Rings of Power: The Missing Information (Ep7)

[@etsolomon6709]

Galu I’m so glad your doing this series. I started watching you channel in middle school. Now I’m leaving high school and I’m sad about your channel ending, but Very glad I could be a part of it while it lasted.

Interestingly, KZbin suggested I reply to your comment with "you got this". Silly AI. Thanks for your support over the years sir, I wish you nothing but the best for the future!

[@mateuszjokiel2813]

Funny how two stories can hit pretty much identical beats at times.

[@jj-tw6eu]

At 12:23, to answer your question I do believe Osse was part of Melkors OG gang either before or after the lamps were destroyed and he was redeemed through Uinen and Ulmo.

[@Bassic]

"Flower? That's not very...." Love Jess' unfinished thoughts :)

[@elodszekely5979]

Actually it was Durin VI reign when the Balrog destroyed Khazad-Dum. Durin IV fought in the last alliance.

One for the corrections next time. :P

[@spamhonx56]

On the Sauron V Feanor question: Sauron was probably more capable than Feanor, because Maiar, but the Silmarils are greater works than the Rings, I think capturing the light of the two trees gave them a boost in the power/significance rankings of tolkein's world. Besides, Morgoth waged war against gods for the silmarils, a ring containing the power and will of one of his servants would surely be of far lesser value to him. Rings: Maiar-level importance Silmarils: Valar level importance I think that logic holds up?

[@JeroenK94]

Really enjoying this! Watching with my wife: she has the exact same questions, but Galu is 100% better in explaining it so we watch it together:)

[@nottheeviltwin2]

Oh I love this! ❤️ if she has any that I miss do let us know 😊

[@neilgadsby3924]

I'm enjoying this series, and I'm glad Jess is twisting your arm to do more! Thanks.

[@mikeyfjune]

Your lore videos are the best on KZbin dude. Love they episode breakdowns too! Thanks for the content 👍

Thank you.

[@crazyboimatt]

Well he is probably the only youtuber going who has a positive word to say about the series. Thankfully, the majority of KZbin is rightfully tearing it down. The best part of this show has been the endless comedy it has produced all throughout youtube

[@MauriceTarantulas]

@@crazyboimatt Not thankfully....

[@josephharrison8354]

Well, Arondir says he's from Beleriand, which would lend credence to him being one of the Elves from Thingol's dominion - the Green-Elves, or maybe he's a Sinda.

[@BrasidasI]

Jess has amazing patience with Galu's incessant teasing about pronunciation and similar stuff, one starts to wonder if she only has to put up with this during these videos or all the time. Anyway really enjoying these videos, please keep doing them!

[@nottheeviltwin2]

I assure you it's all light hearted teasing 😄 I ask him to teach me how to pronounce words but my embarrassment in saying them incorrectly holds me back and I inevitably muck up. He is very encouraging of me 🥰 maybe one day I'll leave in the frustrating process of me trying to pronounce things in the way Galu does 😅

[@asheronel]

This is a really nice series so far! Some questions I really didn't thought about, but when you discusssed them, did had some interesting thoughts by them. Two of my speculation points after this video (and the 7th episode): - Could it be that Adar captured Celeborn in an earlier time, and that he was among the people who dug the tunnels like Arondir? And with the eruption of Mount Doom, he was able to escape and will be reunited with Galadriel (maybe in Lindon if she arrives with Halbrand)? - The star formation that the Stranger is looking for is in Eriador, specifically where the Shire will be, and that the journey will be in essence the founding of the Shire? The theory I have for the Stranger is that it will be more likely to be either Gandalf or Saruman. Simply for the reason that it's an Amazon serie. As you mention before, Amazon will do things that might not be lore-breaking, but at least questionable. So in my opinion: Amazon want the series to be referable to the films. Besides Galadriel and Elrond (and maybe Isildur/Elendil) there will be few characters in the series that were also in the films. Wizards are part of the films, so Amazon wants at least one wizard in the series. The most reconizable wizards are Saruman and Gandalf, and therefore it I think they will choose one of them. Although I would be in favor for one of the Blue Wizards.

[@knightslegion1731]

Agreed about magic. The one rule is that there are no rules. Whatever Tolkien fancied at the moment was what he wrote down. But I remember something about Galadriel opening fissures in the ground to bring down Dol Guldur. That seems pretty magical, but I could be misremembering that. PS--Also, Jess, "why is he so angry" was such a great way to word the Balrog question? 😂

[@thehunter7422]

Hard to believe even a vid being an hour long , it still went by as fast as a 5 minute video lol been loving these vids everytime after watching the episodes of Rings of Power. Even though apparently it's been said in an interview by the show runners that we might have to wait a couple years for every season ( assuming they're keeping the promise of 5 season's in total) hoping you'll be able to continue these until the series it's done cause these are awesome.

[@DarkCookie586]

Thanks for covering my question and making these episodes in general! Another question then: What do we know about the colonies the numenorians had? The show made it seem like Pharazon only agrees to send troops because he wants to control the land and its resources, but now we know the colony of Pelargir already exists. About the speculation: Although I personally dont like it, the theory of Halbrand being Sauron seems very likely to me. Now that he has been found away from everyone else and with a wound that just so happens to need elves to heal it, it looks like a very convinient way to get him near Celebrimbor.

[@delichonnl7744]

Celeborn and Galadriel were separated several times. He lived for instance with Elrond (participating in wars) and she in Lorien. He disliked the dwarves and didn’t like to travel through Moria, while she and their daughter used that route several times to go to Lorien.

[@modernenglish9756]

Hi, an example of someone bad/evil becoming good? Lobelia Sackville-Baggins... when she was greeted as a hero after the Scourging of the Shire she completely changed. She gave Frodo his house back and dedicated the rest of her life (and left all her money) to help those poor hobbits most affected by the battles.

[@toeknee3410]

I’m saddened to know you won’t be making any more content Galu, I appreciate your videos and the enjoyment you’ve brought me over the years. I hope you keep the channel up as I do like rewatching older vids and I still find the older modding videos useful. Best of luck however, your lore videos are without question my favorite.

[@thedoctor755]

Continuing to be a great series of videos! Thank you both :)

[@NewAge374]

Hi really thankful for these videos to get direct answers about what's happening in the show. They make me want to watch it so I can later hear you two answer stuff. Kind of late to the party but I wanted to return to the Durin question: The show seems to insinuate that the King Durin III has several children and that it's no big deal if Durin IV doesn't become next king, his brother would become prince and heir. It made me realise that I don't remember if Tolkien specified when in the life of a royal dwarf from the Longbear clan, the others would recognise him as the next incarnation of Durin. I suppose it would require a lot of soul searching too, so it wouldn't make much sense for it to be a younger dwarf. Or maybe the election of the new Durin would only happen at the point when the previous king laid down his crown or died. But then there's also this part of Dwarven culture that their Khuzdul names are unknown to strangers or those of other races. It would be odd for each Durin-like dwarf to have a similar Khuzdul name assigned at birth. If Galu can't answer this I'd be happy to read theories behind this naming and recognising Durin stuff, because it is quite unique in Tolkien's world. Only rarely do characters take the same name: even in the lines of kings and stewards of Gondor names are mostly new.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

I like to think *Celeborn* was one of the _First Elves_ who awoke in Middle Earth, follower of *Elwë* (Elu Thingol) who stayed in Doriath and never saw the light of the Trees. _First to arrive, last to leave_

[@RoseCityBBQ]

The silmarils captured the light and some of the essence of the two trees of valinor, pretty powerful stuff. The rings(or specifically The One Ring) was infused with a large portion of Sauron's power. Kinda apples to oranges. It'd be interesting to know if Sauron could have captured/infused the light of the trees into something he forged, that would help answer the question concerning which of the two was the better crafter. In my mind, I think a more fun speculation is that I reckon Fingolfin, (Feanor's younger half brother) could have whooped Sauron in a fight, seeing as he managed to deal so much damage to Morgoth himself.

[@TheMrAleksander]

Was curious about the whole Mordor naming thing and went back to check Mouth of Sauron's speech, which also refers to the realm as 'Mordor'. This could just be due to his audience, but then, he is also the closest reference of Sauron's personal views we have.

[@MercuryKnight5]

Finrod and Sauron's Epic Rap Battle.

[@ProffesoreTakilovski]

Great, new episode!

[@Pinkerton000]

As I have always understood it, the power reserved for Eru is the gift of the secret fire, the fëa, the "soul" equivalent in Tolkien cosmology. There is plenty of indication that Valar can create lower forms of life, such as beasts. Even the Dwarves, before being given the fire, were living and capable of showing fear when Aulë was commanded to destroy them. This suggests that the difference between life and "true life", which is reserved for Eru, is much more subtle than what you are implying here. And there is also precedent suggesting that mere beasts can be taught speech and changed in form without obtaining fëa, e.g. the eagles or Huan. I think Tolkien considered the fëa to be necessary for "true life", and the source of things like creativity and song, which was ever important to him. This is the grounding of the twisted "mere beasts" version of the orc origin.

[@yoanjaffrenou3352]

As always, great to see your videos.

[@natenichols9569]

Tolkien did explain it in the children of hurin during the description of how werewolves were made: they were bred from wolves for their size and cruelty, then imbued with evil spirits (hence Sauron is known as a necromancer). Their bite contained a poison of evil, not toxin.

[@Jeroen72]

Wouldnt it be an insult to cal her her father Ar-Inziladun?

[@JW-jd6sn]

Yes. It's completely ignoring all his beliefs

[@hunsler1006]

33:00 how do you challenge someone in song? Clearly never watched Tenacious D!

[@nottheeviltwin2]

😂 that is some imagery! 🤣

[@ukaszfrankowski9146]

12:25 Actually Osse, a Maiar of Ulmo, sided with Melkor at some point. Later Osse was brought back to the side of Valar by his wife, repented his actions, but still reteined some of furyness from time of his service under Melkor. I dont think we could consider this a going back from being evil, but he still come back from evil side.

[@jobvermeeren2542]

Indeed Galu, here's my answer: the Maiar who then take form, are part of the song that became. Whilst the elves came solely from Eru Illuvatar, meaning theyre more pure in a way. So Maiar may be more powerful than elves, but are they more like Eru? As such, the silmarils are better, they even burn Melkor, they are good.

[@jonnywieger]

Thanks for episode talkabouts!! can't wait for it to be revealed Sauron has been shagging (or at least creating the illusion of) Durin for years!

[@ciryatar]

Regarding the Balrog‘s „monstrous“ form: I‘ve never really subscribed to that idea and was a little disappointed at seeing the show portraying it essentially identically to Jackson‘s version. The way Durin‘s Bane is described in the book, I imagine something much more like what is essentially a huge person (though not extremely so: it fit into the Chamber of Mazarbul!) wrapped in a writhing mass of shadow, with a mane of fire atop its head. Much more humanoid, in a word, than the thing depicted in the films and show. Although I do think in their earliest conception, the Balrogs were more monstrous. Something more like Ted Nasmith‘s artwork - still more human than the Jackson Balrog though.

[@vincentkhatibi1439]

I think it will be very fun to see what Sauron will do with "Adar". my friend asked me what would happen to him. My response was that Sauron will destroy him in every single way possible. He is powerful enough to threaten sauron, (not really but kind of) and he is agaings Sauron with Saurons minions. the part about the rings and Anatar, it might just be that he does come back as a beautiful elf and Celebrimbor will just fall inlove with something he does/creates, the other ones will just think that its sus for where has this elf been if he is this good? I dont really know, im confused about what i think... they deserve some credit for making a decent show, but they have messed up enough to make fans not to really enjoy it as much...

[@glassyeti2342]

My understanding from the end of the episode is that Galadriel was taking Halbrand to somewhere for Elvish medicine for his wound. So maybe the're going to Lorien and they'll meet Celeborn there?

[@Darren5731]

I wonder if the battle in songs and galadriel singing the fortress into destruction is supposed to be a callback to the singing in the creation story

[@vincentkhatibi1439]

Hello Galu and Jessica ! I like the way you are doing these videos, they are so relaxed. But my question to you is, do you think amazon would dare to kill off isildur? I see that nobody has asked about it, maybe because we will know later on in the show... and how do you think that pharazon will become ar-pharazon? Does the people just decide that he is the new king?

[@DespondentJudas]

Please can we have a soul conversion chart? If 1 dragon = 5 eagles, presumably orcs=elves and ents=trolls. So how many dwarves per ent? or orcs per numenorian? On the magic in LOTR being vague- I prefer it that way, it makes the world more engaging for me. Also I see some of JRRT's Christianity there with the idea of 'mysteries'

[@Jeroen72]

The dance meeting is from the story of Berien and Luthien. It has nothing to do with Celeborn and Galadriel.

[@jj-tw6eu]

Its a throwback and reference to that story. Doesn't take away from anything. Weird criticism.

[@Don9872]

@@jj-tw6eu I think a wider criticism from people who know and like the source material would be that the source material is only represented in this weird scatter shot of Easter egg nuggets and not in the main body of the story of the show.

[@lancaster5042]

Question: why do you think halbarand could be Sauron? I’m struggling to understand why Sauron would be chilling on a raft in the sea at the start of the show? Maybe was trying to get to numenor to start his scumbaggery and the ship capsized but seems a bit far fetched. Also surely Galadriel will be taking him to eregion to heal his wounds as it is closer which would make more sense to meet annatar there? Speculation: I could imagine they even get annatar to heal him so the causal viewer suspects nothing!

[@Pentagathusosaurus]

Regarding balrogs potential becoming not evil, iirc even Sauron had a time of partial repentance, but because he was too proud to return to Valinor and sit under judgement of the Valar he eventually reverts to his naughty naughty ways. I assumed based of this that some of the balrogs were judged and allowed to repent and be rehabilitated in some way. Tolkien does explicitly say that nothing is irredeemably evil, even Orcs. This fits his Catholic beliefs, but idk if he writes of any evil being repenting

[@McHobotheBobo]

Utumno's depths reached into the very heart - the roots of the earth and deep tunnels run across Middle-Earth which the Balrog took to the deeps below Khazad-Dum. This is how the Orcs escaped Utumno's fall as well and spread across the world even before the fall.

[@JW-jd6sn]

Everywhere they have ignored the Canon lore, they make a mess in the show

[@ClubofInfo-Circulation]

I am sure there was a better way to make the series. They should just have set it during the most climactic events and accepted the long waits of thousands of years in the timeline, such as portraying all the War of Sauron and the Elves for Season 1 and then the fall of Numenor for season 2, then the Last Alliance for Season 3. That way, you have all the Elves cast in season 1 and then get to expand the cast in seasons 2 and 3 with Isildur, Elendil etc without contradicting any of the lore or leaving any cast members out (except maybe the dwarves being killed off in season 1). Instead they add all the characters in so they all live at the same time, then do absolutely nothing with the story that could justify this decision. It seems like they distorted and accelerate everything for no reason than introducing all the characters, and then made an absolute nothingburger of a story where all that happened is an attack on a dirty village.

[@rozed]

Is it ever said what language the Valar/Maiar speak? You mentioned amougnst the elves they spoke quenya, but had there own language to themselves?

[@imgoingforawalk1693]

Durin VI (in the third age) was the king when the balrog awoke, and was killed by it. Durin III received the ring of power (allegedly) from Celebrimbor and fought in the War of the Elves and Sauron.

[@TheBarrymore94]

On the significance of Durin's name, I believe the showrunners did acknowledge this at some point (possibly around the time of San Diego Comic Con) and claim they did have an explanation/resolution for having two at once, so I wouldn't completely chalk this up to them discarding the meaning. Jury is of course still out on how satisfying the explanation turns out whenever it comes round later in the series.

[@simonskauen8135]

I would love to hear at the end of this what Galu feel are decent changes they made.. and what he felt was really bad and just too lore breaking. And can't wait to hear what you both think of the show as a whole so far ☺️

[@thehumanity3324]

Gollum and Wormtongue as example's of turning away from evil? I thought Tolkien very much explored the theme of redemtion through Gollum's story, but maybe I misinterpreted.

[@MauriceTarantulas]

They didn't turn from evil...

[@thehumanity3324]

@@MauriceTarantulas Right. But the potential of redemption shines through though right? Just because it didnt happen doesnt it mean it never can. But you are mostly right, and if it is as rigid as Galu presents it it would (imo) be a flaw in Tolkien's worldbuilding.

[@freddiekeen1019]

Boromir, not to the extremes of 'evil', had a little moral comeback no?

I feel he was more used a pawn to show how the ring corrupts humans. He didn't willingly, without influence, turn to evil and then repent.

[@JW-jd6sn]

Feanor is the greatest elf to ever live. Imagine if he wasn't rash and didn't charge ahead, the 1st age would have been completely different

[@siamath9954]

I think at the very least dragons are "spirits" in the way the maiar are, just lesser spirits, like the spirits of nature (Goldberry etc.). So Morgoth basically created bodies for these spirits to serve him. It would make sense for the other creatures as well. A werewolf is kind of a man possessed by a beastial spirit so... I'd say similar rules apply?

[@mojo199]

I agree I hope and believe the Stranger is Sauron. He looks like a Maiar because Sauron was a Maiar. It would be very boring if they go with Halbrand for Sauron

[@nerdaholics1613]

Fantastically informative video as usual. Would love to see you do a livestream with Robert from In Deep Geek. I think my nerdy brain would have a meltdown at such a prospect 😂 Cheers Galu and Jess!

[@KingBarnaDuke]

Interesting stuff. Great video. Thank you.

[@kongsied4279]

Tolkien did say that the Palantir was beyond Sauron and Sauramon, but Idk imo🤔 I could not say, Fëanor created the artifact that kicked this shit into a different level of war. Morgoth was infatuated with the silmarils and dude could do a little bit of everything in his prime, before battling all of the valar combined, and when talking about Tolkien legendarium its difficult to have these discussions, like I love comics, but there is something almost Supernatural about Tolkiens works, it almost feels wrong to ask who is stronger, whos better at what, I myself get nervous doing it. If you put a gun to my head🤔, I would say Fëanor, but I not disagree with either

[@TheMonkeymonkeyking]

A bit late to the party but in the first episode you say something akin to the valar being bad, or rather not good. I was wondering what makes them so?

[@thehunter7422]

(continuing on the Sauron magic question you answered bout clouding Mordor in shadow ) as speculation, do you think he could've fused magic into Mount Doom itself to make the everlasting ash come through like we see in the movies ( along with the fact he used magic in the unseen world itself like with the Ring, Morgul blades etc . Or even the shows purposes, the sword Theo/Waldreg had as well) ? Would make sense especially he chooses that to be his place where he created the One Ring itself. Must have held some high power to that if he could've just created it in his Tower of Baradur etc lol

[@TETASARAIVACS]

About “magic”: There was Lúthien, who put Morgoth to sleep with her singing voice. Morgoth himself!

[@matwatson7947]

Yeah, but that had nothing to do with magic... It was just that she only knew one song and is highly overacted as a singer. That's what put him to sleep Tolkien explains as much in one of his letters ..

[@Kalstorm22]

Great video!

[@itsvick2416]

I didn't realise that Sauron made the Rings of Power, I thought it was Celebrimbor (?) What does Celebrimbor make? Is it something to do with Mithril? Also, if Gandalf has the more important quest why is he not the white wizard? is Saruman more skilled or powerful than Gandalf?

[@matwatson7947]

I think Tolkien would love the fact that so many people have different explanations of some of the facets (?) of Middle Earth. He wanted a Mythology and something that spark debate, discussion and disagreement. Even though we would love him to have explained all these things I think he would prefer it otherwise ... Sadly however, that leaves massive corporations the excuse of "well he didn't actually state" or they can quote one small translation, taken out of context and therefore have a legitimate semi-argument despite everybody knowing full well what he meant :(

[@cugan83]

I always thought Uruks were distinct from the Uruk-Hai. A slightly larger, stronger breed of Orc from Mordor, as opposed to Misty Mountain Goblins for instance. Possibly being the very variety of Orc used by Saruman as breeding stock for the Uruk-Hai because of the stronger genetic traits. I'm basing this completely from my own unreliable memory of the books and personal head-canon. Anyway, I'm really enjoying these videos and the master/apprentice loremaster-style insight from you both (Probably more than I'm enjoying the show)

[@matwatson7947]

That's what I thought as well

[@alexanderfeasley3312]

I really hope the Stranger isn't Sauron simply because we would be that much further away from the creation of the Rings and becoming established in Mordor. I enjoy this show but wow that mean things are really, really set back in terms of already slow pacing. But a speculation question: do you think it would be possible that the Stranger is a blue wizard and that the other one has already arrived in Middle Earth? Could it be that one will be good and that the other could be bad (and the cultists serve the evil wizard)? Simply because Tolkien describes them as both fighting against Sauron and joining him. Now, this could be entirely moot point which is answered in the finale.

[@CraftBeer4Life]

Halabrand did head out to get some Elvish medicine at the end of the episode. He could very well end up in Eregion. Maybe he could be Sauron. I don't want him to be though.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

Glorfindel was already ripped apart when PJ gave Arwen many of his deeds. Would they further rip him apart by giving Celeborn his “rebirth”?

[@talhaguner7428]

Dudeeee 😵

[@TETASARAIVACS]

No! Cirith Ungol is up north! That tower guards a passage through the Mountains from Gorgoroth to Nurn. Arondir crashed the tower, partially blocking the passage, so the Orcs had to circle all the way around the Mountains to attack the people in a village in north Nurn, one with a very safe tavern.

We answered the question in the video.

[@TETASARAIVACS]

The theory of the rebirth of Sauron being in the form of a falling meteor is the best of all, but is less likely.

[@McHobotheBobo]

Durin V was the Durin who faced the Balrog, durin IV sent soldiers to the Last Alliance of Men and Elves (and Dwarves)

[@kowo7795]

Great video. Theory: The cultists find the stranger, help him regain his memory and he realizes that he is in fact not good but actually Sauron. Hopes: he then takes the harfoots out of the show and we get a more focused story line on fewer characters eg more dwarven/numenorian/elven scenes.

I could not agree more. The only think I really don't like in the show is the Harfoots.

[@medburyminiatures9607]

wasnt durin the 6th the one who lost to the balrog? on the topic off things being evil being stuck as evil once they change, your right i cant think off any specific example off characters changing, mabyee at a stretch you could say dunlendings see hold up rohan arent so bad and chill out a bit, mabye even some off the noldor like galadriel, who yea ok wasnt involved in the kinslaying but let it happen, then being banned from valinor, then is eventually allowed back in, but i couldnt imagine tolkein intending it to be that way, as in a hard rule once you go evil you cant be redeemed, thats quite opposed to his catholic ideas, i think its more a case off yes a example dosnt exist where someone who willingly chooses to be evil repents, but thats not to say they can never, its likely to do with the same reason there is a lack off grey characters, lack not meaning its an issue just obervation there are so few, in lotr boromir/denother and gollum all tho too some degree off madness or some other influence, but gollums "arc" with smeagol and gollum, frodo seeing the good in him and sam the evil, ultimatly smeagol chooses gollum and to be evil in the end but the door was open for some form off redeption wasnt there? however the story had to have him be the living reminder off what greed and all off those things will do to you, and ofc be that reminder to frodo, frodo tho, he fails he turns around and says nope im keeping it, chooses evil, and naturally youd say, well that was the ring as outside influence extra ordinary powers, but really its just a symbol or personification off greed and lust for power, frodo fails, in the same way that he would if he was offered something equally as tempting, cant fathom what that would be like sams dream about making the world a giant garden whould be how he weilds the ring, but frodo is tempted, and choose "evil" its not as outright as the actions off other characters like the balrog, but i dont think you can say just because he wasnt in the clearest head space it dosnt count,

[@cesarjoughin]

Talking about creating dragons and stuff, I'm fairly sure that it's said that Glaurung is an evil spirit (demon) in a body, which I've always thought was a demon in a big flesh suit, but I might be wrong

So who created the demons? That suggests Eru gave life to evil himself.

[@mojo199]

43:00 Cirith Ungol was built as a Gondorian outpost

Geographical lore is more likely to be unaltered than historical lore. The show doesn't care if Cirith Ungol was built by Gondor but it does care that it is not in the right place.

[@tobiasthederp]

I can’t get over how you rip the show without ripping the show 😂

[@TETASARAIVACS]

Even if he will turn out to be one of the Ringwraiths, *Halbrand* must go to Eregion to meet Annatar aka Sauron (who maybe we will meet in the last 3 seconds of the last episode), *who is Disa* (joking)

[@FlyingDutchman3]

I was wondering if the person burning the hobbit houses might actually be Sauron or how did he otherwise make the hobbithouses burn if it is an ordinary person?

[@TETASARAIVACS]

Even not knowing the languages of Middle Earth, Gandalf would already have a much stronger affinity with the peoples, and not so with nature. Between both, the Stranger must be Radagast.

[@kravernar]

Technicaly, if we take the RIng of power serie into account, Galadriel is going to go from Evil (RoP era) to Good (Lotr Trilogy era) 😆 Also, i always tought werewolves and vampire were corrupted Maiars too.

[@BernddasBrotB7]

Osse worked for Morgoth and repented. Tar-Palantir is another example of someone repenting. The Dunlendings stop fighting for evil when they realise Saruman lied to them and there is a blink and you'll miss it implication of Orcs fighting against Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance, to name a few examples. As for evil things made by Morgoth. In Nature of Middle Earth the notes are provided that animals in the setting do not have souls, which is they key component that only Eru can provide (hence why Yavanna can make plants and animals). Therefore things like wargs/werewolves (personally I conjecture 'werewolf' is just an archaic term for wargs) are perfectly within his ability to create or at least mutate from other animals. Trolls could be tortured Ents or just very smart animals, hence ironically how stupid they are. As for the discussion of transferring souls... No. It's possible to frighten or bully a soul to abandon its body, which would create a zombie effectively, but there's no way to force a soul into another body. They'd just either refuse to do what you want or go direct to Mandos.

[@chrissim4386]

Regarding the name Durin I am pretty sure they´ve done it that way because of the points you mentioned. But just naming him Durin IV. without explaining would not have destroyed the context. It´s just the same as William not being called Charles.

[@darkembernovels]

No Celebrian means no Arwen means no LOTR. Way to go, Amazon!

[@marcogambo7354]

Didnt Saruman create the Uruk hai ?

Sauron and Saruman both had Uruks in their service, just under different names (Black Uruks vs Uruk-hai). Although, it is also argued they were different sub-species of orcs and were grouped together because of their outward similarity.

[@TheonlyHostName]

The Balrog came in the time of Durin the sixth. But its the correct Durin who becomes Friends with Celebrimbor.

[@juliankoning907]

I think Durin the III was the friend of Celebrimbor, Durin the IV fought in the War of The Last Alliance

[@TETASARAIVACS]

Sauron had many thousands of years more than Feanor to learn smithing. Sauron came much before Feanor, but I’m certain that at his time, Feanor was much better than Sauron was. Even Aule couldn’t make the things he could, right?

[@prdalien0]

Wouldn't Gollum be the key example of someone who was turned to evil being turned back to good? Until he relapsed at least.

Gollum *almost* turns back to good but he falls (pun intended) to evil at the end. We need someone who fully repents and leads a life of good.

[@shetlandapache949]

The magic issue makes me lose a little investment in Tolkien overall. As one of the major differences between his story and reality, you'd hope that would be a bit more fleshed out rather than just fill whatever gap you need with magic.

Agreed. I am reading Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive right now and the depth to the magic system, whilst quite overwhelming if you deep dive into it, is so refreshing. It is refreshing to have a magic system with rules and not just Tolkien's "the story has a gap = magic". In his defence though, the legendarium is all about languages and peoples and magic is very much an after thought that developed naturally and then he ran out of time to really discuss.

[@shetlandapache949]

@ yeah, I mean the story isn't meant to be investigating how magic works and there are still a bunch of very unique, groundbreaking ideas. It's sad that he was a mortal man and couldn't be around to flesh this out for me, but I guess we have to give a pass until we can clone dead people

[@ThomBartley]

Do any "normal" folk ever do anything of importance in LOTR? It seems like every single character is royalty, a noble, a god or some sort of socially important character. Even the Hobbits all come from rich and prestigious families within their own community. It seems to me like the show wants to create a modern narrative of rags to riches and grey mortality whereas LOTR is very much a tale where important people do important stuff and morality is much more black and white. Cheers!

[@ecthelion1735]

Sam.

I am with Ecthelion, Sam is probably the only 'normal' character in the whole legendarium. Maybe, at a push, you could say Angbor the Fearless. His deeds are notable for a human but he was the Lord of Lamedon so I suppose that fails the criteria as well.

[@nath9091]

Beregond in the books has no known nobility or significance as he's a random rank and file soldier in the 3rd Company but he saves Faramir. Edit: Maybe some of Thorins company too but we don't have much background on them. That said nobles generally have better training and resources and get the credit so it's not that unlikely although it maybe falls into the Star Trek thing of sending senior people on dangerous missions.

[@ecthelion1735]

Now that I think about it, Fatty Bolger, Farmer Maggot, and Barliman Butterbur are fairly ordinary folks. Maybe Ioreth from Minas Tirith as well.

[@andrewbevan8547]

Hi, just wondering if you could clear the air on this… my understanding of the books/lore is that Galadriel’s power/magic/might came from her wisdom, beauty and elvish royalty; in the show she comes across as a short tempered, naive albeit accomplished military commander. Some have suggested that the lore states that she is “Mightiest and Fairest” of the elves and the “Mightiest” part has been interpreted as mighty warrior. What is your interpretation of how Tolkien described Galadriel in the books?

[@eveblack7304]

Imagine if Amazon killed off Celeborn, who would be Celebrían's (Elronds wife) father?

[@LeftJoystick]

Halbrand

[@neilgoldsmith482]

Hallbrand is Sauron

[@neilgoldsmith482]

If this is the end of the 2nd age, where is Galadriel and Celeborn daughter Celebrian. She should be born. She falls in love with Elrond and marries him.

[@joelincz8314]

Thank you!! It's great to see you both do this :) Balrog being a Mayar can technically not be killed, correct?

[@matwatson7947]

Technically but as good as dead. Once the physical body dies they turn into a sort of spirit and lose enough power to do anything IF they aren't accepted back to Valinor.

[@ironwolvesproductions6283]

Slight correction: Utumno, as I understand it, is *not* the same as Angband, and was the original stronghold of Melkor (Morgoth). Utumno was far to the east...at least not in Beleriand, and would have been in the Forodwaith. With that said, I think I side with the speculation that the fortress that they travel to in the first episode was Utumno.

[@lordoblivion8038]

For me why they wouldn't bother on why making durin name reincarnation. As your wife said and i agree on. It would take a quarter episode to APPEASE the lore fanatics and lore content even the casual lore youtubers such as yourself. Let's face it. They only cater the casuals, they won't bother of important stuff that the lore and die hard deem it is important

[@Roflinmeboat]

Epic rap battle between Finrod and Sauron

[@westleystone6577]

Sorry this is not related to ROP but in Divide and Conquer how do I set an ambush on the campaign map? I saw it done in a video and can’t figure out how to do it.

[@sebastianellinghaus5025]

Maybe the stranger is Celeborn. )). Just kidding- am I?

[@jalektor9670]

I have a question on scaling. If the Balrog and Gandalf are similar beings, and Gandalf the grey is roughly equal to the Balrog. As he killed it but died in the aftermath. Is Gandalf the white a grade or 2 stronger? So he could handle the Balrog easier in a rematch for example? What does that say for the Witch king of Angmar as Gandalf the White seemed to fear him in the movies. Can't remember about the books. Also i am really enjoying your explanation of the lore and filling in the shows gaps. Makes me want to read more Tolkien!

[@Esquarious]

Letter 156 touches on this: The 'wizards', as such, had failed; or if you like: the crisis had become too grave and needed an enhancement of power. So Gandalf sacrificed himself, was accepted, and enhanced, and returned... I wouldn't put too much stock in the movie's version of events.

[@cass7448]

In the books there was a short confrontation between Gandalf and the Witch-King, but it was inconclusive. Having the Witch-King overpower Gandalf in the movie was likely for dramatic effect.

[@justinvanheerde4338]

How do you two like the series at all? I would give it a 2/10. It is quite sad how amazon is butchering Tolkien’s work.

[@sloeryjaats]

"the cult people, uhm the white people" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bluewhitespartan5258]

The Klan sucks ...