The Palantiri Explained

[@illyth63]

Denethor's obsessive and despairing use of the Palantir is maybe the best literary depiction of doom-scrolling.

[@TOBAPNW_]

lmao Tolkien was a prophet

[@gowanmetal]

Denethor is basically watching the Middle Earth version of Fox News and it wrecks his brain.

[@HansLemurson]

"Inside the secret Orc base the Elves don't want you to know about!"

[@Yungshamgod]

wtf is doom scrolling

[@illyth63]

@@Yungshamgod if you had typed your question into Google instead of here, you'd have gotten your answer quicker, but: "Doomscrolling or doomsurfing is the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online. In 2019, a study by the National Academy of Sciences found that doomscrolling can be linked to a decline in mental and physical health." (Those are the first two sentences from the Wikipedia article on Doom-scrolling.) Glad to help.

[@leeboy26]

I like Sauron's angry palantir phonecall via Pippin in the books like he's chewing out an employee.

[@MerkhVision]

Oh right! Because at first Sauron thought it was Saruman contacting him through it, and Saruman had not reported to him like he was supposed to for quite awhile by then. It was like the boss chewing out an employee for being late to work! LOL

[@SpaceCowboy57]

_touches palantir_ "PER MY LAST EMAIL..."

[@Nick-rs5if]

@@SpaceCowboy57 😂

[@sadtown]

Sorry wrong number

[@cahillp3]

Sorry Sauron you must have got a wrong number when you called just now

[@richardmather1906]

Re: the strength of Denethor: it is worth noting that when Denethor looks in the stone the last time, he knows where Frodo is with the Ring and he knows what the plan is (having been told by Faramir). Despite being in the process of losing his mind, Sauron does not learn of it. That, IMO, speaks to the strength of Denethor's will. As we are told in the appendix, he and Aragorn were appeared to be as alike as near kindred.

[@fjccommish]

If it were me looking into the Palantir, you'd speak of Sauron's strength in keeping something from me. Actually, he'd give up knowing I was against him.

[@bodhijoe163]

@@fjccommishfor some reason i dont believe you buddy

[@fjccommish]

@@bodhijoe163 Reality isn't hinged on your beliefs.

[@bodhijoe163]

@@fjccommish prove it

[@bricelory9534]

​@@fjccommish what a ridiculous comment.

[@NameOptional-p9u]

I think Denethor's "fall" is probably a very sad one. I image that at one time he was a very exceptional leader. Boromir himself was an exceptional leader and so was Faramir.

[@Crypt696]

Both of them hated their father, Boromir who retook Osgilath. He sent him as emissary as Gondor to Elrond's council. Faramir killed himself trying to save Osgilath later after Boromir died. Faramir died For No reason whatsoever other than trying to win his father's pride.... Even Gandalf tried to reason with them

[@Arcsec69]

@Crypt696 Yes, they disliked him. "Hate" is maybe too harsh. It was still their father after all. Denethor became steward one year after Faramir was born. So there was plenty of time for Sauron to try to corrupt him. He became steward in very hard times, and had to carry the weight of the biggest nation at that time on his shoulders, which also was right on the front to Sauron and his armies (both to the east, south and north east). And on top of that: He didn't get the recognition which he deserved, because Aragorn in disguise became a hero of the nation, and then suddenly vanished, and left Denethor with all the shit, just to come back decades later, to take it all away from him again. He saw through Aragorns disguise and didn't trust Gandalf either, because he knew that Gandalf wanted the king back on the throne. Faramir was very good friends with Gandalf when he was a child, and so Denethor became mistrustful of him. And so on... It's a gross oversimplification of the matter, maybe someone would like to expand on that. But Denethor is such a well written and realistic character, in a world filled with black and white, which is why I like him so much. I don't know if you have read the books or just saw the movies, but Peter Jackson wanted the viewers to despise Denethor (he thought it would make the movies better). That's why he's extra unlikeable there. I hope this text isn't too chaotic, and that I could give you a bit of an insight to the matter. I recommend watching "Denethor - The forgotten hero?" by Darth Gandalf here on KZbin. He explains it much better than me. Oh, and spoiler alert if you haven't finished the movies or reading the books: Faramir didn't die

[@Ed-zp2xo]

​@@Crypt696Faramir lived. He marries Eowyn

[@Svensk7119]

​@@Crypt696Faramir did not die.

[@Svensk7119]

@@Arcsec69Thou needst not apologize in thy post to Cryptic.... your thought process is clear, as is your diction. You speak very well, and I agree with your assessment. Denethor was an excellent character, and very human. A High-end human, unlike Barliman, and in many ways like Aragorn, but Aragorn as if he had failed. I also point out, to Cryptic, that his sons loved him, (Denethor), and he loved them. His madness at the end showed a man broken because of his love. And I loved the closing comment to Cryptic!

[@frjamesbozeman5375]

I've read LOTR a billion times, but never put together the timing between Pippin looking into the stone of Orthanc, and how Aragorn's using it so quickly after this actually was very important in tricking Sauron into thinking that Aragorn had conquered Isengard and must be the new possessor of the Ring. Such good writing on Tolkien's 's part!

[@disgruntledtoons]

The part where Gandalf first takes the palantir from Pippin is parodied hilariously in Bored of the Rings: "You can't eat it, so you have no use for it."

[@splatten8597]

Great spoof! 😂

[@shift0]

It's interesting that the Palantirs not only misguided Saruman and Denethor to give them a wrong idea about reality, they also critically misled Sauron himself.

[@alarageref2481]

An important lesson that knowing more facts does not help you perceive reality more clearly

[@1234macro]

@@alarageref2481 That's the wrong lesson here. Only knowing half-truths blinds you to reality.

[@green_dragon_knight]

3:20 palantiri “video calls” - now I can only see Aragorn vs Sauron’s battle as a frustrating Zoom call where both are fighting over the screen share function for their duelling PowerPoint presentations 😂

[@nthgth]

Lmao 😄

[@brianmessemer2973]

I chuckle at "duelling Powerpoint presentations" 😂

[@bobf5360]

with slide titles like "Orc Productivity In Q4", " and "Seven Reasons Elves Are Just the Worst".

[@SecondSince]

"I am not a cat!!" - Sauron

[@_anneli_]

​@@SecondSince🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Unknown-jt1jo]

In Deep Greek is great. He's clearly super-knowledgeable about the source material, but more than that--he's thoughtful and insightful, almost philosophical. Plus, he has a great voice and great delivery.

[@BodywiseMustard]

Zorba

[@bobf5360]

I love this channel too. Whether it was Tolkien or Robert's interpretation, though, I don't think the "directionality" of the palantir to see individual people makes very much sense. Take just a moment to think about that. If you have ever done archery, or target shooting, or used a telescope, you know that the further away the object is, the angular change required to target something is ever smaller and more precise. If the field of view is something the size of a person, such that you could even make out a face, the angular precision (in both horizontal and vertical) needed to hit that thing is scales with the square of the distance. It doesn't make much sense for it to work that way. I had always assumed that Pippin saw Sauron (and vice versa) because Sauron also had a palantir, so the "phone call" aspect was what worked. Using the palantir to see battlefields might have been part of it, as Denethor did, but that only requires a less precise directionality, ie, wider field of view.

[@fourleggedlys]

4:48 and here is me used to thinking that the Ring was unique in how it was impossible to be destroyed by any means but Mount Doom's innards. Now it seems that the Fellowship might have considered taking a whole shopping list of near-indestructible items to the Mount.

[@Scantronimus466]

“You can’t solve all your problems by throwing them into Mt Doom. It’s not a garbage disposal.” - Eru Iluvatar

[@papasy3748]

No fewer than 10 times while watching this video did I think to myself (and say out loud), "this is the best video on the Legendarium I've ever seen. Thank you for taking on and nailing the brief Robert, you're a sizable credit to the community!

[@TheLastSunDevil]

Dork

[@papasy3748]

lmaooo. Also i have exactly 69 likes on the comment, whoda dork now???...me, still me lol @@TheLastSunDevil

[@steph-fv3xj]

⁠@@papasy3748i disliked not because i dislike the comment, just to get it from 70 back to 69

[@BodywiseMustard]

Every comment and video above 69 votes has at one or more points been at 69 votes. It's not unique or interesting.

[@freddypedraza2066]

I love Tolkein how he was "I dont know how it works!! Thats the end of it" A pepsi later "Fine, hand me a pen"

[@wesspect]

the power of a fresh bepis

[@tytusgrabowski3145]

Think, John Ronald, think!

[@catelyngrace6903]

I love this comment.

[@matterspacetime4832]

🤣 Great comment 🤣

[@dbfurrer]

Palantiri as a mirror, what a nice take on it! Another great video, please just keep doing it. Thanks!

[@yorktown99]

Robert, I've been following your channel with enthusiasm for a couple of years now. Each time you release a new video, I am filled with a deep and profound feeling, a sublime sense of joy and comfort at being in the presence of something far greater than anything I have ever known in ordinary life (outside of a Church). There are many high-quality videos about Tolkien here on KZbin, along with several top-rate podcasts. But when you step up to the microphone, it is not just any voice, but a voice that speaks words of wonder and awe. Your writing is of a quality that I aspire to reach myself, the sort of elevated language that allows us to transcend the temporal into something higher. God bless you, Robert. May you continue to share your words with us for many years to come.

[@gregory_sharpe_carving]

Well said :)

[@eldfen2334]

Bro how high were you when you typed that?

[@brianmessemer2973]

A worthy comment. I feel pretty much the same, thank you for expressing it in your way.

[@ScottMyersOfTheEarth]

A brilliantly written and spoken article, Robert.

[@davidroetman3168]

This was really well written. The conclusion is the best.

[@arnthedragonborn8306]

That Saruman thumbnail reminds me of: "And I say heeeeyeeeeyeeeeyeeye heeeeyeeeeyeee I SAID HEY.... WHAT'S GOING ON?" And I cannot un-see it now.

[@harrisonsaturna3615]

Whats going on

[@danyf.1442]

Dammit can't unsee it either now😂😂😂 But thank you for taking me back to my childhood with that song☺

[@arnthedragonborn8306]

@@danyf.1442 You're welcome! :D If it helps I specifically had the He-man version of the song stuck in my head too. Enjoy!

[@TheFlazMan]

Came her to reference the he-man meme. Classic and perfect for this thumbnail lol

[@arnthedragonborn8306]

@@TheFlazMan And I try... OH MY GOD DO I TRY?...

[@villep7907]

You should make a video about Tolkien's relationship to music. He uses music extensively in the Lord of the Rings

[@DayneandtheStars]

Ohh that would be cool!!

[@neuralmute]

That would be a great video! I've always wondered about the intended melodies to all the songs in LOTR, particularly right now, as I've just started a reread, and those hobbits sing a lot in the first book. There's some lovely (and delightfully silly!) poetry in there, and I've always been curious about what Tolkien was hearing in his mind when he was writing it. Not to mention his descriptions of ethereal Elvish music that could transport one's mind and alter the senses.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

By any chance did you get your idea from another KZbinr? I believe you should give credit where credit is due if you did.

[@tombobtom1968]

​@@RingsLoreMasterhey! Are there other you tubers you recommend to look for? I was always mystified by the music and singing in the LOTR...

[@RingsLoreMaster]

@@tombobtom1968 In deep geek.

[@Pixis1]

I've probably said this before but I love that you use screenshots from Lord of the Rings Online. I geek out every time and think "Hey, I've been there!"

[@SaulOhio]

Warning: Information sent over the Palantir network may be visible to other users.

[@miahconnell23]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@nickcunningham6344]

SSL/TLS encryption was not yet discovered during their creation unfortunately

[@pineapplepenumbra]

I think that the real warning should be about the danger of the adverts. These weren't mentioned in LoTR, but I suspect that such adverts would be genuinely maddening.

[@Bloink]

*zips pants*

[@robertdenicola6409]

😂😂😂 lmao

[@valkopuhelin2581]

I remember trying to figure out what happened to the seven stones by diving into all the Tolkien books at our library. There was no internet back then and certainly no video as comprehensive as this one!

[@brianmessemer2973]

I also remember many years ago first reading The Silmarillian almost more as a possible source of answers to questions I had about the LOTR novels rather than reading it for its own sake...I went to it like Gandalf went to the ancient library in Minas Tirith..."I have questions...questions that need answering!!" 🧙🏼‍♂ Really makes ma appreciate not only Robert's extensive research and factual knowledge but also the depth of his analyses and interpretations of Tolkien's characters.

[@KororaPenguin]

I wonder what would happen if oceanographers recovered the lost stones of Annuminas and Amon Sûl.

[@random22026]

Beautifully recounted, beautifully observed. Bravo once again, Robert! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@ceejay0137]

I had no idea that the palantiri were directional as you describe - that's interesting. It always seemed to me that Galadriel's Mirror shared many of the properties of the palantiri: it could show things far off and at different times, so maybe that was similar 'technology' but based on a different principle. A video about that would be very interesting, could you consider making one?

[@jacob4920]

Galadriel's Mirror could also show glimpses of the future (or at least possible futures). Palantiri could not do that. So there was a key difference between the two artifacts.

[@StarlitSeafoam]

I've wondered if the foresight in the Mirror was because it was made of water, which is Ulmo's realm; he gave the Elves most of the prophecies they had during the First Age.

[@brianmessemer2973]

Very astute. I would tend to think so. @@StarlitSeafoam

[@_Feanor_.]

@@jacob4920 Well they do now if you ask Rings of Power. Good thing there is only one left. Nothing in the Lord of the Rings can happen now.

[@jacob4920]

@@_Feanor_. "Rings of Power" has demolished so much canon at this point that it's not even the same UNIVERSE of Tolkien's mythos! It's a Fanfic, at this point, and not a terribly good one either, which is the only factor that could have saved this pile of crap.

[@nat040496]

Slightly off topic, but there's just something wonderful about hearing your voice when one of these videos pops up in my feed. It's just warm and fun, like sitting down to listen to an elven historian recount long-past events.

[@blackgirlsrock264]

Well said!💯 Like a history lesson by a professor at Cambridge or Oxford.

[@ranabirmitra]

Here is proof of how good a presenter you are 😊 I started my journey into Tolkien lore 1.5 weeks ago with only your videos, and now (70 videos & 3 live streams later) I am in the position to understand every piece of information and contextual reference used in this video 😊 Thank you for everything, Robert!! Thank you for being such a beautiful presenter of information ❤

[@woodenspoon6222]

Well, I'd hope you saw the movies / read the books at least!

[@ranabirmitra]

@@woodenspoon6222 indeed good sir 🫡 movies only when I want some cool visuals but mainly the text right now 😊

[@neuralmute]

Welcome to Middle Earth!

[@Wolfeson28]

It's interesting how we see so many characters' interpretations of what they see in the Palantir are governed by what they fear. Sauron's greatest fear throughout the story is that someone with the strength to wield the Ring will manage to obtain it and then use it to challenge him. Saruman and Aragorn both fit that bill, so when Sauron sees things in the Palantir that could indicate one or the other of those two has the Ring, that's the conclusion he immediately leaps to. One could certainly imagine Sauron jumping to the same conclusion if he'd seen someone like Gandalf or Galadriel in the Palantir in similar circumstances. Likewise, Denethor's greatest fear is that Gondor will be overwhelmed by the forces of Sauron, so even though he'd resisted despair and resisted Sauron's influence for so long, he finally gave in to that despair when he saw a vision that he could only interpret as Sauron's final reinforcements arriving (plus being in a very vulnerable state already with Boromir's death and Faramir's apparent death).

[@tacoboom]

@Indeepgeek Robert, You are such a gifted storyteller! It is remarkable really, the way you translate the literary works of Tolkien into an understandable and easy-to-listen-to story. Really good work! I salute You! 🙏🏻👌🏻

[@lukeoloteful]

I like how you have begun color coding the thumbnails depending on the genre

[@brendan9868]

Same actually, the red for asoiaf, blue for Witcher and green for lotr makes it real nice and easy to quickly sort through without having to read or look too closely lol

[@lukeoloteful]

@@brendan9868 Couldn't agree more

[@Sharnoy1]

I really enjoy all of your LOTR content! Keep up the good work!

[@jacob4920]

I started watching this channel because of "A Song of Ice and Fire," though, and I really miss those videos. I wish "House of the Dragon" would hurry its' ass up, and get Season Two out, so we could get more of those types of videos! lol

[@D2ezbmu]

AWESOME video. Great to see what Denaethor was really going through

[@bitterzombie]

Excellent description of the capabilities & limitations of these items, good stuff.

[@cameronjadewallace]

I needed to break up a rather dark video with things that were nice, and this helped. Thanks

[@tradingclasses6012]

The Palantiri are even more interesting than I thought they would be.

[@markstott6689]

If i was Aragon, I'd have my minions dredging the Anduin and in summer, the Ice Bay of Forochel, to try and recover any Palantrii that may just be sat awaiting recovery,. The Osgiliath stone was that large and heavy that it may not have rolled that far. In fact it might have been trapped by stonework which had already fallen into the Anduin.

[@twrecks6279]

Who's to say that Aragon knows the fates of those stones though? Or even their existence in the first place?

[@markstott6689]

@twrecks6279 We know that fire won't destroy them. Water is unlikely to either. We know that they are heavy, especially the Osgiliath stone. Hence they're likely to sit where they fall. Nothing will eat them or carry them away other than strong water flow.

[@twrecks6279]

@@markstott6689 Yes we know that. But does Aragon know where to look for lost stones? They wouldn't still be lost if it was common knowledge would they?

[@SBSchutt]

@@twrecks6279 Come on, guys. It's Aragorn. Not Aragon. He's not an autonomous community in Spain.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

It could have been more. They could have spelled the name Agron. As in the last name of the actress who played Gwen on Glee. As to Aragorn's knowing or not knowing, even Gandalf had to peruse the written records in Gondor to verify frodo's ring and its identity

[@melzeebub92]

Around the year 3000 Saruman used his Palentir and upon viewing discovered that not much had changed with men but Numinor was now underwater... Really makes you think

[@Silversmith70]

Thank you, I was always a little confused by what powers these had. I always thought of them as communication devices but wondered if there was more to them.

[@dinkmartini3236]

Another superior youtube video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Always make me want to break out my books and read again with the fresh perspective.

[@faebrookeglen5169]

Lovely visuals. LOTRO will always have a special place in my heart. Your voice is like a warm blanket.

[@markdowse3572]

True power comes from the hand who wields it. Scrying stones that are actually mirrors - just another example of Tolkien's genius... 🤗 Thanks for another cracking video, sir! 👍 M 🦘🏏😎

[@oboealto]

Your analysis is ever so fascinating. Every episode continues to justify the name In Deep Geek. Thank you so much for hours of entertainment.

[@djerykhornubis2466]

Thanks for this great text, as always! The final statement is powerful and rings quite nicely.

[@Concord003]

Thank you for this presentation. It was interesting, and beautifully narrated.

[@wappenschmied]

Binging through your videos currently. Love the calm pace, the little essays are neither too short nor too long and all the information is gathered either carefully and delivered coherently. Keep it up, you reignited my passion for middle-earth! ✨🔥

[@queenmedusa934]

I was recently trying to learn more about the Palantiri, and I could have sworn you made a video on them already haha. Glad to see this at such a perfect time!

[@danschuyler4119]

Just came across this channel. Watched the witch king perspective video and now this one. Holy cow. These are enthralling and just absolutely excellent to enjoy

[@sean6721]

Woot, been waiting for this. Thanks for all the hard work!

[@jaykaramales3087]

Brilliant insights as always. You make me want to re-read the trilogy again for the umpteenth time to see it through the new perspective you give us.

[@JGComments]

It’s great that so many things that just “happened” to occur were necessary for the Ring to be destroyed. I think this is one of the reasons the book resonates so deeply.

[@Amelia.A.T.]

I think this is one of your best videos. Very well done!

[@sunrisesparkle6363]

11:42 Definitely not immediately as he becomes Steward. Gandalf makes the big implication that Denethor only looked in later with time as power of Mordor was growing rapidly.

[@dedf15]

Every time i watch one of these videos, i feel like i get immersed even deeper into these worlds of fantasy, and its a wonderful thing. Thank you for your dedication to helping these fine details come to life for us!

[@esshor.]

Tolkien really seemed to hold such respect and dignity in his creative works, so much so that they took on a life of their own. And he even began treating them as if they were a real entity.

[@gratefulguy4130]

He created a mythology, not a fantasy series. It's also worth noting that he probably had access to more original manuscripts than anyone else in the world, and he knew how to read most if not all of them.

[@MichaelEilers]

I’ve been waiting for this one a long time! The ultimate fantasy McGuffin.

[@JasonRoberts-cg5yt]

Listening to this is close to poetry. Both insightful and beautifully written. I listen to many things on here without stating my appreciation. I'm taking this moment to stop work and tell you that you have created your legacy in these videos

[@davebland8489]

These videos are wonderful. You give a fascinating deeper insight into the plot of the LOTR, and they have given me a great appreciation of the intricate planning that Tolkien put into the story. Thanks!

[@Pastafasta]

Fantastic presentation. Always a pleasure to have one of your videos!

[@charlessoukup1111]

Robert ..my only Brother's name..what a superb presentation! The writing your perfect 😊voice! Bravo! This is what I would expect😊 to hear..the voice in my head..while I read. Thank you.

[@Turnoutburndown]

Such a great video, keep up the good work!

[@richardmolloy6064]

I first read the lord of the rings when I was 7 and the silmarillion when i was 9 ( I did not understand it). I have been a life long fan of all things middle earth. Thanks for your videos I am now 41 and I still learn new things from your videos all the time!

[@samuelvine]

LOL I just finished listening to your old livestream regarding Dragonstone and King's Landing... hit refresh on KZbin and here you are with a new video at the top of my feed haha. Thanks for all the content!

[@Aphasial]

I love how much LOTRO content you've been using recently here! It's definitely great having a graphical resource for so many varied and diverse lesser-known spots of Middle Earth...

[@silenciummortum2193]

Thank you so much for the great video as usual!

[@peterkamau2014]

Feanor destroying the hearts of men, elves and maiar with his inventions even towards the end of the world lends remarkable insight into what Tolkien was trying to achieve with his character. Even though all his descendants are dead, that will still not free middle earth from the impact of his achievements.

[@thecappeningchannel515]

Maglor is not dead. He is hanging around the bay of belfalas.

[@gregoryshull2099]

My first reaction is to say that it wasn't Feanor's fault Morgoth stole the silmarilli. However you have a valid point in that his reaction, ie the kinslaying and the oath of Feanor, did have devastating consequences for Middle Earth. Have a nice day 😊

[@peterkamau2014]

@@gregoryshull2099 Not entirely devastating though. Feanor was the only elf with the balls to point out the Valar's weaknesses and also the only one to see how much sacrifice it would take to defeat Morgoth. Remember as he was dying, he had his sons re-affirm their oaths even though it would seem useless at that point. People do love to hate him but forget that without his extreme characteristics, Morgoth would have done much more harm and the Valar would have let it happen, giving their usual excuse that he was too powerful to take on alone.

[@bushit123456]

@@peterkamau2014 what do you mean by the Valar's weakness?

[@peterkamau2014]

@@bushit123456 their continual inability to rein in melkor

[@kbernardjohnson]

Excellent analysis and final conclusion: they're mirrors to what's in the heart and mind of the wielder. Great job!

[@mynameisjoejeans]

Excellent closing remarks regarding Tolkien using the palantiri as mirrors

[@OlleFalafelrolle]

Fantastic video! I had no idea about any of this and this showed me even further depth to the wonderful story of lotr. Thank you! ❤

[@antimatters6283]

I'm finding your analysis, review, and comments to be good, insightful, interesting.

[@BigPoppaCreech]

Another absolutely fantastic video

[@IonTrone]

fascinating history and excellent (as usual) presentation!

[@ropehead]

This is such a satisfying video to watch, thank you. It's been a long time since I've read the trilogy, and loving the films, this brings together so many interesting plot points. But also, you realize just how special and rare they are. Edit: it's also bad ass that they could "theoretically" be destroyed in Mount Doom. No way to test.

[@oudugan8676]

Wonderful work, as always

[@Marinthees]

I love your videos and channel so much, you put things together so coherently. One thing I would love though is the addition of some background music, something very ambient and lowkey. Just a thought that I think would add to the mysterious/ominous and fantasy vibes of the topics you usually discuss. Thank you for your content!!

[@balajprasanna]

Really happy to have found your channel sir. Thank you!🙏

[@secla_SC]

This was a fantastic video about something I never gave too much thought to!

[@Fixing_Benjamin]

You make life better with these videos. ❤️

[@antonellamR2D2]

What a wonderful essay, thanks so much

[@Sidecutt3]

You videos are so good, thank you!

[@ComradeCommissarYuri]

My interpretation of Saurons thoughts when he saw pippin “Oh gods a Took on his way here!! Whatever will he break in my realm”

[@gregory_sharpe_carving]

Inciteful and excellent as always

[@cardycard9122]

Arthedain was the last to fall. Arthur Dayne was (probably) the last Kinsguard to fall at the Tower Of Joy. A subtle reference from GRRM?

[@bugpopper9446]

I dont understand much about the topic. But just listening to your videos on the background makes me calmer

[@nathanbennett9999]

The fact that Saruman fell to using a device beyond his power to create is really a nice warning re: the internet, smartphones, KZbin, etc. If you don't understand things like recommendation algorithms and code designed to serve up certain sorts of things, you'll not understand that things are being done TO you ... or that web and app developers without any direction are just letting all sorts of things overflow upon the world.

[@rbritt]

So if they cant transfer sounds, how did Pippin get Sauron's message saying he was sending Nazgul to collect him and asking why Saruman hadnt reported in a long time? I guess it could be a thought transfer thing but the book makes it sound like a conversation. I feel like Gandalf even asks Pippin if Pippin told Sauron anything but I might be remembering that wrong.

[@thecappeningchannel515]

The users can exchange speech as thought.

[@joepugh678]

Pippin specifically said, "He just thought and I understood."

[@dreevehkitty3357]

Thank you for making this content

[@joetedesco63]

Great, informative video!!

[@Magere-Kwark]

14:29 "Pippin not really knowing what he was doing, just.... being a Took" Made me laugh out loud, haha.

[@nikjs]

the ending of this video was so amazing

[@Charles36.]

Really enjoy this channel especially the lord of the ring videos

[@Phlegethon]

It doesn’t just video chat?

[@tonypickles2389]

A particularly interesting episode. Thank you

[@Regulus985]

Fantastic video.

[@jpeterd92]

When Frodo wearing the ring sat atop amon hen I always thought that Sauron was also using his palantari at the time, and it was how he was projecting out towards Frodo searching for him.

[@svenlauke1190]

something a friend of mine, who was not that versed in LOTR mythology actually told me something that amazed me and I hold true till this day. In Greek Myth of Theseus is reflected here. In the Myth, Theseus is asked by his Father Aigeus to set white sails if he succeeds on his quest, and black sails for his death. After fighting the Minotaur, the joy over the victory makes him forget to set white sails and his father, believing his son to be dead, ends his life. In LOTR, Aragorn uses enemy ships to ferry reinforcements to Minas Tirith, but he does not wave his Banner (which Arwen had made for him). So Sauron can easily trick Denethor into thinking bad things are coming. And as stated in this video, thats the final stroke for Denethors Sanity, along with a Son be believes dead. no coincidence

[@catintheoven]

I love that Palantir = Looks far away and Tele = Far off, Vision = Sight

[@brianmessemer2973]

Nice connection 👍

[@BodywiseMustard]

Just as overwatch is the same as supervise.

[@SWIFTO_SCYTHE]

19:11 the seeing stones are more like a Mirror. Wow.

[@steveozone4910]

I would have written the Amazon LOTR show based around the Palantiri. They could have been a view into the goings on in Middle Earth at the time. A witness to events as it were. I can see the camera zooming into one as we transition to a different part of middle Earth , as some new plot is delivered about current events.

[@neuralmute]

They would have made a clever framing device, for sure! But the Amazon writers wouldn't know a framing device if a dozen film students explained it to them down the barrel of Chekov's gun.

[@josephfisher426]

They weren't present in M-E yet (according to the sketch provided by Tolkien). But that wouldn't have caused nearly as much trouble as what they did... Also what Tolkien tells us about the history of the Palantiri doesn't feel complete. It's kind of weird that this instrument was uniquely given to Elendil's house, as opposed to being something in general use by the High-Elves that also happened to have been a gift to the Numenoreans.

[@Oreganoothyme]

The image of the burning hands forever seen in the palantir is chilling - beautiful

[@ajitkaursandhu1858]

Thank you Robert.

[@danibravo5700]

Thanks for explaining the inspiration for the naming of the stock I've invested in 😮

[@marcoottina654]

making those tool as a mirror for the user rather than "just" what they were used at the surface level is ... genius wow, the more I learn about Tolkien and his opera the more I'm in awe with such masterpiece