The History of Mirkwood

[@jbbryson8047]

Robert - your LOTR content and delivery is exceptional. The tone, timing, and timbre of your voice are unique - you could / should do voiceovers & audio books professionally. Your delivery is so pleasantly listenable, people would eagerly take your advice even if you said one plus one was anything but two; or that one’s credit score has absolutely no impact upon one’s ability to obtain a mortgage or finance an automobile purchase. Your content reminds me of my brother who passed away last year (he was a few years older and would discuss / explain Tolkien’s world in the 1980’s when we were young; he had a photographic memory &.could read a book in a day or two, and recollect detail and often even word for word). God bless you my friend. 👊

[@RJ420NL]

i agree, your delivery is exceptional Robert. Thank you for making this content.

[@ajitkaursandhu1858]

Robert already has an audiobook channel on KZbin called The Well Told Tale.

[@QueenMonny]

Agreed.

[@francescganau7679]

The ability to integrate The hobbit’s story into Middle Earth. Which, was how much more serious world than the one proposed in The Hobbit originally, is something I always valued Tolkien for. Transitioning from whimsical, elves and spiders to Legolas and Dol Guldur in the same forest is a msaterpiece

[@sainiharika]

I just adore Tolkien 💜💜💜

[@NoxNosferatu]

That’s some good world building right there I’ll tell you what

[@jarrakul]

No easy task for any author, but if you can pull it off, it really helps the world feel real. Our world runs the same gamut, after all, from whimsical to deadly-serious and everything in between.

[@MithrandilPlays]

I feel like that separation is a major thing the Hobbit movies got wrong - trying to make it too serious and overly connected to the rest of the LOTR universe.

[@Jayako12]

He was so brilliant that he changed his already published book and, instead of leaving it be, he turned the whole IRL change into a most relevant part of his world.

[@ozarkscarguy540]

I always thought Thranduil was just a jerk but now I believe he had severe PTSD.

[@gamer1X12]

yeah, can't even stand to look in the direction the battle happened? boy is traumatized something terrible lol. also seems to have pretty bad anxiety with an avoidant conflict style

[@rhyswong8976]

Yea true that. Makes me wonder did Tolkien see this happening as well to people he knew that served in the world war.

[@Abigail-hu5wf]

​@@rhyswong8976 Tolkien's writing was so heavily influenced by what he saw during the war, I can't imagine it wasn't the inspiration. Everything from lembas bread's "it'll keep ya marchin' on" feels, to Thranduil's clear case of shellshock, just makes me think of how desperately Tolkien - and so many other young men of his era - was shaped by the things they saw during that conflict.

[@nathanruggles]

He also did not have a ring at his disposal to protect his peoples' home, as Elrond and Galadriel. Which they did to great effect more than once in the history. He must've felt much more vulnerable as well, and less able to defend, let alone to go on the offensive against Dol Guldur.

[@CorpusCrispy]

In what book is the story of dol goldur being destroyed by Galadriel told?

[@Secunda-xt2yx]

“Let’s not forget how quickly things returned to light and life afterward… Nature and light and hope did prevail.” A message which is as beautiful as it is vital. We must always bear it in our hearts. The shadow will not endure! Wonderful work, Robert! Thank you for all of your efforts over the years. Your videos have brought me immense joy. Looking forward to all those to come. Cheers!

[@elessartelcontar9415]

The natural order is chaos and entropy

[@JackeryPumpkin]

I thought this was going to be an interesting but idle history to take in but the story of Mirkwood somehow ties together so many threads in the main story. Fantastic video

[@danacoleman4007]

Not ildy do the leaves(pages)of Tolkien fall.

[@originaluddite]

That's it, I'll call myself The Necromancer to allay any suspicions my new neighbours might have about me and my intentions.

[@evekurocieru]

Poor Thranduil. He just couldn't catch a break, a broken heart, Ptsd , having to hide his people while evil was right next door, and had no ring for protection. But he still helps the nearby humans.

[@c.w.simpsonproductions1230]

I think part of Thranduill’s character was inspired by the appeasement policies in the 1930s leading up to WW2. It has a similar theme of leaders wanting to avoid war at any cost after the horrors of a massive war.

[@MyVanir]

TBF, Chamberlain's policies bought Britain the time needed to raise its readiness for war, much like how Thranduil keeping the sylvan elves out of confrontations left them with the strength to keep the front open, providing another distraction for Sauron's eyes.

[@rursus8354]

That would be very unlike the attitude of Tolkien avoiding allegory. I think Thranduil’s character of wanting to avoid war is just that Tolkien disliked war because of personal experience. Thranduil was a responsible elf king that was just acting logical in Tolkien's view.

[@licomelano8482]

Thranduil do have uncanny Chamberlain eyebrows though.

[@evanseifert8858]

@@rursus8354 inspiration =/= allegory

[@Abigail-hu5wf]

​@@rursus8354 they're not saying it's allegory, they're saying it's clearly inspired by it - possibly even without Tolkien's intention.

[@cameronjadewallace]

Thanks for telling these stories, Robert. I find them very soothing and interesting to listen to... Sometimes, even the biggest fans find something to learn. I love listening to things I never knew.

[@matthewchard4360]

Thank you a million times over for this video. The history of Greenwood/Mirkwood, Thranduil, and The Battle Under the Trees are some of my absolute favourite aspects of Tolkien's work. Such an amazing story.

[@hunterwyeth]

Excellent analysis on the lesson that evil is best dealt with quickly. So many opportunities throughout history where that applies.

[@missingaria2503]

A year later, this video's message is actually very helpful.

[@edithengel2284]

Thinking much the same thing.

[@DillonOrbon]

Yeah thank goodness Trump won

[@mackswellgg]

@@DillonOrbonshame on you, what are you doing?

[@skyborne80]

My first watch of a new In Deep Geek LOTR video in many months. Still as fantastic and engrossing as ever!

[@grantmiller6570]

Some wonderful & interesting life messages contained within Tolkien's stories when you consider them in such detail.

[@oscarstainton]

Tolkien’s ability to weave real mythological terms for Norse legends and places always makes his creation feel like it could have existed, perhaps in a dark age that became lost to time.

[@Lon_Suder]

This is the best lore channel on KZbin. Thanx for another great vid, Rob!

[@stitch3163]

To put it in a rather pedestrian manner, Thranduil sucked as a king. PTSD from his last battle not withstanding. Great video, Robert.

[@Matthew10950]

Sometimes, the simplest description fits.

[@amh9494]

Couldn't even keep gollum safely incarcerated.

[@RonJohn63]

No king rules without his subjects' consent (if their dis-consent reaches a high-enough threshold, there's war and you kick out the king and his supporters). That's why all/most of the Mirkwood elves were cowards.

[@The_10th_Man]

More like Fanduel

[@gamer1X12]

his people are only as sucky as he is. only a group of people utterly complacent and fearful would allow or tolerate thranduil to rule the way he did, especially for literal millennia. they lived in despotic isolation, arrogant and decadent despite their homeland literally getting shit on all around them. the North Korea of Middle Earth.

[@Chuklz70]

“Why me, why now?” Everyone wants to live in peace and cross their fingers that the darkness has passed

[@xBloodXGusherx]

An amazing read. I love how timeless this feels. LOTR is one of these stories one can look forward to getting lost in.

[@bityew]

Robert, I always learn from your videos and enjoy your writing in particular, but this one was utterly lovely! Thank you for sharing so generously with us.

[@yvindwestersund9720]

I love these inn depth episodes where you can really enjoy and learn the background of the legendarium of Tolkien I oftentimes end up watching the episode several times because it's just jam-packed whit information that i didn't have any idea of So thank you for giving me/us all this brilliant background information that makes tha books and films so much mor enjoyable ❤❤❤ Just saying 🇧🇻

[@WimRijksen]

That was most enjoyable. Thank you Robert.

[@rbjmason]

Another excellent video! Even when you are telling me things I know it is nice to hear your voice reminding me! In this case I knew all the facts, but by creating this narrative you have made me aware of things I had not considered, especially of why Thranduil was such an isolationist! Watching his father and much of his people being slaughtered must have been incredibly traumatic. Oropher and his people clearly knew nothing of war, but valiantly threw themselves into the fray nonetheless. Legolas' ability in warfare, although perhaps overstated in the Jackson movies, may even have developed as a reaction to those losses.

[@literallypuni4091]

"What was Lord of the Rings like from Murkwood's perspective? What did it know, and when did it know it?"

[@1th_to_comment.]

It does unironically play a bit of a role in TLotR

[@Pier77Tampa]

Most likely the best narrator for the LOTR, I enjoy your videos like an audiobook. Keep up the great work!!

[@tedcruz1774]

I once built a LEGO fort and then pretended i was Godzilla and smashed it to bits. The Little people were scattered all over. It was good times.

[@Golgari213]

Awesome video! I guess if Hollywood is giving LOTR the "Star Wars" treatment, I guess a movie about the battle of Mirkwood that takes place during the Battle of Pelenor Fields would be cool. Lee Pace is practically the same age as he was in the Hobbit. Would be nice.

[@jenniferatterton1587]

I love listening to your voice as you narrate the history of various aspects of The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. You have an engaging and natural storytelling voice and I am drawn to all of your videos about Middle Earth. I could easily listen to you tell the full story of TLOTR and TH for hours.

[@0whitestone]

I would love a video on Beorn and as well as one on Legolas. I feel like Legolas is the least understood member of the Fellowship, all the other we know their lineage and their places in their respective kingdoms/cultures but I've never had a clear picture of who Legolas was.

[@Lucy-yc4bc]

Another beautiful video!

[@dougisballin1729]

Awesome subject!!! Would love more like these, digging into legendary natural locations

[@artemusterral1666]

Thanks!

[@markstott6689]

I wish England still had a massive deciduous forest somewhere on our island. It saddens me that to experience such a wood i would have to travel, likely by plane, and probably somewhere like Poland, Russia, USA or Canada. Greenwood the Great is my kind of place.

[@cynicalpenguin]

You can get the train to Poland without too much difficulty

[@greyjedi6430]

​@@cynicalpenguinhow across the narrow sea 🤣🤣

[@cynicalpenguin]

@@greyjedi6430 what?

[@greyjedi6430]

@@cynicalpenguin u can't get a train from England to Poland 🤣🤣🤣

[@Vonononie]

@@greyjedi6430trains go direct from London to either Paris, Amsterdam, or Brussels. Brussels is probably best for a connecting service

[@edwinvoorhees1952]

Another excellent video. THANK YOU!❤️🍻😁

[@claytonhosty9876]

I've always loved this part of middle Earth, Greenwood the Great. A love for the forest elves, the Nandor. Spirits of nature, of song and music. If there was any place I'd dreamed to be it was here in the woodland realm. Playing my Harp by the stream in forests of pale green light. In harmony & peace with myself and all things. One-day I may find myself in such a place of beauty and life. Radagast the Brown must have known these elves well, as he lived just near Mirkwood. Wizard of nature & earth.🌳🌸🍂

[@phoule76]

The War of Roth was a sad chapter, indeed, in Van Halen's history.

[@hankpikuni7024]

Better than the haggard years that seen famine

[@NV..V]

Classic!

[@aislingnifhoghlu6351]

I only ever listened to audiobooks and always thought it was the English pronunciation of Wrath??

[@michaelmaltzer5426]

🤣

[@fernojake]

Wrath*

[@wappenschmied]

This was fantastic! I didn’t know how much (or forgot it) about all this. Thanks for distilling all the rich lore into these topical short essays! 🙌❤️

[@StanleyKochman]

I have learned so much about the LOTR Mythos from this channel, thank you.

[@Ploxtifs_OldAndDeadAccountXD]

I believe Mirkwood was an allegory for Europe prior to, leading up to/during, and immediately after the Second World War. A great land allowed such an evil to build up power, corrupting the land with its putrid villainy, and after being destroyed in an all-out battle at the gates of evil, the land was able to be healed. Tolkien knew the true evil that Germany was, and is why he so adamantly refused being endorsed by its leader, which was something that other men were not so inclined towards doing. Tolkien chose not to fall into such terrible temptations, even while he witnessed many of his countrymen fail such tests of morality.

[@readwithDavid]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video!

[@MariaVosa]

Beautiful ending to this essay. And so true. "Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing" John Stuart Mill

[@ds29912]

And once they've compassed their ends the price to dispel their evil is the blood of the progeny of the "good men" that did nothing.

[@istari0]

I believe there is some text somewhere in one of the HoME volumes where Tolkien wrote that during the War of the Elves and Sauron in the mid-2nd Age that Sauron first struck at Elves and Men living in Rhovanion and Greenwood before he launched his main attack into Eriador.

[@BhavaSindh]

That was beautiful, Mate!

[@gavhenrad]

Thank you that was absolutely fascinating

[@PredragPetkovic-i7i]

If you would just pause for a moment at 13:13 at the picture of the Battle - it is inspired by Paja Jovanovic's "Battle of Teutoburg Forest" painting, one of the most famous Serbian painter from the last century.

[@nathancook]

Fantastic summary of this complex "history". Hitting the subscribe button now.....

[@mitchelllawrence2798]

Brilliant narrating.

[@JohnPeacekeeper]

I like that the final shot here is of Bilbo when he discovers how beautiful Mirkwood should actually be when not under the Shadow

[@glamourweaver]

We always talk about WW1’s personal influence on Tolkien’s worldview, and certainly we can see that here with Thranduil’s obvious PTSD. But as Lord of the Rings was written in the late 30s and the 40s, I can’t help but wonder how the rise of the Third Reich and Hitler’s expansion influenced his portrayal of passivity in the face of undisguised evil and clear aggressive intent with regard to everyone’s but Gandalf’s treatment of Sauron’s presence in Mirkwood.

[@atnam44]

I wonder how's things might've gone if Legolas had traveled through the Dead Marshes

[@biggus9455]

I search “the history of Mirkwood” and a video on that subject is up 15 minutes ago. It must be fate, subscribed 🫡

[@JadyLester]

The hand of Iluvatar!

[@dandiehm8414]

You won't be disappointed. This is an excellent channel.

[@shereemcclelland2186]

In my opinion Thranduils character was the success story of the Hobbit trilogy. Complicated elf, had many shades to him, did things some believe as weakness, however, he had a depth to him and put up a wall. It’s hard to describe how you come out the otherside of wars and death, as it could be different for some than to others. The Hunt for Gollum may change the views of how some see Thranduil.👍 I hope more positive and understood.

[@jaykaramales3087]

You nailed it again, Robert.

[@jackw3068]

I heard Sharky Construction Inc. is planning a new housing development where greenwood used to be. Endless miles of concrete, asphalt, lawns, and shoddy construction. Each home the same in style, color, and size. With an HOA to ensure perfect order... forever. One HOA to rule them, one HOA to fine them, one HOA to bring them all, and in the bylaws bind them.

[@JGooden762]

I'm sure someone has already written an essay about this, but I have always found interesting the parallels between how the White Council dealth with the Necromancer and how the Allies dealth with Hitler at the beginning of WWII. I imagine that was Tolkien's main inspiration. The lesson learned that if you give evil enough leeway and act too slowly, evil will be allowed to thrive. The indecision of the allies after the invasion of Poland led to the war and the Holocaust. The White Council's indecision led to the War of the Ring and the near destruction of Middle Earth.

[@locker1325]

Top notch writing and dictation. How many hours invested I can only guess. Fabulous work.

[@dannyv161]

It is confirmed in the books by Gimli that the dwarves helped build Thranduil's halls more than likely when the dwarves had holds in the Grey mountains

[@billyponsonby]

Beautifully written

[@jacobsedlack1173]

Wow Thranduil dropped the ball with the defense of his kingdom.

[@jeremybulfin]

Well done yet again Robert, if I may be so familiar.

[@CarlSanford76]

You haven't made a LotR video that I don't love. All your videos are awesome.

[@glamourweaver]

I always forget how much longer Celeborn stayed in Middle Earth. I hope he and his granddaughter remained close in the absence of most of the rest of their family.

[@gkrskll]

I'm surprised how familiar I am with some of these parts because of the battle for the middle earth 2 campaign. The last mission on the "good guy" campaign has you assault Dol Guldur with the elves. Though the dwarves join in as well for some reason.

[@wespenre3418]

Great video!

[@SoonGone]

Why did the Elves stop making baby Elves? This one was really enjoyable. Thanks 👍🙂

[@caelestigladii]

When you have thousands of years to live, some things take a back seat.

[@r0bw00d]

Are you suggesting that they made other types of babies instead?

[@1th_to_comment.]

​@@r0bw00d they did sorcery and made elephants

[@tartan1985]

Just found these. Great stuff mate :)

[@themoonman-4]

Bravo!

[@justacrazycamper]

Mirkwood was the part of Peter Jackson's rendition that (finally) left a taste that just wouldn't go away the rest of the "trilogy."

[@heath_deadgerpvp1161]

Nature and light and hope will ALWAYS PREVAIL!

[@TheMarcHicks]

Ah Sauron, he does so love to re-purpose former Elven Strongholds to his own nefarious purposes.

[@rjamsbury1]

I wonder if the darkness that infests areas, and is pushed back, only to return is metaphor for fascism?

[@neverjabr8588]

Great video,,,

[@getyroks]

I would love a video on all the languages created by JRR Tolkien. Information on how and why he did it.

[@thedragondemands]

4:49 Emyn Muil in the northeast?

[@hotelsierra86]

Terrific.. thanks.. I have named my modest six acre wood Mirkwood in honour of Tolkien.

[@LordAlisdare]

I am convinced Sauron poured his power into the Ring to keep someone like Gandalf from taking his power as Gandalf did to Saruman. I think the ring Saruman wore held the power of his voice and that is how he retained it after Gandalf took all else.

[@dallasklimo145]

Your clips help me fill in some blanks.

[@nophdcoyote3635]

I've always held that there should have been zero spiders. Even if most elves are only half as good as Legolas

[@margarettburns7544]

The spiders of Mirkwood were the children of Shelob.

[@Markus-tn7wq]

I didnt know that the place of Dol Guldur was Orofers capital in the 2nd age, and that the wood elves settled all over the forest before their losses in the last alliance 🙂

[@beegees21]

We all undertand the reference, especially hear in Poland

[@Tacko14]

Why didn’t the ents ever take Mirkwood in their care? Did they trust Thranduil to do it for them? Or Beorn or Galadriel? It must’ve been obvious that wouldn’t work.

[@NewsRedial]

Were the concluding comments to this video a call to action against Russia?

[@richewilson6394]

I think this was pretty much what Tolkken was suggesting that had happened with America taking a blind eye away from Germany when they invaded Poland and France.

[@stephenbenner4353]

It might have been with a mention that the name Mirkwood is lifted while cloth from Norse Mythology.

[@nunya___]

It's sad that there were never Ents there. Actually that there weren't more Ents period.

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

The deforestation of the last of England's old-growth forests happened within Tokien's lifetime.

[@RadicalCaveman]

Remember: only YOU can stop Necromancers.

[@andrewhead1840]

Great video. Watched it a week ago, but I’m now coincidentally just watching an unexpected journey and just had the scene where Smaug was attacking the mountain and thranduel and had his army of elves but he was not helping. Peter Jackson really captured the fact that Thranduel and the elves were really more interested in looking after themselves. They really pay great tribute to Tolkien and his books.

[@josephfisher426]

IMO, though Tolkien did believably integrate the Hobbit version to the rest of the history, there was a lot that was only implied. Were the caves built for the Elves or did they occupy caves abandoned by the Dwarves? Either could be true.

[@stephaniefrederick1180]

I liked this. 🌝

[@SeanMoran-ct2xk]

You should do a video on the goblin king from the hobbit!

[@delqyrus2619]

There is no subscibe-button at the buttom-right of my screen. wherre do i have to click to click?

[@kylevenstudios]

Mirkwood is my favorite of all realms 💚🧡❤️🤎💛💜💙🖤🤍

[@angelvidal2332]

Actually after the battle under the trees Thanduil marched south, purging the forest, until he met with Celeborn who was marching north. Also The Woodland Realm never encompassed the whole forest, even in the years of Oropher's rule the realm only encompassed the southern region. You should really check your sources better. As my own interpretation I'd say that Thranduil was not part of the white council since, just like his father, he would likely want to avoid the influence of the elves of the west (such as Galadriel, Celeborn and Elrond).

[@BrainboxccGames]

mirkwood: evil persists while good people do nothing

[@maximus3160]

Where does Tolkien say the Balchoth raided Lorien?

[@PJOZeus]

Thranduil is a prime example of why the eastern elves were called the dark elves, his own people were slaughtered and he hid away, they did not cherish life like the western elves, they lived in fear of it Lorien and Rivendell fought for it and thrived in it, those who were blessed by Aman and the Valar even if they stayed on middle earth, they valued the land but they made the journey, they did not fear crossing the mountains or moving from their first forsets

[@brendan9868]

“Uploaded 2 minutes ago” I think that’s a first for me lol

[@marrekpanzarino134]

Gotta love some fresh Robert, hot off the press!

[@TheElvenWitch]

Hold up so the Hobbit trilogy didn't just make a bunch of stuff up? The more Tolkien lore I read or watch here online the more I don't understand why so many people hate on that trilogy. Like obviously some stuff was silly and the quality wasn't on par with LotR, but it seems like Jackson did use a lot of Tolkien canon when he expanded the story across three films.

[@Childish_Gambigballs]

bilbo was changed a lot for the movies to portray a less heroic type. they don't even mention what's important about him being took, besides gandalf briefly mentioning an ancestor of his. bilbo welcomes the first dwarves in to his home and feeds them, he's expecting gandalf to come over for tea. i don't dislike the hobbit but it strayed a lot from tolkien's original works, as did lotr, the hobbit just strayed much more

[@-JazzHands-]

It was a faithless adaptation. There was no love triangle, Thorin was old, and Azog had been killed many years earlier.

[@erikn.7540]

The studio demanded that new Zealand ban the unionization of actors in order to make the film there. New Zealand agreed.

[@edgeredux]

The biggest reason, in my view, is the preparation time. LOTR had years of prep. PJ was brought in, last minute, after GDT the original director dropped out. PJ was forced to write scenes and immediately film them. Always behind and frustrated. I remember watching a vid about this. PJ said it was the worst experience of his life. I'd like to think that if PJ and his team had several years of prep time and didn't have to deal with the other things you guys have mentioned, we'd probably have 2 instead of 3 and they'd be much better, if not great films on their own.

[@treydezellem27]

The problem is that a lot of the stuff is not in the hobbit. Or a different times. They ruined the movie. The kids cartoon is far superior and accurate