Sauron | The Lord of the Second Age - Lore Video

[@tolkienuntangled]

At 15:23 I had to trim a few seconds for copyright reasons. Basically all I say in those seconds is that Sauron forged his One Ring in secret. But you probably already knew that 😁

[@LordWyatt]

I imagine Anatarr would look like Lucifer in fairness of skin, hair, wisdom, and poise. With only a glint in the eye or seeing through his Words as a warning to the Few, others would see it as more Beauty to amplify an already Angelic appearance. Later as a Corrupting priest, he’d be layered in decadent apparel and metals worshipped by dozens of servants around him

[@bobsterclause342]

I can just here Sauron now. You know how I look so fair? You know how i, ... continue.... 9pause0 to live on fair, and, - unaging (sauron says as he smiles and walks around the king, putting not neithor a hair, nor a finger, nor did he enter the king' s personal space, atleast, not yet. You know, where I came from right? He said in afirmer, deaper tone. That's right, from the land of the west. Oh and gues what? he says more lightly. I'm not an elfe, or a Numinorian? It's not like I have been given a blessing of long life by . No, The undying lands, he says as he breaths in, they are called that for areason you well know.

[@Trey112187]

@tolkienuntangled 28:55 cuts mid sentence into another sentence midway

[@rubensoeteman]

Ahhh it's a secret!

[@kentcampbell122]

Spoiler!!!

[@rexmagi4606]

Sauron to The King of Numenor: "Have you ever heard the tragedy of Darth Melkor the Wise?"

[@tolkienuntangled]

"Is it possible to learn this power?" "Not from the Valar."

[@shawnthompson2303]

I thought not. It’s not a story the Noldor would tell you.

[@alekai7588]

Im picturing Sauron knocking on a door and preaching 😂

[@wildfire9280]

@@alekai7588 Melkor’s Witnesses, am I right?

[@TheLonelyMountainSmithy]

This wins!!!!!

[@charlieboone1298]

'He defeated Galadriel's older brother in a magical battle of music.' And that's when Sauron invented Norwegian black metal.

[@radhanisthebold562]

No that was definitely Saruman

[@scottmccrea1873]

That's a thing? Lol. I'm gettin' old. I was there when black metal was born...

[@djaceofpentacles]

Norwegian black metal more represents the Wildmen. In my opinion. The music of illuvatar could not have included that base chords nonsense.

[@HanasDad]

I'm sure it was a dance-off

[@xXDarkxIdealsXx]

And simultaneously gained the title: The Lord of the Strings.

[@lopirobinson1991]

Sauron completely owned the Numenorians. Just goes to show what you can do when you put your pride aside to play the long game. And that shows how much he hated, utterly hated men. He couldn’t put his pride aside for the Valar but for men, oh he’d do whatever he needed.

[@raphaelcalado4335]

He also knew he wouldn’t have any chances to manipulate the Valar. Your line of thought is fundamentally wrong.

[@sjonnieplayfull5859]

@@raphaelcalado4335 He could not put his pride aside to be forgiven and save himself, but to corrupt and destroy the humans, oh, he could do that

[@Think_1234]

​@@raphaelcalado4335 But he could have manipulated the Valar. At least if by manipulation you mean simply making them believe his act of "true repentance". When you think of it, the Valar have pretty sucky track record in assessing sincerity, corruption or capabilities of a character. Even Mandos made a huge mistake with Melkor. Yavanna insisted to send Radagast to sniff flowers and do fak all for the Istari. Aulë had no effin' clue about how he mis-tutored Sauron and Saruman to seek the same powerful evil: the creation of perfect order through absolute domination. In the celestial scale of skills, Sauron was at best an advanced creator. But he was the master of deception. Without pride, he would have made the best play of repentance ever played under the eyes of Elu Iluvatar, and tricked the God himself.

[@hodgrix]

@@Think_1234 completely. The Valar are inclined to believe and not judge someone who claims repentance hence why Melkor was let off the hook so easily after being imprisoned for 3000 years by just saying "uh i'm sorry" lol. to me in a way this makes Sauron almost a truth teller - or at least what he feels is the truth bc he does take great pride in whatever he does and hence could not lie and repent when he didn't really feel it. along this line of thought he was also telling the Numenorieans the "truth" when he deceived them - they really were not immortal and he really did believe Morgoth was the giver of freedom and he really did hate the Valar and thought the Numenorians should go against them

[@zinny999]

@@Think_1234 Sauron may have the ability to fool the God. Yet I Don't think he could have done anything remotely close to his achievement with men. To have the whole continent destroyed by God... would have been much greater feat.

[@waltonsmith7210]

When I first read the Akallabeth, my respect for Sauron went up immensely. Sauron's plan in Numenor was an absolute masterstroke. He played them like a fiddle.

[@JRAndrach]

To quote Oswald Cobblepot, Sauron "played this stinking city like a harp from Hell."

[@weseethetruth158]

If it was that good there would have been no faithful.

[@JagoBridgland]

Mate this video IS my view of Sauron. He is the most compelling villain in all of Tolkien works. A farrrrrr more interesting character than melkor. I’m a huge huge fan of Sauron.

[@elvatoz]

Sauron got beat by a Woman. He's lucky she let him live 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@PopJacare]

@@elvatoz 🤣🤣🤣

[@JagoBridgland]

@@elvatoz why’s being beaten by a woman different to getting beat by anything else?

[@elvatoz]

@@JagoBridgland ask the ringwraith the same thing 😂. Beaten by a woman... It is a fantasy tale 🤣

[@_semih_]

@@elvatoz lol No woman ever defeated Sauron in the Legendarium. Luthien sh*t herself when the wolf-Sauron came to face her. Only the mere presence of Sauron, made her faint desperately... 😂 (And she is known as the most powerful elf and half Maia) Here is the quote from Tolkien's "Lay of Leithian" book: "More huge were its limbs, its jaws more wide, its fangs more gleaming-sharp, and dyed with venom, torment, and with death. The deadly vapor of its breath swept on before it. Swooning dies the song of Lúthien, *and her eyes are dimmed and darkened with a fear, cold and poisonous and drear.* Thus came Sauron, as wolf more great than e'er was seen from Angband's gate to the burning south, than ever lurked in mortal lands or murder worked." [J.R.R Tolkien, The Lay of Leithian, p125] Luthien's eyes are *"dimmed and darkened with fear..."* She literally sh*t herself lol. It was Huan who saved her from wolf-Sauron

[@mountainhun]

Sauron's deception of Numenor helps explain Denethor's reluctance to accept Gandalf's help. :P The proferred wisdom and advice of a mysterious figure of unknown power would be difficult to trust a second time.

[@jangolub8240]

I see your connection, but its jjst a theory

[@pdub88372]

Keep in mind that sauron and Gandalf are both maiar.

[@donngreitontordilla1456]

Nice, never thought of this before!

[@mosj9876]

@@pdub88372 I thought Gandalf was Dunadein?

[@KorithStoneheart]

@@mosj9876 no. He's not an old man. He's a Maiar named Olorin

[@michaelfisher7170]

"But, Sauron was utterly defeated when Luthien, and her faithful hound, came to rescue her lover." Damn yes. Game to Luthien! You're also spot on in your analysis of Sauron's building of his power in the Second Age. His grip on Middle earth was undeniable.

[@_semih_]

It was not Luthien who beat Sauron, it was Huan the holy hound of Valinor. Luthien literally sh"t herself and faded desperately when the wolf-Sauron faced her lol

[@masterexploder9668]

Wasn't Huan kind of a Maiar himself? He was certainly more buffed than your ordinary war hound. So was Carcharoth, because he ate straight from Morgoth's hand. Uruk-Hai in Two Towers also said something about Saruman's hand feeding them human meat, though I am not sure Saruman was literally coming to their pens/barracks and feeding them personally. Still, they were certainly stronger than your typical orcs, so who knows.

[@antediluvianatheist5262]

@@_semih_ here you are, being insecure again.

[@Rammstein0963.]

@Semih what's with you and women defecating on themselves? She was froze with fear, no mention of bodily functions bro...seek help.

[@exomake_mehorololo]

​@@_semih_she didn't do any of these things. Maybe read the story again focusing on the action not how you want to see it... For whatever reason. Both Huan and Luthien stalled for a moment when he approached because of how terrifying he was but Luthien cast a spell and threw her cloak to distract him when he attacked Huon. She then continued to cast magic to help Huon with the fight. They worked together

[@luvslogistics1725]

Sauron: “these people are so disorganized and inefficient!!! Hobbits make things by hand when if they had beautiful factories with black smoke billowing, they’d be much more productive! Dwarves would be ok if they weren’t so stubborn and Elves have potential especially when improved to Orc…there is so much work to be done!”

[@oldkingspook]

Yes, he would only be "helping" them attain their full potential. I have a "friend" with that mindset and I can say from first hand experience that "help" is like being repeatedly smacked in the face with a cactus.

[@lopirobinson1991]

Sauron completely owned the Numenorians. Genius.

[@morgothbauglir8687]

You’re not the only one who has a soft spot for Sauron; I enjoyed his company very much.

[@monsterinhead214]

No matter how goth you are, Melkor is Morgoth.

[@Nervii_Champion]

@@monsterinhead214 lol, nice

[@jakobrenner2230]

Regarding the question whether Sauron truly repented or not, I think it is fairly simple: yes he did... from a certain point of view. I think he primarly lamented the fact that Melkor failed to live up to his expectations and that even with the power the aforementioned being granted Sauron, he still failed in his personal goal to create a perfect global and cosmic utopia. However, I don't think he felt remorse for any of what the Valar might consider 'immoral' actions. This is because Sauron sees the world in purely utilitarian means and believes that anyone who disagrees with that lacks his wisdom. And that's why he refused to go to Valinor: he believed that the Valar wouldn't understand his goals and, most importantly, wouldn't allow him to reach said goals.

[@liszcgsedt]

They ask me if I feel remorse and I answer, "Why of course! There is so much more I could have done if they'd let me!"

[@vaiyt]

Melkor was a classic Dark Lord, Sauron was an evil genius.

[@jangolub8240]

If he did, he wouldnt continue 🤷‍♀️

[@liszcgsedt]

@@jangolub8240 That was a clear reference to Nick Cave! :D

[@liszcgsedt]

@@vaiyt Basically a villain second class. :D

[@cweb9169]

I also have a soft spot for Sauron. Of course in the way you respect a villain for what they delusionally feel is right and their struggle to attain it. In his letters Tolkien himself states that Sauron is in many regards worse than Morgoth. His corruption his domination and his will to twist mortals into his own perversion of order vs Morgoths contempt and need to destroy all and remake it in his image. Bending one to your will vs destroying them. Both remove the enemy but one is far more terrible for the enemy themselves.

[@vondamn9943]

Numenor: dude we kicked your ass lol! Sauron: hold my rings.

[@_semih_]

Sauron was just actually playing with them. He literally cast the "mighty" fleet of Ar-Pharazon out of the sea he lifted up the armada lol

[@vondamn9943]

@@_semih_ u need the /s or what?

[@_semih_]

@@vondamn9943 lol

[@torontocitizen6802]

This is my absolute favourite channel dedicated to Tolkien.

[@tannerbraithwaite5710]

I understand why in the movies, Sauron is portrayed as a powerful warrior who wipes ranks of men and elves away with a single swipe, it's just better for the screen. But his portrayal in the books as not a warrior, but a cunning liar, capable of carrying out long term plans over hundreds of years to corrupt and destroy from within is so much more interesting, and adds so much depth to his character and his villain.

[@iratecomputeruser4160]

Thanks for another entertaining and informative video. You really make things clear. I think another lesson to take from Sauron's life is, "Be content with what you have." Sauron spent his entire life trying to become the Lord of Everything, but he never achieved it. Each time he tried for more, he was beaten. He never achieved contentment.

[@NAWWMANNN]

I'm not sure if the more comprehensible motives of Sauron or the totally inscrutable motives of Morgoth are more terrifying. It's kind of like the differences in terror aroused from the absolutely unknowable nihilism of cosmic horror and the terror of monstrous, demonic, but ultimately recognizable and even understandable pathologies of human sociopaths. Pretty cool concept, that. This video was legit AF. HOW does this channel have only 2k subs? I predict a significant explosion in viewership in this channel's future.

[@tiffles3890]

Morgoth's petty jealousy and greed (and less evil but also his creative impulses that by the design of the in-universe God he could never truly fulfil) that lay at the base of his desire to undo Arda are also pretty understandable.

[@masterexploder9668]

Sauron knew that he wasn't close to Valar's power, so his scope was also smaller. He wanted to rule over the world and craft it according to his designs. Melkor at first wanted to take control and create on his own without input from everybody else, but he later turned into full blown nihilist.

[@jtfike]

83k now…

[@DwreckJ]

Over 95K now😁

[@weseethetruth158]

Melkor is way worse. You could actually negotiate with sauron not melkor.

[@michaelsmyth3935]

Power is a finite thing. Everything Sauron used his powers he diminished. Melkor experienced the same, as did Galadriel.

[@tiffles3890]

It was different with Galadriel. Because of the "natural corruption" of the middle earth (caused by Melkor), things decayed and diminished there. This affected elves. The were immortal, but if they remained on Middle Earth, they'd keep diminishing until they became "a forgotten folk of cave and dell" (IIRC the words in the book). As for Lorien itself that she maintained from said decaying and diminishing, she maintained it with the power of Nenya, one of the Three. When the One Ring was destroyed, all the three rings of power too became powerless, so Galadriel's "works" on Middle Earth too withered away.

[@masterexploder9668]

That's why Rings of Power come into play. And why he wanted to lay claim to three elven rings. One Ring contained big part of his original power and even when far away, he still had a connection to it. If Sauron ever got it back, he would get much closer to his initial level, though fair form was forever lost to him after Numenor.

[@vinz4066]

Or denethor

[@weseethetruth158]

I don't remember melkor diminishing. Sauron put his power into the ring so this wouldn't happen. Also Gandalf got stronger when he came back he didn't diminish.

[@willyreeves319]

as a great craftsman Sauron also built the black gate and the tower of Barad-dur, both very impressive feats.

[@davidelatorella4121]

I'm pretty sure the black numenorians built barad dur tho

[@kekoaiverson8040]

@@davidelatorella4121 they probably stole it ain’t no white women there 👍🏾

[@arthurfritz9406]

The Black Gate was build by the Arnorians/Gondorians to keep watch over the evil in Mordor after destroying Barad-Dur the first time. Barad-Dur tho was build by Sauron himself, witch is why the white council and all the Power the last Alliance could muster, was not able to tear it down completely. As long as the one ring existed its power supported the foundations...

[@arthurfritz9406]

@@davidelatorella4121 the Numenorians build Orthanc but not Barad-Dur... :)

[@DrewPicklesTheDark]

I personality think he's a much more interesting character than Melkor. Melkor filled the "trickster who liberates man" archtype in mythology, with many of his other traits being taken directly from Gadreel (Satan/Lucifer/etc.), which I have zero issue with, but I find Sauron's motives much more interesting. It's not him rebelling and essentially throwing a temper tantrum by trying to destroy/corrupt everything God made. It's his views that are driving him, a (what would be to him) better world that he seeks to create. This trait is rather common for "bad guys" (subjective of course) throughout history, and why they also still have lots of supporters to this day, people read from the source and something resonates with them. I know this sort of thing was completely out of the realm of possibly for a writer like Tolkien, who liked being clear what was good and what was evil, but it would have been interesting to see a Sauron's PoV, or one of his followers, to give insight in to the _why_ which is harder to discern when all you see is the villain.

[@eluilus4017]

Sauron was god

[@eluilus4017]

God's enemies devil demons all their lies plans deeds be binded failed punished destroyed in the name of Jesus Christ!

[@gholamdapantaloonsniffer8218]

@@eluilus4017 Sauron wasn't god.... Eru Iluvitar was....

[@Likexner]

I wonder what Saurons ideal world would have looked like.

[@Likexner]

@@gholamdapantaloonsniffer8218 Illuvatar, not Illuvitar.

[@PhooPhooMagoo]

Gotta say the pictures where he is kind of a darkly complected redhead really suit the idea of him. Whenever I read the parts where he can still take on a fair form I'm gonna probably picture him like that from now on.

[@FodderMoosie]

This was so good. Sauron is a fascinating character - I love learning more and filling out my imagining of him.

[@eluilus4017]

Sauron is god God's enemies devil demons all their lies plans deeds be binded failed punished destroyed in the name of Jesus Christ!!

[@crhu319]

Luthien and her hound against Sauron was the story I hoped Amazon would do, but now I just hope they do nothing lol.

[@matthewalbi555]

Agree i hope they Idk just stay to source and leave out politics or go away

[@Likexner]

@@matthewalbi555 They cant leave politics out of it, theyre cultists. The best thing they could have done is indeed nothing.

[@maxthommesen9315]

Imagine the story started with the first kinslayin the exile of the noldor the intro is mandos speach over a hellcaraxe montage

[@friscokid21]

@@maxthommesen9315 i wouldve loved to see my favorite Elf, Fingolfin, bought to life on screen.. starting with oath of Feanor, the first kinslaying, the burning of the Teleri ships and Fingolfin being forced into the crossing of the Hellcaraxe to reach Middle Earth. To see each confrontation of Feanor and Fingolfin with Morgoth wouldve been epic.

[@masterexploder9668]

I actually wanted to see more exploits of Sauron like in Second Age, using not just brute strength, but also cunning, manipulation and charisma to achieve his goals.

[@Lodrik18]

He did do that, Tolkien Untangled simply chose to ignore it. Remember that he corrupted Saruman (do you honestly believe that Saruman woke up one day and went: lets work for Sauron!)

[@masamune2984]

Just discovered this channel, and damn...I hope you earned more subscribers, because you ABSOLUTELY deserve it! You narration and presentation are simply wonderful, and inject just enough emotional intonation and inflection as the factual lore. Thank you 🙂

[@johnmiller3269]

Biggest Tolkien nerd I have ever run across. Well done, sir! Please keep it up.

[@scottmccrea1873]

I like the premise here. Subbed. I wish we'd gotten as large a view of Sauron's character from Tolkein as he gave us of Fëanor.

[@_semih_]

29:06 Actually Sauron defeated 2 high kings and perished the entire army of the Last Alliance singehandedly.

[@MrEd1024]

Another wonderful colorful video from one of my very favorite multi colored Creators.

[@ellanenish5999]

Fully agreed, Sauron is not just the evil bad guy like most common fans think he is, that's why I love Tolkien, if you dive deeper you will find so much depth inside his character. Unlike Melkor who just wanted to dominate everything no matter the cost, Sauron wanted always to create and rule over a perfect world, even Tolkien himself in unfinished tales tells us that Sauron's motives in the Early Second Age weren't truly "evil". But over his many years of failure his perfect vision started to decline and his ambition for power turned into hatred of those which oposed him and over whom he tried to sease control.

[@thomaslamb8635]

Very articulate and well put together. I really enjoyed every moment of this video.

[@tglrod]

Excellent video. It was great to hear about Saurom from a fresh perspective

[@simonperring2546]

Great video. From Tolkien’s belonging to the Roman-Catholic faith, I always interpret the Iluvatar / Valar / Maiar hierarchy as being: Iluvatar = God Valar = Arch-Angels Maiar = Angels This would have made Sauron at his beginning as a Maiar close to the level of an Angel, similar to the same level as the Istari Saruman (who was also a Maiar of Aule) although probably a lot more exalted, whereas his boss Morgoth was a Valar (equivalent to an Arch-Angel), who was created as one of the most powerful of the Valar, but both Morgoth and Sauron followed “the same ruinous path down into the Void”. (The Silmarillion, Valaquenta, p. 39).

[@pondboy3682]

And Melkor is Lucifer who becomes the devil. This is precisely what makes Sauron the more appealing villain. He's not an encoded copy.

[@draztiktunez7104]

Yeah precisely the story of Melkor becoming Morgoth is basically Lucifer becoming the devil name change and everything

[@catfinity8799]

And the Fall of Man, Noah's Arc, and the Tower of Babel are all part of the fall of Numenòr. They sought that which was explicitly denied them and took it at the behest of a deceiver, the bad ones died in a flood while the Faithful survived, and they had sought to become powerful and reach a holy place.

[@catfinity8799]

@@draztiktunez7104 Except Melkor just sounds evil, while the name Lucifer would be a good name if it didn't belong to Satan.

[@claudius_drusus_]

@@catfinity8799 lucifer is his name before the fall.

[@danielprates2208]

God damn it man... that's excellent narrative.

[@GreatGreebo]

I know I’m late to comment but this is definitely one of the best explanations I’ve heard on this topic! Thanks

[@econod0g]

This was awesome, well done and thank you!

[@Owlr4ider]

I think it's precisely because we don't get to see Sauron actually do much in the entire LotR trilogy that he's such a foreboding villain. Since he's not at any one place at any given time he's potentially everywhere all the time. That makes him all the more ominous and foreboding. On top of that you add his modus operandi of working from the shadows. Yes, he was the dark lord, but he was also acting as a councilor to so many, which was his original purpose as a Maia before he was corrupted by Melkor. Of course this counseling of his, like in the case of Celebrimbor and the rings of power, was never for the benefit of those he counseled but rather for his own aims, but still the mere fact that this is how he operated made him even more cunning and dangerous.

[@JustaNilbody]

This video deserves more views.

[@SamantaGothic]

Sauron is an incredible character and the movies doesnt do him justice. ty for this amazing video.

[@MRptwrench]

What a wonderful way to review the ages of Sauron. Even though I've heard all of this before, I think I prefer this cliff notes version. Thanks dude! Edit: I wonder if Sauron's character and the great fall of the isle Númenor was a tale of warning from J.R.R. after his experience in WW1? I guess you can read a lot of his personal experiences in this tale especially.

[@legionarybooks13]

Interestingly enough, Tolkien absolutely hated allegory. He said as much in interviews, and his son reiterated it years after his death. Of course, I think it would be impossible for his experiences during the Great War to not affect his writing. After all, he arrived in France just in time for the Somme.

[@JohnSmith-is4uu]

It was a reoccurring dream Tolkien had of England being swept away by the ocean. PJ gives these lines to Eowyn in the Extended trilogy

[@jdatkin8601]

Learned a lot from this which is a fairly rare occurrence these days. Great video

[@stulora3172]

One of the most interesting videos of yours that I've seen so far, thanks! Surprisingly, because I never paid much attention to Sauron's motivations. Also, I thought the "Lord of the Rings" was the One Ring himself.

[@tolkienuntangled]

I'm glad you found it interesting. Tolkien actually tells us in the text that the Lord of the Rings is Sauron himself. He has a go at Pippin for referring to Frodo by that title.

[@stulora3172]

@@tolkienuntangled that's interesting. Poor Pippin. My favourite hobbit, crucial.to the story, yet such a punch bag at times :')

[@BugCatcher89]

Well technically yes since the ring is part of sauron and contains part of sauron’s soul, meaning that technically the ring was sauron

[@monadamus42]

Whew, great video! Thank you

[@MrKurtank]

Fascinating in concept and long-lasting in argument. Thank you.

[@genxdoom8437]

You have an excellent Tolkien mythology channel

[@openreels]

I just came upon this series and watched a few. Loved it! The stories are well-written and narrated, and make great use of people's illustrations. Nicely done! It looks like this channel started in 2020, so perhaps somebody had some free time during the pandemic?

[@christopherhicks8656]

Excellent video, as always. I just wanted to add that it's a "blind spot" of Sauron's to wish to rule a perfect world, when the very concept of imperfection itself was introduced INTO Arda by his former master, Melkor. Talk about starting from a bad premise... lol

[@josephburgess3972]

Dude, this was excellently done!

[@smoldragon339]

Honestly, for as much as Sauron is built up, it's hilarious how often he got his ass kicked in the lore

[@jtfike]

He was playing the long game. We’re it not for Frodo and gollum, he was winning the entire time.

[@randyjh82]

Loved this video & perspective on the Great Deceiver. Very balanced, thorough, & well delivered.

[@smaugrotwk6510]

Hi I LOVE your videos!!! I personally would love a video of you explaining the different types of elves there are as this is something I haven't seen too much on and it seems quite interesting, just an idea for you, keep up the great work!!!

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thank you, I'm really glad you enjoy the videos! Have you seen the one on the Sundering of the Elves? It's part 4 in the Beginning of Days playlist, and it's got some info on how the different types of elves split into different clans and where they all came from :)

[@smaugrotwk6510]

@@tolkienuntangled No worries and no I havent seen that video..... yet ;) Thankyou for suggesting this!!

[@Ty_Colis]

Just found your page, I love your way of narrating and storytelling my g. Keep it up 😎

[@spiralinglight]

The war of the ring was Saurons midlife crisis moment. "Just see if I still got it"

[@insane_troll]

6:50 - "this must have struck a rather saur note .. with Sauron!"

[@jessewilliams9195]

This was fascinating. Thank you.

[@jasN86]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@thomasbrown8468]

Cool 😎 love video man. From Elgin Alabama….mug favorite author stories and lore. Love it all the people who makes these LOtheRNGZ VIDEOS

[@bluestrife28]

Thanks for this, I have a whole new view of the series I’m finding my LOTR book now.

[@_catulus]

Sauron is definitely the most interesting character to me as well. His character development is so complex despite minimal appearances.

[@redsonjja7486]

Fantastic content! Thank you for all you do! Much love!

[@Thatmeepgamer]

Finally someone who shares my opinion on morgoth and Sauron there so cool

[@edwardsaxenmeyer]

Wow, I actually felt some sympathy for for Sauron. What a great alternative take on a story I had established in my mind for 40+ years! Still Sauron was evil 😆

[@Labyrinth1010]

Great video, thanks. The Second Age is quite interesting! I wonder how Amazon will handle it. Here’s to hoping!

[@pentegarn1]

Of course you find Sauron interesting! He's literally "Koschei The Deathless" from eastern European mythology. More than that Voldemort from Harry Potter is also Koschei the Deathless.....the wizard that can't be killed because he put his essence into a physical item. If you like Lloyd Alexander he also uses this in "Taran Wanderer" with Morda. If you call that item a phylactery or a horcrux......it makes for a truly godlike bad guy. ;)

[@eluilus4017]

Sauron is god Book is written from demonic perspective God's enemies devil demons all their lies plans deeds be binded failed punished destroyed in the name of Jesus Christ!!

[@kylegordy113]

@@eluilus4017go see a psychiatrist.

[@k.katona9415]

Also you gotta admit ALL of his illustrations are handsome as heck :P

[@kelvynchin1968]

Great video, very informative!

[@robflewell7706]

Where did that cool image of Sauron unmasked come from?

[@alsie8459]

the artist is kevin cassidy.

[@robflewell7706]

Very interesting interpretation!

[@grassblock7668]

May someone tell me who's the other dude at 6:10 please?He appears in another art put in the video I think

[@tolkienuntangled]

It's Finrod Felagund (AKA Galadriel's eldest brother). During the tale of Beren and Luthien, Finrod is captured and tortured by Sauron. I believe this is what the artist is illustrating.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

Hi Dave :-) Do you think that Sauron left the Ring in Mordor during his time in Numénor? If not, how did he guard it during the destruction of the island?

[@tolkienuntangled]

I don't have the exact quote, but I'm pretty sure there's some note from Tolkien explaining that Sauron left his ring in Mordor before being taken to Numenor.

[@tolkienuntangled]

Nope I was wrong. Tolkien wrote in letter 211 that "He naturally had the One Ring, and so very soon dominated the minds and wills of most of the Númenóreans. (I do not think Ar-Pharazôn knew anything about the One Ring. The Elves kept the matter of the Rings very secret, as long as they could." So I guess Sauron just kept his ring close but secret while staying in Numenor.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

Great, thank you :-) I think I heard of that before but honestly I think Tolkien missed on a good explanation how a bodyless shadow could carry the ring across the sea.

[@masterexploder9668]

I actually thought that Sauron left Ring behind, because immaterial shadow can't really carry stuff with it. Forces of darkness also hated the water, and so did Morgoth. Seas and oceans belonged to Ulmo, and both Valars really, really hated each other. He returned to Barad-Dur, put Ring on his hand and was satisfied with his job, until he discovered that Elendil and his followers managed to escape.

[@AbsolutelyChris]

I'd love to see a video from the perspective of Sauron WINNING. What would happen? Would he eventually try to attack the West? I think that would be interesting.... great videos on this channel. Well thought out and explained.

[@giggigidy6998]

No doubt this particular video has gifted me more knowledge, insight and appreciation of Tolkien's legendarium... AND entertainment than the entirety of the Amazon Project series would have ...

[@kevinsullivan2462]

I love your videos listening te ge to sleep you are a real good soryteller. Love from Germany

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Completely enthralling!

[@tmage7042]

I think you can describe both dark lord's attitude as "a child-like tantrum against a Daddy figure who wouldn't call them special and give them everything they wanted." Sauron and Melkor were spoiled brats rebelling against an authority they both knew was all powerful but refused to admit they had no chance of ever besting but tried anyway. Brats. Ungrateful brats. An argument can be made that Elu was a jerk and a half, too. After all, the entire history of Middle Earth was filled with untold suffering and death, and all of it was simply to prove a point to Melkor and his friends. And in the only punishment the two biggest jerks paid was being banished from the playground, when all the fun was over there anyway. No mention is ever made of Elu punishing them for all that pain they caused.

[@ratsoftheplague]

Compared to Melkor, Sauron really is the more interesting of them both - great video! 👏🏻

[@alvarobeltran8087]

you know what???? i really like your videos!!!!

[@tolkienuntangled]

Thanks man!

[@SaanMigwell]

I keep thinking you're baradun from VLDL's Epic NPC Man. Love your channel!!

[@vertigovonvek3473]

Also interesting enough saruman also served aule and aule also created the drawfs

[@TheBaronAmaruPhoenix]

Powerful story telling keep up the vids 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@carlskraastad1792]

Beautiful take. The deceiver was received by his own warped sense of virtue. Should perfection be crafted by dominion. Should order be crafted by control.

[@itayshorek6872]

awesome video

[@garrisondinsmore5808]

Nice great video

[@Danaluni59]

He is the ‘star’ of the trilogy, at least in the sense that he is the title character and the strongest character in the series that everyone, is to some degree or another, thinking about.

[@bobbysalkeld2634]

Awesome video.

[@BrainDamageComedy]

brilliant vid

[@thefisherking78]

Good stuff

[@Trey112187]

@tolkienuntangled 28:55 cuts mid sentence into another sentence midway

[@tolkienuntangled]

Yeah that's a copyright thing. I only cut a few seconds.

[@Trey112187]

@@tolkienuntangled ugh all I can think about is what did I miss!! Lol

[@idanthyrsus6887]

I wonder if sauron was constantly scared melkor was going to return one day and be mad he was pretending to be him essentially this whole time.

[@claudius_drusus_]

AFAIK, sauron was having men worship Morgoth up until his demise.

[@PleaseNThankYou]

I wonder, could you possibly comment in a video or dedicate an episode to tell us where Gandalf AS the Maia Olorien could have been during Sauron's shenanigans. As they were both Maian beings, is there any evidence they knew one another in Valaria. Or whether on a timeline, their activities crossed paths prior to the stories told in The Hobbit. please and thank you!

[@tolkienuntangled]

That's a good question. I don't think they'd have hung out in Valinor as Sauron never actually set foot there - he turned to Melkor before Valinor was even a thing, and thus remains one of the few Maiar who didn't get to go there. But it is very possible that Olorin and Sauron may have spent time together on the Island of Almaren way way way back in the Years of the Lamps. Tolkien mentions Melkor's spies living amongst the Valar and their Maiar, and I would speculate that Sauron was one of these spies. Whether he and Olorin had a face to face is unknown, but there aren't that many Maiar and Almaren is a small island, so in the thousands of years that make up the Years of the Lamps, its not unreasonable to speculate that they might have. The only other time Gandalf and Sauron would have crossed paths would be in Dol Guldur when Gandalf was captured there. In the books this was about 90 years before the Hobbit.

[@PleaseNThankYou]

@@tolkienuntangled Thank you for the points to ponder. I have a few texts that I use as resources and take your leads. Also, thank you for correcting my spelling...some were auto corrected and some were my ignorance.

[@masterexploder9668]

Gandalf had completely different interests than Mairon/Sauron, so I doubt they spent much time together. They were still part of Ainur back then, so at least sang together I guess.

[@sjonnieplayfull5859]

@@PleaseNThankYou Don't forget the influence of Game of Thrones: Valeria...

[@CarlPottsprofile]

Dave, Id never thought about Saurons lack of Military Success but he was a consummate manipulator and user of guile to achieve his aims

[@mrrodriguezHLP]

The mightiest of all the Ainur was Melkor. Tulkas: Bet. Sauron is the greatest craftsman ever to live on Middle Earth. Fëanor: Bet.

[@JohnSmith-is4uu]

Celebrimbor bet

[@gatovillano7009]

at 0:22, Sauron does not appear much in the story... unless you consider the ring to be Sauron as well. Then Sauron is very present in the story and he corrupts and controls almost everyone he interacts with.

[@cluelessincalifornia9134]

"Celebrimbor stole my intellectual property!"

[@Labyrinth1010]

Curious: Why did you continue to call him Melkor even after he was known as Morgoth?

[@tolkienuntangled]

Well, Sauron would never have called him Morgoth. And nor would any of his other followers. Morgoth means "black foe" in Sindarin, and so that name would only be used by Morgoth's Sindarin speaking enemies. Also Tolkien goes back to calling him Melkor, when writing about Melkor worship in the Second Age, so I just did the same for ease.

[@Labyrinth1010]

@@tolkienuntangled great answer, and it makes perfect sense.

[@evilemperorzurg9615]

It’s funny how the events of the Lord of the Rings is just a small part of a much larger mythology.

[@bloodlore00]

Thank you great!

[@thelordofgifts5343]

Sauron didn’t have a single name because he’s based on tolkiens catholic perception of Satan. A once beautiful, deceiving, nameless, many faced Evil being… also a fallen angel

[@jaltomare7141]

Fantastic

[@nathanmclaughlin304]

Wasn't there a king from the south who helped fight against Sauron? I seem to remember a lost king who rallied troops to fight in the last alliance. Would this be Halbrand? I dont think a name is given in Tolkiens writings but i seem to remember a king who helped the lost men of the south