The Monsters of the Lord of the Rings: An (Almost) Complete Guide

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Today, we're walking through Tolkien's monsters. Where did they come from, what are they, and are they really all monstrous?
Check out my video on Dragons: • Tolkien's Dragons: An ...
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Sources: docs.google.com/document/d/1I...

[@nickbenton4881]

Having a favorite Tolkien dragon and having that dragon be Chrysophylax is just…so fabulously nerdy

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Fabulously nerdy is what I'm going for, that's perfect!

[@jessicascoullar3737]

I have never heard of this dragon. Finding out is now my new quest.

[@jimsweeney]

@@jessicascoullar3737 Read Farmer Giles of Ham. It's a fun shorter tale of Tolkien's.

[@karlsweeney2328]

Did Ed Greenwood name that one?

[@zenmastakilla]

@@karlsweeney2328 It's straight up Greek, unlike Greenwood's random mishmash of consonants.

[@antarfodoh]

Tolkien's evolving ideas about the potential for Orcs to be redeemed has made them my favorite. I have this whole elaborate head-canon that I've been writing out, about Orcs in east who managed to rebel against the Darkness, and live relatively good lives.

[@toddjackson3136]

When I was a kid and read "Goblin-men," for some reason, I processed it as Orcs are twisted Elves, and Goblins are twisted humans. So for decades I thought goblins were corrupted humans that the Dwarves faced in the Hobbit, while Orcs were corrupted elves that the fellowship faced in LOTR, and Uruki were the offspring of goblins and orcs mating. It made so much sense in my young mind that it blew apart when I learned the truth 10yrs ago.

[@brandonmunsen6035]

Its not that big of a deal.

[@HolyMith]

@@brandonmunsen6035 Imagine coming to a video about LotR lore and then telling someone that a bit of LotR lore is "not that big of a deal". Why are you here if it's not important to you?

[@pseudofenton]

I have learnt so much about Tolkien through your videos, they're so informative! But to be honest, I keep coming back to listen to them mostly because they're just so comfortable to listen to. Your passion and presentation make for wonderful company whilst I'm relaxing and doodling away in the evenings. So thank you for making these, and I hope this comment keeps the algorithm favorable to your works!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Oh you're so kind! I'm glad I'm able to join you for your evening doodles!

[@scotty5447]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Agree with the above comment. your speech pattern delivery makes your explanation of the lore so pleasurable to listen to. It's kind of musical. You should sing in Elvish again! I think that one was my favorite.

[@StuartistStudio1964]

It was Gandalf who outwitted the trolls, not Bilbo. Gandalf mimicked their voices, and got them arguing among themselves. And as for Stone Giants, Gandalf actually considers looking for a useful one, implying that they are real. And when they do appear later, they aren't fighting, but simply playing a game of catch with boulders. Too many people, Jackson included, misunderstand the phrase "thunder battle" to literally mean that the giants were fighting. The phrase simply refers to a clash between two storm fronts in the mountains.

[@jimsweeney]

Yes, I imagine the Stone Giants as oversized trolls, more dangerous in their strength and clumsiness than intentionally harmful.

[@StuartistStudio1964]

Or perhaps they were more akin to ogres, which Tolkien mentioned briefly in The Hobbit. And since they didn't seem to be followers or servants of The Shadow, at least not by the end of the Third Age, they were probably no longer under the sway of evil. They seem to be simple minded souls who keep to themselves.

[@jimsweeney]

@@StuartistStudio1964 Exactly.

[@HansWurst1569]

@@StuartistStudio1964 yeah agreed I always pictured the stone giants to be like ents but made from stone, not caring about the woods but about their mountains.

[@reneedailey1696]

Bilbo stalled for time, and Gandalf tricked them- It was a double tap.

[@RonGivensRasta]

Jess of the Shire, as someone who read many fantasy and sci-fi books before even discovering LOTR - I must say, you have a serious grip on the lore and overall feel of so much of this legendary work of Tolkien! Amazing videos packed with information and insight! Thank you!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

You're so kind! I just really love doing research haha. Thanks so much for watching!

[@gleann_cuilinn]

Old English expert here! The pronunciation the digraph in is difficult to explain. The sounds like the letter A in "can", and the is like the letter A in "calm", and you glide quickly between the two. (The is voiceless like in "miss".) The pronunciation of in is like German Ü, it's like a letter i but with your lips rounded. And the letter "thorn", , is like a modern TH. The was probably a tap or a trill like in the modern Scottish accent. I hope that gives you all the information to pronounce them next time! :)

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thus is so helpful! Thank you so much

[@biscuit715]

I assume this is American pronunciations of can and calm? I gave it a go with an American accent and it sounds a bit like me (English) saying "near". I don't know if ea has changed much from old English to modern English over here so maybe it's not supposed to, but perhaps it could be easier to explain as putting on an English accent? The amount of smoothing (I don't know the proper word) between the two varies by accent but it is two sounds everywhere.

[@vishnu79]

@@biscuit715 Interestingly, the "American" English pronunciations and inflections of words spoken in the Appalachian, Midwest, and on the fringes of the upper Southeast areas of the country represent a "purer" form of English as it was spoken in the 18th, 19th, and the very early 20th century, although the English spoken in Britain was changing rapidly during that latter era. Tolkien did research on traditional Kentuckian and Tennessean family names and dialects, and used them as templates for his Hobbits, especially with regard to place names and how the etymology and phonetics of place-words changed over time, such as how the Baranduin River of the Second Age, became the Brandywine River by the time the Hobbits enter the story.

[@PiraticalBob]

Werewolves do appear in LOTR - - the Fellowship of the Ring is attacked by them after the Fellowship descends from the failed attempt to cross the pass over Caradhras, and are the reason that the Fellowship risks entering Moria. Gandalf even calls the werewolf leader "Hound of Sauron." When the werewolves attack the Fellowship many are slain, but no bodies are found the following morning, and the arrows of Legolas are all recovered, except the last one which was set afire by Gandalf's fire-spell.

[@jasonnewell7036]

Indeed. He literally say they were no ordinary wolves hunting in the wilderness. The incantation of the spell he uses against them is "Naur an edraith ammen! Naur dan i ngaurhoth!" Which roughly means, "Fire to save us all! Fire against the werewolves!" Ngaurhoth meaning werewolf/werewolves.

[@An_Iron_God69420]

@@jasonnewell7036 So are Wargs the same as werewolves? Wargs arent regular wolves.

[@jasonnewell7036]

@@An_Iron_God69420 no, wargs are simply wolves with the intelligence of people and the wickedness of orcs.

[@jasonnewell7036]

@@PiraticalBob werewolves are spirits in wolf form. That's why after that particular battle there are no bodies left behind. Legolas remarks that he killed four, but his arrows look as if they hadn't been used.

[@jessicascoullar3737]

I never realised that. I thought they were simply wargs.

[@shybard]

I've always preferred monsters and villains that have motivations and complexities and purposes of their own, rather than being mere hurdles to overcome. But there is something simple and satisfying about a hidden monster beneath the water.

[@jurtheorc8117]

The Zeno Clash series may supply on that front. That game series is full of monsters and freaks, and actual humans are rare. But it's not a big thing because nigh all Zenos are so bizarre and weird and different from one another, that there's not much point in trying to make a distinction between species and subspecies and the like. It's not really a story about heroes and villains. Just about the way things are in Zenozoik. About a secret that a parental figure is keeping, which the protagonist named Ghat -- who still dearly loves this matriarch/patriarch-- has learnt about. But out of fear of him revealing this information, the rest of his Family is sent after him to keep him away from the civilized world. Doesn't help that, you know, he actually blew up the patriarch/matriarch with a bomb at the beginning of the first game. There's another group of people who choose to go insane and become maniacs that obsess over a single ludicrous thing in their lives. Such as walking in a straight line forever. Wanting to become invisible and thus clawing out the eyes of every living thing near them. Teaching other people how to fight. Peeing yourself and dying. Trying to become a tree. Turning things upside-down and inside-out. Only eating things that end in Y. The reasoning is that, letting go of *all* mental inhibitions and limits, all worries about surviving and feeding yourself, all sense of anger or resentment or attachment to anything in life, makes you truly free. And from there you choose something that you decide will give your life fulfillment. In the words of one of these people, "if you are satisfied and do what you feel you must do, then you have reached perfection." The second game has themes of what happens when someone more developed tries to enforce law and morals on this anarchic, nigh prehistoric society. And the prequel Clash: Artifacts of Chaos takes place when there *was* a single law, however strange. People didn't necessarily like it and the only "enforcers" were the queen's bodyguards who pretty much stayed at the palace, but the Zenos obeyed it nonetheless. Because it's the One Law, and you can't just not obey the Law. It would be like saying trees don't grow leaves-- that's not how it works. Fascinating series. It being a monster world where a cow man can wear a human's face as a hood with nobody batting an eye, or a flabby-skinned meatball man has an addiction to rooster blood, makes it all the more intriguing to see what manner of creature is around the corner.

[@user-ol2so9ce2q]

No justification for the treatment of orcs needs to be sought. There is not one instance I can recall (in canon) in which an orc gave quarter, offered mercy, showed pity, or sought to change their ways. Orcs might be capable of redemption, but do not seek it. Had such a thing occurred in the narrative, I would like to believe that the free peoples of the west would reciprocate accordingly. While at the same time not forgetting the lesson of whatever is middle-earth's equivalent of the fable of the scorpion and the toad.

[@rlhicks1]

I think that squares with what Tolkien wrote.

[@tilltronje1623]

Very true. Jess seems to be confusing "they are forced to be evil" for "they are not actually that evil". Which isn't true. They are all evil. It's not their fault but that doesn't change the fact that they are monstrous and must be destroyed.

[@frankc1621]

Your description of Gandalf's succumbing to the will of Iluvatar being what ultimately allows him to return as Gandalf the White gave me chills lol I hadn't looked at it from the angle of Gandalf having ultimate faith in Erus plan (which also contrasts Saruman, the former white, who lost faith) for the fellowship to succeed without him being what gets him "promoted" so to speak

[@Rubbly]

Wowee another high quality video from Jess! She just don't quit!!

[@ananyasharma9506]

These long form videos are so awesome. I love to listen to your videos while I'm cleaing/cooking/doing literally anything, like a podcast. I know they don't do too well in the algorithm, but any long form content you out out is an 11/10 in my book Your channel has really given me a deeper understanding of Tolkien and helped me form my own opinions about his work. I'm so glad the algorithm let me find this channel because it's like a little escapist haven for me to go into. I hope you continue to do what you do and I hope your channel continues to grow, because you deserve all the success you can get.

[@ThoughtOnFire222]

Bilbo went there and back again. Gandalf wandered all over, and over again . Frodo, though, he went to and fro.

[@HS-su3cf]

I really like these long videos. They give a lot of good info.

[@davepowder4020]

I liked the D&D campaign satire where a dragon is hunted by the players, only for the players to discover that the dragon has discovered investing and that there isn't any gold to be found in the lair.

[@petekaiser8856]

My favorite has to be the Evil Cat Lady with her cat pack.

[@gurugoat8298]

Beruthiel. My female cat is named after her 😆

[@neilbiggs1353]

OK, that ad transition was wonderfully done! Well done Jess

[@TunnelHack]

As KZbin is my basic cable these days, I totally dig the longer presentations.

[@grokeffer6226]

Good job!!! 👹👺🐲🐉 I'd consider Gollum to be a monster. I'd think that he were my "favorite". Amongst the others, I'd think probably Smaug, who was capable of a conversation, was my favorite.

[@Megthep3p]

Nice informative video! I've come to like the orcs specifically because if they have life like the children of Ilúvatar, then their story is a tragic one. Taken by the dark powers and twisted into a life of constant fighting and being hunted, not given the chance to be redeemed, probably the most "good" of the orcs sticking by their friends or slinking into a cave or forest not to disturb anyone. It gets even worse considering how death works in Tolkien's universe, since they might be derived from elves, even in death the most likely outcomes is they follow the counter-call of Morgoth or they're stuck to the world as houseless-spirits. I feel people overlook orcs/goblins a lot since they have interesting histories too, the Misty Mountain orcs escaping Beleriand's fall to hide in caves, the Eastern Orcs carving out their own petty independent realms before Sauron rose to power. And despite the fact that they suffer great losses (somewhat cause of themselves as well), they can spring back and survive on whatever they can find.

[@jessicascoullar3737]

I have the hope that they can travel to the halls of Mandros and be slowly untwisted over time.

[@user-ug5rb6qi4r]

Great video as usual! Your commentary on the “humanity” of orcs in the last few minutes was particularly fascinating.

[@darrenalmgren634]

Your videos are just so cozy. You and Nerd of the Rings are my Tolkien comfort channels, especially when doing Middle Earth themed things, like building Barad Dur in LEGO or importing the LOTR audiobooks I got from the library into my computer. Have a great day, you deserve it!

[@liamdoherty6025]

Beautifully presented, Jess. Keep it up!

[@ninja393]

Gah! I love this channel. You're easily one of the top Loremasters. Truly well researched and produced. Well done, looking forward to travel videos.

[@ArykSapien]

I’m so stoked for this video. And Jess’s makeup looks so cool! 😭

[@tomgartin]

I love all your videos, especially these super niche deep dives

[@markp6062]

Excellent! A great exposition and very informative. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[@qcrew2938]

Love the channel Jess.... keep up the good work!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thank you so much!

[@SunnyLovetts]

Love your videos, awesome lore content! :D

[@donaldmorgan5265]

As always, thanks for improving my Friday!!!

[@EnygmaRecords]

This is another fantastic analysis - thank you for making all your videos comprehensive!

[@hobbit1953]

Just watched the video. This was lovely and informative. Your voice is wonderful and the manner in which you read the quotes is marvelous.

[@Shadowace724]

I wonder if Tolkien was aware of Lovecraft? The Watcher and Balrogs are very much Eldritch horror, IMO. Great video, your guest star was a true delight and very insightful. Amazing thoughts and great work went into this and it shows.

[@missanne2908]

I was thinking the very same thing. I have thought that the Watcher, which is tangential to the main storyline of TFOTR, has its parallel in the 'huge, formless white polypous thing with luminous eyes' that is legendary to the squatters who live south of New Orleans in 'The Call of Chthulhu.' In neither case do we know how these monsters relate to the established baddies in their respective stories, they are just there, which makes their presence all the more unsettling.

[@VTimmoni]

Beautifully done. Thank you.

[@marieroberts5664]

I just remembered something...in days of old in England specifically, a 'wolf's head' was an outlaw...a person that could be killed on sight, like a wolf, and who had a bounty on his life. Further, the wolf is extinct in the British Isles.

[@SteveWillson-jg6eb]

Alas, criminals still run amok in Old Blighty.

[@markcreemore4915]

It's Goth Jess Day! Yaaaayyyy!!!

[@williampalmer8052]

Thanks for another enjoyable video. Happy to see your numbers continue to go up.

[@Skkorm]

Great video, very informative!

[@DJchilcott]

The Watcher in the Water: "Geez! We're you guys born in a tent?"

[@wukasz91]

Thank you Jess! Great video, as always.

[@deutscher1a]

Great research, perfectly delivered and your pure interest in the topic really jumps over like a flame^^ I like the long video format and you look amazing Keep up the great work❤️

[@TRKTKO]

So excited for this!

[@animistchannel]

Great episode! Thank you for the legwork you put into these "encyclopedia" episodes, and for the inspired readings and interpretations. I may have caveats, addendums, or my own personal takes on some of these things, but that takes nothing away from what you have assembled from your own point of view.

[@allisongliot]

Wait, can we revisit were-worms for a second? I do love how often Tolkien’s understanding of evil is beautifully embodied in the behavior and origins of his monsters. It’s such a thoughtful approach to his creatures.

[@okletmesignup]

Great video, Jess. Thank you!

[@comicdog5097]

Love this video!

[@VikingerOnYT]

Lovely video ❤

[@lukecox6317]

Great video! You clearly put a lot of work and thought into it. It's well thought out and touches on each monster's unique relationship to the themes and philosophies of Tolkien's writings in a very well done manner. Dragons are among my favourites, but, though they were not mentioned, Nazgûl are hands down my favourites. Their limited number and "undead" nature probably puts them and Barrow-wights in the same broad category, but the idea behind them is, in a way, similar to that of Orcs, being beings twisted into tragic monsters, though for the Nazgûl it is through exploiting their hubris and weakness rather than the more horrible origins of the Orcs.

[@Nodim1er]

This is great Jess. Also this outfit is amazing, on point for the subject.

[@Chief-Solarize]

You're awesome at reading Tolkien, your expressiveness easily paints a mental picture in my imagination.

[@mattheweagle223]

I can't believe you got to Winnie the Pooh but didn't mention Heffalumps or Woozles

[@sirbobbenxd]

Love this look, Jess!

[@tomklock568]

Fascinating, thank you. Yes these are longer than than the typical KZbin video, but great content. The only suggestion I'd have is a two parter to better fit into their preferred parameters. Gosh, I haven't read Beowulf since college...a lifetime ago! Thanks again, Jess.

[@thegreatermysteries4134]

Great video, one of your best. 👍

[@mage1439]

The story of Aule and the dwarves is one of the most emotional things Tolkien ever came up with. He created them but couldn't give them life, and then when Eru got on to him he prepared to destroy them, and then Eru gave them life and a place in creation. Because Aule made them out of love, and Melkor was always working out of ego.

[@calicojacque]

As a child, Smaug was my favourite, because dragons are inherently very cool. When I became an adult, I started to really sympathise with the orcs. I didn't even know Tolkien was ambivalent about them (back when I was reading LotR for the first time, there was no internet as it exists now and I didn't have access to all the extra material that is prevalent now), it was more something I came to alone in reading the book. I could see why people thought they were "simple evil", but every time orcs are talking amongst themselves, you get this picture of their lives that is so sad. They are soldiers and nothing more. They complain about their superiors and while they have names, they are identified by command as just numbers. They are compelled into contest and competition with each other and have poor provisions to their front lines. They also don't want to really *be* on those front lines. They want victory, because maybe that will give them some breathing room, but they also know that war and the front line is a meat grinder from which they probably won't return. I've often wondered what life looks like for the future of the orcs, without Sauron literally invading their minds and punishing any dissention at a whim. I don't think they would turn into fluffy cottagecore uwu babies, but I do wonder what thousands of generations of continuous trauma would produce in terms of a society of their own. Would they be draconian victorians, where almost every crime is punished by death or humiliation? Where the rich exploit the poor? I dunno. But it's very interesting to think about. And that's why orcs are my faves.

[@legoseanland1760]

Thank you, that was wonderful

[@jeremypaulson4726]

Your videos get better every time.

[@adamrbrewer1660]

Carcorath biting off the hand feels like a parallel to Fenrir biting off a gods hand in his mouth in Norse Mythology too

[@roguejoe]

Love the long form, Jess.

[@jimluebke3869]

I'm glad you gave Frodo one of his moments of heroism -- in the Barrow. Could you put together a video that showcases his Crowning Moment of Awesome -- his defiance of the Riders at the Fords of Bruinen? *** Frodo heard the splash of water. It foamed about his feet. He felt the quick heave and surge as the horse left the river and struggled up the stony path. He was climbing the steep bank. He was across the Ford. But his pursuers were close behind. At the top of the bank the horse halted and turned about, neighing fiercely. There were Nine Riders at the water's edge below, and Frodo's spirit quailed before the threat of their uplifted faces. He knew of nothing that would prevent them from crossing as easily as he had done; and he felt that it was useless to try to escape over the long uncertain path from the Ford to the edge of Rivendell, if once the Riders crossed. In any case, he felt that he was commanded urgently to halt. Hatred again stirred in him, but he had no longer the strength to refuse. Suddenly the foremost Rider spurred his horse forward. It checked at the water and reared up. With a great effort Frodo sat upright and brandished his sword. "Go back!" he cried. "Go back to the Land of Mordor, and follow me no more!" His voice sounded thin and shrill in his own ears. The Riders halted, but Frodo had not the power of Bombadil. His enemies laughed at him with a harsh and chilling laughter. "Come back! Come back!" they called. "To Mordor we will take you!" "Go back!" he whispered. "The Ring! The Ring!" they cried with deadly voices, and immediately their leader urged his horse forward into the river, followed closely by two others.. "By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair," said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, "You shall have neither the Ring nor me!"

[@thezieg]

Love it!

[@joshbook2059]

I have to admit as much as I like Jess of the shire, I really enjoy this apparent Jess of the shadows!

[@JR-13]

I got to say, that's a really cool necklace!

[@samm1926]

Love the long videos! The wargs are my favorite.

[@GoenndalfTheBlue]

Jess is "THE DRAGON". That Hair and makeup was epic. That Video was so awesome. Even for me as a Tolkien Nerd which is mostly like a walking encyclopedia... I love the way you present this... and the length of this video.

[@jasonrosa5268]

Definitely liked your end bit about orcs, got me thinking about gollum, and just how the will of Sauron ie. the ring could twist a hobbit

[@nebricback1430]

Love your videos

[@ToNowHereShow]

Just started the video and I have to say that I love your makeup! Carry on - I'll return to watching the video.

[@legoseanland1760]

Fantastic color palette for your hair and makeup, just wow

[@stevewatt4819]

just as Rocky's words came on the screen it cut off for a commercial on how to take care of an aging CAT! Sometimes the universe smiles on me. Love the discussion.

[@amberadams9310]

I also love Crysophylax and Farmer Giles. I got so excited when he was mentioned 😂

[@adamphilip1623]

Wowww I just started watching but I have to say I love the look! You look fabulous! 🤩

[@CreationBrosZone-km5be]

My dwarf is on a mission to save Orcs...by sending their spirits straight to Eru (assuming they're indeed the warped descendants of Men, and they don't sojourn with Mandos for a while).

[@bugsby4663]

When I lived in SE London there are a number of barrows around Plumstead. One is now just a hilly park surrounded by busy roads where kids play. The other is surrounded by houses but is fenced off.

[@TheLastAxeman]

One interesting thing in pre-fantasy era of myth, dragons both in the West and in the East are rather water-aligned, they hoard water or bring storms and rains.

[@evanwayman9620]

great video

[@ProgressIsTheOnlyEvolution]

I find that the Orcs in the Lord of the Rings seem less evil than some heroes in Game of Thrones, and Presidents of some super powers in the real world 😁

[@davidsaville5239]

When the Fellowship of the Ring set out from Eladris and tried to follow the mountain pass over the Dwarven mines of Moreia, they get chased by wolves !!

[@billberndtson]

Critical Role often delves into the stereotypes of good vs evil races/species. To quote Firefly (Wedon's a dick) ; "We're all just folk, now." ❤

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

It would be cool if Jess did videos on D&D at some point!

[@billberndtson]

@@sebastianevangelista4921 I'd love to run a one-shot for her. :)

[@robcanisto8635]

this goes hard af bro

[@mikey22791]

Monsters! Heck yes I'm here for this! Also you look great as always Jess but you knew that.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Haha thanks!

[@jurtheorc8117]

The ultimate symbol of imagination. There is no real limit on what a monster can, can't, should or shouldn't be.

[@briartime3024]

Between plot point and character well done! Thanks for the Goth -Loved it!!! Excellent beginning with Dragons. Michael O'Brien writes an interesting book about Dragons in literature called A Landscape with Dragons though not everybody agrees with his thesis. The Balrog is not just the next Boss for loot and xp - games get their due on this line, excellent. Very good references to Beowulf - Tolkein would be proud that his lectures didn't go to waste. Very interesting view from Charlotte Otten on Lycanthropy...I must further check that out - thanks. Beautiful video this week, very interesting from first to finish.

[@morgothfromangband6082]

My theory is that Ancalagon was originally bred by Morgoth to destroy Aman and the Valar later. Probably Morgoth was working on a troop of Ancalagon sized dragons to accomplish that. But then he was suddenly suprised by the Valar attack in the War of Wrath.

[@teemusid]

Boromir disturbs the Watcher because of his petulance, and he is admonished by Frodo, but Pippin is curious, and more than likely alerts the inhabitants of Moria with his experiment, and he is a fool.

[@markwrede8878]

In Tolkein's works, principles of good and evil are not debated, but assigned.

[@NastyKnox]

I always thought Warg was a mash up of War Dog, but your explanation probably makes more sense given his love for language and history.

[@grimmgod4805]

I love Jess

[@gallendugall8913]

To my mind Tolkien used the idea of corruption instead of evil. As such there is also the idea of forgiveness and redemption.

[@Ringslover]

The first general principle regarding evil that I came across in reading about Rings, how many decades ago was that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[@mothersuperior2014]

you look great! fantastic video ! go Jess GOO

[@craigbryan6980]

Jess of the Shire.. you're a 10 out of 10!

[@HolyMith]

I love longer form videos, I can have them on in the background and soak up that Tolkien goodness (or badness in this case) while doing other things. Definitely keep making more of this format, the father of modern fantasy deserves a full treatment of his work! Also, my favourite monster in the legendarium are the Nameless Things, only mentioned in passing by Gandalf after his plummet into the darkest pits of Moria. If he isn't being deliberately theatrical, they may be of the same caliber of creature as Ungoliant - older than the arrival of the Valar and created from the void rather than the direct action of Illuvatar or the Ainur. Very Lovecraftian and suitably terrifying. Edit: I forgot to mention that the Watcher may have been one of these things, as Gandalf theorises it made its way up from the aquifers beneath Moria and into the lake outside the secret door.

[@kennichols3992]

Thanks!

[@djparn007]

Thank you, Jess. ❤❤

[@garyjenkins7249]

The giant spiders in Mirkwood disturb me the most. Reminds way too much of the oil room in my basement 😮

[@raguelelnaqum]

Regarding the Orcs, what people often fail to realize is that them not being entirely evil, just as the Haradim men were not, was always the point. And I personally think this is due to a lack of understand of IRL history, One of the cited inspirations other than the Mongols for the Orcs was the Ottoman army. And of the Mongols, Tolkien cited the Timurid-era Mongols as chief amongst the inspirations. For those unaware, the reason why these inspirations are so important to understanding the Orcs, is because both the Ottomans and the Timurids employed literal SLAVE ARMIES. In the same way the Easterlings, Variags, and Haradim represent imperial levies forced to fight on behalf of colonial overlords, the Orcs are people conditioned as slave soldiers for Morgoth and Sauron, albeit more genetically/morphologically as opposed to sociologically (although that happens too). Hell, we get a glimpse of what they probably did through Saruman's creation of the Uruk-Hai. Orcs past the first generation had very little chance to escape their lot as janissaries/mamelukes/habshis of Morgoth, and that emphasizes just how unforgiveable Morgoth, Sauron & Sarumans crimes are, even beyond their other atrocities. They force the allied resistance groups to cleave through fellow victims of their depredations to preserve their own freedom.

[@RealSensationalBeing]

I forgot Grendel's Mother wasn't just a movie creation.

[@kennethmiller2333]

Given Tolkien's Christianity, it's significant that he made his big bad a shape shifter, and even added a serpent into the list of shapes as a reference to someone else known for taking the form of a snake.

[@sbl195207]

I thought that Orks were like the expendable enemy soldiers, guards, and minions from films. The hero could dispatch them without the viewer sympathizing with them and even laughing at them. Source of the "Wilhelm Scream" sound effect.