time to get a hold on him. Frodo had barely possessed it yet. Not that Frodo isn't to be commended - he did offer it to Galadriel later on too, but again, he'd only had it for a little while and it hadn't had enough time to grip him. The same goes for Sam. Then, as Sauron's power grew and as Frodo approached closer to Mordor, the Ring gained in power and therefore in hold over Frodo's mind and heart. Edit: Some kind people have pointed out an error I made. . .oops. Okay, so Frodo possessed the Ring for 17 years before he left the Shire (it's been a while since I read the books). However, I think my point still stands. Bilbo had it for over 60 years and used it multiple times, while Frodo (I think) never or rarely used it. I also think that Frodo regarded it far more warily than Bilbo, especially after Gandalf's warning after the party. Bilbo thought it was just something pretty and useful, but Frodo got a hint from Gandalf that it was far more than that. In any case, Frodo's strength is still commendable and he undoubtedly deserves a seat among Hador, Hurin, Turin, Beren and all the mighty Elf-friends of old!
No doubt. Of all the great casting choices (Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Emma Watson as Hermoine Granger, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, etc.), those two really stand out. Legendary.
@@shootthemoon6072 My favorite is his character in Galaxy Quest; the story arc for the character is so good and clearly is a homage to Leonard Nimoy's own lifes arc on playing Spock. Alan Rickman was truly a treasure.
My favorite scene in the film trilogy is when Gandalf is talking with Frodo in Moria. "Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be so quick to deal out death and judgement. Even the very Wise cannot see all ends."
Tolkien was an officer in the great war (ww1) and that explains that why one cannot decide who dies and who lives when shell fragments take so many good men
Do you know the story of Oedipus Rex? To avoid a prophecy people did evil or foolish things. And brought it to pass. if they had not they would have escaped it.
This is how I measure REAL power when playing D & D. Any fool can take a life, but it takes a lot more effort to restore it. I've played (on and off) since 1978, and to date only 5 of my characters have achieved this level.
@@andyhart358 Lvl 9? That's not a good thing, you need better friends. I've had 11 campaigns as a once a month player that reached that level and I started playing in 94.
I love the way it's shot throughout the film because it looks like Gandalf just casually hopped on horseback and popped over to Minas Tirith from the shire in like, a few days or so but coming from the books, we known it's been nearly 20 years since he had the suspicion that Bilbo's ring was sus. And in the meantime did a bunch of things within that timeframe to confirm his suspicions.
In the movie's defense, they never actually say how much time has elapsed. It's shot to make it look like Gandalf went to Minas Tirith, found the scroll, and rode right back, as this gets the plot moving faster. But for all we know, those 17 years could have passed in between scenes.
@@theradioweyr Shadowfax? He didn't have him yet in that part of the story. He gets Shadowfax in Rohan after his resurrection as Gandalf the White if I recall. (And Shadowfax was indeed a horse, just of a special breed from Valinor called the Mearas.)
Short answer: Gandalf assumed Bilbo had a lesser ring until the events of LOTR. But wow! That is a lot of context you packed into one video, great job!
Gandalf knew the ring made him invisible. It would seem like ignorance on his part that he did not educate himself on the One Ring and all of its abilities. Even if other invisibility RIngs existed, it would have been worth Checking out immediately.
@@dragonchr15 Saruman did a marvelous job of convincing everyone, Gandalf included, that the One Ring had rolled down the Anduin into the sea and he was well known for his ability, in this case, to deceive and manipulate others. It's also questionable that the Free Peoples knew that much about the One Ring's abilities. It was crafted by Sauron and Isildur only had it for a couple of years before the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. It's also not known if any of the Elven smiths of Eregion who played a role in the crafting of the other Rings of Power survived the War of the Elves and Sauron. Furthermore, Gandalf's tasks were to help the Free Peoples resist Sauron, not to specifically track down the One Ring. He had a lot of other responsibilities as well.
Hi! If anyone is reading this comment, kindly please tell me the correct order I should be reading The Lord of the Rings series, is it in the follwing order: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King? If yes, then what about the other LOTR books like 'The Children of the Hurin' or 'Unfinished Tales of Numenor & Middle Earth'? Are these and some other books like these being shown on the internet a part of the main LOTR books or are these just appendices? Anyone kindly explain, it would mean a lot.
I always thought Bilbo never gets enough credit for being the only being in this story able to give up the one ring on his own especially with how long and how much he had used it.
Sam also gives it away willingly. Although a ring bearer for such a short time he still does part with it voluntarily. This is why he is allowed to go to the undying lands. As he was a ring bearer. Even though he only has it for a few hours, no one else wants to touch it as they know it takes hold and they wouldn’t be able to withstand its evil and part with it. It’s as Gandalf says “the ring wants to be found”. So Sam and bilbo. Frodo done well up until the last minute. Which I thought was an unfair ending for him.
@@paigecartwright4947 The One Ring is inherently unfair. Nobody, not the humblest hobbit, the staunchest dwarf, the most devoted elf, or the wisest Maiar, nobody except possibly one of the Valar, could actually have voluntarily have thrown the ring into Mount Doom. That is the nature of its power. At Mount Doom, the absolute center of its power, its grip on anybody holding it is so absolute that even the strongest resistance would be inadequate to allow somebody to destroy it of their own free will. Which is, indirectly, why Samwise is so impressive even though he carries the ring for such a short time - he carried it so close to Mount Doom, where it would have gripped his mind almost instantly, but still had the fortitude to let it go.
Always thought it was funny in the movies that if Gandalf had been wrong about the ring he would have given Frodo a horrible burn on his palm when he took it straight out of the fire.
Every time Frodo put on the ring, I wondered…will it get stuck? Will he need soap to take it off? Good thing they ran out of food and Frodo didn’t gain weight.
For the movie at least, I knew that Gandalf knew when he told Bilbo, "You haven't aged a day." I'll never forget the look on his face and how all of the joy just seemed to drain from it. He then quickly laughed it off, but his mind was set. He only needed to get the proof to confirm what he knew.
Bro was put on Middle Earth as a Mayar to guide humanity/creation as a "angel" would in the bible, but least interfere to keep their free will(which is why he only uses light magic against the dark(which is basically heaven vs hell), and you think he would not know?
@@magnem1043 When he took physical form his memory was deliberately weakened and suppressed thus did NOT REMEMBER. Now after Gandalf became Gandalf the white, his memory would have been greatly restored.
You said that it wasn't mentioned in the films that there were lesser rings made, but Gandalf has a line like "There are many magic rings in this world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly." I always assumed that to mean rings that weren't one of the great rings.
Me too - more of a D&D world where there's all sorts of things going on and even in Middle Earth this is just one of many stories (though a big one!). There's other little things mentioned in Hobbit (book) that elude to this as he mentions "I looked for an adventurer or even a hero for our quest, but as I could find none in this part of the world I decided on a burglar" (paraphrase from memory) meaning Bilbo and in reference to the 14th member of their party (since Gandalf was not an official member).
That is exactly what he means, for those who know how to use magic the lesser rings are just curiosities but for those who don't they can be quite dangerous. The great rings on the other hand are dangerous for everyone.
@@liaml.e.5964 I heard somewhere that the ring tempted Frodo (who liked books) with some huge library or something and tempted Sam (who likes gardening) with a huge garden with many slaves to work it, which didn’t work on Sam, since he viewed a garden as something you should work on yourself, with having slaves to work it ruining the concept. I bet the ring just tempted Sméagol and Déagol with something silly like an unlimited supply of free fish or something. Hobbits are just too simple.
@@liaml.e.5964 The only thing the ring was able to corrupt about Bilbo was his lust to possess the ring. Though even Gandalf was able to overcome even that.
I think that just as the ring had a negative affect on whoever possessed it, that it could influence someone like Gandalf to pay less attention to it. The ring wants to be found and get back to it's master, but it doesn't want the wrong person to find it. Gandalf or Galadriel would have become rivals to Sauron's power if they were to take the ring, and that is not something the ring wants.
The ring likely draws from a person's deepest desire, usually for power. Bilbo however was a simple hobbit, humble and kind-hearted, so even for the One it would likely take an incredibly long time to corrupt such being. the One also tried to corrupt Frodo when he took it, but it was so hard for it to corrupt him that it was its edge of death that the One was finally able to corrupt him.
@Jason except that Sauron was terrified by the thought of facing a ring bearing Gandalf, Saruman, or Galadriel. The Nazgûl specifically go after Gandalf after he escapes from orthanc to prevent him from getting the ring. It’s made clear that if a powerful being took the ring, they could overthrow Sauron, but would be so corrupted that they would take his place as tyrant.
I don't think it's that conscious. It has a will, not mind. And even though it's contrary to Sauron's purposes, it tempts everyone who encounters it, including Gandalf and Galadriel.
If Gandalf or Galadriel had gotten a hold of it, I think they would be corrupted immediately (especially if they didn't know what it was until it was too late). I think that you're right in saying that the ring would prefer to be inconspicuous so it can keep its Influence without any risk. I mean the design of the one ring is so bland and boring, it's literally just a gold band. That could be any ring, which is why I think the design of the ring is brilliant
Little fun fact on the side: Sir Christopher Lee's voice is so special, maybe some people remember his voice-over of King Haggard in the animated movie 'The Last Unicorn'. The likeness of that character to Saruman is quite amazing. Having watched that movie as a child, it immediately brought back memories when I first watched LOTR. The way you emphasize what Tolkien wrote about Saruman's voice just goes to show that Christopher Lee was the greatest choice. What a legend! Thanks for this great video. It's still crazy to me that they managed to do all that time compression in LOTR: FOTR. Gandalf travelled so much... 🙂😅
So let me get this straight. In the Hobbit, Tolkien wrote a magic ring into the story as a way for Bilbo to get out of a tough spot. Then he went back, took that ring, and made it the central plot point of the entire saga? That's cool.
You don't think Tolkien had a bigger vision? The ring represents what we call "sin." I'm pretty sure it wasn't just an ex machina for a way out of a single situation. The man created his own languages for crying out loud😆. His brilliance as a writer to tell a bigger story shouldn't be doubted. I'm 90% sure the nature of the ring wasn't an afterthought. (I only know the order I read in. Never looked into the order he wrote them. But I'd be surprised if the nature of the ring was an afterthought.)
@@donavonbain4332 In the original version of the Hobbit, it's very much just a normal magical ring; Tolkien edited the Hobbit for its second edition while he was writing Lord of the Rings, and in the second edition the ring is much more emphasized and its impact on Gollum is more pronounced.
@@bbctol is it? Just normal? Or just portrayed that way? (As that fits how the ring seems. ..unornatte.) Sorry I was distracted and not researched the order he wrote the stories in irl. I still think he intended this
Yeah, I took a slight look again at his progression... yeah, No. This was clearly not an after thought. Unless you wanna say The Spirit Of God was leading him the whole time. Which🫠Maybe so. He just afterthought it by directed by God. Or was a Brilliant man. Take your pick. But tbh, either way! Because of the importance, and many looping intricacies; I don't see this being an after thought. This either pre conceived or directed by God. I'm willing to accept either😁
@@donavonbain4332 Tolkien based his ring on the Ring of Gyges, a thought experiment by Plato. Plato pondered if a man would still act justly if he couldn't be seen committing crimes. This resonated with the devout catholic (sin, good vs. evil) so he put it in the whimsical book he was writing for his children. Everything else came later.
Frodo: “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf: “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case you also were meant to have it; and that is an encouraging thought.” 😎
Well Gandalf did say in fellowship to Bilbo "there are many magic rings and none of them should be used lightly" which did make me think at the time how many total there are 🤔 But makes sense to me, if the greatest evil object in the world in in possession of his friend he wanted to make ABSOLUTELY certain that it was the one Just glad he found out in the end 😂
He knew there were three elf rings, seven dwarf rings, nine human ones and the one ring. So twenty in total, although some of them were lost or something.
There were an unknown number of "lesser rings" which, like the "one ring" were rather plain in appearance. It was more likely than not that the ring Bilbo found was a "lesser ring".
3 (for elves) + 9 (for men) + 7 (for dwarves) + 1 (to rule them all) = 20 Rings of Power by Sauron. Surely there are also many other rings made by other masters and mages throughout the ages.
Great video! I appreciate the context, it underlines how Tolkien created not just an epic tale but a living world. Doubt, plausible alternatives, enemy manipulation and plain simple hope all combined to cloud the matter. Where some authors would skip over why, Tolkien did not hold back.
Gandalf does mention the lesser rings in the movie, after Bilbo pulls his disappearing act from the party, he tells him something like "There are many magic rings in this world and none of them are to be used lightly"
It's an interesting turn of phrase. Gandalf knows exactly what men and hobbits consider to be "magic" but Elves keep on saying that they don't know what people mean by "magic". It's almost as if Gandalf and Elves don't talk about things.
Writing from my partner's account. First video of yours I've seen, just wanted to say you've got a good story-telling voice. Seamless transition, not overacted and simply pleasant and fitting. Also very happy with your speeding, it was easy to follow along. Thank you!
Absolutely love the idea that humility and showing pity are rewarded, such as when choosing to give up the ring or not take a life in order to have it. This falls in line with Tolkien's ideas (which perhaps why he wrote it in the books) that greed, and being power hungry often lead to disastrous results, whereas when being humble and respectful, it can lead to greater things. As a Psychologist (so I can't help what I'm about to say), I liken the ideas of humility and respect as a way of exerting less pressure on yourself. If you are constantly greedy and power hungry, the pressure on yourself to keep having the power gnaws at you, it ramps up the pressure you feel. When you don't seek it, you feel less pressure, and when you feel less pressure, you find yourself thinking clearer, with less anxiety, and possibly becoming happier more easily. When that happens, you might find yourself living a longer life.
Much as I'd love to believe this theory to be true, I have an obvious counter-example: Donald J Trump, now 78, and only lately showing any sign of decline.
That scene in Fellowship where Bilbo tips the ring off of the palm of his hand is awesome! You can see that it's something very difficult for him to do and yet he accomplishes it, and Gandalf doesn't chastise him for it.
That's some amazing art running the background! Lots of talented artists! I like mostly the ones that look like just pencil, yet great detail; even in some, by absence of lines. They're all wonderful in their own right! Bravo to the Artists! Edit: Glad you give credit to the artists and a link to them!
I just discovered this channel and I'm on my third video consecutively. I love how succinct you are in tying together the Silmrilion with LOTR and The Hobbit. The mythology can be head-spinning, but you tie it together beautifully. Thanks for what you do.
This is one of the reasons that The Stranger being Gandalf in Rings of Power is such an infuriating concept to me. If Gandalf is around in the Second Age, he surely would interact with the Rings of Power at some point in their history, presumably even participating in the War of the Last Alliance. In doing so, it makes his lack of firsthand knowledge of the One Ring in the Third Age seem all the more preposterous. I really hope the showrunners for RoP back off their hinting towards The Stranger being Gandalf, and re-write it so the "follow your nose" line is just a red herring.
Gandalf says that there are MANY magic rings in the world. He knows the ring is dangerous. He just doesn't know which one he is dealing with, because it's one of many. But I think he is too wise to just take it from Bilbo and find out for himself. That would almost certainly destroy Bilbo and also be dangerous for himself, as he would risk becoming the dark lord. He had to let the situation play out, the way that he did. Also because he thought Bilbo was MEANT to have it, for reasons he didn't understand yet.
I think you need to remember that NO ONE knew the exact location where Isildur fell and the One Ring laid until Deogul and Smeogul found it. Also, no one knew that Smeogul had found fhe One Ring. Seriously, he was living in a cave like an animal. Not a lot of people around to notice how long he is living or that he has this ring that he named 'Precious'. Also, remember that the Rings of Power were NOT made by Sauron personally. There were made according to Sauron's knowledge of the artifice of ring making, but not by his hand. Sauron made the One Ring himself and in secret. He knew if any of the other Ring Bearers and any clue what exactly he could do with that ring, they would cast away the Rings they had and he would lose his control over them. Lastly, when the One Ring was lost from Isildur's death, it was thought to be lost forever. As Saruman said, it was believed most likely to have been swept down the river and out to sea, never to be reclaimed.
I can't imagine how dumb Gandalf must have felt when he discovered the truth. I would punch myself mentally for not realizing that the most dangerous thing in the entire world has been under my nose all this time.
Not dumb. More like incredulity at the unbelievable unlikely chance that the Ring just happened to have ended up with Bilbo of all people. There were many many “lesser” magic rings in Middle Earth aside from the rings of power. Also, at that time, Gandalf had no reason not to trust and go by the words of Saruman.
The Ring has an intelligence, it will deceive if it furthers it's purpose. Gandalf was deceived. BUT... he sensed the deceit, he smelt Sauron, and went to the archives of Minas Tirith, to learn of the times before he, Gandalf, existed in Middle Earth. There he learned how to test the Ring. And so the Ring betrayed itself to the one who was sent to find It and Its master.
I've been binging all of your content for months and now I've finally caught a new one the same day it's uploaded. I feel so spoiled with NotR goodness! Yay!
You've made many good videos on Tolkien's Arda. And this is one of your absolute best, perhaps because you get at one of the master's great themes, the nobility of heartfelt pity. We see here how it saved Bilbo. And we'll see later how Bilbo's pity and Frodo's allowed that latter's quest to be completed even as he himself failed. Tollkien's idea pity, which some might call mercy, is at the heart of not just his vision, but his genius. For Bilbo's pity really does save the world.
interesting to note that frodo couldn’t bring himself to even toss the ring into his little fireplace (foreshadowing?) i think the first time he actually uses it is in bombadil’s house, and he immediately feels silly since tom can see him anyway. it’s a much tougher ownership trial for frodo. from the moment gandalf tells him he’s been sitting on the One Ring for 17 years, he knows he’s in immediate danger, to himself and others. and everytime those nazgul are anywhere nearby, the ring wakes up and starts wearing him down. as faramir says about boromir, “it was too sore a trial.” bilbo, without knowing just what this thing is capable of, confides in gandalf that it would be a relief to not be worrying about it all the time, since he either keeps it with him or safely hidden in bag end, but he constantly has to check and see if it’s still there. so when gandalf finally convinces him to leave it behind he seems almost grateful for the extra nudge. but i think tolkien makes it clear that of all the peoples of middle earth, hobbits were the best possible guardians of the ring, because they’re not much interested in gold/riches/treasure/flashy stuff. they value a good mug of beer, a nice fire, a hearty meal (several times a day), a merry song, and friends. the simple, uncomplicated pleasures. a dying thorin says to bilbo what a nicer world it would be if everyone was like the shirefolk.
Amazing! I always love watching LOTR lore videos and Nerd of the Rings has been one of my favorite channels for a long time. This particular video just struck me in the right way though, the production value is superb; the list is endless: the music, soothing talking voice, great voice acting, stunning artworks that fit the words, and seeing the scroll of Isildur actually written in a scroll is all just amazing. Not to mention the topic itself here was very interesting. Yeah, I'm definitely a big fan of yours! Keep up the great work, you'll reach 1 million subs soon and then it's time for celebration! Much love from Finland!
Great video! I feel like Gandalf answered this himself when he says that there are many magical rings in the world and none should be used lightly!" Tie that comment in with Galadriel's monolog from FOTR about "things that should not have been forgotten were lost," Then add to that the fact that we see several incidents where Gandalf's mind seemed to be slipping (the secret door into Moria, the path through Moria). My assumption has always been that after so many years and so many magical rings in the world, and a very old Gandalf the Grey (his power and mind was restored when he came back as Gandalf the White) that it is understandable that he didn't immediately jump to the idea of Bilbo's ring... found in a cave deep under the misty mountains would be THE RING... Even for a Maia.
Then Sauron more slowly wears down Middle-Earth, and, while no one perhaps ever finds the ring, he doesn't get destroyed, and always remains a cancer on the world.
Frodo's vision, as shown to him in the Mirror of Galadriel, would come to pass (alternate timeline). Sauron has all his power and might as long as the ring exists. His armies outnumber by 10-1 the armies of the West. So, at the battle before the Towers of The Teeth (Battle of the Morannon) there is no ring to be destroyed at the last minute, saving the day. The West is defeated and Sauron goes on to dominate Middle Earth until the end of time. The ring could remain lost, or be found by servants of The Enemy - which would accelerate the process of Sauron's victory. The only way for the West to win was how events unfolded and that was a narrow path of wide uncertainty until the end.
Might be that Saruman would find the Ring. After all he was frantically searching around the location where Isildur drowned. So I guess it would be up to the Ring whether it chose to be found or not.
Even without the ring sauron had grown incredibly powerful, had frodo not destroyed the ring and aragorn not marched on the black gate, sooner or later sauron would have marched once again on minas tirith and conquered it, and eventually the rest of middle earth. He would win and spend centuries combing middle earth for it and eventually find it
Great video! The only part that does not fit, as far as I read the text, is that Gandalf assumed it could be one of the lesser Rings. As he says to Frodo in The Shadow of the Past he knew it was a Great Ring from the start: ‘When did I first begin to guess?’ he mused, searching back in memory. ‘Let me see - it was in the year that the White Council drove the Dark Power from Mirkwood, just before the Battle of Five Armies, that Bilbo found his ring. A shadow fell on my heart then, though I did not know yet what I feared. I wondered often how Gollum came by a Great Ring, as plainly it was - that at least was clear from the first. Then I heard Bilbo’s strange story of how he had ‘‘won’’ it, and I could not believe it.
That is a great point! Definitely an odd point if he means “from the first” as in when he first found out Bilbo had a ring. Then you really have to wonder if it’s a bit of contradicting tales happening.
@@NerdoftheRings It's not entirely clear, but because of the "then" in the next sentence it should have been before Bilbo told Gandalf his "strange story" about how he found the Ring - whenever that was, I don't know a date for it. Though I think the story still works with Gandalf still having the other two issues in mind - little effect on Bilbo outside of the story, and Saruman's words. And given that Gandalf wasn't an expert in Ring-lore and the smiths of Eregion were largely destroyed with the city, it's possible that Gandalf couldn't be 100% sure that there were only 20 Great Rings ever made.
With every video I watch here or iver at In Deep Geek, i am absolutely blown away by Tolkien's writing and lore. The depth of this lore is incredible and i love that it is the manner in which a person gets ownership of the ring that decides their fate. Tolkiens books and PJs original three films are lightning in a bottle. I don't expect to see or read anything this perfect again for a very very long time
This somewhat changes my entire view of the Hobbit books. Thank you for so clearly delineating the working of the ring but more importantly the individuals involved with the ring. Critical point of the stories. Thank you.
I honestly believe he began having suspicions when he finally learned about the ring in The Hobbit and realized that was having an affect on Bilbo’s personality. Bilbo being a fundamentally honest person wasn’t the sort to try and lie and hide the truth from his companions about finding a magic ring. If I remember right in the book even Gandalf had a certain look but kept quiet and became more watchful in respect to Bilbo
This is an excellent video from every point, IMO. It's not just explaining things because you made such good selections to read from the source material. There's inspiration with the education.
I don't think Gandalf KNEW it was the One Ring at any time when Bilbo still had it; it wasn't until Frodo had the Ring and Gandalf tested it in the fireplace that he truly knew that the One Ring had truly ended up in the Shire. I think Saruman's abilities to influence others played a huge role in damping Gandalf's suspicions.
Gandalf describes pipe-weed in a way that people typically talk about marijuana. He says, “…if you used this herb yourself. You might find that smoke blown out clears your mind of shadows within. Anyway, it gives patience, to listen to errors without anger.” 💀
@@magnem1043 I don't think so - pot may be enjoyable and maybe even give a different perspective, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone say it cleared their mind. And JRRT said many times that it was tobacco and nothing else - like potatoes, presumably it died out in Middle-earth before being re-introduced in the Colombian exchange.
This is easy to understand for us readers, who can see everything as a whole. To understand why Gandalf failed to notice this, it is necessary to look at the situation from Gandalf's point of view. It is my inference that the One Ring, in conjunction with its bearer, may also influence those around it. In this context, he may have influenced him to avoid being noticed by Gandalf.
Thank You for explaining the things. I could listen to you for hours. Your voice of Saruman is so incredible close to Vincent Price and Christopher Lee.
Your videos are awesome!!! The lore and history of Tolkiens world are so fascinating and the way you craft your videos makes it entertaining to watch. Thank you!!!
I personally think this may be one of the most important videos you've made. Even Tolkien did not know the significance when he wrote of Bilbo acquiring the ring, since The Hobbit was a book written for his children way before LOTR was conceived. It's a stroke of mastery that Gollum's background ended up so well for the LOTR story. Also the timeline surrounding the first two chapters of the Fellowship of the Ring is very important for understanding Gandalf's process of understanding what Bilbo actually found, something which most PJ film fans miss out on.
My family loves your videos! We watch them together since we all are fans of the books and this you. Thank you for giving something that we can share even as the kids grow up!
The last comment Bilbo makes about the ring as they’re heading to the harbour (in the movies at least) is when he asks Frodo if he can see his ring again, upon finding out Frodo “lost it” Bilbo says “Ohh pity” Nice way to tie in pity playing such a large role in his ownership of the ring
I feel like so many of the "plot holes" people claim they've found is due to either poor reading comprehension or focus on the movies. Tolkien didn't leave much to guesswork. But you have a much more charitable response! 🙂
I must say, that really got me thinking. What if Saruman had not turned to evil? Just imagine how differently things might have played out, not even in the War of the Ring but the actual finding of the One before Bilbo ever met Gollum. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on this, and Matt's too!
In a way I think Saruman also succumbed to the powers of the One Ring. Not by being exposed to it, but due to his study he got obsessed with it, and exhibits many of the same character changes that are reported for Smeagol and Isildur.
Gollum was hiding under that mountain for a long time. Not until watching these videos did I realize Sauron took over Dol Guldur before Deagol found the ring, not after. Gollum could have hidden the ring for much longer if the ring hadn't abandoned him in the tunnel the day before the dwarves were captured at the back door.
@@johndododoe1411 That was precisely the reason Saruman kept telling the White Council not to confront the Necromancer - he knew that with Sauron so close by the Ring would be more likely to be found as it tried to return to its master, but if Sauron were to be driven away, the Ring might well slumber for many more years. Saruman calculated that he would be the most likely to discover it if it was found since he knew more than even Sauron did about what happened to it after the Last Alliance. It was when he realized that Sauron knew the Ring was in the area and had people actively searching from it that he changed his mind about attacking Dol Guldur, because obviously if Sauron found the Ring Saruman would never get his hands on it. It's not clear to me when or how Sauron learned that the Ring was near Dol Guldur. He may initially just have been drawn to the area without knowing why. JRRT also hinted that Sauron's presence so nearby may have been what caused the Balrog under Khazad-dum to awaken, and that the Dwarves' mining may have just released from its prison a creature that was already awake and wanted to escape.
One thing I always find fascinating is the weight Tolkien puts on the way a character gains the master ring and how much it corrupts them, Bilbo got the ring while exorcising pity and was almost not corrupted, some will even say blessed and Isildur claimed the ring out of grief and as far as we know wasn't corrupted at all.
Isildur kept the ring knowing it was Sauron's weapon, and ignored Elrond's pleas to destroy it, and he was still wearing it when he was killed, so there is evidence he was at least slightly corrupted by it. Also that's why it was also called 'Isildur's Bane' and Aragorn feared his descent from Isildur - '... You are Isildur's heir not Isildur himself' ... '... the same blood flows in these veins'.
@@julianmhall Sure, I mean corrupted beyond the usual "Cant give the ring away" stuff that everybody seem to get when having the ring (And Hobbits seem to be the only ones who can kind'a resist that) - But isildur had the ring for 2 years and in that time he doesn't seem to make a single questionable decision, he strengthens Godor, replants the white tree, leave the throne the hands of his son, and set off to Riverdale to meet up his son and wife.
@@Anacronian the fact Isildur kept it despite Elrond's pleas does say to me 'can't (won't?) give it away'. Tom Bombadil and Faramir (book Faramir at least) both expressed disinterest in it, but that's different from possessing it and giving it away. Neither of them had it to start with.
The video itself is amazing. I enjoyed it very much how you carefully explained the order and the possible explanation for Gandalf's Error. I always like it when you do direct readings from the book in a very realistic voice. The line; "He said and did then that filled me with a fear that no words of Saruman could allay. I knew at last that something dark and deathly was at work.", it just gave me the chills. It is so sharp to the point and it expresses the shock of realization perfectly.
The only one to ever willingly give it up. He wasn't aware of it's significance at the time, but that shouldn't detract too much from what his actions meant.
Here's the part that puzzles me - Galadriel knew when Frodo had put the ring on; she said he had only put it on three times since he knew what he possessed (Bombadil's house, Bree and Weathertop) when he asked at the Mirror. How could she tell that, but neither she, Elrond or Gandalf knew that the ring was active the many times Bilbo would have worn it casually or Gollum before that?
She had the perception. Think about this: When Frodo put the ring on and fought with Gollum just before the destruction of the ring... what she must have felt, and maybe tried to influence.
Great video, well explained, would love to of heard you explanation of why Gandalf left Frodo when he knew he had the one, I know at that time Saruman was still trusted and Gandalf went seeking his advice, even so still think Gandalf could of made sure Frodo was safe with Aragorn or the elves before seeking Saruman
Another answer: In the beginning, even Tolkien didn't know Bilbo's ring is the One. I mean, Gollum originally gave it to Bilbo as a reward for winning their game.
I'm sorry, but... unless I'm wrong (and I don't THINK I am) or I'm misunderstanding your comment, Gollum absolutely did NOT give the RING to Bilbo. Bilbo accidentally found it BEFORE the riddle game, and Gollum subsequently spends the ENTIRE rest of the Hobbit/Lord of the Rings story trying to get it back. We all know that the ONLY being in Middle Earth that ever physically possessed the Ring (Sam doesn't count cuz he didn't have the Ring for longer than a day or two) and gave it up willingly was Bilbo.
@Rudy Gonzalez the thing is there are two versions of "The Hobbit"- The annotated Hobbit and the canon Hobbit most of us read today. The annotated Hobbit was written before LOTR and in it, after Bilbo wins the game, Gollum gifts him the ring and even shows him the way out of the cave. When Tolkien started writing LOTR, he decided to turn Bilbo's ring into the One. To do so, he changed "The Hobbit" to fit with LOTR and this "new" version is what is canon today.
@Derka Von Dangerkill it wasn't exactly previous. Tolkien never published the annotated Hobbit. It was published after his death, but it shows how things have been changing during the writing process of the Hobbit.
@@rudygonzalez8755 I agree with most of what you said but how dare you discount Samwise like that. Sure, he wasn’t a ringbearer for long, but he was master of the ring while it was extremely near to its master and damn near at full strength. And he still was able to give it up. That is a massive feat. Put some goddamn respect on the name.
I have a question. Did Gandalf know the Balrog was in the Mines beforehand? The movie seems to imply both he and Saruman did, but it is not clear from the book that he did know.
Just amazing how Tolkien works a concept like pity from seemingly small actions by characters and turn that into the entire reason Sauron was able to be destroyed in the first place.
There is an error around 11:50. The audio mentions Gandalf returns in 3018 TA but the video displays 3001 TA. I wasn't sure how to notify the person who makes these. I love the channel and content! Very re-watchable
Great video again! This was a topic i've been interested in, for a very long time. Right after I found your channel, I read the books myself and it's a wonderful world. And just an idea, but I would like to see a video about Thingol somewhere in the future
In short, they would probably be stuck in Ithillien, neither Frodo or Sam knew about Emyn Muil, the Gray Marshes or the Cirith Ungol pass. Without Gollum/Smeagol as a guide, it's very likely they would have either perished on the way or get discovered. Even if he ended up betraying them, he got both of them past places that could easily be their undoing.
hey mat, great job in this video, I feel like this might be one of your best works, if not the best! You explained in such a depth and clear manner one of the most complicated but also important questions regarding Tolkien's lore.
This was a perfect video, Nerd. I remember being in an undergraduate philosophy course and the professor asked us, "When is an answer considered complete?" And I said -- remembering a remark of Father Copleston's in his debate with Bertrand Russell -- "An answer is complete when nothing further can be added to it," and the professor said, "Correct." I now declare THE answer to the question of when Gandalf knew Bilbo had the one ring to be complete. Well done.
Very impressive video! I'm imagining you had to recreate the pepe silva scene from it's always sunny with all the sources you had to draw from to make this!