The Dragons of Middle-earth [COMPILATION]

[@NerdoftheRings]

I hope you all enjoy this video, but today, I also want to call attention to a great loss for the Tolkien fandom. Artist Greg Hildebrandt passed away this week at 85. His work is simply iconic - from the Tolkien calendars to the original poster for Star Wars. We are so blessed as a fandom to have had his immense talent bring life to this world we love. I'll be praying for his wife Jean and their family during this difficult time. Should you wish, here is the link to Greg's store where you can purchase prints and books of his artwork and help support his family: www.spiderwebart.com/default.asp

[@alwaysthinkin]

So much Hildebrandt art on my walls growing up! I can still see his painting of Gandalf the White revealing himself to Aragon, Gimli and Legolas in my mind's eye

[@sngray11]

Greg may be gone be he will never be forgotten. 🫶🏽 I am sending strength, prayers, and positive vibes to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace Greg! 🌹

[@whitleypedia]

They did more to open Tolkiens world to people except Jackson

[@Rohhvm]

The videos keep getting better and better! I wish you would share the tokens and maps, they look sooo good!

[@NookoftheNorth]

Indeed, peaceful positive vibes to his people. Rest in Peace good sir.😢❤

[@TetsuShima]

*Fun fact:* Speaking of dragons, In the "Shadow of War" game, you can find a very old orc captain who ages ago served Morgoth as his sniper. He mentions that the dragons of the Third Age are pretty lame and weak compared to the monstruos ones he saw when he was born during Morgoth's reign

[@MurkyTheSquid]

dude yes! i remember finding him and eventually recruiting him to my side simply because i loved that little nod to the deep lore so much

[@Destroyer94100]

Shadow of War isn’t canon to the story but good point. Dragons were definitely mightier during the war of wrath.

[@Highlander_Wolfman]

In the game, you can find a Drake (lesser dragon) scale and Celebrimbor does say that it was easy to identify as a drake as they are much more dingy than actual dragons.

[@damm41]

Where in the game is that?

[@TetsuShima]

@@damm41 The Eltariel DLC

[@AMCmachine]

"That's it, you're grounded. No leaving the dungeons of Angband for 200 years!!" 🐉🐲

[@owenjames8575]

I think that's called a sentence

[@conolade3290]

That's like what, the lives of two or three generations of middle earth men?😅

[@NRAllen]

Hah! "Grounded". Reckon that was accurate as well

[@brandonpollard8928]

Glaurung* "aww come on i had em" Morgoth* "TO YOUR DUNGEON!! No fire until you old enough, and who are these orcs that went with you?"

[@ericcrilley8871]

I love how Peter Jackson utilized so much of the original text for Bilbo and Smaug's conversation, it totally brought me back to reading that chapter for the first time as a kid. Easily my favorite part of the entire Hobbit trilogy.

[@indominuswrex9465]

Things like that will make me forever unable to understand why people hate those movies overall

[@PoorManatee6197]

​@@indominuswrex9465because for every good scene like that there are 10 bad ones.

[@mrdavman13]

BARREL RIDER??

[@HollowR6S]

@@PoorManatee6197for every 2 good movies there is 1 bad one, if the battle of the 5 armies didn’t exist, I would be happy

[@opalglass8101]

​@@HollowR6SI at least got to enjoy the majesticness of Thorin for a whole other movie. T'would've been a loss indeed

[@Acyclingfan]

Glaurung: Leaves Angband too early Morgoth: "Okay buddy, you're going to timeout."

[@valentinkambushev4968]

The iron stand of the Dwarves against Glaurung will never not be epic.

[@unmitigateddisaster3793]

I never thought about it, but Gold in Arda has the highest concentration of 'Morgoth' in it. That's why Dragons love to horde it and lay upon it. It's like a dog or cat that lays on your coat when you are out of the house to comfort them.

[@joela6895]

Makes sense. Probably the reason for the sickness too

[@erikbender1967]

I really enjoy the longer in-depth videos. This one is no exception.

[@Rodero2443]

So the video made by "wizards and warriors" will fit you well a 8-ish hour long video which goes through the total history of middle earth with great quality and animation, from the very creation to the battle of Dagor-Dagorath.

[@NookoftheNorth]

Loving me some 'Glowrung'

[@CryptidRenfri]

​@Rodero2443 as would the channel "Tolkein Untangled". Superb in-depth videos.

[@erikbender1967]

@@Rodero2443 I said long in depth, not a complete trilogy. LOL!!!

[@michaelwilson4010]

At the end you said there's something special about Tolkien's dragons. I would agree with you, but I would also add that there is something special about every character Tolkien created. Even one so small as Fatty Bolger or Barleman Butterbur or Hob Hayward. Truly Professor Tolkien was a genius.

[@pouletvert8707]

let's not forget about Christopher Tolkien work either

[@djmikio]

Even the abridged version in the Silmarillion did not prepare me for how dark the tale of Turin and Niniel would read in restored novel of The Children of Hurin. Glaurung is Tolkien's most sadistic villain.

[@KingMordred]

Turin and Nienor: *Make passionate love* Glaurung watching them from the distance: "If they only knew how related both lovebirds are" 😈 Morgoth: "Even I find this situation disturbing af" 💀 Sauron: 🤭

[@valentinkambushev4968]

What's even worse: Morgoth probably made Hurin watch his children going Alabama.

[@rogueascendant6611]

For real, that was disturbing asf. So evil...

[@GrahamCStrouse]

Plot twist: Turin & Nienor are secret Targaryans! Glaurung: “Ha! You’ve been boning your sister!” Turin: “Oh, really! That was unexpected. Okay.” Glaurung: “You’re not….horrified?” Turin: “No, I’m good. Thanks for being a great wingman. Without the wings, I mean.” Glaurung: “Really? You’re both okay with with this?” Neinor: “Oh, totally.” Turin: “Yep.” Glaurung: “This has been…an unexpected journey.”

[@ThereIsNoSpoon4]

The voices are so epic, really sets the channel apart. Thanks.

[@JurassicTheory]

I love how Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were able to meet again after playing Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in "Sherlock". They were Smaug and Bilbo Baggins! 😎

[@alwinkrul2452]

John watson

[@ErnestLordGoring]

How did you know the arkenstone had gone? Elementary my dear burglar…

[@3ftninja132]

​@@ErnestLordGoringWe're going to defeat you. I ejaculate dear Hobbit.

[@CryptidRenfri]

One of my favourite ever TV shows and hands down my favourite interpretation of Sherlock Holmes. Brilliant writing and acting.

[@jwentup8704]

Hi Nerd of the Rings, thank you for another banger vid. If I may, would u cover the topic about the Dunelendings?

[@NerdoftheRings]

That's a great idea - especially before War of the Rohirrim comes out!

[@danielwoodgate5897]

​@@NerdoftheRingsgreat video about the dragons mate 😊. Did Smaug know about the history of his dragon ancestors? Did he know and admire Ancalagon The Black? Was Ancalagon a hero to him.

[@lukefranklin7363]

@@NerdoftheRings Yep, would be a good video!

[@TetsuShima]

Glaurung was by far the most evil dragon. By his fault Túrin and hus sister went into full Alabama mode. Even Smaug would find him disgusting 😂😂

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Headcanon: Glaurung's favorite video game is "The coffin of Andy and Leyley" (if you know, you know).

[@DraconimLt]

Yeah, this is why I hate Glaurung more than anything else in lotr.

[@brandonpollard8928]

Glaurung dying* "you like yo brother" dies* 😂😂

[@SleepySloth2705]

Glaurung: "Now that's...a...punchline! Hehehehe...heh...hehhuhghh..."*dies

[@cedricthomas4867]

I feel like he personally did the actual most& his magic and foresight in battle

[@myriadmediamusings]

With how much he contributed to his great battlefield victories and his role in the story of Turin, I feel that it is Glaurung, not Sauron, who was Morgoth's greatest servant. FA Sauron may have seemed more versatile, but the only tale we have of him during that time was of getting the snot kicked out of him by a mythical doggo.

[@NerdoftheRings]

I LOVE Glaurung as a villain. So cunning and ruthless and just...vile!

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@myriadmediamusings in Sauron's defense, it was thanks to Luthien being a half-maiar that Huan beat him.

[@sajjadalhachami7574]

Man gothmog is the real man saruon is just overpower starscream

[@istari0]

Per the Valaquenta: "In the beginning he was of the Maiar of Aulë, and he remained mighty in the lore of that people. In all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda, in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning, Sauron had a part, and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself. But in after years he rose like a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void." We aren't told many of the details of what Sauron did but it is clear that he served Morgoth well for a long time, even if it was seldom out on the battlefield.

[@oguzhanenescetin5702]

Whereas Tolkien says pretty blatantly that Sauron was Morgoths greatest servant

[@sckid1212]

This video was better than any Amazon "LOTR" show.

[@irenaallen8478]

You should be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature for your depth of knowledge of Tolkin. Thank you.

[@jameltaylor4241]

The Dragons of GRRM are like nukes. Tolkein's dragons are overgrown children of the serpent from the garden of Eden. They lie, and their lies curse you. They emanate the malice of their creator.

[@rabidfirefox8914]

FromSoft's dragons (Elden Eing, Dark Souls, etc) are discussions about the fultility of chasing immortality, especially through force. for example, when eating Dragon Hearts in Elden Ring, the player gain dragon eyes and according to lore will eventually become a wyrms fated to drag their belly through the dirt during their long life. Human trying to gain immortally often become half dragon hybrids which usually look painful or awkward (except best girl Half-Breed Priscilla who deserves only the best in the world) I love that while all these fanatsy stories all involve dragons, fire and cool battles, they each use dragons to represent such different themes. Seath from Dark Souls acts differents than Smaug from the hobbit who also acts differently than Drogon from ASOIAF. I love this type of variety.

[@jayremi1835]

I love the irony of one of Melkor's creations creating discord among his forces with Glaurung acting against his wishes.

[@NordicUlfr]

Even thoe the game War in the North isn’t considered strictly canon, but it was cool that they played with the idea that Dragons like Úrgost still are around hiding in remote areas of Middle earth.

[@MarvinT0606]

It has far more respect for the lore than Rings of Power

[@Lomanofran]

I haven't seen the entire video so I don't know if it's mentioned, but in addition to Gostir, another dragon called Lhamthanc is mentioned in the etymologies of The Lost Road.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Oh wow! I didn't realize that!!

[@onefastgoat1168]

Dragons are just so cool in any story

[@bernardodamiaocamargo1896]

I absolutely love dragons in pretty much every context-games, movies, you name it. I find their design and the stories behind them always fascinating. They’re my favorite magical creatures, not just because of their lore but also because I just really like giant reptiles that, more often than not, breathe fire, lol. There’s so much depth to explore with these fascinating "creatures," and I also love *The Lord of the Rings*. I was thrilled to see a video diving into these mystical beings of Middle-earth. Amazing work on the video-congratulations!

[@i_DONT_get_IT]

NOTR episode in November on Dragons? I’ll take it!

[@billmac7558]

I tuned in figuring I would watch just a couple of minutes of dragon lore - and ended up watching the entire video, absolutely riveted by these tales and how you presented them! Why aren't THESE stories made into movies??!! Smaug's terrifying bones (and sunken cursed treasure) are the perfect D&D lake adventure too! OK, gotta go cue up the Hobbit movies again for more Middle Earth dragon desolation! Great video, as usual!

[@Dr_Cole]

As an author of many academic publications, I love your increased use of references to your other videos (academics love citations tremendously, especially when we can cite ourselves! 😮). Beyond pure vanity, these provide a greater way to help those just catching up on your videos a way dive into details which intermix with the current story. Keep up the great work

[@kudlak696]

Very good episode. This is the type of content I like the most from you. Good old NotR. Thanks Matt.

[@chadwickjdillon]

So, if Morgoth cannot "make" new life/creations, he can only corrupt things and imbue them with his power... what did the dragons start as? What have I always missed about this? and if Morgoth did make the dragons as full constructs... does that suggest that Sauron is actually INCREDIBLY strong if his power alone is more than a match for literally any dragon that did exist? but postulates that Morgoth Could have made a dragon that Could have overpowered the ring and destroyed it? Like... if Morgoth brewed his dagons stronger, they could have been more potent expressions of his power?

[@MarvinT0606]

You have to remember that Sauron was once a Maiar under Aüle the Smith. His powers of sub-creation were almost peerless among the Maiar. Also the Ring being able to bind and preserve the power of the Three Elven Rings means it was made not with any special metal but was imbued with the immense power binding it to the fabric of creation itself, as if the Ring was the concentration of all of Sauron's malice and will to dominate and he pressed these qualities into a small but nearly indestructible conduit. The problem however is because the Ring was forged from a physical thing it can be undone in the physical realm but only under the same circumstances as it was created.

[@MarvinT0606]

It is no mere coincidence or fancy that Sauron chose to forge the Rings of Power in Mount Doom-- an active volcano whose roots go all the way down to the foundations of the world.

[@GregBaervids]

Thank you for another amazing video! The music sound effects voice overs dragon voices everything was perfect! You really put the work in on this video and it shows!

[@sngray11]

I love these weekly deep dives into a Tolkien subject and this one on dragons definitely didn’t disappoint! 💞

[@Nerdsofhistory-m7v]

Great video Matt! This was one of your best videos ever. I love watching your weekly videos. It's quite funny how Morgoth basically grounds Glaurung for 200 years. Also I have a minor lore question. Did Tolkien ever mention the final fate of the ents and entwives, and if yes, could you explain it

[@adr4558]

insanely good video, good job bro, i always love your content

[@xTheeLancelotx]

Reading Glaurung destroy Nargothrond was so sad. I also like how you make the same voices Andy Serkis makes in his reading of the Silmarillion. ❤️

[@williamdethland]

Loved the video and i do enjoy listening to Tolkien lore. When you said that Smaug knew every piece of treasure in his hoard i just imagined Smaug sitting and using one of the many halls as a desk with a giant logbook documenting and counting every coin, golden item and gem down and made my self laugh and wish somebody had drawn it!

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

far away the most comprehensive channel on this medium I've only just dabbled with thus far, all alone in the dark

[@MrTNT-Minecraft]

THANK YOU!!! I love dragons

[@senseiAR]

I love your vids!! They always make my boring days much better :D Hope you have an awesome weekend

[@colinleat8309]

Wonderful video, thanks my friend!

[@luudest]

You can hear the development of your voice and narrative style in this compilation.

[@danielwoodgate5897]

Fantastic video mate thank you 😊

[@moalzaben5554]

I believe there are other dragons out there even into the 4th age, some of them are probably living in the withered heath or the northern waste, so Smaug was probably not the last dragon in existence, I still wonder why Sauron never bothered sending his Nazgul and other servants to the withered to search for dragons to recruit since he did have plans to recruit Smaug for the war of the ring.

[@janeczek16]

Amazing video! :) thank you Nerd of the Rings :)

[@STMukr]

Thks Matt❤ God bless you mate❤

[@FemaleVillageElder]

If you get a chance, please do a compilation of the Elven realms. Rivendell ,Lothlorien, Gondolin,Doriath, The Grey Havens, Nargathrond and wherever it was that Thranduil lived - it’s escaping me at the moment.

[@VarjoPira]

This is a topic I can never get enough of. I wish we got a few more dragon appearances in the third age.

[@SB-yp8vp]

I’ve always been curious of the origins of dragons. It is said that Melkor is not wholly capable of creating something new but only corrupt things created by others. Orcs are corrupted elves, trolls are corrupted ents, even balrogs are corrupted Maia. But what were the dragons? I don’t know if that has ever been answered.

[@kiezersosay49]

This video brings more weight and context to Thranduil's line, "i have faced the serpents of the north..."

[@jeffreygao3956]

I like to think that the first dragons were born from Sauron pulling a Loki on some ordinary reptile.

[@brandonpollard8928]

Smaug* "Wait where's my 2nd favorite cup? It was exactly right here for decades"

[@ajh22895]

Now I'm picturing someone absolutely blowing Morgoth's mind by telling him that he could put wings on the dragon.

[@micxploed]

Smog mightily puzzled at the unfamiliar smell of Hobbit. 😂 That was hilarious

[@cedricthomas4867]

Until u realize his vast knowledge not unlike Treebeard not having a name for the hobbits in Entish.

[@MasterMewtwo239]

Dragon Sickness, the effect of avarice in blackness: a trait cast down through the lineage of Glaurung.

[@NickBergOne]

That thumbnail is fire! Pun intended.

[@wallter2]

Thanks for yet another fantastic video!

[@fireraider747]

It's always a good day when there's a new upload on your channel 💍

[@noble137]

the power of his words, and his gays 💅

[@caseybarker8]

Slayyy

[@EricRuskoski]

Nice job! This was really good! Thanks

[@videozz2012]

We've been waiting for a dragons video! 🔥

[@valarmorghulis5836]

We need a MORGOTH trilogy of movies

[@AlyxGlide]

thanks. been bored with hearing about Bezolk & Muskrax of the 7th Age

[@oskarpersson5917]

It would be cool if you would make a theory video about "What if Fingolfing never fought Morgoth" meaning that one of the greatest elves ever would survive longer and be able to influense the war more. I'd love to hear your theory about what would happen then!

[@i_DONT_get_IT]

Shout out to the Komodo dragon for being the only dragon we can see in real life.

[@JurassicTheory]

Great video, Matt! Any I have a question for you: Is it possible to wield two or more Rings of Power at once, like how Thanos was able to wield multiple Infinity Stones in combat? 🧐

[@KingMordred]

"Gondorian folktales abound with drakes, lesser versions of the great dragons who supposedly slumber under the earth. Yet here in Mordor, I've seen them with my own eyes (though from a safe distance) and they are nothing like the storybooks say. They are lethal hunters of the air, rapacious and cruel, apt to torment their prey before eating it. This scale, taken from a drake carcass we found in a graug cave, gives some sense of their size, and how strong they must be to carry such weight aloft." *Idril of Gondor*

[@Mac44598]

Man I would so love to see a movie or series set in the First Age, Morgoth was truly a badass dark lord, makes Sauron and mordor look like a playground with kids.

[@lb7631]

The stuff in Tolkien's works are so fascinating and engaging. Honestly, I liked the Rings of Power, even though it was not canon, and I like the games and stuff, but it does not compare to what he wrote and how he described Christianity in lessons and trials in his books. God loves you all!

[@mclovin2005]

This was such a great view

[@Casa-de-hongos]

How did morgoth create the dragons? Always thought, he could not create life.

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

He could corrupt, so dragons are probably roided up evil lizards.

[@Casa-de-hongos]

@TheCrazyCanuck420 Kind of a big leap. Is there any hint somwhere in tolkiens writing or are they from the time, he did not decide yet morgoth could not create and never bothered to go back to them?

[@Jj-qt2sg]

​@@Casa-de-hongos nah it roided komodo dragons 4 sure

[@TheGamingRaccoons]

We know that monsters existed with no alliance so perhaps dragons were corrupted and or mutated creatures Maybe why eventually they get wings

[@lanewaldon6450]

I think there are some implications that Illuvitar saw what Morgoth was trying to create and let him do so as he knew Morgoth would eventually fail

[@danielwoodgate5897]

Did Smaug know about the history of his dragon ancestors? Did he know and admire Ancalagon The Black? Was Ancalagon a hero to him.

[@cormacmacsuibhne2867]

Urulóki is likely a reference to the Norse God Loki who was the God of Fire in mythology.

[@symonyeal1372]

Glaurond is a grade a AH for doing that to Turin. His superpower is gaslighting turin and his sister

[@jeremyminogue6731]

What about the most important dragon of all? The Green Dragon! 🍺

[@k7l3rworkman97]

Now THIS could make a decent movie/series 😁

[@jose280714]

Good video man... when I was reading the Silmarillion a year ago I was really confused to realize that Nienor married Turin by spells of Glaurung ... then something come to my mind that the pen is mightier than the sword...

[@DraconimLt]

Why the heck did she trust the dragon's word without checking if Turin was alive or not?!?!

[@primal1233]

I really want to see a live action Ancalagon the Black

[@juanchoguerrero9143]

Well that would be awesome to see Ancalagon in live action and we would see a Kaiju of a Dragon in action

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@primal1233 Live action sucks! Give me animated Ancalagon the Black!

[@IcefisherTenacity]

@@valentinkambushev4968I’m fine with either but above all we gotta FEEL that enormity. His corpse falling out of the sky was akin to an asteroid impact.

[@JurassicTheory]

NOTR you can't tame dragons, especially not in the month of November 🐉😏

[@AlyxGlide]

what's the significance of November here, for those who don't know?

[@thefishinthesea.7963]

@@AlyxGlide 🚫 🥜 november

[@conlangknow8787]

​@@AlyxGlidethose who know 😈 Balkan rage mango mango mango 🥭

[@shadowkid4090]

🗿🗿🗿

[@wfisher4034]

Tf does no nut November have to do with dragons?

[@jalidguerrero16]

Ash nazg durbatulûk ash nazg gimbatul ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul

[@rolfandersen6913]

Google fails this text😮

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

If Morgoth can only corrupt what Eru has created, then what exact race did these dragons came from before Morgoth corrupted them?

[@kyleganse4978]

Would love to see The Story of Turin as a film. these first age tales are so badass. What if in ROP we see some dragon action? how upset will people be lol. Dragons are awesome fantasy story telling. These massive flying disasters with sharp teeth and breathing fire.

[@moalzaben5554]

I find it really interesting that cold drakes exist, I mean didn't Morgoth only create fire drakes? So maybe these cold drakes were of some evolutionary/gene shift to something else over the ages.

[@johnbell7235]

So basically what you're saying is is that when a dragon dies it HAS to crush something when it hits the ground/lands?

[@Celebrityplusone]

I wanna know the story about Thranduil when he says “Do not talk to me of dragon fire, I have known the Drakes of the North” not an exact quote but it’s in the Hobbit movie, as he shows his true “form” of scars he endured. Maybe you will mention it or you’ve already made a video if you did I apologize, but I have ALWAYS wanted to hear that war story lol

[@Adamadam-zc6pe]

Ay!!! Where is the full review for ROP season two??! Been a while now Matt! lololol

[@nikalopez8448]

Imagine fumbling a ez w and letting your best dragon die

[@TomFynn]

"an army of Balrogs" he said casually...

[@danzy2plays788]

woo new video

[@QazwerDave]

Did Morgoth create dragons ?!?! Can evil create life ?!?!

[@mav3598]

i'd love you to speculate on the size of Ancalagon, ive seen some estimates that he may have been as wide as scotland, bearing in mind that he took out three mountains the size of everest just by falling on them he would have had to massive. Its the one scene more then any i would love to see on the big screen, animated or otherwise.

[@FestustTheRoboDragon]

Something I've been wondering, what if smaug had gotten the ring?

[@michaeljebbett160]

I'd be interested in seeing you compare the Rankin-Bass animated versions of The Hobbit and The Return of the King to their sources. The former is charming, and the other is...an experience.

The knowledge of dragon fire not destroying the ring probably came from Saruman, and he was already a traitor when Smaug was around. He could just have lied so that the ring goes south passing through isengard rather than going the easier path to Erebor. Since Gandalf sensed that bilbo had to go to Erebor, my alternate story is that Smaug just kills Bilbo and destroys the ring in the process.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Giving that Sauron was involved in the creation of the rings, it's logical to assume that he made his own rings more resistant than the other ones.

[@Micah-t7v]

Your top priority right now is: Huan, Poems review, HOME box set 4 reveiw

[@NerdoftheRings]

Huan is already written and recorded - releasing in one week...and featuring newly commissioned artwork!! It might be one of my favorites I've done in several months! Also, I will def be getting on filming those reviews this week!

[@Micah-t7v]

@ Yes! can’t wait for Huan!😊

[@gregnelson5022]

I cany only imagine the amounts of food morgoth army went thru

[@nafisamusah7085]

Glaurung is my favorite dragon 😍😍. Such an evil being.

[@Maaguaa]

Turin slaying the dragon seems a lot like Sigfried killing Fafnir in Volsung saga

[@PYRESATVARANASI]

Where do you get the music for your videos? So good.

[@redspec01]

You would think that with all the war with dragons, that dwarves would have tactics they could use against them.

[@jason11279]

Well sh*t, now I feel like playing Dwarf Fortress again.