The Complete Travels of Glorfindel | Tolkien Explained

Glorfindel is not only a fan-favorite character, but also one of the most powerful elves to ever walk Middle-earth. Today, we cover his entire life - his birth in Valinor, his fatal fight against a balrog in Gondolin, and his reincarnation by the Valar. After he re-embodied, he is sent back to Second Age Middle-earth, as an emissary to help the elves of Eriador in their fight against Sauron. Eventually, we would meet him again as he helps Frodo get to Rivendell, and takes on five Ringwraiths single-handedly!
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Glorfindel and Ecthelion - Jenny Dolfen
Glorfindel - Jenny Dolfen
Glorfindel, Aragorn, and the hobbits - Fantasy Flight
Alqualonde - Ted Nasmith
Beleriand Map - Lamaarcana
Lords of Gondolin - Kazuki Mendou
Gondolin Falls - Federico Cimini
Glorfindel's Bane - Ted Nasmith
Glorfindel and the Balrog - Alan Lee
Barrow - Liam Reagan
Glorfindel and the Balrog - Justin Gerard
Trees of Valinor - Helen Kei
Glorfindel Battles the Balrog - Alystraea Art
Sauron - Jerry Vanderstelt
Manwe Sulimo - Gustavo Malek
Glorfindel - Kenneth Sofia
The Nazgul - Istrandar
Glorfindel - Thomas Rouillard
Glorfindel - Gellihana
Glorfindel and the Balrog - John Howe
Rivendell Elf Rider - Nick Keller
Glorfindel and the Balrog - Anato Finnstark
Glorfindel and Asfaloth - Alystraea Art
Glorfindel - Audrey Hotte
Fire on Weathertop - Ted Nasmith
Glorfindel - Anke Eissmann
Ai na vedui, Dunedan - Abe Papakhian
Glorfindel at the Ford - Sebastian Giacobino Fantasy Flight
Glorfindel Returns to Rivendell - Jenny Dolfen
Glorfindel - Ulla Thynell
Glorfindel - Liiga Klavina
Elf - Sjoerd Bijkerk
Frodo flies to the fords of Bruinen upon Asfaloth - Donato Giancola
Glorfindel at the Ford - Alystraea Art
Nazgul and Glorfindel - Denis Gordeev
Frodo and the Nazgul - Magali Villeneuve
Frodo's Recovery - Donato Giancola
The Council of Rivendell - MellorianJ
The Council of Elrond - Alan Lee
Tom Bombadil - Borja Pindado
The Fellowship of the Ring - The Brothers Hildebrandt
Arwen and Elessar Wedding - The Brothers Hildebrandt
The Grey Havens - Francesco Amadio
Valinor Shores - dogasimsir_artwork
Glorfindel Finds His Grave - Alystraea
#glorfindel #tolkien #lordoftherings

[@NerdoftheRings]

Glorfindel is on of the potential characters for LOTRonPrime that I'm most excited about! Which character that we've never seen on-screen before do you want to see the most?

[@jakermaker9697]

Not necessarily a character but the isle of Numenor itself (which in itself may be a character if they do it well)

[@rangerofthenorth1970]

Gil Galad, Anarion, Ringwraiths as Men and many others....

[@meeskeessen4848]

Círdan the shipwright and perhabs the two blue wizards

[@grokeffer6226]

Tom Bombadil, maybe as a narrator. He seemed to understand a lot of the history of Middle-Earth.

[@principledpsychopath8461]

Sauron as Anatar

[@Syaska]

As a British person, Tolkien allowing Glorfindel to cut the queue for reincarnation means a lot.

[@NerdoftheRings]

haha!

[@beginningbourbon7385]

I love it!

[@garytwinem5275]

Kept him a place.

[@gourmetwaters6916]

Honestly, if you cut a line, you best hope you're already dead. As if ants picking up on a breeze bourne pheromone; the synchronised turning of british heads, the the twitching of stiff upper lips like mandibles, the budgling of eyes in silence enunciated by the terrible eruption of profanity... Our paper thin veneer of civility sheds swiftly like soggy tissue paper.

[@TheEphemeralMammal]

Well he filled out all the proper forms, including the form that allows queue cutting so long as the form for new form embodiment was also completed timely. XD

[@10000Winters]

YES. Glorfindel’s description in Fellowship is one of the greatest character introductions in literature: “Glorfindel was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of joy; his eyes were bright and clean, and his voice like music; on his brow set wisdom, and in his hand was strength.” It says everything about that character in a couple sentences. Masterful writing. Plus the dude kills a Balrog, which is an incredible feat for a non-Maiar.

[@TamajitDas88]

But he himself dies while killing the Balrog.. Fingolfin on the other hand wounded a valar before getting killed himself..!!

[@Goratrix66]

@@TamajitDas88 Gandalf the Maiar himself died too when killed the Balrog of Moria, killing a Balrog in a duel is not joke. Also Glorfindel had a significant power buff after reincarnated, gained Maiar like powers.

[@zinny999]

I thought it was Arwen who saved Froso

[@nonsononessunooko4066]

@@zinny999 in the film not in the book

[@RandomVidsforthought]

@@zinny999 It's frodo not Froso

[@valentinkambushev4968]

I bet Glorfindel's last words to his people before he fell were "Fly, you fools!"

[@NerdoftheRings]

It's a pretty good line. :)

[@BranoBoda]

and once again taking solo XP for Balrog and coming back with few more levels :D

[@wegladstone1967]

There's more to it than this. In the chapter 'Many Meetings' Gandalf tells Frodo the background of Glorfindel. "And here in Rivendell there live still some of his chief foes: the Elven-wise, lords of the Eldar from beyond the furthest seas. They do not fear the Ringwraiths, for those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realm live at once in both worlds, and against both the Seen and the Unseen they have great power' Then in reply to Frodo re Glorfindel specifically: 'Yes, you saw him for a moment as he is upon the other side: one of the mighty of the Firstborn. He ls an Elf-lord of a house of princes....' Plainly therefore he is the same Glorfindel as in the First Age. '

[@bb-ql3vm]

Hahahah

[@Fonnia]

It was "paaaaaarrkouuuurrrr!"

[@koekiesbakker]

Balrogs give way too much XP, please nerf.

[@Shadoww2309]

This quote is pure gold. Well played sir.

[@shezh9597]

🤣🤣🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽

[@warlordofbritannia]

It’s their wings, obviously Remove those and you may smite their ruin upon the mountainside

[@_Aemse]

first glorfindel gets his power spike then gandalf runs off on his own to steal all the parties exp for himself.

[@Si_Mondo]

Kill a Balrog and get Undead-up-to-Level-50-flee-on-sight perk. Glorfindel: I never get to fight anyone anymore....

[@LightingbladeShen]

That 'Maiar like Gandalf regard him as an equal' hits differently when you remember that Gandalf (who himself thinks he's a coward) also stood against a Balrog and slayed it thusly

[@jamesfry8983]

All of the first born from Valinor are basically super elves partly due to the years of the two trees and dwelling near the valor

[@hisnotsolonely2961]

That's what you get when you bathed in the light of the two trees

[@shifusdad]

Also, from what I remember, the maiar were only sent down with a fraction of their powers, so he’s presumably way more powerful than the Gandalf/saruman in middle earth. Idk if he was sent with his full power tho.

[@williamwohl3120]

Also let’s not forget that Gandalf held off all nine all night long

[@jamesfry8983]

@@williamwohl3120 True and that was still as Gandalf the Gray before he got his power upgrade, makes me wonder what he would of done with the witch king as Gandalf the white

[@Cloofinder]

Glorfindel was criminally underplayed in the films. The fact he prophesied about the Witchkings fall at the battle of pellenor fields is wicked crazy.

[@Vonwell_]

Personally I don't mind his switch with Arwen in the movie, the movie is already loaded in characters for a non-book reader, and it gives Arwen a moment to shine so as not reducing her to a lifeless blank "love interest" of Aragorn. I love Glorfindel, but I think replacing him with Arwen in the movie was a good call.

[@muttamerican4863]

Its because Glorfindel is only in the first book. Arwen shows in all three so they made the change to not have to add another brief cast member

[@Cloofinder]

@@muttamerican4863 I believe Glorfindel was in RotK when Ellessar was crowned king and at the wedding. Sure it was a small part.

[@brooksboy78]

@@Vonwell_ Except the movies set up Arwen to be a skilled fighter, and then they promptly ignore that for all of her remaining screen time. Why not give the role to Legolas, who actually DOES contribute to the narrative?

[@connielingus8385]

They should've given Arwen's role to Glorfindel and have him and Aragorn marry in the end. They already have a female character in the Fellowship (Legolas).

[@garytwinem5275]

Hilarious the Witch-King having to book it in mid "Mwah-hah-hah" when Glorfindel rocks up 🙂

[@warlordofbritannia]

Witch-King of Angmar: “I fear no man, but that thing…” *Glorfindel smiles in the unseen world* “…it scares me”

[@TheMightyCrucibleKnight184]

No comments?, sheesh what's with you all?!.

[@williamgarrett1712]

Glorfindel could drop kick Saron into the void.

[@TamajitDas88]

@@williamgarrett1712 Not really, Sauron is a Maiar.. commander of the balrogs... to whom Glorfindel died..

[@AABradyKK]

@@TamajitDas88 don't think Saurom commanded Balrogs. Morgoth did however

[@acolyte06312]

@@TamajitDas88 Dude, take a joke

[@MM22966]

I guess Nazgul aren't really a serious concern when Sindarin-Jesus shows up with a sharp sword and a long bow. No wonder Tolkien/Jackson didn't use him as a main character. It's a MITE overpowered when the guy in question was alive when MORGOTH was the Big Bad.

[@DrewPeabaws]

Man defeated a balrog on his own. What a beast.

[@bilabong4257]

Noldorin-Jesus

[@MM22966]

@@DrewPeabaws Probably kicked it off the side of the mountain, yelling: "THIS...IS...GONDOLIN!!!!"

[@morpheussandman3984]

But the Nine Nazgûl could overwhelm even Glorfindel.

[@sjienleedelia3818]

@@MM22966 pffft I laughed out loud imagining this 😹😭 my humor is broken

[@therealjtgill]

Ah yes, Glorfindel, whose power against the Nazgul is surpassed only by Farmer Maggot.

[@felipaorfr]

He should get a dog

[@LOTR22090able]

I see you're a man of culture as well

[@liamwright2510]

Farmer maggot, why were the Nazgul afraid of him. Hobbits stole his vegetables regularly and he was never able to scare them off. 😂😂😂😂

[@drunkenhobo64]

@@liamwright2510 probably because farmer maggot didn't show any particular fear. He just told the wraiths to get bent or he would fuck them up. The wraiths were busy, too.

[@mkeysou812]

Don't be too proud of those undead terrors Sauron has created. The ability to destroy Middle Earth is insignificant, next to the power of the mushroom

[@runevi]

The way you animate icons of characters to show troop movements during battles reminds me of a lot of military history channels here on youtube (Historymarche and Kings & Generals come to mind) This is such a helpful way to convey this kind of information that I otherwise had difficulty picturing sometimes! Thanks!

[@mobiggcro]

Same 👌🔥

[@getrekt9409]

Elrond: lets send Glorfindel to find Frodo! Glorfindel *rides away on his horse stumbles upon the Ringwraiths* Ringwraiths *ragequitting*

[@seano6859]

Glorfindel is just such a great example of Tolkiens worldbuilding - he just feels ancient and important and it’s awesome

[@psychojoe4764]

Just imagine how funny it would have been if the hobbits happened to see Glorfindel chasing the 5 Ringwraiths and hear him just yelling "come back here cowards" as he chases them

[@rikkrakk4012]

Would have been a major morale booster to see the guy you've been running from for the past several days and several of his buddies running in fear from the dude who's come specifically into the wilderness to find and protect you.

[@braylon3233]

Gandalf is taken to his doom by fall with the balrog in khazad dum, Glorfindel is taken to his doom by fall with the balrog at Gondolin, they both are resurrected, the two have very similar endings and new beginnings, I wonder if Tolkien intended on this to be reflected on or not, but either way the Glorfindel story is very compelling, great work!

[@Enerdhil]

Actually, Gandalf died on the top of a mountain. The fall did not kill him. Also, Gandalf's spirit reentered his old body. Glorfindel's original body is still under the cairn on the top of a mountain. We don't know how he is reembodied in Valinor.

[@braylon3233]

@@Enerdhil oh my bad i forgot about the rest of the duel between gandalf and glorfindel, but they both died similar ways nonetheless.

[@Enerdhil]

@@braylon3233 Yes, as heroes of Middle Earth. 😁

[@hollyriver22171]

You should listen to the lectures of the tolkien professor! There was one (though i can’t remember which) where he talks about how a lot of stories repeat themselves in Tolkien’s world

[@braylon3233]

@@hollyriver22171 I might do that, thanks for the recommendation!

[@spacemissing]

It is easy to imagine Glorfindel staying at Rivendell to help defend it if it was attacked. He would be more valuable in battle than many ordinary Elves combined.

[@knuckles543]

i would imagine he also aided the defence of lothlorien and mirkwood, and the final assault on Dol Guldur. it's non-canon, but the videogame ''Battle For Middle Earth II'' put Glorfindel front and centre in the hero campaign alongside Gloin for most, if not all of it. (my first introduction to him, by far the best unit in the Elven faction) and to think that I thought he was powerful in that version! dude's here competing with Galadriel, Elrond and Gandalf for ''most awesome'' of the Valinor-Blessed folk...

[@anatoldenevers237]

@@knuckles543 Any elves who were around during the First Age and lived to the War Of The Ring are awesome.

[@nicolasreinaldet732]

@@anatoldenevers237 Well he didnot exactly lived to the first age......

[@AdeptKing]

In Battle for Middle Earth II he was the main leader for the hero campaign and yes it involved him fighting to protect Rivendell among other things.

[@ZiggyMandarr]

I just pretend BMFE2 is canon.

[@muttamerican4863]

Its interesting that the Ringwraiths fear Glorfindel more than Gandalf. For just the Witch-King at Pelennor was confident he would defeat Gandalf there but would run from Glorfindel when he had all of the 9 with him. I will be very put out if the Amazon series on the 2nd age excludes Glorfindel.

[@bricehatcher8391]

It probly will as all of his deeds take place in 1st and 3rd age.

[@roblaw4554]

@@bricehatcher8391 I'm not so sure about that. First, he was actually sent back in the SA, about the time the 1 ring was forged and the blue wizards arrived, specifically to help against the shadow. Also, didn't one of the posters amazon released show a rayed-sun emblem? One very much like the device of the House of the Golden Flower? This is of course a stretch, but just sayin.

[@bricehatcher8391]

@@roblaw4554 that was probly the star of feanor. Glorfindel is best know for is actions in gondolin in the first age and the war in the north against angmar and helping aragorn and the hobbits to the ford of bruinen, both in the 3rd age.

[@roblaw4554]

@@bricehatcher8391 No. There is an 8-rayed star in another poster, but this is a sun that I refer to. And yes, I do know the tales and the timelines very well. My point is that Glorfindel specifically was re-embodied and sent on a mission, specifically in the middle of the SA. Despite an almost total lack of stories about him in those days, I find it ridiculously improbable that he would have spent the next 47 or so centuries idle before simply riding out to help with a ford crossing. As the new show is set in SA, and there is a lot of quite open territory for non-canon storytelling, I would not be at all surprised to see an appearance by the one who is arguably the most powerful agent for good on the field. If that might be the case, and on the off chance that he would be treated properly by the writers...well, this provides much of my very limited optimism for this show.

[@patrickmacasaet3493]

​@roblaw4554 given what this abomination is now, PLEASE I'M PRAYING THEY DON'T PUT HIM IN THE SHOW RN 😂😭 THEY'LL JUST RUIN HIM SOMEHOW

[@kevinmoore4845]

Glorfidel was one of the noblest characters in the Tolkien books. I always thought there were two versions (Elfs) with the same name. I did not know he was "sent back" to Middle Earth after he died. Very similar to Gandalfs life and death.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

And the crazy thing is, Tolkien wrote his short essay on Glorfindel that confirmed that both are the same character only like two months before his death, it's part of his last writings!

[@thamessider]

@@Crafty_Spirit Tolkien in later years did a lot of revisionist things to his earlier work, like his gradual sanctification of Galadriel: somewhere in one of the tales/histories from Christopher Tolkein he notes that JRR had apparently been mulling a retcon of her history so she came back to Middle-Earth not in support of Fingolfin but as a sort of missionary to the locals. He may well have been similarly uprating Glorfindel's past... Still, in LotR it explicitly calls Glorfindel an elflord of the Eldar, and a prince, so it's perhaps unlikely there would have been two such with the same name.

[@Fonnia]

Same for me. I knew not until here that there was a passage of Glorfindel's return, always thought it was another powerfull different one.

[@johngeiger3770]

From Feanor to Glorfindel to Fingolfin, Noldorin elves (the warrior elves) were just a different breed even among their kins.

[@rafaelfarias4359]

I like to think that he did had his role in the war of the Ring in northern front of the war. A mighty hero such as him would not miss out the opportunity to fight evil alongside men once again.

[@rosameltrozo5889]

It is a shame so little is shown of that, would've been nice if for example the movies had shown a bit of it in flashes to show how the war of the ring threatens the whole of ME and wasn't just Helm's Deep, Pelennor Fields and the Black Gate, it'd also show the dwarves doing something.

[@Cancoillotteman]

It's actually the version chosen by the game Battle for Middle Earth 2, where he leads with Gloin a company of Iron Hills dwarves

[@michaellao7264]

@@Cancoillotteman great game!

[@jamesshelton308]

@@rosameltrozo5889 Yes and no. The story (and movie) is focused on the actions of the Fellowship, not all of Middle Earth. Showing scenes of distant battles would either confuse people who had not read the books, or add even more runtime in order to proved context. That's why things like the Battle of Dale during the War of the Ring are covered in the appendices in the books. It's important to keep the story relevant to the characters involved.

[@Pancakespls]

@@Cancoillotteman God...I miss that game.

[@quaffdowngin]

Brilliant, as always. The Fall of Gondolin chapter from BoLT2 is one of my favorite pieces of Tolkien lore. The hopelessness is gripping. A last stand for all. Ecthelion and Glorfindel are true legends.

[@frankmueller2781]

Amen to that! Wouldn't a short video on the battle of Ecthelion of the Fountain in single combat with Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs be great? They too fought to each other's mutual death.

[@magecraft2]

While I love the movies he is one of the things I miss in them a depiction of the old forest in movie terms, likewise the Barrow Downs and Glorfindel !

[@SpecialOrder_937]

Don’t for get … OOOOOH TOM BOMBADILL HE’S A MERRY FELLOW BRIGHT BLUE HIS JACKET IS AND HIS BOOTS ARE YELLOW !

[@magecraft2]

@@SpecialOrder_937 yea can't forget old Tom if you want old forest and the downs you have to have Tom :)

[@SpecialOrder_937]

@@magecraft2 He’s so weird ad funny I’m not sure how it would have played out on screen x

[@Crafty_Spirit]

Hi Mate, why don't you check out the Soviet Lord of the Rings as it features these scenes (in a weird way though 🤣)

[@magecraft2]

@@Crafty_Spirit Will check it out :)

[@Jakblade]

Dude deserves his own series.

[@Aelrandir]

I always found it curious that Glorfindel's power was too great for the Fellowship, and would have drawn eyes to it, yet Gandalf's was, apparently, not. I can think of only a few reasons. First could be perhaps that Glorfindel's power exceeded Gandalf the Grey's, even if they wouldn't have necessarily exceeded Gandalf the White's. Though I'm not too keen on that reasoning. Another possibility is that one of them would be fine, but together their power would have been too great to keep secret, and overall Gandalf was better suited for the task than Glorfindel would have been. The other reasoning, and perhaps the one I lean to the most, is that Gandalf's powers, while not lesser, were better concealed thanks to his guise as an old man without fine wears save Glamdring. In any case Glorfindel is among my favorite characters and I really wish we got to read about a bit more of him. I like how they have handled him in Lotro, especially his role in the War of the Last Alliance with the Bright Company.

[@Duiker36]

Given the flight of five Ringwraiths from him, versus the pursuit by four upon Gandalf, the theory that Glorfindel was of greater power than Gandalf the Grey has some bones to it. But I think a large part of it was also that Glorfindel's role was as a warrior, not as an advisor: he was sent back to Beleriand to aid the Elves against Sauron and all of his conributions are on the field of battle. Gandalf was sent to aid the Free Peoples as a whole, and while the Balrog fight in Moria is a thing, it was a holding action of desperation. Instead, the things he does intentionally as The Grey are founding the White Council, incentivizing Thorin to reclaim Erebor from Smaug, and befriending Aragorn. As The White, he heals Theoden, breaks Saruman's staff, and bolsters Gondor during the siege, not least of which is driving back the Nazgul to rescue Faramir. In nearly every case, Gandalf is there to lift someone else up. His job is to steady others and let them do great things in their own right. Glorfindel, on the other hand, has a job of being the one who does great things. Gandalf, in other words, is like Samwise as Glorfindel is like Aragorn.

[@davidgill3356]

Maybe a different kind of power? Gandalf was to inspire and guide in his mission. Glorfindel was a straight up warrior.

[@jodi1761]

It was just poor writing with no logic. He wrote himself into a corner, kinda like how GRR Martin has written himself into a corner, except Tolkien basically just said... "coz of reasons" and carried on. Glorfindel leading Gandalf, Frodo, Elrond, Legolas and Aragorn on Eagles would have been a very short book :D

[@jessem3149]

I feel Glorfindel was a warrior, who could have provided protection, some knowledge given his age, but was too much of a standout for what he could provide and what the group needed (stealth and a network of connections). Since the group had Gandalf, who undoubtedly had the connections and the knowledge needed (as he dedicated his time on middle earth building these relationships with so many races) and was deceptively strong and unappealing, was the perfectly strong leader for the task. Glorfindel not joining was just as important, as the group was found out, and if any of the big 3 (Glorfindel, Elrond, Galadriel) were with this group, I feel a larger force would have been sent to intercept and they all would have been killed (as they are a small group, taking the advantage of sending a large force to intercept would either force the group to retreat back to Rivendell or another safe haven, exposing it to the enemy, or they are captured and killed. The ring wouldn't even matter, as if Sauron killed the big 3 and Gandalf and ended up with Gandalfs, Galadriels, and Elrond's rings of power while neutralizing them, he doesnt even need the one ring to enact the takeover of middle earth, as now his biggest threats are gone. He can take over, and leisurely search for the ring....which....he would have anyway from the interception. Having unassuming members in the fellowship are its biggest strength for this reason, and why the plan would have failed if any other big names joined in my opinion, loved the video!

[@TheKalkalash]

It could be that the Maia have an ability to hide their power. The blue wizards evaded Sauron despite being powerful figures for example. Glorfindel as an elf doesn't have much control over how much he "emits" his power in both the visible and invisible world. You could make a similar comparison with the Nazgul and Sauron. The Nazgul have no ability to hide themselves and whenever they are around everyone can sense their evil aura. Sauron on the other hand had the ability to present himself in more pleasant forms to others. Like when he was captured by the Numenoreans, he had no trouble convincing the king of his good intentions, despite clearly being evil. Or when Gandalf couldn't detect Saruman's betrayal in time, or how he didn't know of Durin's Bane until the Balrog was right on top of them. All in all I think the Maia have an ability to mask themselves from others.

[@hawkeyeplerce5238]

So powerful, that Peter Jackson could only include him in one shot

[@Ljngstrm]

Which one was that? At the council or at the wedding?

[@hawkeyeplerce5238]

@@Ljngstrm The wedding, it's never stated that it's him, but there's a broad jawed blonde elf taller than Elrond and he stands behind Elrond very prominently like he is second in command or something and that leads people to believe it's Gorfindel. Which I'm down with because no other elf is directly addressed as such

[@sidthecoach3961]

@@hawkeyeplerce5238 there were two such elves beside Elrond, which makes me believe they were Elladan and Elrohir - that would make even more sense as it was their sister's wedding after all. So, I think we haven't seen him in the adaptation at all...

[@The-Azure-Knight]

@@sidthecoach3961 I agree with you

[@YvetteArby]

Oh, but PJ was such a big fan of the books and he was going to be true to the books... 😜😾🤬

[@zeyadalbadawi8774]

One of the finest channels on KZbin, if I do say so myself

[@SpecialOrder_937]

One of the Mighty of the First born .. an Elf lord of the house of Princes Gotta respect an Elf who would leave the Blessed realm just to follow his friend … a deed echoed by Samwise the brave ages later

[@KhaoticSenju]

Hey man, found your channel last week and I’ve seen nearly every lore video you’ve done. The Melkor/Morgoth videos and really anything you make is so quality. You’ve reignited my love for Tolkien and I thank you for that. Please keep making your videos. You have a sub for life!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much! I love hearing comments like this, that the videos have reignited passions for Middle-earth! Also, love the username! :)

[@zspursandpubg3708]

How ridiculous that he wasn't in any of the films. I'm shocked actually, he did so much.

[@julianblake8385]

Not at all. Glorfindel is kind of... too perfect, too strong, too good. It is difficult to portray such a character in a movie. We might admire him, but it is difficult to relate or identify with him. A "forbidden" love between two people who shouldn't be together despite their deep love, on the other hand, is easier to sell, especially taking into account that the movies were meant mostly for the bigger mainstream audiences, not for the Lotr hardcore fans only. And even in the main lotr plot, Glorfindel is not a main character. He pretty much just appears in a couple of scenes, and only in one is he relevant.

[@MatthewSmith001]

I enjoy your channel. Thumbs up! But I would like to point out that in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf warned that throwing the Ring in the depths of sea was a bad idea, not just because it would certainly resurface, but also because they were all too ignorant of the creatures and powers that lie beneath. I thought the implications of evil mermen and -maids (or worse) were pretty awesome. Glorfindel was always my favorite Middle Earth character.

[@jameswest981]

Not sure how I read over this amazing character, in the books,I need to read it again.Amazing vid.

[@AndrewCarlisle11B]

One of my favorite characters. Great video Matt!

[@timbotook6447]

Love this! Glorfindel is one of my favourites!!!

[@LusiaEyre]

This is really interesting and I would love to see him depicted on screen... but I get why they excluded him from the films. He does nothing after the Council of Elrond and he was too powerful to just introduce and abandon. People go on and on about the 'flying the Eagles' into Mordor that it would leave them scratching their heads at not utilizing Glorfindel in any way in the story later on. And it would get pretty annoying pretty soon.

[@deusexaethera]

They could've explained it pretty easily by having Gandalf say "Your presence would harken all evil towards us" or something like that, to make it plainly clear that Glorfindel is just too high-profile for Sauron to ignore.

[@phanthetrungnguyen3676]

Glorfindel kicking in the gates of Mordor and saying: What's up Sauron

[@tucker8071]

@@deusexaethera but he doesn’t do anything. It’s not about him not joining the fellowship. We get that he shouldn’t. It’s that he is super powerful and sits on his bum.

[@pablomuerta9452]

My theories for both Eagles and Glorfindel is that, the moment they are part of the mission, Sauron agents would have notice and taken measures such as barricading Mount of Doom,close all passage and withdrew his army and flying creatures back to Mordor which will make things difficult as Elves and Human just doesn't have enough army. Remember Sauron eyes thought Pippin hold the ring so now the chase is on Gandalf and attack is on Minas Tirith.Being small undetected made the hobbit a perfect plan for this.Glorfindel will attract too many wraith and agents, Eagles will attract the tower guards and Nazgul riders.The only reason eagle can reach mount of doom later is bcoz Mordor is focusing on the gate, nazgul witchking slain, and Sauron clueless of frodo.Also no one predict Frodo will survive the land of mordor or Shelob.its diff with glorfindel tho.

[@GojieeTV]

No one was aware of Sauron’s Fel Flying beasts until one was first seen & shot down by Legolas. Eagles were instructed strictly not to intervene in the events of Men by Manwe. As for Glorfindel, Nerd of the Rings states that in the beginning of this video, he would be too powerful to conceal the Fellowships identity while traveling causing too much attention for a stealth mission.

[@codycoffman2932]

I've been waiting for this video! One of my favorite characters. Thank you!

[@NerdoftheRings]

I've been looking forward to this one as well! So glad you liked it!

[@user-pb1oz8if6f]

Thanks for sharing so much to us LOTR fans who might not have the time or access to read all of the material!

[@ThisGameIsWack]

I was just watching videos of yours at like 11pm yesterday, thinking, "Man, it would be great to have a video about Glorfindel." Then boom, you post this today.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Glad I could come through for you!

[@ThisGameIsWack]

@@NerdoftheRings Of course, recently found you and I love all your videos man! You go in great depth and detail of characters or events. I love it.

[@youngjway123]

Definitely top five favorite characters thanks for doing my request 🙏🏾 you gotta love Glorfindel went toe to toe with the Belrog Nuff Said .

[@AgueroNain]

I find this character fascinating. My beef with him is that much like Gandalf he was sent back to middle earth to turn the tide against Sauron and I feel like he felt short on that task. Although he’s responsible for the Witch King’s prophecy, however I think he could have played a more important role against the growing darkness. I was for sure disappointed not to see him in the LOTR 🎥 He of all elves I think was well suited to guide the fellowship along with Gandalf.

[@rikkrakk4012]

In the game Battle for Middle Earth 2 Glorfindel was a leader on the Northern front of the War and fought alongside Elves and Dwarves to drive the enemy from Rivendell, Lothlorien, The Blue Mountains and The Grey Havens and it ends with the destruction of Dol Guldur and the ring. It's not canon but it's a great story. I imagine book Glorfindel would have done something similar but since we know so little about those fronts we just never heard about it. I can't picture a valiant hero like Glorfindel sitting to the side during all the chaos of the War of the Ring and this is a pretty reasonable place for him to be.

[@dangerousfables]

I love the bit where he says “It’s Glorfin’ time”.

[@joe277_2]

I recently started reading the silmarillian and your videos have really helped me understand what’s going on thank you!

[@Enerdhil]

Hang in there. Keep reading passages two or three or four times if you have to. That is what I had to do. It is worth it if you care to know more about Tolkien's Legendarium.

[@NerdoftheRings]

So glad to hear it!

[@Pandaemoni]

I think Gandalf was p[retty obvious too...though I do wonder two things: (1) Why not take the Ring to Valinor and give it to Manwe? Sauron is not going to get it from Manwe and Manwe was so much more powerful than Sauron, that I can't imagine it would corrupt him. I can imagine answers to this question, but I don't ever recall reading them. (2) If Glorfindel's power was so obvious, why not use that fact? Send Merry and Pippen with Glorfindel as a diversion. He could also rally forces against Sauron at the same time (that would probably help with the diversion anyway). It would be very much in keeping for him if Sauron assumed the halfling with the One Ring would be traveling with the most powerful person in Middle Earth after himself. Plus the Nazgul already saw him protecting the halfling with the ringf that they stabbed.

[@elliottreed5283]

Glorfindel not playing a larger role in the third age is such a missed opportunity. It'd of been awesome to see him lead a group of elves sent by elrond into battle at the black gate to help the men there cutting through hoards of orcs renacting the great battle of the second age in a way. Hopefully in this Amazon lotr series he'll get some well deserved screen time after the movies wrote him out.

[@thatiowan3581]

People complaining that Tom Bombadill was taken out of the films but I'd have rather seen this boss

[@alijabbari2877]

Your videos are awesome man, can you do a video explaining Tolkien’s life and what influenced him to create the legendarium? I appreciate you

[@NerdoftheRings]

Great idea! Maybe a good topic to cover in a special video on Tolkien's birthday! Thanks!

[@Enerdhil]

@@NerdoftheRings Whole books have been written on this subject. Good luck making a short video out of it...

[@byaherongmanok]

Glorfindel deserves to become a movie!

[@ChefMychel]

So cool to see you use my original Ted nasmith glorfindel's bane by Ted nasmith!

[@NerdoftheRings]

It is a breathtaking piece!!

[@FallenOne669]

While I know that people love Glorfindel, I understand why Jackson removed him from the films. He doesn't really do anything in the Lord of the Rings story. I think it was a far better choice to give his actions to Arwen, establishing her as a skilled huntress that can sneak up on Aragorn, a better rider than the Ringwraiths, and possessing enough magic to call on the water. It makes us see why Aragorn loves her beyond superficial reasons and gives us a reason to care that she will die if the quest fails. Hopefully, Glorfindel is one of the main characters in the TV Series. The lack of knowledge about his actions gives the writers a lot of freedom to include him in unique ways.

[@ladyalaina42]

I don't think so. A bit incongruous that she remains cloistered at Rivendell a part invalid most of the movie.

[@brooksboy78]

Except it makes no sense. Why establish Arwen as a skilled fighter and then have her sheltered away at Rivendell for the rest of the story? She's set up to be something that she's not. They never do anything with her as a skilled fighter ever again. In contrast, she's moping around in Rivendell doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the narrative. Why not make it Legolas, who actually DOES fight and contribute to the narrative?

[@manuela1986]

I hope you one day make a video on Eol and/or Aredhel. Or even Maeglin, cant really have one without the other. I find their stories tragic and devastating.

[@NerdoftheRings]

The dark elves would make a great topic! Adding it to my list!

[@manuela1986]

@@NerdoftheRings Yay looking forward to it!

[@Enerdhil]

Eol's story is a perfect story of how a person who is not and should not be evil allows his pride to overcome him and cause him to do evil things.

[@DigitalDNA]

I love how these characters are masculine af. But still gentle and humble.

[@tirubius739]

It makes me sad that we know so little of his deeds during the War of the Ring thou i wouldnt dare to doubt that his missins where as dangerous as the one of the Fellowship.

[@MetallicAyManowaR]

The best character ever. Great job, Matt.

[@CallMeDesdinova90]

I loved this video, Keep it up! also, i would love a video on Gil-Galad sometime :)

[@WhoIsCalli]

Great vid Matt. I really hope we see Glorfindel play a solid role in the Amazon tv show

[@NerdoftheRings]

Definitely! Could be pretty epic!

[@lordheklsmosh9490]

All though I believe Glorfindel to be one of the greatest and most powerful elves of the first age. I still believe echthelian was the more powerful of the two.

[@morgothbauglir8687]

Glorfindel defeated a balrog, while ecthelion defeated gothmog, the lord of balrogs and high captain of angband

[@lordheklsmosh9490]

@@morgothbauglir8687 And 3 more Balrogs

[@Comet_373]

I can imagine the witch king shiting himself when he saw glorfindel and just dipping immediately leaving his troops behind

[@marionbaggins]

Glorfindel: Powerful Hair and Powerful Power! And he Kicked Balrog Butt!!!

[@scottrackley4457]

I had such a nerd moment with my Mom. After watching FOTR, she asked me what I thought. I said it was cool but they made one glaring mistake. "What was that?" "It wasn't Arwen, it was Glorfindel"

[@jasminelove2479]

Me, having been on a Glorfindel binge all week noticing your new video: 👀

[@boazvankreuningen9015]

Glorfindel, by far my favorite Elf. Nice Video man!!!

[@Lewis5020]

I remember reading in The Tolkein Companion that there were two Glorfindels. Thanks for clearing this up!

[@sophiejones3554]

This is due to when things were published. At the time that was written, this matter was still uncertain. Though in reading The Tolkien Companion, it is worth remembering that it reflects but one person's interpretation: and that person sometimes overlooked facts that were already published (as do we all on occasion). There are passages in The Lord of the Rings that hint at Glórfindel having lived in Gondolin: but Tolkien did keep it subtle, so it's understandable that it could be missed.

[@Infinitebrandon]

I'm all about liv Tyler but we missed out on such a great hero in the movies. Btw, any more info about the Rohan cartoon? What news from the riddemark?✌😉

[@yololoyo7379]

Make sense for the movie I guess. Also why he's not the main character, he's too powerful for the bad guys

[@esegall91]

Considering his epic power and story, depressing that Peter Jackson left him out of the film series. Glorfindel doesn’t even get a nodding mention not unlike Bombadil. Considering how powerful Glorfindel is, I would imagine he could’ve taken the ring to Mordor and destroyed it. If the Nazgul are (rightfully) so scared of him, nothing would get in his way especially if he unleashed his full might.

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

I love these elves and other races docs. Brilliant videos. We know it takes a lot of time and hard work to make these videos. So we always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos.

[@TheCinderestBlockAround]

Glorfindel!!! Also a little bit of a question from my Tolkien readings this morning, Aragorn mentions he had been thru Moria before LOTR, is there any background on that subject?

[@lordheklsmosh9490]

Dont quote me on it, but I do believe Aragorn goes thru moria on a his hunt for gollum.

[@TheCinderestBlockAround]

Lord hekl smosh ok, thank you so much

[@lordheklsmosh9490]

@@TheCinderestBlockAround Your welcome, glad I could help

[@MemoryTroll]

Awesome character! Love the vid, bro!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks, man!

[@dogasimsir_artwork]

This is awesome. Thank you so much. :)

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks! Thanks for letting me use your awesome art of Valinor!

[@456882]

Glorfindel is by far my favorite character in Tolkien work

[@elessartelcontar147]

The Nazgul: shriek! Glorfindel: look, kids... I fought a balrog. Of all the things that could scare me, do you really thing the shadows of men would be one of them?

[@imranrahman1231]

You know you’re a badass when the ringwraiths fear you

[@TurinTuramber]

Farmer maggot ftw

[@Dannywise527]

Wow... What an epic story. Truly he was a light to his kindred.

[@Y0sh1no5am]

Glorious is all I can describe Glorfindel, It's sad we never get to see him in the movie with the fellowship I wonder what speeches and words he might have to tell the hobbits like epic stories of when he was young and fought the other balrogs. Like when he saw Durin's Bane with Legolas and the other fellowships and when they arrive to LothLorien I wish he would tell Frodo the story when he once faced a Balrog and told how he also returned to the living that would give Frodo hope that maybe Gandalf might come back. Also would be fun to see who better bowman, Glorfindel or Legolas.

[@1Whitewolfe]

Thank you 😊

[@barrylyndon5552]

I like how the eagles came to their aid by attacking the orcs "Ok we'll handle the orcs, you guys are cool with the balrog?" "Yo wait a second there..." "Ok cool good luck guys!"

[@jp-dr6qf]

Great videos, keep it up I love the storytelling with graphics. Sadge Glorfindel wasn't included in the LOTR movies.

[@JaredPoe]

Have been waiting for this!

[@mjscribber]

I Love these audio books complete with amazing artwork.

[@duncanself5111]

I can't believe they sacrificed his character for the sake of adding romance to the Lord of the Rings movies. I do think the movies are great other than that though

[@spangelicious837]

Glorfindel is inconsequential to the rest of the story, whereas Arwen is not. What I can't believe is that Arwen stole Glorfindel's horse. 🤣😂

[@hydradominatus3641]

Yeah.. Romance. One of the most important parts of any movie. For a Chad elf you think is COOL BRO.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Honestly I am not against Arwen having a bigger role in the movies than in the books, but only if she is done right. I mean all the damage she got was from a tree branch.... A ******* TREE BRANCH. Now I know she was suppose to be in the battle of Helm's deep, but they cut her out. For me that was a wrong decision.

[@hisnotsolonely2961]

@@spangelicious837 it would be nice if they add both of them in that scene arwen and glorfindel.

[@thehighguarduk4820]

Fantastic video of a fantastic character, very well done!

[@stephenjohn2131]

I do have many good channels that i can just start a video and enjoy a good narration of events, but recently your channel has become my most loved and favorite. This is my 7th video of yours that i see, i love the style and the soothingly calm voice. You've done a great job, i will watch your other uploads and i will look forward to the new ones as well. Edit: Subscribed!🥂

[@pnoon315]

A really hope to see him in the new Lord of the rings tv show, he should have been in the movies!!

[@Hoonter101]

That show and the people making it are doing it to destroy Tolkiens vision. If you watch it and give them money you are no better than an Orc.

[@pnoon315]

@@Hoonter101I don't think they want to destroy his vision but they will never get to close to the books, I adore Tolkien and his work and reading the silmarilion, the hobbit and Lord of the rings is the only way to truly experience and know what his vision is!

[@LOTR22090able]

My headcanon is that Sting was his knife that he took over the precipice with him. That's why it survived the fall of Gondolin

[@williamthompson8136]

I see Glorefindel and I click

[@Chlo-ee]

That explains why they used Arwen for that scene in the film. Such a large character only used once in the entire trilogy, never to appear again would be a bit odd.

[@AureliusAntoninusCaracalla]

The only thing in Peter Jackson’s adaptation that I was super disappointed in.

[@theomen2805]

Trueee

[@hydradominatus3641]

Lol how would you fit him in?

[@gustavalexandersson7876]

Well, what role should he have had?

[@AureliusAntoninusCaracalla]

@@hydradominatus3641 have you read the book? I would have fit him in that way, with him rescuing Frodo and taking him to the ford, and then included the backstory of him in the scene where Frodo wakes up in Rivendell and Gandalf explains everything to him since he fell unconscious (also included in the book)

[@hydradominatus3641]

@@AureliusAntoninusCaracalla and then you never see him again in the entire trilogy. Well done.

[@lieslmichelle4136]

So, with Glorfindel in the movies we would have never seen Arwen “come and claim him” epic scene.

[@GlorfindelofGondolin]

Great video. 😉

[@deusexaethera]

Life sure would be more interesting if magic actually existed.

[@hollyriver22171]

The world’s pretty magical

[@Duiker36]

It is a sad person who has never worked magic. We are all capable of it; read Tolkien closer and look at what magic actually entails.

[@ecthelion6482]

Please do a video on ecthelion as I'd like to learn more about this character

[@menablackfyre1985]

Still one of my favorite videos

[@phiology1983]

Wished they added him in the trilogy movie..

[@TiagoRamosVideos]

Very interesting 👌

[@BlahKDubstep]

Do you ever feel like you are being constantly watched? Glorfindel: Yes, all the time. Even I am working on boring paperwork.

[@montithered4741]

Glorfindel embodies victory through presence and intimidation. Seems like true displays of power are not through feats of strength through magic or muscle, but by creating such fear as to cause enemies to flee.

[@steelionknight3949]

Glorfindel was like a light in the darkness, I was so glad Elrond sent him to escort Frodos company....

[@Lestat21500]

The music you use in these videos is...breathtaking. Really gets the feels moving man. Keep using that music!

[@ianheins650]

Nice work dude

[@siripornsoyson6134]

WOW

[@faithmacgregor340]

Here is a character that i want rings of power to explore. I know it will be outside the books but i just want to see him in live action someday!!

[@vidhyasaivishruth]

My Theory about the Grond, The Battering Ram Melkor's Hammer was known as Grond, and he was a HUGE giant, right? Well, what if that hammer broke, and only the hilt was found? Could there be a chance that the orcs used this gigantic hilt as a battering Ram? PLZ reply NoTR!!!

[@Enerdhil]

So, Morgoth was the size of Godzilla?

[@pnoon315]

@@Enerdhil maybe even bigger