Middle-earth Mysteries - What happened to Radagast?

[@TheKulu42]

I always guessed that Radagast simply decided to stay in Middle Earth after the War of the Ring. Perhaps he made himself useful elsewhere.

[@simonmorris4226]

To heal the hurts to the Kevlar and olvar.

[@John.S92]

..And who knows, maybe Radagast was given an instruction by the Valar, an instruction that was not let known to the rest of the istari thus not included in the red book because no one would have told the writers of the book that instruction, which might be that Radagast remain in Middle Earth to care for the nature and lands, and as a passive observer be a guardian of life, one that could communicate with the Valar should their attention again need to be cast eastwards from Valinor.

[@lrzero1362]

I believe that Radagast didn't fail, in fact I think that Eru Iluvatar changed Radagast's mission without the Valar knowing about it, just like he gave more power to Gandalf when he brought him back after defeating the Balrog. In Radagast's case, I think his new mission isn't helping the men of middle earth stop Sauron, but rather help heal nature from Sauron's destruction and also help men stop the future comeback of Morgoth in the last days of middle earth. Kinda like preparing them for that event. The reason is because Radagast is the most fond of nature and you have to remember that Morgoth's version of the ring is the entire Middle earth, so nature of middle earth is linked with Morgoth. I think at some point Radagast will also become a white wizard like Gandalf and understand how to stop Morgoth in the last days.

[@tathemrelag3123]

Personally, I've always figured that the mysterious figure that the Three Hunters saw at the eaves of Fangorn was Radagast, and that Radagast intentionally drew away the Three Hunters' horses to ensure that they went into Fangorn.

[@RiwenX]

Interesting theory

[@DarthGandalfYT]

I considered it, but I subscribe to the theory that it was Saruman coming to check on his warband.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

The thing is... he could have just talked to them. Aragorn at least would have recognised him by description and intuition. Also seems somewhat likely that Radagast knows Legolas.

[@differous01]

A wizard who DID understand the mood of the huorns (like Legolas did & Saruman did NOT) would have reason to get any birds or horses out of harm's way. Manifest as The Brown he (like Merry and Pippin) might have been mistaken for an Orc, but manifesting as Maia would serve as a Gadson flag (Don't Tread on Me).

[@WladimirRascian]

He transformed into Radegast, the Dearguest, whom Slavs considered to be a godlike creature and helped Czechs master the art of brewing beer.

[@josephcampbell2400]

That's a cool thought.

[@DarthGandalfYT]

That's an odd career change, but not one that I'm against.

[@jaapfolmer7791]

It is true that R. never gets mentioned again. But at the final battle at the Black Gate the Eagles suddenly turn up. It is not made clear how they knew how and when to do that, at all. But R. may well be deemed responsible. Radagast may well have stayed in Middle Earth to help the animals and the plants in the Age of Men that followed. Who knows, maybe he is inspiring the environmental movement today. Tolkien was a rather early exponent of environmental concerns. He hated what heavy industry had done to England.

[@gauravtejpal8901]

In this Tolkien was following the precedent set by the great poet William Blake and the other romantic poets

[@agoogolofgeese]

Yes, that’s along the lines of what I thought. I’ve often figured that during his journey outside of his reclusive home, Radagast became more aware of the state of the world and the fact that doom loomed over every corner and not just a kingdom or two of Elves and Men. Thus in light of impending devastation, he chose to spend his time ensuring that as many species of bird and beast as possible would survive the effects of the war and live on through its aftermath. Presumably the critters of Middle Earth, as in our own world, were far greater in number than that of the hominids and, given Raddy’s fondness for them, he was likely aware of this and had great appreciation for life’s sheer diversity and interconnection. In my mind, that would make such a mission, that of preservation, monumentally important to him - especially so, if he was at all aware of Sauron’s fondness for corrupting the nature of innocent things - and it would also give him a HELL of a lot of work to do (outside of the main plotline, and likely less interesting for most people).

[@squamish4244]

@@gauravtejpal8901 Tolkien created a world, Blake lived in it.

[@TJDious]

"Radagast's old home" means "the home that had been his for a long time." Gandalf met Radagast near to the Shire, and it was only a few months later that the Elven scouts arrived at Rhosgobel. Radagast had no need to go straight home. Knowing the danger in the world posed by the Nazgul, he likely went far and wide warning other creatures of Middle Earth of the situation. There's as much evidence that he was killed as there is that he spent a few months hangin and bangin with Gandalf and Bombadil. Given the verse that only one of the Istari returned over the sea,I've always felt that after he learned of Sauron's fall, Radagast chose to stay amongst the beasts and birds that he loved, possibly fading over time into a benign spirit of nature.

[@alanpennie8013]

That does seem most likely.

[@ChrisVillagomez]

What if Radagast slowly became the Green Man myths and symbolism of the real world? It would fit with how Tolkien liked to connect our world and beliefs with the Lord of the Rings. For instance, I don't remember where but Tolkien said that Eru Illuvitar only once manifested himself in our world before being crucified. Eru Illuvitar was Jesus

[@borgthepig]

Well Radagast could not have faded like an elf. He was also very loyal to Yavanna and the other Valar, who would want Radagast to return. My theory is he stayed there for a time, ensuring nature would remain safe before inevitably returning to Valinor.

[@agoogolofgeese]

That’s along the lines of what I thought as well. Also, I got a good laugh imagining that crew “swangin and bangin.” I can totally see Bombadil singing behind the wheel of a candy-painted lowrider box Chevy with Goldberry and gang while Gandalf clutches his hat in frustration, which the hydraulics threaten to send flying. Thanks for that. I like to think that during his journey outside of his reclusive home, Radagast became more aware of the state of the world and the fact that doom threatened the entire realm and not just a kingdom or two of Elves and Men, his duty to which dwindled in favor of the “lesser” life forms who bear no sense of ill will or betrayal. Thus, in light of impending devastation, he chose to spend his time ensuring that as many species of bird and beast as possible would survive the effects of the war and live on through its aftermath. Presumably the critters of Middle Earth, as in our own world, were far greater in number than that of the hominids and, given Raddy’s fondness for them, he was likely aware of this and had great appreciation for life’s sheer diversity and interconnection. In my mind, that would make such a mission, that of preservation, monumentally important to him - especially so, if he was at all aware of Sauron’s fondness for corrupting the nature of innocent things - and it would also give him a HELL of a lot of work to do (outside of the main plotline, and likely less interesting for most people).

[@singletona082]

As others have pointed out: Radagast may have been very good in his purpose but only seemed ill used as everyone mistook what that was. His tendings and listening to the woods and woodland creatures may well have prevented sauron from gaining more of a foothold. I also feel he would have stayed behind, allowing himself to diminish over time until he became a formless spirit.

[@spacemissing]

The term "old home at Rhosgobel" means that Radagast had lived there for a long time; the inference is that he still did. That "he was not there" means that he had not been there recently, say in a few months. He might have been waylaid or distracted on his way home, but not killed; as stated in the video, his allies would have known and reported that occurrence. What he did once the war ended, we will never know.

[@paulemge9156]

I can’t believe how underrated this channel is, it is easily in my top 3 Tolkien channel and probably tied as #1

[@lotsofspots]

Eaten by Gollum, who mistook him for a woodsman's baby.

[@DarthGandalfYT]

I'm not gonna kink shame, but I don't want to know how Radagast got himself into that position.

[@istari0]

Being a Maia, I think he would have been very difficult for any of Saruman's servants to kill although it is certainly possible he was attacked. He may well have made an appearance in the north later and provided intelligence gathered by the friendly wildlife but by then the story had moved south and so we just didn't hear about it. I suspect he just decided not to return to Valinor, instead choosing to take the role of a nature deity.

[@alanpennie]

No particular reason for him to return. Unlike an elf he wasn't doomed to "fade" if he remained in ME.

[@AlbertvdBerg]

Perhaps Radagast was in some way involved in the cleansing of Dol Goldur?

[@DaBIONICLEFan]

Even if he was killed (which I personally doubt), I'm sure Eru would revive him in Valinor, especially if it was by a fallen Maia like Saruman. I like to think Radagast gradually became a faded spirit, passing unseen in the woods and forests of the world.

[@simonmorris4226]

Or he is still here. Doing the task set by his Maia!

[@DarthGandalfYT]

@@simonmorris4226 Turns out David Attenborough was Radagast the whole time.

[@Delta040301]

@@DarthGandalfYT Now that you mention it, I have never seen David Attenborough and Radagast the Brown in the same room.

[@MerkhVision]

@Delta040301 I love the cute lil owl with a scarf in your avi/pfp! What’s it from?

[@Samuel42069]

ha xdddddd you think Eru is "good guy" lmao. he is equivalent to Demiurge of our world.

[@tiffanynajberg5177]

Inflation and the high cost of housing eventually forced Radagast to get a job at a starbucks, where he works to this day.

[@DarthGandalfYT]

Poor Radagast. Sometimes dead is better.

[@FreedomToRoam86]

Best answer yet!

[@squamish4244]

@@DarthGandalfYT The ground turned sour.

[@chesterbless9441]

I imagine that he did not live in Rhosgobel at the time. Gandalf mentions that Radagast used to live near Beorn's house in The Hobbit, so it wouldn't be his first time moving.

[@simonmorris4226]

Rhosgobel was near Beorn.

[@WolfetoneRebel1916]

Isn't it possible that he was sent to help and protect the birds and beast rather than elves and men? He may have been extremely successful at that.

[@TJDious]

Not sure I'd say he was sent explicitly for that reason, but I think his care of the creatures of Middle Earth robbed Sauron of additional servants who might have done his bidding. Certainly his friendship with Gwaihir saved Gandalf from Saruman, and by extension helped facilitate Sauron's defeat. Much the same way as it's been speculated thst though the Blue Wizards weren't active in the battle against Sauron, they may have prevented the rise of evil allies in the lands to the east, greatly diminishing the potential power of Mordor.

[@russia1305]

considering he is yavannas choice to go and she begged to have him go with them i would say that was his exact mission.

[@DarthGandalfYT]

Nope. His mission was to help Elves and Men, and Tolkien explicitly states that he failed at it. However, his friendship with animals did prove useful from time to time. He still had a positive impact, but it was far less than what it should have been.

[@mitchellsmith4690]

Radagast survived the War, and remained in Middle Earth, gradually faded into a disembodied spirit, which he remained until the 5th age, where he reincarnated as Davod Bower...

[@gmansard641]

It would have been great if Gwaihir had told Radagast what happened to Gandalf in Moria. Radagast could then go to Fangorn and take part in rousing the Ents. Treebeard would be honored to meet a Maia of Yavanna.

[@maximus3160]

Kinda hard to believe that in 3,000 years dwelling in the area that Radagast hadn't already met Treebeard

[@MerkhVision]

It’s true they probably could have crossed paths already, but Radagast hadn’t been on Middle-Earth for 3000 years, only for 1 or 2 thousand.

[@federicaesu8580]

Radagast realized that it was dangerous to stay in Rosgobel because it would be the first place where Saruman would send spies to kill him , so Radagast went into hiding . His familiarity with animals and birds and his knowledge of the woods helped him to find a safe place

[@erichtomanek4739]

Radagast, just a little bit, reminds me of St Francis of Assisi.

[@alanpennie]

Perhaps he eventually founded a cult. The Third Order of St Radagast.

[@AaronJediKnight]

It has been theorised here on youtube that the blue wizards might have been the antagonists for the never written sequel to LotR. May I suggest that if that was the case, Radagast would have been the most likely character to step in as a new Gandalf, so to speak.

[@EricGasz69420]

Radagast got left behind :( Fantastic video! Keep up the good work

[@navylaks2]

I think Radagast made sure that Merry and Pippen found Treebeard

[@videocrowsnest5251]

Radagast being a shape-shifter and master of hues probably also means he is a grand master level hide and seek player. I doubt he could be found even by Elven scouts, or anyone short of more powerful beings, unless he wanted to be found, seen, or heard of. Even if some assassins came a knocking, he could easily, rather than using might, just take some tiny form below the floorboards and get on outta there. As such, I get the feeling he did survive the war of the ring, but after one too many close calls and betrayals decided to retire from the matters that didn't concern nature. As for all we know, maybe getting betrayed/used by Saruman just really took its toll on Radagast and made his spirit falter? Getting played like a cheep fiddle by your superior who has a very lowly opinion of you to boot would to a gentle soul be quite a painful hurt to bear. Radagast clearly did want to be useful, and to lend help when it was asked of him. So perhaps it just hurt that much?

[@bristleconepine4120]

I agree that find it dubious that Saruman had Radagast murdered. Were he to have been killed, I would imagine evidence would have come to light later, or at least his absence would have been noticed by the Wise (what was left of them).

[@bleekskaduwee6762]

Interesting subject, I always wondered what happened to him

[@JazSemGrega]

Always loved this character..I think he stayed till the end of time in middle earth caring for the animals and plants 🌱

[@Lawrence_Talbot]

Now we need a lore video on Trina the Pink, wizard of all things sparkly

[@okamiinukiba]

As the race of men has never stopped damaging the earth he still walks among us heal what can be healed, saving what he can save and teaching those willing to learn. He has appeared in legends the world one and spirits and guardians of nature like the Green Man.

[@joelleblanc8670]

I always felt it was a shame Radagast was always so discounted in the story (and portrayed so silly in the film). Being the weakest of the 5 wizards still makes him one of the most powerful beings in Middle-Earth.

[@alanpennie]

I fear a lot of people take Saruman's malicious demeaning of him to be an accurate assessment. Very few other people knew him at at all well. Beorn regarded him as a friend but doesn't really say anything about him to Thorin & Co.

[@Transilvanian90]

I'm 100% convinced Radagast simply went back to be near nature, perhaps in Greenwood, perhaps with the Beornings, or perhaps around Fangorn. He's one of my favorite characters because he's so secondary, he's just a chill dude who likes nature and has animal friends and that's a good vibe

[@venkelos6996]

There are times I wonder at the intelligence of divine beings. Manwe, Yavanna, and Eru Illuvatar sent the Istari to Middle Earth with a mission, and if it was seen as such an important mission, did these angels, and God, really see such potential in the amiable druid-mage? Did they expect him to do something that he then didn't, and if so, how did they so misread his character? Personally, I'm inclined to think that he wasn't killed. If Orcs, or Uruks, had found him at Rostobel, you'd think that they would have destroyed the place, either fighting the Wizard, or looking for anything of value, so to hear that the Elves made it there, and found nothing, but not that they found it ransacked, or leveled, tells me he wad probably fine. With his animal friends, if something truly threatening had come, for him, or otherwise, I'd guess he was informed. So, I'll say that, based on what I have heard of Tolkien's canceled hypothetical sequel, I am glad that it never materialized, but I always liked an idea that Radagast would be THE Wizard in this tale. Time has moved on, and the world has changed, but evil always skulks. Aragorn is gone, as are Gandalf, and the Elves, leaving a world of Men who have lost a lot of the magic in their world, and didn't earn the peace, themselves, and so don't value it. Into this new darkness, a threat from the East, from the past, returns, and it is this threat that the bumbling Brown Wizard must step forth, for who else is there? Is it the Blue Wizards, fallen to darkness? Some Black Numenorian? Whatever, but Radagast would have to stand in for Gandalf, and use his lesser power/intelligence, in a world sadly losing both. Maybe he could "redeem" himself, if he ever truly did anything wrong.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

Interesting. With the primordial evil gone, I guess a third-rate wizard may qualify for the sage in this sequel

[@alanpennie]

Seems like a good fanfic, and better than Tolkien's outline for his abandoned sequel.

[@oguzhanenescetin5702]

My personal favorite theory is like this After the end of the War of the Ring Aragorn and Gandalf founds a sapling of Telperion. LITERALLY OUT OF NOWHERE ( correct me if there is a mention of how this sapling came to be in other writings ) my theory is, Yavanna gave a single living sapling (of course theory also assumes that she gave a fraction of life to this dead tree since we know they were standing in Valinor as dead saplings) of Telperion to Radagast before he goes to Middle Earth. This might explain how Radagast was chosen only by Yavanna at the last moment and how she begged Curumo to take Radagast with him. And we know Radagast is a master of shapes and hue so he would have the ways to protect himself from being seen and he would have ways to place the sapling and see who will take it from afar as an observer, in a camouflage. Why he didnt openly gave it? Idk. Maybe he was very shy of his inactivity in war of the ring. Maybe he was secretly helping/observing the Fellowship in some ways. Maybe Christopher Tolkien was wrong and the wizard in the forest was Radagast. Not a phantom

[@pajaf0341]

Really like that idea as food for thought. And I agree, even when I read the passages for the first time, the circumstances of Radagasts depart from Valinort felt intentionally foreshadowing on Tolkins part. On the other hand, the Istari are meant to be shrouded figures, only covering two of five in detail delivers the impression of a world much bigger then the scope of the story being told. Threads of stories not being tied up in the end and figures mostlely left unexplored like Radagast or Tom Bombadil invite us to imagine events outside of the central plot and in doing so add to the immersive quality of Tolkiens world. I guess, Tolkien would rather imagine Radagast doing other important things, the protagonists are not even aware of.

[@oguzhanenescetin5702]

@@pajaf0341 Yes one wonders why did Tolkien decided that 5 wizards would send to Middle Earth anyway. Two of them were enough to explain %99 of the central plot. Radagasts help to fellowship could have been fulfilled by others. I think this might be an explanation on your observation. When you think about it, we didn’t even see %50 of Middle Earth given the vastness of the East and South and other places that we may not even know geographically.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

@@oguzhanenescetin5702 You know the weird thing is that only in the Return of the King it is revealed that there are five wizards in total, so Tolkien added this element late in the writing and yet he had no use for the Blue Wizards then xD

[@oguzhanenescetin5702]

@@Crafty_Spirit In two Towers Saruman speaks about five robs of the Istari but I get the idea

[@Crafty_Spirit]

@@oguzhanenescetin5702 You are right, I mistakenly thought that this chapter is set in the third volume

[@talesoftheeldar8688]

Darth Gandalf does a video on a Character ,not a Nation! 🤯

[@DarthGandalfYT]

If I scroll down my recent videos and see the word "Gondor" too many times, then I have to make a video about a character.

[@talesoftheeldar8688]

@@DarthGandalfYT Oo I understand , What happens to the Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod ?

[@cavetroll666]

Very cool video cheers thanks for content

[@NOOKnookCROOK]

Radagast opened up a dispensary in Northern Cali. His herbs are top shelf especially his "Gandalfs gas."😅

[@PeculiarNotions]

I'm always happy to hear about the wizards.

[@agoogolofgeese]

I like to think that during his journey outside of his reclusive home, Radagast became more aware of the state of the world and the fact that doom threatened the entire realm and not just a kingdom or two of Elves and Men, his duty to which dwindled in favor of the “lesser” life forms who bear no sense of ill will or betrayal. Thus, in light of impending devastation, he chose to spend his time ensuring that as many species of bird and beast as possible would survive the effects of the war and live on through its aftermath. Presumably the critters of Middle Earth, as in our own world, were far greater in number than that of the hominids and, given Raddy’s fondness for them, he was likely aware of this and had great appreciation for life’s sheer diversity and interconnection. In my mind, that would make such a mission, that of preservation, monumentally important to him - especially so, if he was at all aware of Sauron’s fondness for corrupting the nature of innocent things - and it would also give him a HELL of a lot of work to do (outside of the main plotline, and likely less interesting for most people).

[@NickCorbinOfficial]

Maybe Radagast played a part in assisting the Free Peoples of the north against Dol Guldur, Gundabad, and Rhun.

[@anderaristondo1259]

I am sure that Gandalf would have checked in his old friend before leaving Middle Earth, so I think if he got killed, we would have known. I think we don't know anything more, becouse there is nothing interesting to say. He just stayed chilling with his animal friends.

[@MerkhVision]

The Pastel Pink Wizard was known for being… fabulous!

[@Edward-nf4nc]

The Three Hunters saw an old man by Fangorn Forest and Gandalf says it was not him, and Radagast would have had a lot of work to do healing animals and forests in the Fourth Age and would finally be able to go to the forests in Harad and help there. I think he was sent to Middle-Earth to help the natural world, and as magic would fade in the Fourth Age he could not go to Middle-Earth then, so he was sent with Saruman and Gandalf in 1000 T.A. as the damage done in the War of the Elves and Men was too great to be undone and it brought a small bit of peace to the men of Eriador from the bother of the Numenoreans.

[@squamish4244]

Wizards are hard to kill. Radagast is no slouch and he could command bears, wolves etc. to come to his defense.

[@howlin.wolf.murphy]

If Radagast died after helping Gandalf it be interesting if that act set his mission back on track and he gets brought back as the BRONZE similar to what happened with Gandalf after his battle w/ Balrog I KNOW HIGHLY IMPROBABLE BUT WOULD BE A COOL NOVELLA

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

Radagast, while not as powerful as Gandalf, would still not be easily killed

[@leonfairhurst7597]

Could Radagast have become the wizard who taught and trained Merlin?

[@BelegaerTheGreat]

Omg! Saruman tricked Radagast to have the Brown Wizard's birds spy for him! Birds were always good, it never made sense to me when in FotR they were hiding from them! "Radagast's old home" may have meant that Radagast used to live there long ago, but the scouts still went only there because they did not know where he lives currently.

[@ChrisVillagomez]

I think if Sauron, Saruman, or someone else really killed Radagast, then there would have been mention of it, especially Sauron as he loved gloating and goading about who he killed. I imagine that if Sauron specifically killed him, the Battle at the Black Gate would have looked more like the final battle of the first Chronicles of Narnia movie 😂😂

[@shauntempley9757]

Yeah. The birds and animals that trusted Radagast would be right there fighting too.

[@JeffRebornNow]

"And when Saruman is ready to make his move and openly declares with Sauron ... ?

[@TJDious]

He became a summer camp counselor.

[@Androsynth75]

One of the stated motivations for writing the LOTR was to provide a mythology and mythic history for Tolkiens beloved Britain. I’ve always thought that Radagast, being enamored of birds and beasts as he was (and this was possibly the intention of Yavanna as well) stayed to protect and nurture them, becoming over time the basis for all the ‘Green Man’ and ‘Wild Man of the Woods’ legends of the isles, much as the few elves that remained became the fey/Seelie court, and the hobbits later became the little people of British/Celtic legend

[@mediocreman6323]

I always had the feeling that Radagast of course stayed in Middle Earth and, in time, simply dissolved into nature, his power dissipating until he lost any individual physical form.

[@nevillesavage2012]

Mushrooms do not grow in Valinor. Gotta get Yor Fix

[@alanpennie]

I feel sorry for the elves, doomed to spend such a long time in such an unappealing place.

[@Sol-0T-hn5ro]

In my opinion, the five wiards not only each got separate plans to perform, but also a larger role in the form of each had a larger duty/role in which they had to cover entire aspects of creation to affect in various ways. Like Radagast, at first glimpse it looks like he got lost and hyperfocused on cute animals after spending too much time watching cute animal clips on tictoc on mushrooms and totally forgot his duty. But the way interpret it, he gathered information and kept in touch on the matters of humanoids and their conflicts, especially Saurons forces. But more importantly, like Gandalf acted as an inspiring figure, shaping and preparing the world of men/elfs/hobbits and various factions, Radagast could have had a more subtle, but heavier duty. To prepare the wild to not only being wary of corruption, but all together resist corruption as much as possible and NOT fall into the hands of Sauron. Sauron might have had spies among humans, elves and maybe even dwarves, if not in the form of broken and enslaved people, creatures of darkness able to go unnoticed. However, if he had free reign over nature, the resistant factions would have to be wary of every tree, squirrel, ant etc and having a harder time to traverse certain terrain etc. What makes me think this way is to simply take a look at the lands which is already deemed corrupted, sauron-land (not to be confused with disneyland) is nothing but hardship and everything they encounter is a risk, either life threatening, or some creature which will report on them, calling in something which will end the visitors lives. It´s a little out there, but then agaiin, the "wizards" aren´t really just about casting lightingbolts from their staffs all the time, they clearly carry much deeper and more all encompassing duties. Again, it´s just my way of making sense of this guy who gets sent down to help against the darkness, it´s one thing to get captured and/or corrupted, but to simply go "Oh! yeah, the holy duty from the great spirit themselves, to stand with the light against the oncoming darknooooowaaaaai!! A squirrel with a nut!! Well, i still got a bag of shrooms, fuck the mission, im gonn trip balls and talk to animals until they understand me!" Take care brother, thank you for yet another banger of a video!

[@borisbadaxe9678]

He's probably still out there somewhere riding around on his bunny sled. 😊 🐇

[@Nio744]

Obviously he reincarnated and became the seventh doctor.

[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

Radagast's fate is somehow both sad yet hopeful at the same time

[@simonmorris4226]

So Radagast failed in his task? He lived in Rhosgobel on the borders of Saurons realm of Mirkwood. Go figure.

[@brianj.841]

I could see him going into Mordor, Harad, etc. to try 'healing' the lands.

[@DarthGandalfYT]

That would be a nice goal.

[@ulbingelias6894]

Radagast simple hang around in middle earth and became miraculix and helped Asterix and Obelix

[@borgthepig]

You can probably rule out him dying, as Eru would likely have sent him back similar to Gandalf, especially since he would have likely been killed by a fallen Maiar, like Gandalf had. So I doubt he got sent back. And we also know he didn’t return ever. My original theory was he stayed in middle-earth for a time before returning, but that’s overruled by the line the others never returned. So I’m suspecting he stayed in Middle-Earth, keeping watch over the birds and beasts of the land. He would likely visit Bombadil from time to time, now that he was a bit more familiar with the land thanks to Saruman. He may have even taken over management of Isengard with the help of the Ents. Not to mention, he may have helped the elves one way or another when Thranduil’s people got invaded during the War of the Ring. He could also have helped the Ents when Fangorn and northern Rohan got attacked. He may have even sent the eagles to aid the Men of the West in their battle at the black gate. Since Tolkien says “never again” he would have either died and his spirit returned (we know his spirit returning doesn’t count as him returning cause Saruman’s spirit eventually returned) or he remains in the world to this day, all the way in the 7th age, protecting nature and keeping hidden all this time

[@anthonymartell9880]

I have an idea if possible. Why did Iluvatar intervene against Sauron but not against Morgoth?

[@rursus8354]

He became a god of sun, war, fertility and harvest.

[@TheOldRepublic220]

Radagast clearly spent the rest of eternity high on his mushrooms. They yellowed his teeth and addled his mind after all.

[@jonjeckell]

Radagast was also sent by Yavanna and maybe was not even intended by the other Valar to be part of the Istari anyway, so maybe his true purpose in Arda (Middle Earth) was to safeguard nature on her behalf while Gandalf looked after the free peoples. Sure Radagast would also help with the main Istari mission as it was congruent to protecting nature from Sauron, but that would also explain why he continued to reside in Middle Earth--to protect nature.

[@fredloeper8579]

The mystery is why in the awful Peter Jackson version of "The Hobbit," Radagast has bird poop on his face. This is simply unacceptable. I don't care how much one loves birds or animals, one would never let them crap on your head. And don't get me started on the Were rabbits. Another silly contrivance.

[@saladinbob]

If he was killed - something I find highly unlikely a mortal capable of doing - wouldn't Radaghast just be sent back to aid Gandalf?

[@DarthGandalfYT]

Unlikely. Gandalf was resurrected and sent back with more power due to his selfless sacrifice.

[@alphax4785]

that'd be up to Eru'Illuvatar, who reincarnated Gandalf since he was both true to his mission and still had a part to play. And while it seems Radagast wasn't corrupted and turned by Sauron like the Blue Wizards were, that he never returned to Valinor means he failed to stay true to his mission in some way.

[@alanpennie]

​@@DarthGandalfYT Gandalf was sent back because he was needed to rally the men of The West and prevent the fall of Minas Tirith. We don't know if Radagast would be sent back because we don't know what his mission was. It certainly seems to have had nothing to do with Sauron and his rings.

[@thomasalvarez6456]

Nature and Middle Earth’s beasts have had it rough for the best of its history. It makes sense for an Istari to try healing it in the Third age and war of the Ring.

[@phoule76]

I wonder if the Professor ever mentioned his fate in one of his letters.

[@radagastofficial3417]

I heard he formed a folk metal band in rural Croatia😂

[@WhoIsCalli]

Nice one

[@Taopuppy]

Or, as a Maiar, if Radagast HAD been killed, wouldn't his spirit form have go to Vallinor like Gandalf did after then end of the battle with the Balrog?

[@alanpennie]

Yep. Unless The Valar decided to send him back because he was still needed in ME.

[@tylerjackson7948]

I always thought he went out and helped wake up the trees, leading up to the two towers

[@williamwolfe2359]

There are so many things they never cover. On KZbin. Such as a video on the roads of middle earth. And why or why not thier not used. What information is there on the mountains of mirkwood? So many un answered questions

[@BulletTooth504]

If Radagast had died during the course of the story, Tolkien wouldn't have been so vague about it.

[@bodycamallpoliticians]

Dunno. Pretty sure him not returning to Valinor is the clue. He's got two dispositions left. He is still alive in middle earth or he also expired and like Saruman for some reason was denied access back to the West.

[@vidarfe]

Third option: He did eventually die, but decided of his own volition to stay in Middle Earth as a spirit instead of going West.

[@samdegoeij6576]

I think Radagast and the Blues are still kicking about in the 4th Age somewhere. Radagast might've finally decided to travel a bit after Gandalf engineered a good ending to the story and he heard about Saruman's betrayal and death. He might've felt a lot safer with less Mayar kicking about like Sauron and Saruman who might've had ideas of killing him. I don't think he was killed. He might've been less powerful than Gandalf, the Blues, Saruman or Sauron but, he's still an Astari, a Mayar. Pretty hard to kill him with anything less powerful but a Ringwraith, a contingent of trolls or a Balrog. Unless Saruman went himself, which is highly unlikely because he had other business to tend to, killing Radagast is almost impossible.

[@rcrawford42]

The Blue Wizards went east and Ages later saved an orphanage from being closer for delinquent taxes. The two posed as brothers, and formed a band to take on the authorities and servants of evil. Their story is marked by songs, like all of Tolkien's tales. You may know it better as "The Blues Brothers".

[@Levermonkey]

Did he really fail? Was he the figure that the Three Hunters saw by Fangorn? Did he play a role (possibly secret) in the battles in the North? Maybe his mission was different (there were four Istari to aid men, elves, and dwarves), was his role to aid nature, to guide it in the struggle and protect it? Not everyone can stand at the front of the stage and roar.

[@fernandogarcia3957]

It would have to be Saruman himself to be the one to kill Radagast. I don't think the Brown Wizard was unable to defend himself or at least to avoid attackers. In the end he kinda forgot his mission losing himself with the Kelvar and Olvar, taking care of them as a side part of his mission.

[@Chris-bv4ko]

I dont think that Radagast died, but he continued to wonder in the woods befriended and aided animals and trees. If you are ever wandering through the woods and see a distant figure that looks like an old man with a hat, perhaps you saw Radagast.

[@davidmiddleton7958]

Rhadagast turned himself into a rabbit before the elven scouts arrived.

[@jacobwilbers9852]

I think that after the eagle dropped off gandalf, he would have returned to tell radaghast he was in danger. Then i think he would go chill with Tom and goldberry until gandalf shows up later for his talk.

[@iamsemjaza]

Radagast is a master of shapes and hues. If he doesn't want to be found, I doubt he'd be found.

[@Nerd_Detective]

I feel that Radagast wasn't the victim of violence by Saruman, because even if he kept his mouth shut about it, it seems in Grima's nature to spill the beans. I also think they'd have found Radagast's things in Orthanc... his staff and perhaps any notable baubles and trinkets he had in his home. Similarly, I think Radagast wasnt' a victim of Sauron either. Killing or capturing one of the Istari would certainly have been worthy boast at the Black Gate, especially if the Mouth of Sauron wanted to unnerve Gandalf. Therefore, it seems most likely to me that Radagast left on his own. He may have understood that things were about to get very, very bad with the return of Sauron, who was infamously brutal to the natural world. Perhaps he preceived a danger in some distant corner that threatened beasts and birds. Something that would not have attracted the Free People, but would be of dire importance to the the Brown Wizard. Perhaps orcs ravaging secluded landscape, or evil creatures attacking wildlife, or a blight spreading. With that theory in mind, I think even though Radgast strayed from his mission due to his love of the natural world, he did so with noble intentions and was not necessarily banned from returning over the sea, but instead chose to remain in Middle Earth in some secluded corner, surrounded by the descendants of the animals he rescued from some dire threat during the War of the Ring.

[@disgruntledtoons]

Radagast was probably on very good terms with Bombadil. For all we know he may have been there when Gandalf dropped in.

[@LeftyScaevola]

Istari means messenger rather than wizard

[@thewingedringer]

Given he was sent there by Yavanna he fulfilled his role, and could have very well returned to the West if he wanted to. Or he could have stayed in Middle Earth to regenerate what Sauron had destroyed and maybe later died. I do not think he failed his task, that was not what he was there for anyway. No I don't think Saruman would have killed Radagast, to kill one of the order was something Saruman was not willing to do at that point, it was why he wouldn't kill Gandalf even though in his heart he knew that Gandalf was not going to collaborate. Given Gandalf had given a chance to Saruman to repent for his sins and return to the West, he would have very likely found Radagast and asked him to return as well, but he may have denied that.

[@BLD426]

He was there at the final battle. When Volde...Nevermind.

[@MrChristophSteininge]

Killed is such a big word. Like all Maiar he cannot be killed, only his mortal form destroyed. Even Sauron is not dead at the end of the war of the ring, only rendered impotent.

[@saliston]

If Radagast had been killed his spirit would have returned to the Valar and they would have known of Saruman's betrayal. He remained in Middle Earth and helped heal the land

[@rave1704]

"Hard evidence" in a work of fictions.. sounds really funny

[@theMightywooosh]

He became Doctor Who

[@BrianSmith-ql5nj]

After realizing saruman had betrayed him and abused him for so long he decided to turn his back on interacting with mankind. And desided to use his vast army of animals for gathering intelligence and aid wherever and whenever he could from the shadows unknown and unseen.

[@daniels7907]

I don't think that he would have been killed for the same reason that Gandalf wasn't killed by Saruman. They're not Men as they appear to be, they are Maiar. If killed, their spirits will either go back to Aman or to Eru Iluvatar himself. In Galdalf's case, it appears that the latter happened. This makes killing Istari risky because either the gods or God will get involved. The canon already implies this in the deaths of both Sauron and Saruman. The One Ring is destroyed, Sauron rises as a great shadow, and a wind from the West blows his remains away. This happens again with Saruman when Wormtongue kills his body. His spirit rises and tries to head West, but again it is instead blown away. The implication being that Manwe refused to let either of their spirits return to Aman. Now, maybe the Valar (or Eru) would judge Radagast as a failure. After all, he didn't even really do that much for Mirkwood, much less nature across Middle-earth. Nor did he help the free peoples. He may have, in the Fourth and later Ages, become some kind of minor nature spirit, having faded much like those Elves who remained in Middle-earth did. Still there, but invisible and incorporeal.

[@cernunnos_lives]

Radagast preserved the animals and wilderness. That's what his main mission became.

[@vitorsousa8172]

I wonder. If Maia are killed what happens to them?

[@DarthGandalfYT]

They usually get reduced to an impotent spirit that is incapable of having an impact on the physical world. Exceptions are Sauron having the One Ring (which effectively anchored him) or Gandalf being taken by Iluvatar, empowered, and then yeeted back to Middle-earth.

[@AlyssMa7rin]

I think it's more worth noting that the Istari are shackled Maia. It's fully possible that their spirits (excluding Saruman) return to Aman.

[@alanpennie]

​@@AlyssMa7rin I would regard that as certain. Saruman was not permitted to return because of his many evil deeds in ME.

[@christosvoskresye]

Something Tolkien did not write in the story he published, Tolkien did not write in the story he published. Unfinished works his son published as a way to make $$$ are not part of the story. Yes, even the author can have fan fiction about his own work.

[@joshuakarr-BibleMan]

No time to watch, but here's an answer: Because all of Arda was corrupred by Morgoth, it was only a matter of time before a Maiar was trapped in his spell. Radagast is bewitched and made worse than a Balrog. Balrogs at least do something. Radagast is the characterization of apathy.

[@shauntempley9757]

I do not believe that about Radagast. He represents the one aspect the other Wizards never had charge of protecting. The natural world that is not in Ulmo's realm, but Yavanna's and Manwe's.

[@Imonly2andahalf]

I'm sorry, the artwork in this was HELIBAD! What a selection LOL

[@archabe]

Nah In my mind he is still wandering the wilderness probably forgotten what he came from and why. Lending his aid to nature where he can and avoid civilization.