THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2002) MOVIE REACTION!! - First Time Watching!

[@RaggedyPack]

BLAKE LIKES SAMWISE GAMGEE??? EARLY ACCESS and FULL LENGTH REACTIONS for ROTK and The Hobbit available on our Patreon! ▶ www.patreon.com/collection/680748 Come hang out in our Discord! ▶ discord.gg/HQFtGkCf37

[@ladamadelarcoiris9554]

Samwise Gamgee is the GOAT! Lord of the rings is the story of Sam, you'll see.

[@lcbonastre2418]

Trilogy The Hobbit Extended Edition Of The Adventures Of Bilbo Baggin: (1) An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition (2) The Desolation Of Smaug Extended Edition (3) The Battle Five Armie Extended Edition

[@cmdrbrantford888]

Believe it or not - the "torch orc" suiciding the wall at Helm's Deep caused a lot of trauma for some people.. because it was 3 months after 9/11. The ending tho where Sam was saying "this darkness will pass".. was a lot of therapy for some people.. it brought them some hope too that everyone could get past 9/11.

[@robstewart2272]

I was wondering about the Sam thing. But thank you Blake, for the update in the beginning of the video. I appreciate you guys and love your reactions. Looking forward to more

[@kanelic]

That makes more sense! Glad you don't hate Sam!

[@Jonas_æ]

About Gandalf's return. The wizards are not just old men with magic, but essentially the equivalent of angels from heaven walking the earth. Gandalf was literally sent back by god to finish the job.

[@Jotto999]

The risks of dunking on the most liked character in the most liked film trilogy

[@christoperwallace6197]

I mean same is awesome, but I like gandalf and every elf more

[@YeahItsJhon]

Blake isn’t sorry at all, he’s afraid of losing subscribers. That kind of joke is a reflection of his true nature🤷🏻‍♂️ I already unsubscribed.

[@christoperwallace6197]

@@YeahItsJhon lmao. Judgemental much? Who hurt you?

[@BattleAngelFan99]

Sam isn't my favorite character (dodges bullets and other projectiles). But seriously, he comes in maybe sixth or so for me. I mean, Gandalf, Legolas, Aragorn, Elron, Gimli, how can I rate Samwise the tag-along halfling higher than those? But I'll admit, he deserves the title Samwise the Brave, or just as appropriate, Samwise the Loyal. Okay, he's my favorite movie Samwise, how's that? :D And yes, I mean I prefer him over the supernatural murderous clown.

[@mycroft16]

Sam is the main character. Is in the books too.

[@nealsandy8464]

My man had to put out a "I dont hate Sam" PSA 🤣

[@safakcetin8106]

He had to. Nobody in their sane mind can hate Sam -_-

[@BobBlumenfeld]

That major flashback between Boromir, Faramir and their father Denethor is one of the major reasons we Tolkien nerds exhort reactors to watch the Extended Edition. It explains so much of Boromir and Faramir's actions both before and after that point in the story.

[@mrmadness2699]

It was very much a deviation from the book (Knowledge of the One Ring was lost in Gondor and Boromir came to Rivendell because of a recurring prophetic dream). Still it clarifies motivations of characters and informs us how Boromir and Faramir are actually good honorable people. The change was indispensable in the film version.

[@Prodrummer1603]

It gives a reason why Faramir (Movie version) got ensnared by the Ring. He wanted to proof his worth to his father. But still: I like the book version of Faramir more. In the book Faramir did not want to see the Ring because he feared he would desire it like everybody else. I'm not saying the Peter Jackson interpretation is bad. If you only have seen the movie, there is nothing wrong with Faramir. It all makes sense. But the Book-Faramir represented trades that are often overlooked: humility, knowing your own weaknesses and never trusting yourself with power.

[@TrentRushton]

Bernard Hill has one of the best acting moments when Theoden mourning his sons loss.

[@PeterDB90]

RIP I haven't seen his other roles except for this one and the Captain of Titanic, but he did a phenomenal job as Theoden.

[@1998madde1998]

Yes! That scene always makes my eyes tear up!

[@Stogie2112]

7:40 In the theater, this shot of Gandalf and the Balrog appearing out of the abyss and falling towards the water was worth ten times the price of admission. Absolutely breathtaking. 😳😳😳

[@TomorrowWeLive]

The combination of the score with what's happening on screen in that scene has to make one of the top scenes of all cinema of all time. It's unfathomably awesome and one of the best openings to a sequel ever.

[@di3486]

My jaw remained on the floor for the entire week after 😂

[@wildhunt6350]

@@TomorrowWeLiveThe score is absolutely awesome it makes the scene just absolutely perfect !

[@alerocillo]

Who else was waiting for "Did you know" when Aragorn kicked the helmet scene.

[@SunSlayerKD]

I was expecting it on the scene where Gandalf hit the wooden beam after the chandelier as well.

[@ellie_jeann]

42:21 RIP King of Rohan, the actor passed away recently within the past months or so.

[@ungenerationed9022]

May his spirit find its way to the halls of his fathers.

[@murihiku]

Disbelievingly: "Are you telling me the third one's better?" A few seconds later: "I wanted more of the oliphaunts" Best dramatic irony ever.

[@AWSVids]

And shortly before that too: "They should have brought trolls." Me thinking about the scene at Minas Tirith when the trolls coming bursting through the gate... 😁

[@NickThorbjørnsen2207]

Spoilers guys come on.

[@sarahwardlow6967]

@@NickThorbjørnsen2207 Snooping on their Patreon, it looks like they watched the whole trilogy back in July or August and have been watching The Hobbit movies, they're all good.

[@frufruJ]

@@NickThorbjørnsen2207 They said that it's already available on Patreon, they've already seen it all.

[@AWSVids]

@@NickThorbjørnsen2207 I doubt the guys who haven’t seen it yet are reading the comments.

[@CheezDaBoss]

I like how the two who have watched this are so respectful as to not give any spoilers. So glad that the Sam bit was a joke as who can hate Samwise Gamgee!

[@jackmeowmeowmeow2177]

Sam is just the worst friend.

[@Gunnar001]

@@jackmeowmeowmeow2177He is an annoyance and just gets in the way. Wish Gandalf left him.

[@IllaLuna17]

I love Sam but there’s many reason why others may not. He also comes out as a people pleaser, some don’t like that trail.

[@JJKillerElite]

​@@jackmeowmeowmeow2177that's a crazy take, without Sam this movie literally ends at the beginning of the 2nd movie, not the last time he comes in clutch. Ngl if you don't have a friend that would put their ass on the line for you, you need new friends 😂🤷‍♂️

[@nobu3358]

@@IllaLuna17 He comes off very too loyal to the point where he looks like a submissive person.

[@thpvix]

LMAOOO the apology note at the beginning. Ive had a god awful day slamming my face in the pavement and spraining my ankle, so this video heals where it hurts, thank you my sons for bringing me this mighty gift

[@t.j._fury]

Ouch!!! Oh man! I hope the rest of your day/evening is better! 🍀

[@ewie6040]

Gandalf didn't fall after the whip caught him on the bridge. He just realised he had the chance to 1v1 the balrog and get all the XP. No wonder he shows up later with god level equipment and stat boosts 😂

[@cherdiane]

Gandalf died. He was sent back to complete his task.

[@billyg898]

@@cherdiane We know...its a joke!

[@Big_Tex]

Actually good point. I think it’s clear he didn’t just lose his grip and fall. He realized it was his destiny to fight the Balrog. He realizes it wasn’t sufficient to just destroy Sauron when there’s another evil Maiar running around Middle Earth to be dealt with. That’s my take.

[@thatoneguy-tj5pc]

i would like to point out that he had a stat boost all along.

[@LLLLLL-wp9bz]

Fly you fools!, …me? …Well … I got an achievement to unlock.

[@mufazaltompel]

despite his simple outfit, Legolas is a Prince..

[@daytrippera]

"Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow... " R.I.P. Bernard Hill, King Theoden. ⚘️👑

[@katrinaleebaldwin4660]

Ummm, so we just gonna make me cry like that😭😭😭😭😭. Savage

[@benvandermerwe4934]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻⚡🥃

[@DavidEllis94]

​@@katrinaleebaldwin4660I will not say "Do not weep," for not all tears are an evil.

[@sirkylanthered]

He has gone to the halls of his fathers. In who's mighty company, he will be praised.

[@maximopalacio5524]

El gran Rey Theoden es un homenaje poderoso a los grandes reyes de antaño que lejos de dar ordenes desde sus castillos, lideraban en persona a su ejército en la batalla, y Hill estuvo a la altura del personaje, su actuacion es memorable y solemne.

[@judson9223]

"What is a donut, if not a glazed ring?" ~Igli Iggliston, 2024

[@remplidefeux]

The apology for the Sam hate is absolutely hilarious. 😂😂😂

[@larrybell726]

In a panel discussion several of the actors in the movie were asked what their favorite lines had been. Ian McKellen said “that was what they used to call me, …I am Gandalf The gay“ 😉

[@jlgibson001]

I will NEVER get tired of the scores for these films. Captain Obvious here, but the scores are truly epic.

[@Tsunami7964]

‘Roast Chicken?!’ That line always makes me laugh.

[@no1takethisname]

I wasn't offended but absolutely was judging you. Was shooked 🤣🤣🤣 I gotta update my siblings on you now 😄

[@maximopalacio5524]

Jajaja los fanaticos de LOTRING serían capaz de blandir la espada por sus personajes. Mis hermanos prefieren a Gollum.

[@samswords9993]

There's a holiness and purity to many elvish items. Evil creatures can't stand it. Thus Gollum's reaction to both the rope and the lembas.

[@mizzy5193]

Alright Blake you have redeemed yourself, was never going to stop watching but I was worried for a second 😭😂

[@bluegypsy71]

I'll be honest, Blake and Igli constantly busting each other's chops is part of why I tune in, that and Cojo's hair and Corey's calm on point observations.

[@PeterDB90]

Yeah, I enjoy the chemistry between the whole pack - everyone brings something to the table.

[@lisabeloved]

Hahaha I have to agree 👍

[@MrGaleanon]

Context is so fkin vital to understand inside jokes. Its the curse of jumping in as a viewer or new member of a long standing friendship.

[@DavidEllis94]

Igli's "Legolas's meat" joke makes me crack up no matter how much I replay it. Just his calm delivery and Cojo's reaction is just so fucking funny.

[@placebo5466]

I thought the Sam hate was funny. But, you tread dangerous waters my friend throwing that out there without context. Looking forward to this reaction.

[@goldenholdenolden]

yeahh, but also ugh let a guy throw some jabs at his buddy KZbin. and then maybe next time Blake won’t have to waste his time defending perfectly innocent comments.

[@lance9249]

People need to stop trying to police thought though even if he did not like Sam who cares.

[@Tetheredpencil]

Just watched the second movie with a friend. Watching the third in a few days. For both him and I, Frodo and Sam are just okay. They are there. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Theoden, EVEN Merry and Pippin are better characters imo. BUT at some point I would like to read the books. I hope I like them more there. ​@@lance9249

[@_Katzenberg]

Also, shoutout to Merry and Pippin by tricking the Ents into taking down Isengard, only to getting super high afterwards, what a legends.

[@ArgentLeftovers]

Tolkien specifically said it was nothing more than tobacco. Why do potheads HAVE to think everything smokable is dope

[@primal1233]

The way Haldir pulled up with his army of Elves is awesome

[@zybch]

Not really. Tolkien didn't write that. Its not 'Rings of Power' egregious, but its certainly on that same path.

[@primal1233]

@@zybch I know that! I've read the books. I'm just saying it's awesome

[@daisydaisy6886]

​@@primal1233kitapları bende okudum ve elflerin insanlara yardıma gelmesi baya güzel bir eklemeydi.

[@sirkylanthered]

​@@zybchThe Rings Of Power isn't bad

[@Torstenn-b3x]

@@sirkylanthered No, you're quite right, it isn't bad. It's _terrible_ (in my opinion)

[@telynns8490]

Faramir's treatment of gollum is rough, but remember he is close to Mordor and at war. He HAS to find out what these people are doing here and if they are enemies or friends. Faramir is written much more noble and better in the book but even then he treats gollum rough. It's war.

[@Torstenn-b3x]

Indeed - they're actually lucky he didn't have them shot without asking any questions. They had no idea they were seen when they were caught.

[@ChrisCloudStaringAtFire]

THANK YOU for the intro! Those were my first two thoughts haha! Glad you talked about them and now I will gladly watch the next two reactions!

[@TomorrowWeLive]

"he looks so relaxed" actually he got trapped under rock by the riverside for several minutes and nearly drowned :)

[@AmericanWolf40]

I don't know if Bernard Hill (King Theoden) actually knows what it's like to lose a child, but his acting in the scene when the King buried his son was spot on. I, unfortunately, know what it feels like to bury my own son; when Theoden said "No parent should have to bury their own child", not only have truer words never been spoken, but when he broke down, that's pretty much what I looked like when I first received the news.

[@daytrippera]

@germanwulf40 He didn't lose a child, but a friend of his did, and he took that as inspiration for that scene. And add lib "no parent should have to bury their child" I'm sorry for your loss.

[@AmericanWolf40]

@@daytrippera Thanks.

[@cindimonks5661]

Bless you, you have existed after the worst thing a person could go through imo. Every parents worst nightmare.

[@AmericanWolf40]

@@cindimonks5661 I'm just glad my wife and I were able to pull together through it, rather than let it tear us apart as I've seen happen to so many couples before.

[@nemalconsashutosh8665]

Sorry to hear that.

[@olejensen840]

Corey almost fell asleep a few times. Dude is tired 😂

[@KayLeighHarlow]

I saw that too :D

[@insaneyoggi]

Hope all is good with Corey, he's barely alive, very clear even with the cuts just before he fell asleep, much love

[@OneHardyRue]

You should have heard the theater erupt when they revealed Gandalf

[@Witherdrake]

In the book Theodred is not buried at Edoras but where he fell at the Ford of Isen. The orcs sent had special instructs to kill him above all other tasks. He and his guard were all slain by orc axemen but he was quickly avenged by Erkenbrand lord of Westfold and Grimbold. When he was buried his banner was born high above his mound and the heads of the orcs who killed him where put on spears around his mound. When Erkenbrand was asked who now would guard the Fords Erkenbrand gestured to the mound and grim sight of the orc heads and said "That will be defense enough"

[@TomorrowWeLive]

"wake up kissing Gimli" Well given how many male members of the fellowship Viggo was snogging behind the scenes, that may well have happpend. And as for kissing Legolas, let's just say many young fangirls at be time were imagining the same thing...

[@beautifulbliss5883]

Theres a lot of facts I know about the first one. The only thing I do know about this one, is Battle of Helmsdeep is that it took 3-4 months to film. Abd the crew was given commerative t-shirts to celebrate. R.I.P Bernard Hill King Theoden.

[@ulricaandrae4381]

Thank you for clearing up the Sam situation! I almost didn’t finish the reaction because of it, I got so offended 😅 It’s always great to see new ppl watch LoTR and become fans.

[@VladfishTheMagnificent]

Gandalf: "Swords are no more use here!" Also Gandalf: *proceeds to stab Balrog repeatedly with his sword*

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

Ent´s march gave me always goosebumps. What a piece and scene.

[@johnwalters1341]

At 16:32 you say, "...the other ones were just like barbarians." The wild men mobilized by Saruman are the Dunlendings, inhabitants of Dunland west of Rohan. Some of them had formerly lived in Rohan before the then Steward of Gondor ceded its northern province to the Rohirrim 500 years previously. Saruman stoked the resentment of the Dunlendings over the dispossession of their ancestors. In the movie the Dunlendings burn the villages of the Westfold of Rohan, but in the book the Dunlendings also fight alongside the Uruk-hai at the Battle of Helm's Deep.

[@manniman2008]

RIP Bernard Hill King Theoden

[@Heir0f_E1endi1]

The Sam slander is forgiven

[@andrewpiltenko9432]

The people have spoken.

[@Courier_Seven]

The masculine urge to inform your compatriots that Viggo Mortensen did, in fact, break his toe when kicking the helmet.

[@raymundo4638]

The guy on the right is fighting so hard to stay awake haha 1:46:38 🤣🤣🤣

[@staceyj-z4t]

I grew up in Wellington nz while this was being film. A lot of it was shot in areas very close to my house. So funny our tiny country never really thought it was ganna be as big as it's turned into..but it's so cool to have been so close to so much of it. I can so clearly remember my dad taking my brother and I to see the helms deep filming location when they were filming

[@calemorgan3982]

" what is a doughnut if not a glazed ring " holy shit I almost choked

[@chelscara]

My dad sat me down to watch these and the Star Wars movies one summer. I’ve been chasing the high from those two weeks for years. The practical effects alone are captivating and they made great use of the New Zealand landscapes. The only battle scene in cinema that’s as exhilarating as the one in this movie is the one in the next movie

[@Jontor11]

What I got from this is that Blake would rather grope Legolas than ride him?🤔

[@eddietucker7005]

Some quick trivia… The practical Treebeard is 17 feet tall. Merry & Pippin had their close up shots on it. Scary-ish for an actor. The King’s niece with blonde hair also played Annabelle’s mother in “Annabelle: Creation.” She was also in “Talk To Me.” After all principle photography had completed, Jackson had John Reyes-Davies film the shot of Gimli saying, “Nobody tosses a Dwarf!” And added that into the first film, “Fellowship of the Ring.” The actual tallest actor in the trilogy main characters is John Reyes-Davies at 6’2”. Remember him from the Indiana Jones series?!

[@ashleyf423]

I think you handled the backlash well. At first I was among the WTH folk but after thinking about it, I realized most people don't hate Sam ,especially after seeing all 3 movies and it was probably a joke.

[@emmanuelprime4080]

I like The fact that Gimli has on full battle gear (minis the shield) and is probably weighed by the chain mail and axe but still keeps pace with Aragorn and Legolas.

[@noldo3837]

Imagine actiing SO loved character that even a slight critics requires an apology to the fandom :D:D

[@Baldwin-iv445]

The clarification at the beginning definitely helped make this reaction as well as the previous much easier to watch.

[@matthewtopping2061]

Trivia dump: There is a reason Gandalf and the "Flame of Udun" have that epic battle in the opening flashback sequence. Gandalf and the balrog are actually the same race within Tolkien's world, the Maiar, and this could be a rematch. The balrog was a servant of Morgoth (basically Sauron's og master), and other Maiar, Valar and the free peoples of Middle Earth fought against the balrogs during the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age.

[@ryandack5861]

The Elf’s turning up at Helms Deep is one of the best changes from the books for me

[@CassieMichael]

The Nazgul (Ringwraiths) are NOT riding dragons. Dragons are much, much bigger than that. They are riding on Fell Beasts.

[@feykabah]

Good to see Blake so humble from time to time.

[@RaggedyPack]

🌝

[@rickardroach9075]

9:23 Gimli and Sam accidentally swap boxes. Gimli opens Sam’s box and assumes it’s Galadriel’s dandruff.

[@3hillhav]

No, it was not the Universe who said it needed Gandalf back it was Iluvatar Himself who willed Gandalf back,

[@Spectreffex]

This was always my favourite one in the trilogy. I’ve watched the trilogy at least twice a year, every year, for over 20 years now.

[@PeterDB90]

Blake talking about pacing slowing down in the Fangorn Forest portion - I agree completely, but that's not something I noticed until like my 3rd or 4th watch of the movie. I think as Igli pointed out, it's because of the re-watch. For people watching for the first time, it's still interesting because there's extra information and tension delivered that they don't know about yet, but on a repeat watch you already know everything so the scenes made to build tension will feel slow because the payoff is finding out what will happen, and you already know what will happen.

[@jumbohoss2991]

By the way.. The voice of Treebeard are John-Rhys Davis voice. And he is the actor who played Gimli. His voice was so deep and on point that they didn't need to change it by the computer.

[@alexr7595]

It’s crazy how powerful the scene of Theoden - the characters we just met - mourning his son -a character we never met - is. Take a bow, Peter Jackson, Howard Shore and the crew.

[@johnwalters1341]

At 13:30 you say, "I assume those are two different species." The action of the movie doesn't make any clear distinction, but in Tolkien's book, the Orc band that has captured Merry and Pippin comprises three different tribes: the little ones ("Why can't we have some meat?") are from Moria and have come to avenge their fellows, while the medium-sized ones ("Ooh, they look tasty!"} are from Mordor and are wanting to take the hobbits to Sauron, and the big ones ("We will deliver them!") are Saruman's Uruk-hai and are Taking the Hobbits to Isengard. The antagonisms among the three tribes play a more important part in the book than they do in the movie. Note that Weta Workshop got the memo and have produced three distinct body types for the Orcs.

[@Gunnar001]

Which species of Orc are the ones that don’t want to go to war and have loving families that they care about?

[@CheezDaBoss]

Oh, the Sam bit is a joke...that makes sense as who can really hate Samwise Gamgee.

[@PuppetMaster-Blade]

It was very obvious. Just how American Humor is. Alot of banter that sounds like hate but aint

[@IllaLuna17]

Why can he not like Sam? Is his right to do so. Joke Or not why do people love silencing others opinion if it’s not a match to theirs.

[@PuppetMaster-Blade]

@@IllaLuna17 not liking Sam is against The Constitution and against the Ten Commandments.. Thats why

[@MateusSoar]

they just trying to repair the damaged that the ''joke'' did

[@MariaLoozer]

you remember in middle school, when your classmates were wilding and even the cool teacher got mad and had to yell and complain at the whole room, and you were mind your business doing your assignment but had to listen to the sermon either way?? that's what the beginning felt like for me you little shits. if i have to listen to substitute teacher Blake talk seriously one more time.... BEHAVE

[@ruhumvaros]

there is a proverb in our country: "a fly is small, but it makes you sick." blake is exactly that kind of person. i will ignore his toxic personality and continue watching. greetings from türkiye.

[@RowanBlake]

awwwwww I feel so bad for Corey struggling through the end

[@zarinshapurjee9430]

They shot all the movies in New Zealand they started in October 1999 and finished in December 2000. The battle at Helm's Deep was shot mostly at night in frequent heavy rain, natural and artificial. It took three months to shoot

[@istvanszatmari8803]

fun fact: Sauron killed the ent wives and burned their gardens at least 6000 years ago.

[@sheeps1495]

I knew Cojo & Igli would love this. It’s my favourite. Keep up the great work guys.

[@isasunshine]

Yes! So happy to see this one. Excited~~ And I love your reactions, all of yours. Please keep being yourselves, it makes me smile & a lot of others I'm sure.

[@joellenglass2344]

Sam is a GOAT!! We need more Samwise Gamgees in our lives!

[@matthewpollock9685]

20:55 Hey, did you guys know that... oh, never mind.

[@Luciphell]

28:11 Gandalf and the Balrog fought for ten days and nights without rest. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest mountain peak I fought the Balrog of Morgoth."

[@George-i9v]

A reminder. Gandalf and Saruman are part of the Istari, which are sorta angels sent to Middle-Earth to guide and protect the free peoples. So they have been around for ages. There's only 5 but could be more.

[@kobarsos82]

That's a spoiler for non-readers, and should never be in yt comments unless they have seen all 3 movies beforehand pretty much. Wish people stopped doing that, just do it after the 3rd film.

[@dansharp2860]

@@kobarsos82 How? What is that spoiling?

[@Belbecat]

Yep if yall ever get a chance to watch these movies in theatres, do not miss out. Best experience you can have!

[@XxXAngelicRosezXxX]

1:29:55 - 1:30:20 This scene really shows how much the friendship between Legoas and Gimili has progressed since their first meeting. They couldn't stand each other at Elronds Counsel in Rivendale. Now they are fighting side by side, cracking jokes and trading quips before a huge battle, laughing like old comrades, and making a game from bodycounts like some Medieval Fantasy CoD. 😂😂😂 I'm a hard-core LotR fan, and I love watching people experience this series for the first time. It's so easy to get lost in the World, the Characters, the Dialog and Story.... that you forget at times that you're watching a movie.

[@nemesis4852]

Also I'd like to add a little context regarding the character of Sam. Firstly he's a construct of the enlisted men Tolkien became associated with in the trenches of the First World War. Britain at that time was a very strictly divided society, socially. This meant that J.R.R. as a graduate from Oxford University was of a class that had very little contact with those of the working class, or upper classes for that matter. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was brought up in Birmingham and from the age of 12, after the death of both parents, he was looked after by a local Roman Catholic priest. He graduated from Oxford University in June 1915 and soon obtained a commission in the British Army as a Second Lieutenant. J R R Tolkien, writer, academic and author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, endured life in the front line trenches of the Somme throughout the summer and autumn of 1916. All officers were assigned junior enlisted men, aka known as Batmen, to look after their personal needs, cleaning their uniforms, making sure they were fed, making them the preverbal English Tea as required, and basically, especially for those not assigned as combat infantry leaders, trying to keep them alive as long as possible. Tolkien served as Battalion Signaling Officer, 11th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers. From July onwards his battalion went in and out of the line along the northern sector of the Somme. It was also at this time that all but one of his friends from Oxford were killed. J.R.R. was so impressed by the loyalty, dedication and care those who were assigned to him showed him, that he created Samwise Gamgee partially as a tribute to them. As a linguist, specifically a philologist, The name "Samwise" derives from the Old English, in which "sam" means half. Therefore "Samwise" means halfwise, that is, wise in common sense if not in academic understanding. There's a tremendous amount of information about all of this openly available for those who are interested, specifically many wonderful fandom sites and just generally open sources. For those of you who wish to explore more about WWI, I highly recommend watching: They Shall Not Grow Old. A 2018 documentary film directed and produced by Peter Jackson. The film was created using original footage of the First World War from the Imperial War Museum's archives, most previously unseen, all over 100 years old by the time of release. The audio is from BBC and Imperial War Museum (IWM) interviews of British servicemen who fought in the conflict. Most of the footage has been colorized and transformed with modern production techniques, with the addition of sound effects and voice acting to be more evocative and feel closer to the soldiers' actual experiences. Best!

[@resathe6760]

Here's a short explanation for the elves' journey into the west because Igli said he doesn't understand why they do it. When the world was made the Valar and Maiar (the gods or angels of this universe) lived on a continent in the west of Arda called Aman (also called the blessed realm or Valinor, although the latter technically is only a region of Aman). There grew the two trees that illuminated this part of the world. After some time they sent one of them to Middle Earth to invite the elves to come to Aman. Some of them did, some didn't and some stopped on their journey to the sea. The elves who made it to Aman were blessed by the light of the trees and they learned a lot from the Valar. Later some of them went back to Middle Earth because Morgoth, the most powerful of the Valar and the one who turned evil stole the Silmaril (three precious stones with the light of the two trees inside) from them to fight him. There were a lot of wars between the elves and Morgoth and a lot of elves died. When elves die, their spirits go to the Halls of Mandos (the doomsman of the Valar) and after some amount of time they can leave the halls and are granted a new body. Many elves sooner or later grow weary and have the desire to go (back) to Valinor to live in peace where the dark powers don't have any influence and to see some of their kin again. Arwen's mother Celebrian for example went to Valinor after she was abducted and tortured by orcs. Her sons freed her and Elrond healed her body but her soul never truly recovered and so she left Middle Earth to find peace.

[@rio20d]

I really love the look of the Galadhrim armor elves at 01:32:47, they do look beautiful and so elvish, Peter Jackson's costume design team really put their heart , sould and passion in making these. Not surprised that out of 17 total oscars that they won from the Academy, one of them is in costume design

[@LionyCandy]

Yall just got top tier banter and I am here for it ! :D Those guards checking out the spot where Frodo and Sam was by the rocks were like "must've been the wind".

[@Kay2be2mr]

Much respect for addressing the Sam thing. It's not because you don't have the right to dislike a character. Of course you do! It's just that for those of us who weren't in on the running joke, it came off as like a toxic "bro" type of attitude. Like the type of guy who doesn't like men being sensitive or caring, and well, I guess we learned not to be quick to judge.

[@daytrippera]

@Kay2be2mr lol I find calling toxic not liking a character a bit extreme.

[@Kay2be2mr]

@@daytrippera I was not referring to not liking the character. If you read my comment, you can see that that wasn't the part that bothered me.

[@kanelic]

@@daytrippera he literally called Sam a bitch though

[@di3486]

@@daytripperaIt is not. The proof is that he had to address it because it can actually harm the channel.

[@daytrippera]

@di3486 or maybe people don't have a sense of humor at all these days and need to be reaffirmed on everything they like. Which is kinda of sad and somewhat pathetic.

[@nicoleh6201]

Damn Blake got me feeling bad for him. I really like this channel, and my only issue is Blake hating cats.. 👀 but love y'all 😂

[@mogwiawolf4354]

Yes grew up watching it and love it and still love the Uruk Hai

[@Senkoau]

Theoden's skin care regimine is one hard blow to the forehead by a wizards staff. Difficult to get these days.

[@woahblackbettybamalam]

Can we call Corey Snorey for a few weeks ?😂 Bro was napping

[@tori623worth]

lol I appreciate the explanation about Sam. At the end of the Fellowship reaction, I was so confused, but was like, "Ah, well. Another example of people being different, I guess." 😆

[@carylc7891]

You're the first reactors I've seen who actually heard that line "He can't take his grog" from the Uruk captors of Merry and Pippin. Everyone else has said a variation of "eww, is that oil?" (being poured down Merry's throat) Well done!

[@TomorrowWeLive]

"Uglúk thrust a flask between his teeth and poured some burning liquid down his throat: he felt a hot fierce glow flow through him. The pain in his legs and ankles vanished. He could stand."

[@christoperwallace6197]

Lmao at the opening disclaimer about not hating Sam 😂 Someone is feeling guilty

[@ulricaandrae4381]

As he should 😅

[@hope2dust]

​@@ulricaandrae4381no he shouldn't. Ppl can't take a joke

[@MateusSoar]

@@hope2dust the dislike button is right there for when people dont like something like a ''joke'', he shouldn't be feeling guilty and neither the ones that dislike that

[@BobBlumenfeld]

"The Universe" didn't send Gandalf back. Although Tolkien presents no religious trappings (temples, holidays, formal worship) that I know of in Middle-Earth, his whole Universe was created by a Supreme Being (known as Eru Iluvitar, The One) with the aid of two classes of angels He created: the Valar and the Maiar. Gandalf happens to be a Maia, as are Saruman, Sauron and the Balrog. It was probably the Valar who sent Gandalf back, as they had a more direct connection with the running Middle-Earth, although it might have been Eru Himself.

[@hideflen]

Really appreciate you clearing up the concerns ❤ we can tell you all love it! @38:23 MAPLELESS 💀😹 @45:36 this bit really made Bernard Hill the King imo, even if his line about “no parent should have to bury their child” wasn’t in the book-Tolkien’s youth didn’t have major childhood vaccines and kids died all the time… this whole movie underscores the story’s reflections on death etc because JRRT fought in WWI and was definitely shaped by it.

[@LanaLiliyMoon]

Man I love this reaction and don't worry blakey you are good in my books and people have to watch a few more reactions to understand your group dynamics. So keep going!!!!

[@jonathangange]

Treebeard was voiced by Gimli’s actor. 😂

[@Some_Dumass]

Gandalf DID die fighting the Balrog. But then god said "No, no, you're not done yet" and then sent him back to Middle-earth. In the books, an eagle picks up Gandalf's body from the mountain and brings him to Lothlorien to be healed by Galadriel. He arrives in the Elven realm the day after the Fellowship departs. Galadriel heals Gandalf, reclothing him and giving him a new staff. Then Gandalf journeys south to Fangorn where he meets Merry and Pippin, then Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. The day Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli meet Gandalf the White, it is Aragorn's birthday - March 1st.

[@johns7942]

Gandalf was sent back as the new white wizard because Saruman had been corrupted and was not fulfilling his purpose as the white wizard

[@esther589]

You guys are hilarious 😂😂 i love the lil insider!!! Love you guys reaction! This one is my favorite personally. I went to see these in 4k for the 20th anniversary showings. It was unreal. Seen these movies too many times to count but that was like seeing it for the first time. The crowds were fantastics. Got to see some kids get their minds blown while the rest of us cried, cheered, and recited the lines. Highly recommend seeing them in theaters if you ever get the chance. Rohan is GOATED!!!!!! King theodin is my favorite character outside of the the fellowship. Cant wait for the 3rd one!

[@stephanieyunez133]

27:45 They layered both actors’ voices to give the illusion of Saruman. So cool!