Yeah, total callback that no one would get for decades. Part of the reason LotR was brilliant and felt alive as a world was that it was based on a mythology that already existed. It’s why so many fantasy novels since then feel shallow and weak. The author hadn’t spent decades creating and refining a world with its own mythology and history. They just make it up on the fly.
@@ianmacdiarmid1249 , interesting that you should mention that; I wrote a short comic piece (quite 'clean', I might add) regarding that. Pending indulgence of the channel owner, I'd be happy to put it in this comments section
Feanor: "After all my reflection in the Halls of Mandos, I believe I've learned humility enough to break the Silmarils, mine own creation, at the end of the Dagor Dagorath." *Sees that Gimli, a Dwarf, got not one, but THREE strands of Galadriel's hair.* Also Feanor: WRYYYYYYYYYYY
Here's a fun fact, in The Two Towers film, in the scene where Legolas and Gimli are on the wall waiting in the rain, Olando Bloom was actually standing on a box when he makes the remark of getting John Rhys David a box (John is taller than Orlando)
'Another case of jewelry influenced madness was happening in Middle Earth.' I guess it's time to pull out the 'it's weird that it happened twice' meme. (Three times if you include the Arkenstone.)
Legolas and Gimli are one type of male/male friendship. Frodo and Sam are another. They love each other so deeply, but not in a sexual way. Tolkien wrote about friendship in a way that he probably saw in the Victorian novels he would have grown up with. Friendships too deep to be truly understood in a modern world that seems to think that Love has to be either sexual or parent/child. Truly beautiful to behold...
I love their friendship because it serves as an example of people from two different walks of life can overcome their animosity in trying times and come together not just as allies but as friends.
I made this Poem on Men of the West's Channel a couple of years ago when he did a video about this friendship as well. I hope all enjoy it. The friendship between Dwarf and Elf Hadn't been seen since the days of Moria's wealth A Silmarillion had broken their bonds of brotherhood Yet this bond would be mended in Galadriel's golden wood. Between Gimli the brave and Legolas the woodland prince A friendship formed that wasn't seen before or since Though battles hard and through normal talk It all began in Lothlorian with a normal walk. Whether saving hobbits or helping to regain Aragorn's crown Their everlasting friendship never let either one down Deep within Fangorn forest to the depths of the glittering cave The relationship between Elves and Dwarves these two did save Each helped out the race of men in their own way But both knew that in middle earth they could not long stay So one day Legolas built a boat for them on their behest And together they sailed for the undying lands to the west Gimli was the only dwarf ever to come to these lands For Legolas and Galadriel arranged it as part of their plans And so ends the story of these odd two I hope you have a friend just as important to you.
Jackson should have filmed a scene of Gimily reuniting with Galadriel in Valinor. He and Legolas sailing into port and the Lady of the Wood waiting for them and saying "Welcome home".
Just a small point : Gimli did not ask Galadriel for her hair. She commanded him to name his desire, and he said a single lock of her hair. In part, I think, it is his courtesy here that wins him favour with the Lady of the Golden Wood.
At least within the Tolkien world, my favorite friendship is that of Legolas and Gimli. The Hobbits bring two special friendships, but neither of them improbable, likely to reshape Middle Earth relationships, and most importantly, so natural in their expression and yet deep and lengthy in the evolution. I could watch a three part movie of those two in the fourth age until they wonderfully sail together to the undying lands.
The interwoven story of Gimli and Legolas is possibly a favourite part, as a youngster it was more enjoyable than anything to do with the Hobits (except the Fangorn bit, so clearly I am concise and true 😉).
‘I would cut off your head, beard and all, Master Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground,’ said Éomer. ‘He stands not alone,’ said Legolas, bending his bow and fitting an arrow with hands that moved quicker than sight. ‘You would die before your stroke fell.’
11:10... I would argue that since Dwarves were made by Aule and Aule was a child of the mind of Eru, as Eagles and Ents were similar to Manwe and Yavanna respectively, Dwarves (and by extesion Eagles and Ents) are Eru's grandchildren.
@@leonardofaber5823 What do they possess then to give them conciousness, dreams, fears, feelings? At least the ents where shown to have all of these. They even had romances. This seems like a writing error on Tolkiens part (and before the pitch forks come out, Tolkien never actualy finnished his work and kept changing things as he went on. There is contradictive stuff all over his writings. )
@@amberanime as you said, Tolkien never finished his full work, and topics like that ended up being an eternal doubt to us. However, what we know for sure is that the only creatures confirmed to have souls are the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men) and Dwarves, for only these are called Incarnate.
Question, have you done a video about Bilbos poetry, such as the poem he wrote in honour of Aragorn “the crownless again shall be king” and possibly the relationship of Bilbo and Aragorn
I seem to recall the Tolkien described the relationship between Legolas and Gimli as the greatest love ever between Elf and Dwarf. That is one reason I disliked The Hobbit movie having Tauriel (who wasn't even a character in the book) forming an infatuation with one of the Dwarves. If anything, she should have maintained the same suspicion of the "Naugrim" that the other Elves felt.
While I also hate Tauriel and Kili romance with a passion and pretend it never happend and even filter any and all fanfics I still bother reading to NOT have it in it I do not think their romance contradicts Legolas and Gimli having the greatest love ever between an elf and a dwarf. People make the error in asuming a romantic love must by default be greater then any friendship. Even if the romance was brief and the friendship a lifetime. This is of course false. Love can come in many shapes and it's power and meaning is dependant on the individuals involved, not the nature of the love itself. Even if Tauriel and Kili had been canon, their romance was only in it's starting phase. They just met, they got along, then Kili died. Maybe they would have wed, maybe it would not have worked out. We'll never know. Meanwhile Legolas and Gimli pretty much spend the rest of Gimli's life together as platonic soulmates. Just because Tauriel and Kili had a romance, doesnt mean their relationship was greater. it was not. It was only different. Tolkien likes writing about great romances like Beren and Luthien, Arwen and Aragorn, but also about great friendships, like Frodo and Sam and Gimli and Legolas. They are not lesser relationships. Just different. And all 4 of the examples far greater then anything Tauriel and Kili got a little taste off.
This video just made me wonder... why did Gimli and Gloin and the dwarves in their company not go through Moria on their way to the council in Rivendel? Didn't they go there from Erebor? Surely they wouldn't have defaulted to some other route much further and where they wouldn't get a chance to see their kin.
Moria is way further south than the High Pass (which Gloin took as part of Thorin’s company some decades prior) when coming from Erebor. It would not be a shortcut but a significant detour. And considering there had not been any news of Moria for some years and they had come to Rivendell also to ask of news of Moria, they probably had some suspicions that something was wrong there.
Ah yes, their bromance. They were... roommates. Just lifelong best friend inseparable bachelor bros who broke all convention so they could spend eternity together. True, 100% bro-friend relationship, that. (I KNOW it wasn't written as anything more than an epic friendship, and goodness knows there's not enough strong, healthy man-man friendship in media, but this particular pair... I will never read it as exclusively that. Even though I acknowledge that that's most likely what it is intended to be. I'm not one to read every mildly polite same-sex interaction as queer the way it seems some people on social media do, but sometimes it just really does fit very well)
Tolkien was an obsessive editor. Granted, Legolas didn't appear until the third draft (his place in the Fellowship was originally taken by Glórfindel, a Noldo) but I am still skeptical of the claim that he didn't know how this relationship could be read. He must surely have noticed how Romeo & Juliet it all is: particularly in light of Gloin having been one of Thorin's Company and Legolas being The Elvenking's son. But he didn't at any point do the obvious thing, which would be to make one of them female. But then again, the languages Tolkien created make no distinction between friendship and romance. Categorizing relationships as definitely romantic or friendly is something that only became relevant in our society due to the fight for gay marriage. This story was written before that was even an idea.
A relationship can be full of love and respect and not be sexual. I think the fact that it wasn't is what made it so special and beautiful. True brothers.
While I understand where you are comming from, platonic soulmates is a thing. Soulmates are the most deep and loving relationships you can have. It mattes a total of 0 if thats romantic or platonic (people make an error believing romantic is the most powerful and meaningful love, it is not, it is but a kind of love, all forms of true love are equal, just different. And a soulmate(s) (you can have more), may that be platonic, romantic, or familial, will be the most important relationship in your lifetime. There are some very tight friendships I can read as possibly gay (Riku from kingdom hearts towards Sora comes to mind). But Legolas and Gimli do scream platonic soulmates to me. And I am glad for it, because platonic soulmates dont get nearly enough love in media. I am not talking just friendships, not even close friendships. Platonic soulmates goes beyond that, and because it goes beyond that people asume it must be romantic, because anything beyond a strong friendship MUST be romantic (again the misconception about romantic love). But no. A soulmate is a soulmate, it matters not if its romantic or platonic, it will be equaly powerful, equaly full of meaning. And theirs was platonic. (Thats not to say I do wish Tolkien showed love is of the soul, not of the body, and didnt have that outdated sex=married view and very everyone is straight stuff going on..but you know, work of it's time. There are characters in tolkien who where close I'd be sooner to read as possibly believably gay. But Legolas and Gimli? No. Platonic soulmates all the way. (for canon, I still love me some good fanon shipping.. hobbies and all that).
Beautiful video, lads. [Gimli approves. And by his side, so does Legolas.] We must appreciate how alien and exotic their cultures seemed, and they did not fraternize, nor mimic their counterparts unless to steal ideas and make it their own. As if two religion of different past - unable to coalesce into something greater. (What is that background music you use in your videos btw? It is mesmerizingly immersive.)
Another amazing video from the greatest middle earth channel out there. I follow and subscibe to a handful of middle earth channels but always look forwards to the broken swords content most. Keep up the great work. I would love to see a video on the history of the black gate and additions made by Gondor.
That is the strength and virtue of Galadriel, wish the amazon folk would have realized that. While physical strength and martial ability is needed at times in JRRT's works, they are not the ultimate and best virtues and are themselves a danger without the real key virtues. Charity, fortitude, hope those are what make the heroes of LRRT's works shine not the ability to easily solo a snow troll.
1000% the moria portion of lotr(books) is the most powerful writing imo! My favs are all from lays or lost tales, but I can reread this chapter and always be "there".
Why the hell did Gimli want strands of Galadriels hair?! Bit odd not gonna lie XD "Wow. Mine lady doth deliver thricethold strands of thy most beautious lockes. Thou shalt guard thee, mi' lady" - Gimli the simp lord, probably
My biggest issues with the Peter Jackson films was making Legolas so OP, and making the dwarves comic relief. I think Gimli portrayed as such a clownish figure lessens their friendship
I find that this problem is more or less solved in the Hobbit adaptations. The dwarves are still presented in a comical way, but their strength is better represented, especially compared to the elves. The strength of the elves lies in the perfection and precision of their movements. They are all identical and act identically. That's where their military power comes from. The dwarves, on the other hand, are not particularly strong individually, but together they form a formidable team, making the most of each other's strengths. They help each other instead of just going off and fighting their enemies on their own, like when they escape from Mirkwood or when they fight the trolls. Peter Jackson's adaptations have their faults, but we can get them that
@evaguljevatej but that's not borne out in the books. The dwarves are portrayed as being very physically strong individually. More robust than men or Elves.
And to anyone's knowledge neither did Legolas. Moreover Legolas is taking the one person he will not be parted from to Elf Heaven, so his dear one could be reunited with his crush Galadriel. And get to stay with together as long as permitted. Sounds like love to me.
goingg west is forbidden for men. i wonder sometimes as frodo is a TINY Man if will be rewarded with a swift paINless death for his chronic rinng pains. I have a baD KNEE SOMETIMES THE SAME.
As the three Ring-bearers, Frodo, Bilbo and Sam were granted the trip into the Uttermost West, not being killed at their arrival, but welcomed to stay till their deaths. Althought Gimli was no Ring-bearer, he took part and helped in Elf problems, so he was also allowed in Tol Eressëa.
