What were the Silent Watchers of Cirith Ungol? | Lord of the Rings Lore | Middle-Earth

[@GeekZoneMT]

Are the Silent Watchers one of the best Horror elements in the world of Arda? And would you have liked to see them in the movies? I'm delaying my video on the Defenses of Mordor to next week as it's taking me a while to finish my research (since it's quite a vast topic) and so I decided to remaster one of my older videos for this week's episode, as there was a lot of room for improvement. As always, subtitles are available and feedback is welcome!

[@rangerofthenorth1970]

I think that they were in movies. Altough we saw them just for a few seconds, I think that it was a scene when Sam entered Cirith Ungol.

[@GeekZoneMT]

Yeah we get a brief glimpse of them, though they don't seem to more than statues in the movies :(

[@Macumber773]

What happened to your voice and your accent to which I thoroughly enjoyed listening?

[@Paulafan5]

It would have been nice if it could have been in the film, but maybe it just didn't work. Peter Jackson loves horror and I'm sure he looked into using the Silent Watchers. Return of the King (the movie) is epic and while it would have been nice if this sequence was in there, maybe the film is better off without it.

[@starkrusher7474]

@Mufassa7413 yeah i mean no offense to this narrator he's good but i miss the old one

[@michaelfisher7170]

I read Lord of the Rings the first time in my life as a junior high school student. I think I was 14 years old at the time. Two scenes in the books actually manifested as dreams as I slept. The first was the Signal of Minas Morgul to Barad dur, commanding the advance of Sauron's army. The second was seeing the Watchers of Cirith Ungol...it was dark, they sat upon their seats, their faces looking in all directions. I'll never, ever forget dreaming those dreams. They were so real at the time. They also let me know I'd discovered one hell of a story.

[@markkettlewell7441]

I think it was the power of Galadriel one of the few living Eldar who has seen the light of the two trees of Valinor. The star glass captured the light of Earendil’s star which was due to the last remaining of the Silmarils that now shone on his brow. In the lore it is argued that Galadriel was more powerful than Feanor though not as skilled in craftsmanship. This light of the phial of Galadriel was stronger than the dark power of the evil spirits of the Silent Watchers. I think Galadriel’s foresight urged her to give such a precious artefact to Frodo as she had seen how it might be needed. My take.

[@karllarson5162]

Would you mind citing where it alludes to her greater power? Her discernment is definitely shown to be better in some ways than Feanor but power I am not sure where that is gotten

[@HMan2828]

The Star of Earendil represents the light of the two Trees, and the Flame of Anor, the light of creation itself, the same that Gandalf wielded against the Balrog, and the one thing Morgoth and his disciples fear above all else. It's also why it blinded Shelob permanently. It's way more than a fancy flashlight. More like a nuke in phial form... Really, Frodo should have worn it around his neck and basked in its light all the way to Mount Doom. He wouldn't have been affected as much by the One Ring... Also, Galadriel was born in Valinor before the First Age even began. She is the oldest and most powerful of all the elves.

[@alankelley227]

@@HMan2828 Galadriel is not the oldest of the Elves in Middle Earth, Cirdan certainly pre dates her. Her power was enhanced by one of the three Elven Rings, but this power was in the main for preservation.

[@valizawesome796]

@@HMan2828 the Flame of Anor refers to the light of the Sun though? Anor means Sun, like Minas Anor, or Anorien. The fire of creation was called the 'secret fire' or 'flame imperishable'.

[@HMan2828]

@@valizawesome796 "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass." -Gandalf, to Balrog

[@audreydimmel6674]

I remember reading the part with the Silent Watchers. I didn't know about the spirits that possessed them, all I knew was that there was something seriously messed up about them that couldn't be explained. Oh, the chill that went up my spine when Sam got past them and suddenly they were screaming...

[@EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal]

Orc1: ok today we're on construction work Orc2: where we building Orc1: cirith ungol entrance Orc2: ok what is to be Bulit Orc1: a large humanoid with three vulture heads and is also designed to look like a corpse Orc2: perfectly reasonable

[@GeekZoneMT]

😂😂

[@EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal]

@@GeekZoneMT I mean who else is gonna bulid them shelob

[@markkettlewell7441]

Shelob was the offspring of Ungoliant and she in her turn came out of the Void. I doubt orcs knew much of the sorcery to create silent watchers.

[@EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal]

@@markkettlewell7441 well no the orcs probably just told a higher up that the watchers were finished and he sent for the spirits to go inhabit them

[@markkettlewell7441]

@@EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal I would guess that is the most likely scenario. Orcs were scared of the Nazgul and wraiths in general. I guess they decided that they could live around a wraith so long as it was in one place and couldn’t wander around giving them the heebie jeebies 😅

[@lopirobinson1991]

I love how haunted Mordor is. A blighted stain on the map of Middle Earth.

[@Paulafan5]

It worked in the book, but I'm not sure if that scene would have played in a film. I'm sure Peter Jackson looked at ways of doing the scene, but Return of the King was already very long and maybe it just didn't work the way it works in a book. HP Lovecraft stories are incredibly creepy to read, but films based on his materials usually turn out poorly. Books and movies are two very different mediums.

[@justrusty]

In the extended version they show Sam walking past them. Perhaps Jackson did film it, but was not happy with the result, and left it out even from the extended cut. I have not watched all the documentary material that came with the extended version yet. Perhaps there is something in there? I suspect you are right about it not working on film.

[@benmccanain5504]

@@justrusty I'm pretty sure there isn't, I binged the entire collection over 2-3 days, but it was quite a long time ago, so, I could be wrong. In the film, the Two Watchers were shown though. But, the way it's shot, it isn't obvious that the statues had any presence. I didn't get the feeling that they were more than just statues, equivalent to gargoyles or something. If that makes sense.

[@saltedllama2759]

Well said, Paulafan5. Often times, movies aren't different from the books because the writers and directors don't know the material. Some things just don't work on screen, whether due to imagery, pacing, or continuity. That doesn't make the movies worse than the books either, just a story told to the best of their ability in a different medium. The purists who simply "wanted to see it" on screen isn't justification for it to be up there; nor would it have been an improvement.

[@dkt2365]

Idk some Lovecraft films translate fairly well, it's difficult to really articulate the scale and scope of cosmic horror even through the written word.

[@pokeyerface]

Its even bigger of a difference between anime and movies...

[@sadek__4952]

To be honest this narrator gives your videos an epic type of mood and makes your videos like a whole floor above other channels that talk about the same subjects. But If there were 2 versions of the video and one of them is with your own narration I would listen to both.

[@GeekZoneMT]

Thanks man, it's what we're aiming for! :D

[@damasek219]

I guess they could have been spirits of elves that lived during the times of the great trees and perhaps supported Melkor during their destruction. It is possible they knew Ungoliant, her story and story of Sauron afterwards and when expelled from Valinor they found refuge with Sauron. Once they heard elwish language and saw the phial of Galadriel, they were reminded of their own story and guilt and that dreadful memory was what caused the painful cry and why they turned their eyes away. Second theory might be that they are spirits of Numenoreans or men of Gondor who in former times sold themselves to dark arts during or even after Sauron's stay in the region. And then, when Minas Ithil's defences were built with help of occultists and wizards in services of Gondor, these spirits found fulfilment in serving as watchers.

[@eduardonevesreis4554]

There's a reason why Sauron is called the "Necromancer". He summoned and enslaved the haunted spirits of elves (and possibly men) who remained in Middle Earth instead of going to their respectives afterlifes. Many of these spirits could even have been his followers in life. And then Sauron trapped these spirits in objects or biological bodies, built by him, in order to create abominations, like the Silent Watchers and beings like the werewolves and vampires.

[@jamespercy6753]

I think that the name "Necromancer" only came about when Tolkien was looking for a word to describe what was keeping Gandalf busy in The Hobbit as a sub plot, hence the name was not used in The lord of the rings.

[@rule-of-three1483]

Something about that never struck me right. Do you really think Sauron has to power to deny Mandos his duties of office? That the Doom of Mandos can be thwarted by lil 'ol Sauron? Remember how Eru Iluvatar considered death a gift to Men? I suspect, like the Ringwraiths, that any spirit able to have their fate altered made a pact willingly. Otherwise we'd have Tulkas monkey-stomping everything in Mordor since Cirith Ungol was raised.

[@starkrusher7474]

@@rule-of-three1483No thats not quite right because in a quote that related Eru and Morgoth to God and Satan, it was clearly implied that all the evil and everything that happened was all part of Eru's plan. When Morgoth started doing evil stuff, Eru knew what he was doing and could have monkey-stomped him, but didn't. It's meant to be a main theme in LOTR that nothing Morgoth or any of his followers do in the end can alter the beauty of Eru's grand creation. So I disagree that those souls did things willingly, or at least not all of them, and suspect that Mandos wanted to send Tulkas over, but Eru was like "nah bro this is all part of it theyll get it figured out"

[@rule-of-three1483]

@@starkrusher7474 I am familiar with your point, and trying not to go too deep into Catholic doctrine, I think it strengthens my argument. I'd point first to the underpinnings of Communion, the ideal union of creator and creation. Without developing the theology too deep, the creators (Iluvatar/YHWH) conceptualize the greatest gift for their children is to be in harmony with their creations. We know what Eru Iluvatar considered to be a great prize, passing beyond Arda (aka joining Him), and what lengths he might go to include all of hi creations (even Sauron had a chance to make penance). There's only one thing that is unforgivable: crimes against the Holy Spirit (aka apostasy). This leads to automatic excommunication: you don't get to pass beyond and join. We can even see some evidence of it in the Melkor worship (perhaps those sacrifices we willing in Melkor's name), which moved Iluvatar's wrath, because thall shalt not worship my prodigal son and steal my grandkids. I'm trying to keep it light here, but I suspect that if anyone on Arda is keeping souls from Mandos or Iluvatar that don't want to be, you get monkey-stomped.

[@slappy8941]

@@jamespercy6753 Yet wasn't necromancy was one of Sauron's abilities granted by the One Ring.

[@imagoloop4819]

I’m sad their appearance in the films was underwhelming

[@GeekZoneMT]

Yeah, I suppose it would have been hard to depict it in the movies, and it would have prolonged the runtime :(

[@nerdbot4446]

My theory is that the phial is emitting not only visible light but also, let's call it "unseen light" (like infrared radiation in real life) blinding the watchers in the unseen world, just as the two trees and silmarils emit "full spectrum" light

[@halo091]

An esoteric phenomenon too

[@sayagarapan1686]

The light they contained were from a Silmaril, which held light from the Two hallowed Trees of Valinor and whose gems were additionally hallowed by Varda and burned any evil being that touched them, and some that come within their light. There does not need to be any "invisible radiation" aspect for them to be effective against the Watchers.

[@a2pabmb2]

@@sayagarapan1686 Yes, as Nerd Bot described it was not normal light. Way to repeat the same thing in a different way as if it were an argument.

[@alexiachimciuc3199]

Also gamma rays. When Frodo is angry he turns ...2 meters high and green! 🤪

[@marcremillard4052]

"Mr Spock, analysis." "The trees appear to be emanating radiation across the entire spectrum, Captain. Fascinating."

[@rangerofthenorth1970]

Thank for this, of all Tolkien channels your tophics are one of the most interesting....Cant wait for the next video....

[@GeekZoneMT]

Thanks man, I'm glad you enjoy the content mate!

[@markus-hermannkoch1740]

The power of the phial? Light akin to the light of stars and the sun, blinding to the watchers. Citing Aragorn on the perception of another kind of evil spirit, for the concept matches quite neatly: 'They themselves do not see the world of light as we do, but our shapes cast shadows in their minds, which only the noon sun destroys.'

[@johan.ohgren]

It seems the Silent Watchers and Nazgúl has similar powers. I'm heavily in favor of the Watchers being some long lost spirits of elves or men.

[@GeekZoneMT]

Yeah, agreed!

[@Enerdhil]

First of all, all elf spirits all go to Mandos. Secondly, there is no indication that any man's spirit can even exist after death except for the Nazgul. So I can't see how these evil Watchers can be elf or man spirits. It makes more sense that they are evil spirits that just follow Sauron and obey his bidding and that Sauron commanded them to inhabit the statues, with maybe the Witch King supervising their transport from Barad Dur.

[@woutmoerman711]

@@Enerdhil might be the best theory. How cruel to put these spirits into these statues for eternity.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

you forgot the oath breakers (created by a curse of the king of gondor) and possibly the barrow wights (created by a curse from the wich king of angmar). it seems the spirits of men can be forced to stay on the mortal plane through curse magic.

[@tgroeneveld8536]

perhaps the Silent Watchers were inhabited by the spirits of the human bearers of lesser rings of power.

[@papaurbix6817]

Great video as always :) As for the Phial of Galadriel, it held the light of Earendil's Star, which was the light od the Two Trees preserved in a Silmarill, so it's no surprise the will of the statues was broken by it :D

[@GeekZoneMT]

Yeah true, its one of my favourite artifacts of Arda!

[@redscorpion1090]

The statues of the vultures seem a bit out of place. I like to imagine the statues are from the East; Tolkien did mention "secret cults" that stemmed from Sauron worship

[@GeekZoneMT]

Mhm though they did a great job at looking incredibly creepy!

[@PetterssonRobin]

Hmm those secret cults in the east stemmed from the blue wizards that were sent there to stir people up and disrupt Saurons chances of getting supply and reinforcements from the east. I agree though that the states might have come from the east

[@shanenolan8252]

They are a bit like gargoyles in castles and old churches.

[@Mornomgir]

Tolkien borrowed the idea for these from our own world. Gargoyles, anubis statues, the vikings eye of oden and so on. Interestingly throughout our own world cultures that never touched eachother used the open eye as a ward against evil or intrusive forces. Thus you will find the eye in almost all places of importance, sacred or otherwise. be it from the simple symbol to the statues of anubis, in most countries and most cultures. If you look hard enough you will often find a stylized eye somewhere even in cultures where the eye itself held not so great an importance. On the tombs of kings and queens and men of faith.

[@ronniesanders8546]

I saw the 1980 animated Return of The King Movie. I remember Gandalf said a dreadful evil abode within them and they were aware. Samwise had to get past them. Cause they had the power to block anymore from entering Cirith Ungol. He used the Phial of Light from Lady Galadriel. 😆. 🙌.

[@GeekZoneMT]

Yeah they appeared in that movie :)

[@idipped2521]

I loved the animated Tolkien movies back in the day but I don't remember that part

[@nrm224]

I’ve always felt that the laser-eyed statutes in Never Ending Story basically ripped off the Silent Watchers.

[@parmarcusriveraoman9094]

If the Silent Watchers were possessed by disgraced elves, it is likely that the phial of Galadriel reminded them of the true call of the elves and and they retreated out of shame and and self-pity.

[@kareemhowsia9697]

That make sense

[@sigmasquadleader]

That is very much in-line with Tolkien.

[@redbook8837]

Thank you for this explanation!!! Love your work!

[@GeekZoneMT]

Thanks budd! :)

[@therainbowranger84]

The Two Watchers in the R/B version of "The Return of the King" gave me the shivers when I first saw it. Especially with Gandalf's narrating along with the artwork and eerie music provided by R/B Production. I always get the same "hide under your covers" feeling when I hear the Abominable Snow Monster's theme music from R/B's "Rudolph" and the tree monsters of The Wild Woods from R/B's "The Wind in the Willows".

[@johnwade7760]

Part of JRRT’s genius is to leave some origin stories vague. The reader’s mind gets to create its own back story which may be more satisfying than having everything spelled out. Like a master painter might give us the impression of a tree to be completed in the viewer’s mind.

[@MrChickennugget360]

plus if feels much more like you are along for the ride when you don't know understand how everything works.

[@ladyalaina42]

Your reading of this scarey subject is wonderful! Will look forward to more!

[@Goatcha_M]

Its pretty clear from the text that the Phial broke the Watchers' Will, just long enough for Sam to get through.

[@LordOfNothingreally]

The Phial of Galadriel captured the light of Earendil's star, which wasn't actually a star but the light of the Silmaril saved by Beren and Luthien and passed down to their heirs. The Silmarils were hallowed by the Valar and no evil could endure it. The Watchers would have been staring directly into holiness and that frightened them and they were forced to look away.

[@connornewcombe4319]

If no evil could endure it, how come morgoth was able to wear them on his crown

[@LordOfNothingreally]

@@connornewcombe4319 I would imagine putting them in the crown was necessary. They burned his hand when he held them, so much that the pain never really left him. Even still, due to the Silmarils, the crown was described as being so heavy that it gave a deadly weariness - if he weren't immortal it probably would have killed him, crown or no, but in either case putting the gems in a receptacle prevented them from touching him directly

[@connornewcombe4319]

@@LordOfNothingreally Thanks for clearing that up👍

[@aputridpileofb-movies6542]

Could the Silent Watchers have something to do with Tash? Beaky Skeksis like face, check Lots of arms, check Spiritual nature, check Overall evil, check

[@WitheredHeath]

I would love to see a video about all the evil elves!

[@Senio6667]

Wish we had seen the scene of Sam and the watchers in the movie. I wonder why sauron didn't have some watchers guarding the entrance to mount doom

[@GeekZoneMT]

Yeah to be honest that's why I think that they were probably not Orc spirits (which would have been an abundant resource to Sauron), because otherwise he could have simply filled Mordor with these statues

[@MasterMalrubius]

@@GeekZoneMT Maybe they were the spirits of the two blue Wizards we never heard of again. :-)

[@origami83]

@@MasterMalrubius Oh i like that theory :)

[@MrChickennugget360]

@@MasterMalrubius that would not work since similar statues are located in many places- Minas Morgal, the Black Gate and probably other locations. As for why not the Samath Naur i would argue that Sauron never thought to guard it since he never imagined anyone Destroying the Ring of power (or having the will to destroy it)

[@ravenhill_of_midsummer_1968]

i remember this part of return of the king, read it long ago now..

[@GeekZoneMT]

Yeah, I loved this part in the books, I'm a big fan of the subtle horror elements in Tolkien's works

[@cabotclarke9]

Amazing to hear Gehrman's theme from Bloodborne in a video like this but much appreciated!

[@logicaldude3611]

This was one of my favorite parts of the books and I wish Jackson had included them in the movie.

[@shanenolan8252]

Yes necromancer is a specific term ( raising the dead with dark magic).

[@TheHornedKing]

It comes from the Latin word "necromantia", which comes from the ancient Greek words "necros" (corpse) and "manteia" (divination). Necromancy can thus be translated as "divination by means of the dead". Historically, it had very little to do with creating and controlling undead minions, or any other form of death magic, and was all about talking to the dead and gaining knowledge from them.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

the thing is Tolkien didn't always use words in the traditional 'specific' terms, his werewolves for example are just intelligent wolves with evil spirits, not man-wolf things.

[@shanenolan8252]

@@matthiuskoenig3378 true something similar with vampires, but the necromancer as sauron makes sense, technically he raised the ring wraiths from the dead or it will have seemed so to the people other than the white council. Im sure there are a few other terms he used that can be confusing.

[@thedescriptor410]

Somehow the Watchers made me think of the Girdle of Melian... and how Galadriel protected her realm. Similar powers...

[@generalbutterscotch4887]

You know, something just struck me. When you brought up how the one ring's "invisibility" works again, it made me wonder something... if being transported to the wraith world is what makes you invisible to mortals, does that mean that staying in the physical plane (in other words, just generally being alive) make you harder to see from a spirit's perspective?

[@witherwolf3316]

Harder to see, yes, but hearing is compounded.

[@donaldbadowski290]

I think it more likely that Sauron pulled down spirits, Ainur, who are neither Vala nor Maia, and invest them in physical objects like the Watchers. This is not limited to Sauron. Galadriel had her Mirror, which could show past, future, or possible futures. Celebrimbor brought down lesser spirits to inhabit his first rings. Sauron showed him how to bind even more powerful spirits to rings, making the Rings of Power. Remember that Elves have an "in" to the spirit world. And so do other creatures.

[@UnswimmingFishYT]

Definitely one of the creepiest things Tolkien came up with. I'd guess they were inhabited by some sort of deeply corrupted, likely undead people. Maybe Black Numenoreans who died and were controlled as ghosts of a sort, used as powerful guards.

[@celestialspartan1176]

9:25 I think this is what monolith took reference to when writing Celebrimbor for Shadow Of Mordor and Shadow Of War.

[@smithy3211]

Im so addicted to ur videos, geek. Good edits btw :DD

[@krolpolak6317]

Ole Sauron should of put those things at the entrance to Mount Doom

[@halo091]

Sam had the ring on him at the time he passed the watchers.. he had the stronger will because of the rings effect

[@MrChickennugget360]

i think anyone with a strong will could pass the watchers. After all why have any other defenses if the watchers are practically invulnerable.

[@halo091]

@@MrChickennugget360 he wouldn't be able to without the ring. The ring creates a powerful aura. Similar to the kind of fear the nazgul project

[@kharnagor]

That Warhammer music tho 🤌

[@andrewsmallacombe9468]

Don't forget that the Orcs said that getting past the Silent Watchers was "Tark's (Dunedain's) work"

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

(Dunedain not Dudain)

[@andrewsmallacombe9468]

@@matthiuskoenig3378 Thanks. That's what you get for typing on your phone without your glasses)

[@arjun220]

loved the bloodborne background music

[@Raz.C]

Why did the Phial of Galadriel help Sam? I had always assumed that it was because... The phial contained the light of the star of Earendil. Which meant it had the light of a Silmaril and since the Silmarils were all hallowed by Varda, I had assumed that the light from the Phial of Galadriel was also hallowed, since it was the same light. That's what I had always assumed was the reason why the Silent Watchers were repulsed by the light of the Phial.

[@scottfitzpatrick1939]

What a time to be alive its like a golden age of Tolkien. These pages are like ivy league level dive into the topic.

[@jaumealcazo6386]

Good chapter! Good narration. Soothing voice.

[@Pricegtx90]

I believe that they may actually be the spirits of corrupted Maiar the Melkor may have corrupted after his falling out with Ungoliant.

[@Dolorin123]

Fun fact: There is a really good 80's metal band named Cirith Ungol. :D Check out the song "Join the Legion"

[@markkettlewell7441]

In the book of Lost Tales “The Return of the Shadow” CJR Tolkien collates notes his father wrote concerning elves and that they could not be subjugated into undead wraiths due to their linkage with the world. Feanor was perhaps the most wicked of the Elves bringing down doom upon the Noldor and responsible by the Kinslaying of Alqualondë. When he perished it was written that Feanor would remain long in the Halls of Mandos in the Silmarillion. Men were readily susceptible to becoming wraiths as unlike the elves they were not immortal and when made so by black sorcery they just got older and withered into bitterness and hate as they remained chained to Sauron as wraiths and could never be free unless Sauron himself perished.

[@MrChickennugget360]

he also wrote about Elves who refused the call to the west being turned into wraiths.

[@markkettlewell7441]

@@MrChickennugget360 I don’t think so.

[@MrChickennugget360]

@@markkettlewell7441 he did

[@markkettlewell7441]

@@MrChickennugget360 I’m intrigued. Where did Tolkien state this, maybe I missed something 🙂

[@domenikkunz9798]

@@markkettlewell7441 I think I recall that it was possible for elves to turn into wraiths or wights, if they refused to answer the call of mandos, but I could be wrong.

[@jameshunting730]

i somewhat think that they are maiar Spirits because there powers seems really strong and the only comparable evil characters are the nazgul and Balrogs. But maybe there are something completely different like the watcher in the water or ungoliath. That would be even more terrifying.

[@jeffdingle9677]

It makes you think that had Tom Bombadil been a greater influence during the War of the Ring, he might have been able to walk right past them undetected or perhaps he might have been able to permanently neuralize them - like he did with the barrow-wights. Sadly it never happened but I'm sure it would have been a sight to see though - had it happened....

[@josephjohnson6849]

True, and it makes you think if he could be killed. He's supposed to be arda personified, arda knowing itself, or something like that.

[@rionaleroux8539]

It's definitely the case that the light itself was what caused the watchers to falter. The Phial captures the light of Eärendil, which is the light of the Silmaril on his brow. Silmarils when held by those of impure spirit caused physical burns on them. Morgoth's hands were burned forever after, for example, and he was mightiest of the Valar. It stand to reason, that even a diluted light of the silmaril would cause similar effect, especially among lesser evils. Look at the effect it had on Shelob, the strongest daughter of ungoliant. Of the evils of the world, I would venture to say that the phial would have held against all but Sauron and the Nazgul

[@whitestar7641]

I believe that the Phial of Galadriel did have a large part in itself that made the Watchers fear. We know that the Phial contains the light of the Elves most beloved star Earendil this star is actually the light of a Silmaril. The Silmarils themselves are an extention of the Two Trees of the Valar, and the Two Trees are an extension of the Valar who are an extention of Eru. I believe that the Watchers knew the holy light of the holy Lords and were frightened from their power and wrath, thus the Phial's light broke their immensely powerful will to fear.

[@smudgepost]

It wasn't until you said 'join our fellowship' that I felt the need to hit subscribe. Pro move! Great content..

[@maegliinvalantor6441]

Well, remember, Sam was also carrying the one ring.

[@danielgehring7437]

I like to think that the spirits inside the statues were kind of already always there, guardians of the mountain perhaps, and only had to be bound to physical forms because that was the only way Sauron could bind them to his service. Although realistically I kind of wish they just hadn't been included at all. I know it's practically blasphemy to say on a channel like this but they don't _do_ anything. Their whole service to the plot is to ring a bell, (which ultimately _also_ doesn't go anywhere,) so they could have easily been replaced by, like, a trip rope; with the added advantage that a trip rope wouldn't create all the loose threads after it's been dealt with.

[@raydavison4288]

T he phial contained light from the silmaril that Earendil & Idris carried to Aman. The "watchers" couldn't resist it's power. Remember that the silmarils contained the light of the two trees destroyed by Melkor & Ungoliant.

[@vesawuoristo4162]

There are these in Lotro , Lord of the Rings online. Couple of quests involve them. Not located in Mordor tho but Angmar.

[@ernestschroeder9762]

The necromancer was the witch King who saruman said to the white council that there was no point in attacking as he was searching for a ring in that region which had already flowed to the sea.

[@ernestschroeder9762]

@@NorokVokun what I meant was the white council thought that the necromancer was the whitch king. If they had known that sauron was there they would have acted earlier.

[@durwinpocha2488]

The light of illumination. A phyle of knowledge, an understanding of something true and new to you. Is my guess.

[@ernestbatiy1070]

That cry is amazing

[@Goatcha_M]

They're probably lesser spirits, weak Maiar of Morgoth and later Sauron's service, same as the barrow wights.

[@Prague4Introverts]

Masterful rendition, probably by a professional actor, but I loved the original voice - and accent. It was cute and special. :-)

[@di3486]

I actually found the accent distracting. I prefer this one.

[@Ronirvan]

One of my favorite parts in the story.

[@tincano-beans2114]

I was confused as hell when I saw this, knowing I had already watched it before lol.

[@GeekZoneMT]

It's a lot more polished than the older video :)

[@FerencPusztai-gh6kn]

What happened to the 2 Teeth of Mordor after Sauron falling?

[@shanenolan8252]

Thanks guys

[@sayagarapan1686]

By their very nature men are weak willed, as attested by nearly every word breathed about them in LOTR. Ring-Empowered men/Wraiths were an obvious exception, but I think as a general rule, fallen, disembodied Elves have both the greater will and greater power, and would be more suitable for enslavement to such magical artifacts having already a very great influence over the unseen, another aspect not touted in men. There are also lesser Maia that would suffice, such as the minor spirits whose greatest, most terrible manifestations accomplished were those of great Orc Lords. Hardly epic if you ask me, and on a par with the resistable will level of the Watchers who, had they been greater beings, would be wasted locked in one location against seldom possible intrusions, a job more suited to a Mall cop or Armed Security than actual Police. Their ability to create resistance against intruders so movement becomes a strugglebus reminiscent of Legolas's words when hunting the Hobbits through Rohan, saying that it felt like an evil will had been set against them from afar (which by its potency can onlty refer to the fallen Maia, Sauruman).

[@greeeyboy2714]

that was really cool thnx shout-out to the Witcher 3 and Bloodborne ost too, sets the mood

[@waltuh11121]

8:00 my man using Bloodborne OST in the video, very good taste

[@imortalgamer4566]

I must have missed something where is Karl like we love you Liam but I must have missed something somewhere

[@bluebowser3121]

What happened to Carl? I liked his accent in the older videos.

[@Baulx138]

Really like the music in this vid

[@optimoespacio]

Need to reread this but I always took the guardians as being a lasting remainder of the numenorians, this watchtower was built by them and the gate guarded faces Mordor. The guard blocks everyone orc and hobbit. This is the mastery of the numenorians much like orthanc and the palantir etc treasures rescued from numeanor.

[@NatsAstrea]

I wonder how the story would have turned out if Sam had put the Ring on Frodo - to hide what Sam thought was Frodo's dead body - when the orcs came down the tunnel? Frodo was unconscious, so would Sauron or the Nazgul have become aware of him?

[@nopenope3228]

Hi, noob question here: Can someone please remind me what happens in the end with the light of Galadriel? Thanks.

[@hitrapperandartistdababy]

Am I hearing Witcher 3 and Bloodborne themes in the background? Nice 👍🏻

[@xellyxbellyx]

I greatly appreciate the bloodborn music.

[@chrismusix5669]

Darkness must give way to Light.

[@oleksandrmelnychenko4709]

Outro music is Christopher Larkin’s white palace ambience from the Hollow Knight.

[@danewilliams4041]

Silence is not fully golden.

[@isiseejanuarieRA1788weareUtube]

The ring was melted into a vulcano fire...

[@jamiegregg9211]

enjoyed the video i think the watchers are the spirits of the gondorians slain during the fall of both cirith ungol and minas ithil

[@dustyfox6511]

An invisible barrier that was invisible, you say?

[@gabrieldavid4250]

De Ja Vu, i swear i've seen this video a long time ago ''a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one''

[@isiseejanuarieRA1788weareUtube]

For the power as all power is not a physical flesh blood or metal thing, but of light with divine intention.

[@TheHuntersHardcorePubsTeam7305]

Love Your videos 👍

[@jacobshore5115]

That barrier sounds kinda like an evil version of the Girdle of Melian, the Maia who guarded her husband Thingol’s realm of Doriath.

[@greywolf850]

Unnatural Elven light 💡 weakened the dark Lords watchers into fear … for the LIGHT exposes darkness

[@brendanmuller7301]

Towards the end is that music from bloodborne?

[@Empreur500]

So, the magical barrier or lights around Minas Morgul might be also originating from those watchers? Or are these more of an evil spell from the Witch King?

[@plugmonkey100]

What’s the music at the start of the video?? It’s really bugging me 😅

[@bobleonheart9600]

I've always felt that the Phial of Galadriel was a mere placebo. I mean it's naught but the reflection of star light trapped in the water. That's not to say that it isn't an important artifact though as it carried the weight of belief. Frodo and Sam... the only people to actually use the phial... believed very strongly in the phial and that belief is what gave them strength. The truth is that I don't think the Phial affected them as much as they affected it. The light that shone from the phial was a reflection of the light within them. I mean it is the same water that Galadriel used for her mirror... the mirror which showed the fear that lay within them. The thing is Galadriel was a liar. It's said that most of her power came from Nenya. Nenya wasn't a ring of prediction, divination or any of the sort and honestly before we are introduced to her mirror there is no suggestion that she has such powers. So what's the deal? Well she was an enigmatic character known for lying or omitting details in order to encourage certain behaviours or personality traits within people. Take Frodo and the mirror. He was by this time losing the will to continue having just lost Gandalf and the main reason for him bearing the Ring to its destruction was waning. When he looked into the mirror he saw the Shire ablaze and in ruin... the very thing he wanted to stop by destroying the ring in the first place. Her speech to him following that vision was mainly focused upon encouraging him to continue and to harden his resolve. Which not entirely coincidentaly could be described as making him adamant. I say not a coincidence because the ring she bore was the Ring of Adamant and this would make total sense if her powers came mainly from the ring. So yeah, the Phial is a placebo and serves the same purpose of hardening the resolve of the people who use it. The light that shines forth from it is a reflection of that resolve. Think about this too. The times when the phial failed to work were those times when the characters using it were at their lowest.

[@SW-fn7cl]

I like like theory it def ties in with the idea of the hobbits finding their hidden strength rather than having it given to them in any way

[@hithere6486]

2:06 isn't that music from the Witcher 3 Soundtrack?

[@IgorValar]

doesnt the phial of galadriel contain the light of earendil... so the light of the silmaril attached on his flying ship... silmarils contain the light and essence of the two trees on arda which were destroyed by morgoth and later replaced by the sun and moon... so no suprise evil spirits would fear and weaken in such light... guess even the nazqul would be strongly affected by this phial

[@Omnifarious0]

The phial captured the light of one of the silmarils. Were there differences between the silmarils?

[@Vandervecken]

Maybe they were souls sucked out by Sauron through the Palantir of Minas Ithil. Who knows how many stewards' servants got into worse trouble than Pippin messing with the palantir of Minas Tirith? Must have been many opportinities. I can see a Palantir doing this under the direction of a maia who had perfected such domination of souls. Mind AND soul manipulation are Sauron's specialties.

[@SW-fn7cl]

That's a cool theory 👍

[@Vandervecken]

@@SW-fn7cl tanks :)