The Broken, Beautiful Masculinity of Boromir

[@Xylos144]

The best thing about Boromir's Story is that it doesn't end with his death. He arguably redeemed himself with fighting to save Merry and Pippin, but the consequences of his failure still go beyond that. And I don't think there's any doubt that he would have fought as hard as he did even if he hadn't just betrayed Frodo. So there is more to atone for - which he delivers on. Boromir, through being a good brother to Faramir, sets himself up as an example. Faramir being told that Boromir tried to kill someone he swore an oath to protect is so dissonant, so unbelievable, that it brings the danger of the ring into full relief and keeps it from being sent to Gondor. That wouldn't have worked if Faramir saw his brother as having any doubt-able qualities in terms of self-serving ambition. And Boromir bonding with Merry and Pippin, and fighting to save them towards the end, left such an impact on them that they joined the war directly; especially so with Pippin joining Gondor, which ultimately led him to saving Farmir's life. Boromir's story is that of a good man who put light out into the world, so that when he failed, that goodness echoed back to offer salvation and redemption.

[@saxonisrael8398]

Well put.

[@SixFootTurkey_]

I love this!

[@230mps]

I also love how his sacrifice was like the final kick in the butt for Aragorn to heed the hero’s call. Even directly after falling to the rings temptation, he instantly redeemed himself and motivated Aragorn to be the man he needed to be. Not just a ranger who could fight and help Frodo on his way.

[@NickGreyden]

Beautiful

[@blueshit199]

without Boromir's downfall the fellowship wouldn't have broken at the right time or Frodo and Sam to make it to Mordor covertly while the other two and the three hunters helped reclaim Rohan from Saruman, too

[@silverhawkscape2677]

One of the most important lessons a Man must Accept is that they will fail. What's important is that we don't let that failure define us but be what pushes us Forward.

[@master_samwise]

But what will you do now?

[@TheWeldingPanzer]

@@master_samwise The only thing you can do if you wish to be a man, accept it, and keep pushing forwards towards your goal. If you do, one day you will be thankful you failed because it made you stronger.

[@blugger]

That's and try not to have denathor as a father

[@decay79]

Push forward, and stride to do better in the future..

[@WrathOfGrapesN7]

It's like Chris Pine's character says in the surprisingly good Dungeons & Dragons movie; "We must never stop failing, because the minute we do, we've failed."

[@murderous1823]

One of my favorite parts was when aragorn showed up. He didn't ask for help or go straight to regret. He said, "they took them. They took the little ones." That part always got me emptional

[@Will-od1gm]

even at deaths door his main concern was for merry and pippin :(

[@basquait2704]

He knew his fate... There was no coming back from that

[@AegisRamble0]

Boromir of Gondor. A man driven by love, duty, and courage. A man who fell to temptation out of compassion. A man who died for his friends. May the most glorious son and bravest captain of Gondor live forever in our hearts.

[@ericgeddes3353]

Grater love hath no one then he who lays down his life for his friends.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@ericgeddes3353How many soldiers are buried in Arlington that have an inscription that references John 15:13? This isn’t rhetorical; I’m actually curious. I feel that it would have a profound impact on anyone who saw it. I would certainly be moved by it.

[@merciansupremacy5113]

​@@ericgeddes3353Exactly the words I was thinking. Among the most beautiful ever spoken on Earth.

[@nateabot1722]

Hail the Victorious Dead

[@cdfe3388]

Boromir embodies the maxim that a soldier fights not because he hates what’s in front of him l, but because he loves what’s behind him.

[@plebisMaximus]

It's also important to note the first thing he says to Aragorn isn't "Shit bruh, they got me", he immediately gives Aragorn the information he needs, that Merry and Pippin are gone, then thinks of the safety of Frodo, whom he had himself sent running just moments before. It's only when he can account for every member of his party and he's relayed any important information that his thoughts go back to himself and even then, he doesn't think of his death, only wishes to make sure Aragorn will fend for his people now that he can't. Fantastic character.

[@vardiganxpl1698]

Boromir is a true man, he may fall, but he still fights for what is truly right

[@Heydodoakskdkdjf]

I go WILD for broken people who make the right choices in the end. We are all broken. But we are all filled with the potential to do better. Love to see it.

[@notiowegian]

The story wasn't decided by choices...Frodo failed, all failed, accept Gollum's greed pulled him into the fire and saved all. So idiotic mercy, and quitting in the fail of sure failure were the only things that lead to victory.

[@shawnn7502]

@@notiowegian Wrong. Frodo succeeded because he had mercy.

[@notiowegian]

@@shawnn7502 I get the point but Frodo was never violent and never used violence and it was not in his nature to use violence. A non-violent person not using violence is not something to be proud of...he did use a sword to subdue gollum, to imprison gollum, to use gollum, and he likely manipulated and lied to gollum to get his way. His betrayal of gollum with the rangers of ithilien likely lead to gollum falling back into his old ways, which saved middle earth. Again, there is a sort of extreme nihilism, or purpose depending on if you think a god is pulling all of the strings...I find the philosophy so fascinating, because everything Tolkien experienced in life...death of family when he young, death of friends in world war I would show that the violence is random and wayward and we are merely waiting for catastrophe to fall upon, whether due to our own pride, someone elses, or just a rock falling from space. So the theme is...try your best, you will sin and fail, and die, and you might only have victory because an evil person accidently does good. What a great philosophy.

[@timwright3351]

@@notiowegian Frodo only "failed" if you think the final moment is the only one that matters. No one else could have gotten the Ring that far or resisted its power for so long. No one.

[@notiowegian]

@@timwright3351 That is why carrying pride about actions is pointless, we all fail in the end. His behavior didn't matter at all because in the end he took the ring...he was no different than any other person corrupted by the ring, including Gollum.

[@echoesofthevoice9570]

Fun fact: the choir singing in the background as Boromir dies is Elvish. Translated, they say, “I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” This is an actual line in Lord of the Rings. Perfect words with which to send off Boromir.

[@phoebegilliland8897]

These are also the words Faramir speaks in The Two Towers.

[@conroche1535]

@@phoebegilliland8897 It has always been my thought that this passage is the core value of The Two Towers/Return of the King. It seems that the Jackson/Walsh/Bowen team understood this but couldn't find a way to highlight it as they did, brilliantly, with the core value (to me) of the Fellowship, "Do not be so swift to deal out death and judgement." That is, in addition the the fact that< IMHP, PJ was seduced, more and more, as he went on, by his love of CG, the reason that Fellowship is the best of the three films.

[@mobes8876]

Here I am, a grown man washing dishes listen to a video about Boromir and sobbing uncontrollably. Boromir was my favorite character from the films, and when I finally read the books, I saw that Peter Jackson did a PHENOMENAL job adapting the character to film.

[@master_samwise]

He did. He really did.

[@Of_infinite_Faith]

It's the dish soap in your eyes

[@1kevintron]

🤝

[@chrisblanc663]

Honestly as a kid I didn’t like Boromir. Lately I have been doing my best to explain to my wife what made Boromir a wonderful character, who I think sees him the way I used to.

[@OrpheusO-je9sd]

Dude LotR is the only thing that can consistently bring a tear to my eye and I am beyond grateful for it.

[@ethro4150]

One detail a absolutely love about Boromir's last stand is that when he keeps blowing his horn he's not just calling for aid but he's actively trying to lead the battle away from Frodo's path and give him a better chance of escape.

[@ethanedwards7834]

Whenever I watch fellowship I'm brought to tears by that last scene between Aragorn and Boromir. We all wish we could be like Aragorn, but more often we stumble like Boromir.

[@pmc2999]

And that's the truth. And it's those who don't think they can fail who often go down the hardest.

[@stowlicters8362]

What, I wish I could be like Gandalf!

[@Smeaglehasabeard]

not true most of us are closer to Sméagol than Boromir, Boromir is an example of what a man can become ( a Good man) Aragorn is what we should aspire to be. Boromir was never selfish, he also endured great hardship and fought back temptation for as long as he could, most modern men just do whats comfortable and give into their temptations often even if they know they are wrong, while Boromirs reason for giving into his temptation was a noble one ie : he wanted to protect Gondor (all these criticisms of modern men apply to me aswell , although i have been making good progress).

[@enomisv9830]

Boromir training Merry and Pippin isn't the only scene that shows his bond with them. He tries to keep them warm on Caradhras, he argues, saying, "we cannot stay here, this will be the death of the Hobbits!" He shares a boat with them down the Anduin. He grabs Merry and Pippin in Moria and jumps the stairs to make sure they are safe. He chastizes aragorn, insisting the Hobbits be given time to grieve Gandalf. And he gives his life for them. It's easy to say he saw them as little brothers. Especially since both went on to become captains and guards in kingdoms, just like faramir and boromir were in Gondor.

[@karrenbarrinuevo1534]

Boromir's death hits different, no matter how many times you rewatched Fellowship, that scene will never fail and give us that crying moment til' the lines "i would have followed you my brother, my captain my King." Sean Bean did a really great job portraying his role!

[@brandonbuchner1771]

His deliver of "our people" gets me every time. There was that constant rift between he and Aragorn about their allegiance to the race of men. I'm glad that the video pointed out that this was Aragorn's first acknowledgement that Boromir's people were his people too. Boromir's death was the first step to Aragorn becoming the returned king and I don't think it gets enough credit for doing that. ALL of that subtext is conveyed in two simple words "our people." Damn. Just masterful acting.

[@LevanEvan]

I've known certain people over the years that have seen Boromir as an antagonist in the Fellowship simply because he attacks Frodo for the ring, disregarding the noble things he did for the Fellowship before and after this. This speaks to our culture, how we're so quick to ostracize others and simply label them as evil due to one moral shortcoming. What we don't understand is that any one of us may find ourselves in Boromir's place one day, doing an evil deed in service to what we consider a noble cause, only to realize the error of our ways afterward. I think any one in that position would want a second chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of their peers. Remember that it is Aragorn, not Boromir, that forgives Boromir in the end for what he has done.

[@GeneralProfessor]

Carl Jung said: "Thinking is difficult, that's why people prefer to judge." and it definitely rings true when it comes to the sort of people you've mentioned. Most of the time they don't "think" these things through, not really, they simply react and then in a sort of narcissistic fashion cling to the initial reaction - because to do otherwise would admit that they were impulsive, and more importantly, wrong.

[@jimmyneutron3282]

He protected the halflings and fought the Uruk-Hai is what he did! He died for his King Aragon is what he did! And in this house, Boromir is a hero!

[@chrisblanc663]

Admittedly as a kid I saw him as a villain. Not until I’ve matured a bit, and learned better about literature, and character did I come to see the beauty of Boromir as a character, and prototype of men.

[@oklik6864]

We can't judge other people, those who critisized him about it, understandebly so. It irks me too, how he is perceived as a bad guy by most Aragorn fangirls (even though i like Aragorn too). I think it stems from how he is the most realistic ones and not superhero with powers. He was and still is my favorite character from the first time i watched the movie as a 9/10 year old kid.

[@fettbub92]

Boromir dying fighting to save Merry and Pippin definitely kicks off both their arcs to fight for middle earth, and to later save Faramir. In the end, his bravery sparked a deep courage in the two hobbits.

[@figwit-rh4mw]

Saving Merry and Pippin, Boromir saved his brother's & brother's wife's rescuers ❤

[@Cody-5501]

What a wingman!

[@philipchandler1261]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[@michaelman957]

It's worth noting that when Gandalf hears of Boromir's death, he says that Boromir escaped in the end, and that is something that makes him smile gratefully, for he feared for Boromir's soul, but Boromir died in a state of grace, and was thus safe. This world is not our home, but a waystation. Where we journey next is what matters.

[@LordEriolTolkien]

An embodiment of ''Will shall be the sterner, heart the bolder, Spirit the greater as our strength lessens.'' He Fell, morally/spiritually when he succumbed momentarily to the RIng, but recovered his senses and was honestly contrite about his error, and thus stood again. And then he Fell physically, notably finally after 3 arrows, when he had given all he could. And finally at he point of death he bowed to the truth, thus fully redeemed. He was truly heroic

[@lukeblundell5610]

Love that Boromir teaches Merry & Pippin defensive sword fighting; he knew they'd never be short of a noble protector to fight for them... Even with his fall, he never failed them!

[@Philosopierer]

I also love the fact that he bear both of them on the Caradhras.

[@adamwhitney9996]

Recently rewatched Fellowship with some friends who had never seen the trilogy and the amount of mixed reactions was wild. Some were openly happy Boromir died and it was unfortunate that even with the extended editions they failed to recognize the relatable and honorable life of this character. In a time where our media is saturated in meta jokes and self-awareness it is rather difficult to have a raw display of sincerity only to be met with ridicule and jokes from the audience. I believe if we continue to watch the trilogy these guys will learn a valuable skill of reflection and sincerity, the majority of the first time watchers were shocked over his death scene. There is certainly hope that they will continue to enjoy the rest of the trilogy for the very first time.

[@macree01]

Those who mock sincerity stand for NOTHING and should be held as nothing.

[@Stygard]

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. “ -Jesus

[@justthinkingoutloud2538]

What I love about Aragorn is that he's a hero not because he's the one strong enough to not fall to temptation, but because he knows his own weakness, he knows the power of the Ring, and rather than merely overcoming it, he lets Frodo take it and destroy rather than risk letting it have any power by giving it any chance to work on him or others. He avoids temptation altogether, even when seemingly risking everything, rather than proving how much stronger his will is than others', because he knows it won't be enough.

[@di3486]

Boromir’s death was SO emotional to me that I couldn’t watch that part of the movie again for YEARS. Sean was absolute perfection.

[@natethegreat9887]

He protected the halflings and fought the Uruk-Hai is what he did! He died for his king Aragorn is what he did! And in this house Boromir is a hero!

[@no-one-787]

If Boromir had been a real person, I would ask him to pray for me.

[@michaelman957]

Agreed. You might then ask the soldier saint Joan of Arc to pray for you. She actually did turn aside from her oaths at one point for fear of the fire she was threatened with, but then repented and chose martyrdom.

[@HaydenStephens515]

Agreed! On another note, my Dad and I now officially count as "Very Cool People" now that we've seen the Extended Version of these Movies in Theater! 😎

[@captainboromir6958]

@@HaydenStephens515 My sisters and I just did as well! We owned them but yeah, we wanted to see it in theaters. It was fun! The first film there was a guy there in full Gandalf attire.

[@Philosopierer]

Saint Boromir, pray for us! 🕯

[@conroche1535]

@@Philosopierer I first read LOTR in 1965, the year it was published here, in paperback. I remember thinking, "He's English, so he's obviously not Catholic, but it sure feels Catholic." Well, we've learned a lot about him since then, including the fact that the underlying Catholic ethos was a conscious choice. A few years ago, there was a screening of the film, Tolkein, at the Sheen Center, in NYC. One of the arguments put forth was that Boromir's arc was a reflection of St. Peter's denial followed by grief and, ultimately, martyrdom. Personally, I've always seen him as a classic tragic hero, and am happy to see him receive so much love here.

[@huynguyen-js5dd]

“Yes, there is weakness, there is frailty, but there is courage also, and honor to be found in Men” His words spoke so true in men and himself.

[@daniell1483]

Boromir was always my favorite character in the first LOTR movie. I didn't understand him fully until I read the books. He is a good man serving a good cause, but the power of evil makes him lose sight of the true goal, in the end, he admits his guilt and takes responsibility for his actions. It is tragic, and so relatable.

[@lostmarimo]

I remember as a kid me and my friends would play in the woods and fields pretending to be someone from lotr as we fought orcs and what not with wooden swords, But not a single dude wanted to be Boromir, me included. yet having now grown up i see the bravery and strength of Boromir, in face of such darkness that he has fought for years now as the rest of the world is starting to catch on to the threat. and despite of those years of turmoil he has such a drive to do good. And yes he falls one time but he gets up right away and goes and saves merry and pippin without a second thought. Boromir is now my favorite character of lotr.

[@retriever19golden55]

Thank you. Boromir has been my hero since I first read the books more than fifty years ago. He deserves this tribute.

[@RollingSherman505]

I have always loved Boromir as a character and Sean Bean nailed the performance. Also, you are not human if his last words don't make you cry.

[@CaptainIrvitron]

I freakin loved Sean Bean’s role as Boromir, every scene !!! He was truly a “Son of Gondor”…

[@ThePuzzledPangolin]

I am finding this a very deep and insightful listen! I will confess that when I was little, I overlooked Borimir as a character focusing on his low points as opposed to his resolve to improve. As I age, I continue to resonate more with him. I was able to watch the extended re-release a few months back, which contains some scenes that add extra depth to his character. Today, he may be one of my all-time favorite fictional characters with one of my favorite endings.

[@ellawilkenharp]

I so agree! I didn't like Boromir until I read the book, and then I grew to love him after watching the extended editions.

[@yokai333]

"Through Rohan, o'er fen and field Where the long grass grows The west wind comes walking And about the walls it goes. What news from the west, o wandering wind, do you bring to me tonight? Have you seen boromir the Tall by moon or by starlight?"

[@sillythewanderer4221]

I saw him ride over seven streams over waters wide and grey. I saw him in empty lands until he passed away, into the shadows of the North I saw him then no more. The North wind may have heard the horn of the son of Denethor.

[@christopherwolford3483]

From the mouths of the Sea, the South wind flies From the sand hills and the stones; The wailing of the gulls it bears and at the Gates it Moans What news from the south, O sighing wind Do you bring to me at Eve? Where now is Boromir the Fair He tarries, and I grieve.

[@ellawilkenharp]

'You left the East Wind to me, but I will say naught of it'. 'That is as it should be'. And the beautiful introduction 'They will look for him from the white tower, but he shall not return from mountain or from sea'. Clamavi de Profundis has a beautiful arrangement of this lament.

[@yokai333]

@@ellawilkenharp it really is

[@stevenodlum4563]

Everyone will fall down and fail every day. What's important is to get up and continue forward. You don't truly fail until you stop trying.

[@SleepyGibbon]

Man your videos always go hard. Just about cried with this one. While I do obviously adore Aragorn and his near total virtue, its characters like Boromir and Theoden I love most. Good men who fall as all men do and yet still they stand again and take the next step. Tolkien really made something incredibly special with these books, and Jackson's adaptations are so incredible, I genuinely couldn't name a single show or movie that I consider to be better in terms of themes.

[@danielbrazz]

Awesome video, what man, Father can’t relate to Boromir’s arc? We are all full of doubt, questions, uncertainty, all trying to do right by our people. Compassion and bravery took over in the end, such a great character and a superb masculine role model!

[@pyramidheadrocks]

The passion with which you narrate these is superb. Beautiful.

[@dandreguess3108]

I have to say, your videos have been reassurance for me lately. I've watched this one, Theoden, and Kratos back to back and it's been a great sense of masculinity for me. I grew up in Baltimore where my father and his father had to be aggressive men of stone when it came to their idea of masculinity. And I watched my father fight quite a few times, and remember him telling me that a man never loses. And as a man that has lost quite a lot in life, I've become all the wiser for it. I became a trained fighter out of my fear of being immasculated, I study Jiu Jitsu and muay Thai, and It's made me feel more secure in my life. But I've spent the past ten years (I'm now 32) on this track of understanding that masculinity is a marriage of strength, compassion, gentleness and a sense of leadership learned through understanding how to first follow. That we are not made to be a sword to be wielded by our emotions, but a shield to protect what we love. Strength is not a weapon. It is a gift, and a tool to be used to protect those who don't have it. And those who've yet to find it. And now, seeing these men in their identity, go through a change of masculinity at different points in their lives and learning how to teach through their own experience helped me realize that I'm not yet finished with my transformation. And that It's patience and perseverance that helps us through it. Thanks for working on these videos brother. Keep them coming.

[@WarLord312]

One of the things that really caught my attention was the fact that good men can fall to evil impulses at times, but they get back up. And that the same cannot be said for evil men. They don’t have “good” impulses and then go back to being evil

[@EowynSunshine]

Thank you SO MUCH sir, for GETTING it. It seems like ever since the first time I read/watched LOTR, I've been constantly defending him against people who never looked any deeper at his actions than his betrayal. The Ring's manipulation never tempted characters to do evil for evil's sake, but twisted their good and right desires to show them an easier path by which those desires would be "fulfilled." "With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me it would gain a power still greater and more deadly... The way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good." (Gandalf) "He saw Samwise the Strong, Hero of the Age, striding with a flaming sword across the darkened land... and at his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit. He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own, and all this could be." (Sam) The beauty of Boromir's arc is he is so tragically, wonderfully, human. All of his efforts aren't enough. He fails horribly. And yet he doesn't quit. He pushes on. Past his former despair. He is able to look his own death in the face and choose to embrace the hope so essential to Tolkien's themes; hope he had formerly lost. To quote the movies, "There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for."

[@kennethmiller2333]

Boromir is my favorite of the movies, second only to Theoden. It doesn't hurt that Sean Bean and Brenard Hill (RIP) are both masters of their craft.

[@Nixsua]

Honestly thank you so much for your videos. This one hit home after a large failure in my life. It brings hope to hear these stories and their brakedowns. Thank you.

[@ellawilkenharp]

'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends'.... Love 'Jerusalem the Golden' ('Jupiter') playing at the end. Your Higher Calling feels irresistible! It makes me feel like every step I take is the crux of my life. For to Live to a calling may be even harder than to Die for one.

[@Cody-5501]

“Oh Boromir! The tower of guard shall ever northward gaze. To rauros golden rauros falls until the end of days.”

[@ellawilkenharp]

Clamavi de Profundis has the best arrangement...

[@irystocrattakodachithatmooms]

You never fail to impress me with the writing of your scripts, they always communicate things well. I would try to communicate my own thoughts on this, but I'd be sitting here for hours deciding what to say.

[@jeffreyrussell4874]

I vow to thee, my country. What a lovely choice of ending song. Gave me chills

[@lilyaku2069]

I love boromir so much, im so glad you went in depth with his character, made me tear up when he died but he did so protecting the people he cared for, also love your channel

[@tcrowley]

Great breakdown of the character. Spot-on. Well done dude. Easiest subscription of my year so far. If I may nerd out for just a moment... I can think of one other scene from the movies that's easy to miss, where Boromir demonstrates his love and protectiveness for Merry and Pippin: The bridge of Kazad-dum. In the bit where the bridge cracks, and after Gandalf and Legolas make the jump, they all come under fire by Goblins. Without hesitation, Boromir screams "Merry! Pippin!" grabs one in each arm and leaps across the chasm. It's the additional weight of a hobbit in each arm that causes the bridge to crumble further on Frodo and Aragorn. It also serves as another example of Boromir's desire to do good being a little overzealous and short-sighted; in trying to save Merry and Pippin, he almost sent Frodo and Aragorn to their deaths. Good bit of foreshadowing. That shot of Aragorn and Frodo doing the teeter-totter quickly overtakes Bormomir's heroics, but once you make note of it you'll see it every time. Adds a lot of weight to his death scene. When Aragorn first comes to him after dealing with the Uruks, Boromir's first words are "They've taken the little ones!" laden in despair. It adds weight to his perception of his own failure. Dude was in immense pain and bleeding out, and their safety was his first and ONLY concern. It was the perceived loss of the two hobbits that led him down that thought spiral of hopelessness, before Aragorn pulls him back from it with his vow. He truly loved Merry and Pippin. It's clear he saw them as charges to defend, as well as honored friends. Saw it as his duty to protect them. After all, Frodo _had_ to be there, but they chose to. With everyone looking out for Frodo, who would look after the other little ones? So in a way, when Aragorn says "We shall not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death", he's taking up Boromir's charge on multiple levels. Not just to see through his desire to save Gondor, but also keep the little ones safe. Based on that, I have come to believe that Boromir understood how difficult the hobbits' choice was to make, and how naive they likely were in making it. How could they know what they were signing up for? They couldn't. They were there solely out of love for Frodo, and a desire to see him safely on his quest. He admired their strength, courage, and love for their friend. I think, to Boromir, Merry and Pippin initially kind of represented the reason why he fights? So for a time they were just a proxy for Gondorians. Then over the course of their travels he grew to love them because of who they *were*. His fondness for them was so strong that he was willing to give his life to defend the kind of goodness they represented, but also because he saw them as family at that point. Sean Bean effing crushed it with his portrayal of the character. Dude deserves a medal. Hands down one of my favorite Tolkien characters. His complexity is impressive considering how short a time he is present on the pages.

[@michaelh3800]

Bro, stop spoiling us with these great video essays!

[@master_samwise]

Never.

[@CW11721]

Glad to hear it

[@jamesthemuchless]

This reminds me of the line from The World's Last Night by CS Lewis. He points out the importance of doing what we are called to do just because it is what we are called to, regardless of the outcome. In the end he says that we may well fail to complete the task, but "No matter; you were at your post when the Inspection came."

[@master_samwise]

Man I love C.S. Lewis.

[@zacharymay650]

Great choice of music at the end-teared up when I recognized it. Great send off for a great character

[@anwarnaveedali4412]

We all desire to be Aragorn. Maturity is realizing that we might be Boromir, but that's ok.

[@brianpembrook9164]

In my youth? Yes. The King, the paragon, resolute in the face of evil! Now? I would want to be Samwise. Though I fear I am a Took.

[@scottmerric2180]

You make such a great point about the ring corrupting men for the power to do GOOD. And it just makes so much sense. What a powerful metaphor - Well done!

[@dlodortyjobs5618]

Boromir has always been my favorite character in the legendarium. We are all capable of great evil, but it takes a great person to repent and live with virtue after said evil that makes them a hero. I could keep rambling on and on but yes. This video is beautiful in how it captures the soul of the character. Thank you for this.

[@getupjohnnyboi5894]

I am perplexed to have only just now found your channel, but glad I now get to enjoy both your backlog and future content.

[@aaronaaron8604]

Couldn’t stop watching this whole thing till the end. Excellent t analysis!

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

Boromir is the member of the fellowship that I identified with the most.

[@michaelman957]

We all fail. Fortunately, our failures are not us. We can always turn back. There is always hope.

[@Here_is_Waldo]

Well, not for Sarumon.

[@juangabrielcabardo21]

Boromir was a good man. The power of the Ring was just too great. Yet he persevered to the end, dying a warrior’s death to protect his friends.

[@pi8869]

makin grown men cry again I see

[@JD13Coaching]

commando helmets in the background, intellectual summary of a tremendous series... this video was great.

[@jrm13]

A video essay about Boromir with Halo music is peak millennial and honestly I’m here for it anyway.

[@MsChrishanson]

Mortal men charging to fight a Balrog is next level courage - like not seen since legends from the 1st age

[@jordellfreshbreeze7133]

Very good video… Boromir is one of my favorite characters in the books and movies, the movie really honored and redeemed his passing

[@ivanpalomo1586]

I just say that thanks for this videos they help me so much. Keep going

[@mattkeith1180]

I appreciate your honesty and understanding in all of your character studies.

[@christopherwolford3483]

Masterfully done, Master Samwise! I listened to the audiobooks with my wife last year. Listening to the lines of peace Aragorn speaks to him about how few men gain such a victory always brings tears to my eyes. Truly, may God grant us a faithful Christian end to our lives that we can have such a victory. But, you bring attention to a fantastic addition by Jackson with the first words you reference. If Tolkien was right about all stories ultimately pertain to man's relation to death; then what a beginning of that thesis could be better than Boromir's death. Thank you

[@SuperBroG06]

This was, again, truly beautiful. Masculinity is such a mixed subject, especially in our culture today, but all we need are a good couple books from some people who really knew their stuff about just life in general and someone to point it out in the ultimate easy form; a YT video. Boromir is a seriously good example of what all men ought to strive to be, a strong leader, a protector, someone who after failing chooses to get back up and try for better. Surely if the world was full of Boromir type men, things could maybe be better already, those "white shores, a far green country, and beyond..." could be closer. Again, loved the video Sam, amazing usage of "Jupiter; bringer of jovality" from Holt's Planets, it's a great piece. It reminds me of Bluey, which consequently is the greatest kids show to grace this earth. I know I'm probably seeming repetitive at this point, but I think a really great video, perhaps one that's too similar to this one, could be made out of the character Moebius N from Xenoblade Chronicles 3. And a billion more out of the deep themes of that series. I really do 100% recommend, despite it's unseeming appearance, the stories are really so good, there's so much there. But whatever you do, keep up the great videos! Can't wait to see the next! God bless

[@envee1014]

The scene of Aragorn and Boromir speaking right before his death often makes me think of the Catholic/Christian sacrament of reconciliation, which seems very fitting for Tolkien. Boromir isn’t admitting his failure to only to himself, but instead admits it to someone that has the genuine authority to forgive him of it.

[@tryptchthonic]

I was thinking the third Ideal of the Bondsmiths for a good chunk of the video, so I actually cheered when you actually quoted it.

[@hglundahl]

"at the place I'm reliably told is a very good place to start" Doe, a deer, a female deer ...

[@scottmerric2180]

I think Boromir’s last words to Aragorn motivate him as much as anything else to see the fellowship through to the end. I’ve never thought about that.

[@jordantaylor1953]

Thank you for creating this. I've been super excited for this video to come out.

[@b3ast226]

I’ve never cried in a movie but this scene is by far the closest I’ve ever come. Such an incredible picture

[@Thywillbedonepodcast19]

Amazing video, sir. I appreciate nothing more than Boromir videos, appreciation, and his masculinity.

[@TheFinius]

Boromir was always my favorite character.

[@ynpavo]

Thank you for the good video

[@Ironfrenzy217]

Good video, excellent choice of music too. From Halo to The Planets. Nice.

[@jackwalsh6758]

Rest in Peace, Son of Gondor.

[@Thummpur26]

I love your videos. Some of my favorites across all of KZbin.

[@elliotnemeth]

Every time you do one of these videos I’m reminded why these movies make me cry, thanks for that lol

[@ninamariaDS]

Excuse me, what is this channel? Is this some kind of LOTR therapy? Why do I cry in every video?? Honestly, Congrats of your work. Boromir was always one of my favourite ones both in the book and the movie. And the acting of Sean Bean is fabulous.

[@cooperchappell8310]

Let's goo! I voted for Borimir on your poll

[@Matty-Boy]

10:40 It's funny that a story with such stark good and evil can show the allure of evil better than so many other stories (looking at you, WoT) Also, I shoulda left this on your Rings of Power vid, but I appreciate you going more in depth on what you meant by moral ambiguity in Middle Earth so even a bluntstone like me can get it

[@CW11721]

Boromir was always one of my favorite characters

[@jvikingj1006]

Man. Thanks for this video. I love Boromir.

[@quranannotations]

I was just looking for a Boromir video of yours the other day :)

[@gargapapa1867]

bro's channel lowkey brightening youtube as a spiritual beacon on the internet

[@ClarkBallinger]

The wholeness of his human desires to be good, and his arc, I believe, can show how, though trying to use logic, being human, can still come to a failure. Great example

[@tremainetreerat5176]

"Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends."

[@inquisitorquinnge8762]

I see Stormlight Archives on that shelf! Hell yeah my dude! Also very well made video

[@master_samwise]

Life before death, Radiant.

[@inquisitorquinnge8762]

@@master_samwise Journey before destination !

[@NapoleonCalland]

Great use of "I Vow to Thee, My Country". 👍 🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁

[@PR0AC3]

Always such a deep and high quality video, keep up the great work

[@shardinhand1243]

16:40 redemtion is important here but the fact that he helps inspire aragorn is the most important thing he ever acomplishes for his people its why he can die with a smile at th eend of the scene, protecting people is good, but what hapens when you arint there to protect, uplifting people by inpsiration and teaching makes them strong enouhg to protect themselves, to pass on that strength. on that note ill thank good parents and teachers who inspite of how hard and often thankless theyre work is still push on in the hopes of building something better for the future. edit, hah ^^ of course he goes on to cover this, this is well made video.

[@benconnolly9883]

When this video was published this morning, I couldn't believe the providence; I had only the last chapters left in my re-read of The Fellowship of the Ring, those which chiefly contain the fall and sacrifice of Boromir (together with the first chapter of The Two Towers). So here I am, after finishing those chapters, to say that I teared up at three points: at the clearing of Boromir's eyes after his fall (literal and moral); at Aragorn's words immediately upon Boromir's death - "It is I that have failed. Vain was Gandalf's trust in me." - and also at Aragorn's choice to not speak to Legolas and Gimli of Boromir's actions with Frodo, so to preserve the hope instilled in his sacrifice (reminded me quite a bit of Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight, though more poignant); and finally at the sung words of Aragorn and Legolas as the river bore Boromir over the falls. A great man, indeed. In the past, I had been tempted to demonize Boromir, because he clearly wasn't as great or good as Aragorn (old me talking); but as a man with a deeper understanding of myself, as a man who's fallen a thousand times since that old me was me.... Boromir deserves to be remembered as a hero. Because he was. Edit: fourth round of waterworks when you read the line: "You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory." This story, man.

[@Jerry-Greenly]

I love the insertion of that one Uruk-hai missing the memo. That’s something I always wondered. They had express orders *not* to harm the halflings. If Boromir hadn’t shown up when he did, the Uruk-hai would have directly disobeyed Saruman. Come to think of it, the rest of the Uruks should have been grateful that Boromir appeared!

[@Slackrawk]

When i was a kid, i hated boromir. Now, he's quite possibly my favorite character in the entire trilogy. I think his sacrifice is the most powerful part of fellowship.

[@TheLordandtheRings]

Dude. This is such a good video. I made one on Boromir too but yours is way deeper. And opening with the Halo soundtrack is chefs kiss. Hah!

[@vinceagorn]

Truly breathtaking. I love watching your videos, as they give shape and form of true masculinity, humanity and duty. Keep up the great work.

[@NWolc02]

Love the backing tracks from ragnarok. Faye’s theme and her hope for kratos fits like a glove with the stories of redemption for boromir and the world of men in LOTR. He was NOT his failures. He was better in the end.

[@koboldlord]

Boromir is my favorite character. Thank you for this.