The Nightmare of the Shadow Temple (Zelda Theory)

What was the Shadow Temple's purpose and who is Bongo Bongo?
Special thanks to LLLLLink, LoruleanHistorian and Chateau LonLon for providing translations and/or adding to the discussion.
0:00 - Second Channel
1:45 - Introduction
6:07 - Timeline & Mystery of the Seal
10:44 - Bongo Bongo Origins
20:39 - The Shadow Temple
32:15 - Beneath the Well
35:01 - What Really Happened?
Link to Second Channel (Archive 64)
/ @archive6479
Bongo Bongo Render Made By Nick Perrone
Website: www.nickperrone.art/
Instagram: nickperrone.art
Title Cards Made By Monster Maze
/ monstermaze
Check Out Gary Lee Todd's Photos
worldhistorypics.weebly.com/g...
Footage taken from:
myself :)
Intro BGM Composed by Tim de Man - t.co/q0rmVEEUH2
Outro Made by Espen - www.efolsen.com
Twitter - / nintendoblackc
discord server: / discord
Special thanks to my Patreon supporters!
Patreon - / nintendoblack. .
#OcarinaofTime #ShadowTemple #BongoBongo

[@gamerghxst]

I myself would like to thank you for your no commentary-game Playthroughs being made available for video editing. That is very solid of you and I know a lot of people will definitely benefit from that. From students of video editing to just content creators in general, that is a very major resource.

[@NintendoBlackCrisis]

Happy to hear that!

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

I’m sure people will make use of that.

[@jimmybobfred696]

Also, sometimes you just want a walkthrough/playthrough without commentary distracting you from the game itself. So that's very thoughtful of you, thank you!

[@seretith3513]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis wouldn't "Content Library" be better for Source-material. I know it's alot more tidius, but the Masks Provider some intresting Information when talking to certain NPC. For Example: try out the Gerudo-Mask on Malon, Talon and Naboru.

[@QualityGamingStudios]

If you're interested, world of longplays is a very helpful resource full of no commentary gameplay, most of which is available for editing

[@davetoms1]

My headcanon is that Bongo Bongo was a drummer for the Sheikah execution ceremonies. Just a normal Hylian or Sheikah but they witness (and participate in) so many atrocities that they return as the hate-fueled demon drummer Bongo Bongo.

[@hotdog_skeleton765]

That is a great theory and that would make sense cool theory I like

[@melissawaterman7159]

There's so many different theories that make sense when it comes to Bongo Bongo

[@gollossalkitty]

Thanks dave very cool

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

Sounds like something Similar for Majora you know the Mask

[@shark_girl]

oohhh that makes sense such a good theory!!

[@Lordlaneus]

Using flowing water to cleanse corruption is a prominent idea in Shintoism, and might explain why Kakiriko needed a windmill to move water around in the first place, and even why the guy who teaches you Song of Storms is so angry

[@kentuckyfriedfarfetchd7317]

And Kakariko Village is isolated by the Zora River, preventing anything from escaping.

[@Level48tt]

That’s prominent in pretty much every ancient culture and religion. There are always floods

[@robokill387]

See also: the traditional practice of dunking witches in water, as it was believed they would float because the spiritually pure water was rejecting their evil.

[@MrHeavy466]

@@Level48tt Shintoism has a specific word for it: kegare.

[@ninkstheultimate3376]

A neat fact is that if you get the map for the bottom of the well, and you go to the shadow temple as an adult, you can actually see that the bottom of the well is a part of the map layout for the shadow temple as it appears as a part of your dungeon map (or at least it was part of the original N64 OoT)

[@NintendoBlackCrisis]

Wait, was it? I need to look into that 😮

[@WolfaRiio]

I was thinking about commenting that but I wasn't sure if it was just a part of my imagination or an actual memory of when I used to play it as a child.

[@ninkstheultimate3376]

@@WolfaRiio ikr at first I wasn't sure but I had a nagging feeling in the back of my head about it.

[@scarmiglionee]

Also don’t forget the maze below the graveyard that you follow Dampe-ghost around in. I think the maze was supposed to connect the two, and also serve as a method of defense because of all the dead ends and traps. It might have been cut off because of the graveyard, or the royal family.

[@scarmiglionee]

by “connect the two” I mean connect the Mysterious Hylian’s house and the Shadow Temple

[@bedelian]

I'm realizing now how stressful The Bottom of the Well is. After many many playthroughs of this game, every other dungeon I feel like I could beat in my sleep, but I've never quite felt comfortable at the bottom of the well. I always dread going down there. It's the only place where you can still feel overwhelmed even if you have a fully upgraded link.

[@M.Shadab]

me

[@masonandrews1523]

Fully upgraded kit? lol

[@ralphwoodruff]

The developers did an astonishingly great job at evoking the feelings you would actually feel if you had to come here in real life.

[@prejudicedpizza2764]

My thoughts/conclusions: It seems to me bongo bongo ends up being both a spirit, and the curse of the temple. Maybe he was the man with the lens of truth, but either way I think he was an enemy of the sheikah or royal family. And he was taken to the shadow temple, and tortured by cutting off his hands, and eventually beheaded. His pain and anger are what drives the curse after Ganon s power brought him back. Explains why both the well and temple feature such a heavy theme of hands and heads.

[@consumermp]

Lens of truth sounds like it would create some kind of political prisoner at some point… considering this is the Guantanamo Bay of Hyrule

[@larcek.giglamesh]

if we consider him someone that decided to hide in plain side, developing a tool against the shiekah, it would make sense for them to torture him first by cutting off his hands, since that represents his crafting ability.

[@sweetoil2952]

@@larcek.giglamesh O_O;

[@theiriskrissgamingandmisce916]

@@larcek.giglamesh Maybe not only just for tool against them but trying to blend in to get information he would have to utilize the abilities that they had and if he wasn't one through birth he would need to figure out a way to Mimic it

[@yamato9753]

Maybe he stole the lens? In many countries cutting hands off was (or is) a common punishment for thievery. Even when people would be executed afterwards, it's mostly done in a symbolic Manner.

[@MagicalMaster]

I would disagree and agree simultaneously about Bongo-Bongo being in the well. We've seen that there are EXTENSIVE tunnels in the graveyard that lead to odd places. One of which is to the windmill which is undoubtable connected to the Well as speeding up the windmill drains the well. Another thing to consider is that all bosses are active and doing their evil deeds when Adult Link awakens. Phantom Ganon has Saria hostage, Volvagia is preparing to eat the Gorons. Morpha has all but drained Lake Hylia and Twinrova has an iron grip over Naburoo's soul. Bongo-Bongo is likely also active, but as the man in Impa's house outright says he's being resisted. So what changes to cause the cutscene? It only goes off when other forces of evil have been hurt. It's a reaction to your actions elsewhere. To trigger this you need to complete the Water Temple, which means you need to have the tokens which contain the power of the sages of Light, Forest, Fire and Water at this point. Plus the Master Sword. Plus the Triforce of Courage. Plus the blessings of the great fairies. Plus whatever Navi brings to bear. PLUS Zelda with the Triforce of Wisdom is in disguise right next to you. I have no doubt in my mind that whether or not Zelda's disguise was good enough to hide a third of the Triforce, Link alone would have stood out like a FLARE to that monster. I think it broke off the attack, rushed through the graveyard and then went through the windmill and into the well to jump out and attack Link by surprise. Then when something caused the attack to fail. Likely Impa coming back to help coupled with 'Shiek' being right there. It rushed off for the temple for round Two or more likely Three with Impa. It had been sealed prior after all. Also, one final note is that Ganondorf has been called the King of Thieves in the past and Bongo Bongo's hands are distinctly chopped off. What is the penalty in a lot of medieval era societies for theft? You get your hand cut off. Follow it up with an execution and take the head away, and the body slumping off a gallows would look a lot like Bongo Bongo, wouldn't it?

[@blaketoomer8503]

Damn nice 👍 I didn't know the theft penalty part thanks

[@dafilmqueen556]

​@@blaketoomer8503, it's actually something that I believe many fans of Disney's Aladdin (the original animated movie) would've learned about from watching the movie. I would argue it's excessive, but no culture on the planet will ever make perfect sense if you think about it. We have always been a peculiar species, don't you think?

[@no.7893]

My own daft theory is that The man who could see the truth was an executioner/torturer for the sheika/royal family and his house being above the well was so that he could discreetly access it. I think the bottom of the well and the shadow temple were meant to be connected originally but Nintendo probably made them seperate to reduce on backtracking. Taking a shot in the dark I reckon that the man who could see the truth being an executioner for whatever reason became an enemy of the sheika, perhaps betraying their trust by making the lense of truth, and then met an ironic fate. With so much anger and contempt in his heart when he died he came back as a vengeful demon. And perhaps the significance of his hands being cut off relates to him stealing the power of the sheika with the lens of truth.

[@saphiriathebluedragonknight375]

Or maybe the Shiekah gave him the Lenes of Truth so he could make his way through the temple. Maybe one day he lost it, but went to the temple anyway believing he knew it well enough now to get through. He lost his hands to one of the invisible traps, and died from blood loss. He was never given proper burial rights so he became a Poe. Stuck in the Shadow temple with the spirts of those he killed, along with his on guilt, caused him to become corrupt eventually turning him into Bongo Bongo. And hey, maybe he liked playing the bongos when he was alive.

[@drewg4323]

@No. Theory checks out, sounds good to me!!

[@melissawaterman7159]

@@saphiriathebluedragonknight375 His form resembles a dismembered body that was likely hung upside down which is why he is upside down when you fight him. It's more likely that he did something to piss off the royal family (possibly creating the lens of truth) and they executed him for it. He became Bongo Bongo as a result of the rage that festered within him for years over what was done to him.

[@drfutato]

Maybe he’s part of why the Yiga clan came to be

[@arohk46]

I like that thought.

[@cabbelvancabbel]

So amazing to see theories from an over 20Year old game still come up today. Timeless Masterpiece

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

I agree.

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

Timeless only if you don't own a magical ocarina.

[@cptsteele91]

was reminding me how old I am really necessary 🤣

[@xdsmile5359]

Damn this youtuber makes me appreciate older games and stories

[@Starbat88]

More recent "theory" videos tend to tie the lore together with newer games. So there is always something new to talk about.

[@thegreatmajora5089]

23:44 Gotta appreciate Pierre, always doing his best to lift up the mood

[@Skeleton_With_VR]

Oh no, it’s you.

[@kylaajm3411]

He's groovin

[@highdefinition450]

Mans just wants to d a n c e

[@yourlocalLoreenjoyer]

Not again Aw shit here we go *Equips the fierce deity mask*

[@BaronSengir1008]

He really raises the spirits! I'll see myself out now...

[@shuatock8216]

The only way you can make it to the shadow temple is by playing a song. There is no path to it, so I would bet that the developers may have even planned, originally, for the well to be a path to the dungeon, but decided not to for whatever reason. It would make sense for that to be a part of the game lore too, as mentioned Amazing video man

[@dafilmqueen556]

Cut content and assets that were placed elsewhere in the map? Why, Nintendo, you shouldn't have..

[@tydusfma7]

Another supporting fact for the Bongo Bongo being a collection of dead souls theory that I was just thinking about watching this is that Bongo Bongo immediately attacks Sheik (who looks like a sheikah obviously) when he comes out of the well and doesn’t attack Link until he holds up the Hyrule shield a symbol that the dead souls would hate quite a bit. Almost like he’s attacking the things that he recognizes as what killed him.

[@teddybaker4759]

Good catch

[@melissawaterman7159]

And he burned Kakariko village to the ground, a place that was once inhabited solely by the Shiekah

[@darknesswave100]

Not gonna lie when I was a kid this dungeon freaked me the hell out. I didn't end up finishing it until later on but now I love it

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

Same.

[@sl0thilicious]

Saaaaame! The bottomless pits & Dead Hand still creep me out, blegh

[@Not-Ap]

Same.

[@xurxurlawolf3995]

There's also a chance that the green pools bringing back the dead was their censorship at hand. Ganondorf was shown in early editions of the game to spew out blood that was red during the final fight, that was later changed to green to avoid higher age ratings.

[@NintendoBlackCrisis]

It's hilarious to think that Ganondorf just ate something bad and threw up in the Shadow Temple and well lol. I also forgot to mention that this green stuff also hurts Link when in it

[@xurxurlawolf3995]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis maybe a sort of bile, perhaps? Playing into the theory of Bongo Bongo being decapitated, the liquid coming from its neck could be highly acidic! Fun to think about, thank you for the video!

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis Maybe he have a bad belly ache

[@christianquirion526]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis *GASP* TOXIC VOMIT

[@marhawkman303]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis while watching I thought of something that... you allude to but don't directly address. Did Ganondorf actually CREATE any of the "curse" monsters? Like you said the two witches and the dragon already existed. Maybe they ALL did and Ganondorf just empowered them because they were willing to help him? If Bongo was trapped and unable to escape with it's own power, then, Ganon could be why it broke free.

[@ruemzq3404]

Small mistake I noticed: when the description of the evil monster appearing above ground is on screen at 7:00 , it says the person who says it is impa despite it saying impa is in danger. Just thought I’d let you know! Amazing work, as always!! The shadow temple has been a favourite of mine for a while because of how mysterious and dark it is. So thank you for doing a huge video on it!

[@UltimateTobi]

Also he says "West of Hyrule field", however Kakariko Village is to the East.

[@nekoyukigoddessofbalance7575]

I saw that too.

[@duskwalker4800]

When you were talking about the connections to Anubis I remembered. Egyptian mythology also has a ship that sails the river of souls, in fact Anubis, Ra, and the other gods took the voyage of souls every night that's why the sun rose and set in Egyptian mythology. Furthermore the sun bringing relief to the dead is one reason the Journey through the underworld was taken by Ra it helped balance the darkness of the underworld and the brightness of day

[@noodledood12]

That's possibly why the sun song relieves the dead in this instance

[@aminoveigamingmore9502]

@@noodledood12 yeahh good point both of u have a good idea

[@Not-Ap]

The heads of the birds in the temple in the n64 version makes more sense being representative of Ra than being representative of Anubis anyway. I always thought they were intended to be gargoyles personally which were created to protect from evil. Thus if this was supposed to be a place where the dead would be ceremoniously sent off than the gargoyles would act as wards against evil spirits on there journey through the afterlife.

[@Nightopian1982]

​@@Not-ApI still look at the '64 as the definitive version. I really enjoy this lore discussion and theorising around the possible inspirations behind the stories/character backgrounds. The story of BB for me holds a particularly dark, and perhaps even tragic resonance when you consider many of these ideas that are doing the rounds. The links to mythological and historical sources (Ancient Greek, Egyptian etc), but for me also the lore of Tolkien, for example (such as the notion of shadow spirits, the corruption and creation of dark creatures by an unseen force of malice and hatred). I think it's too simplistic to consider Ocarina as a simple tale of good (Hyrule/Zelda/Link) vs bad (Ganondorf and co), especially given the mystery of BB. If you look at things a little deeper, and consider the idea that the Royal Family of Hyrule were certainly not always good and just people, that they were capable of some deplorable acts of violence, conquest and even tyranny to some folk throughout the years, then one can certainly feel unsurprised at the level of fury towards them from enemies such as BB. Was he a monster of their own making?

[@saraross8396]

There could be a bit of a time paradox going on with regards to the sealing and/or as to why child Link wasn't told to stay away from the well. The perfect example of this actually has its own connection to well: The Song of Storms. Link doesn't learn this song until he is an adult, taught to him by Guru Guru(? the guy in the windmill), who claims a kid with an ocarina played it causing the windmill to go out of control. Now at this point in the game (Link being the only one running around with an ocarina) this event hasn't actually happened, yet at the same time it has since it occurred seven years ago. Skyward Sword has its own version of this where you can peek through the doors of the Sealed Temple and see Zelda's hibernation crystal even though it is the first time you landed on the surface. She's already sealed herself, but it hasn't actually happened in the game yet. The easiest, however still mind boggling explanation is that while it has happened in the past, you have yet to go to the past to make it happen, thus creating the duality. I seem to recall (a very long time ago) that it was said, or at least implied, that Link was responsible, at least partially, for the seal on Bongo Bongo being broken. This was due to the water being drained from the well if I remember correctly. It's possible that this was mentioned in the N64 player's guide, but my family's copy was lost ages ago so I have no way to check this firsthand. If I can find anything about this possibility, I'll edit it in. Even so, it doesn't explain why he sat around in the well for seven more years (assuming he was in there), but it could have taken that long to fully break. Perhaps the simplest explanation as to why he wasn't told to stay away is that you don't tell your residents that there's a monster lurking beneath your quaint little town. Simply put, they didn't know, and maybe Impa felt that he was securely put away. I very much enjoyed the video, and I especially appreciated you mentioning the differences between the N64 and the 3DS version. So many like to only show and highlight the 3DS version, perhaps not realizing the differences, especially to the decor, then speculate on their meaning not knowing they're not original to the game.

[@tdl487]

I think I've also heard of that theory that Link draining the well causes the seal to weaken? It makes sense since he was down there "disturbing" the dead inhabitants. Maybe the seal actually broke when Link took(stole?) the Lens of Truth? It was that mysterious man's greatest treasure/creation and Link taking it from it's resting place probably caused something to happen. Maybe that also explains that as an adult the bottom of the well is completely sealed off. Impa must have tried to physically block Bongo Bongo from leaving the well but failed, then went after it herself and into the Temple.

[@AlysonBate]

BanditGames has a video going into a theory about the Song of Storms and the timelines of OOT & MM. It's pretty cool.

[@Aleph3575]

It is mentioned in the Game Guide because I have one too lol.

[@RyuuKageDesu]

Malice, as we have become familiar with it, generally relates back to Demise. This green variant could literally be from a different source. The green glowing crystals, in Breath of the Wild, are said to relate to the dead.

[@dragonbornexpress5650]

If so, perhaps this green liquid is a sort of offshoot of Malice? Makes the most sense in my eyes.

[@RyuuKageDesu]

@@dragonbornexpress5650 I'm thinking more allong the lines of an entirely different source, rather than offshoot, but basically, yes.

[@imightbeaz]

I presumed Bongo Bongo was the man who could see the truth. Seeing as the well was a part of the shadow temple he may have had some connection to the sheikah and it's likely he had done something to earn the ire of the royal family. With the well "separate" to the temple itself perhaps this dreaded place was a torture basement that utilized hidden walls and pits to trap victims or toss bodies without anyone discovering them. If he carried work as a sheikah for the royal family what better cover than this? An ordinary house that covered the living hell. At a later time the royal family turned on him and executed him in the temple if they found out he was psychotic and killing freely. Impa either of her own accord or via orders was charged with keeping Bongo Bongo sealed. A seal that eventually broke either through Link's bumbling or Ganondorf's meddling finally freed the monster... leaving Impa to try and reseal it.

[@elitegamer9310]

I think those carvings are supposed to be Oni. A lot of depictions of Oni present them with a 3rd eye.

[@NintendoBlackCrisis]

Love the idea!

[@jessecortez2676]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis jvmvnvmvnvmvnvnvnvnOUTTew as weqeqwweeeeeeeeeeeweew We went f tn a. I’m just gotTwaqq weed

[@Lofilord]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis Oni-chan??

[@NintendoBlackCrisis]

@@Lofilord get out

[@zero1zerolast393]

@@NintendoBlackCrisis owo, leave lofiilowd alone

[@mrfivegold]

I think Bongo Bongo like all Zelda bosses are reincarnation of temple spirits that can be either malevolent or benevolent depending on what the local inhabitants did to taint or purify them. The Sheika defiled the Shadow Temple spirit with their dishonorable treatment of the Gerudo during the war.

[@autumnalvoid9646]

I'm not a content creator myself, but I want to say that it's amazing and just *WOW* that you make such an extensive library of gameplay footage available to creators. Props to you, Sir, and I tip my hat.

[@Chanchan19494]

I think the idea that bongo bongo was the man who could see the truth makes the most sense. Maybe the royal family wanted the lens of truth, to either hide it or use it, and executed the man who could see the truth and his spirit became bongo bongo. Hence why it’s described as a repository of Hyrule’s history of “blood and greed.” I also think that the shadow temple was a repurposed place of worship but there’s no way to know for sure

[@ufc3459]

I'm thinking they probably betrayed the Royal Family in the Civil War and was tortured and killed in his basement. The basement in this case being the bottom of the well.

[@pattymelt5825]

Lmao so instead of simply asking for the lens, the Royal family decided to straight up decapitate the poor guy 😂

[@Chanchan19494]

@@pattymelt5825 I mean there was just a civil war? And we know that some sheikah were defiant of the royal family. From our history we know that a monarchs first choice of how to get something they want isn’t to just go ask nicely 😂

[@somethingtodowithcat]

agreed, this seems to be the most accurate theory based on all the canon lore

[@overpricedhealthcare]

@@Chanchan19494 "some sheikah were defiant of the royal family" are you referring to botw's yiga clan?

[@Kuudere-Kun]

The Shadow Temple seems to be what's technically called a Plutonion, the boss fight being at the bottom of a huge pit is also evidence of that.. The Anubis figure becoming a bird could be a reference to Ereshkigal from Sumerian Mythology.

[@DarthTella]

This may sound crazy, but hear me out. The 'substance' draining out of Bongo Bongo's chamber is mostly green, but there are hints of blue and red. What if these are the sources of the green, red and blue potions, just purified somehow so it's no longer pure poison. The streams of gas/vapour/smoke seem very reminiscent of the ones you see in the Old Hag's potion shop. She probably supplies the other shops with the red and green potions, and just sells the blue. Her shop is also very VERY close to the Bottom of the Well, and there's a grotto near the entrance to her shop.

[@dominicmoisant8393]

I think it was Monster Maze who claimed the green substance in the bottom of the well is the source of magic in Hyrule, and was studied and crafted by the Sheikah for their magical uses. It would stand to reason the green potion as well as the red and blue, being primary colors that combine to create green, would have similar properties. Check out their video for more details

[@DarthTella]

@@dominicmoisant8393 I've been watching Monster Maze for a while too. He makes fantastic videos. Perhaps I had that video deep in my sub conscience when I wrote my original comment. XD

[@potatopie1696]

@@dominicmoisant8393 red isn't used to create green

[@offlineraided]

Using the same spite animations was common in the N64 era to stay within the data storage limitations of that era. Instead of adding more mb's of data to the game just reuse same sprites and animations with color palette swap for ease.

[@censoreverything8072]

I beat this game countless times in my youth. It was my life for a while, I literally would just run around in the world and "play" with NPCs like one would with dolls, since MMORPGs weren't really a big thing yet. I spent so much time in Hyrule. I bought and listened to the soundtrack constantly. And yet, somehow, my memory completely blackholed the Shadow Temple and everything about the well. It's so weird. When I read the title, I thought it must have been from a later Zelda game that I never played. I genuinely did not remember anything until I watched this video. It must have spooked me pretty hard as a kid lol

[@Humble-iq5ue]

I used to do this with videos games too as a child. Just play around and use my imagination, even after beating the games. Same with the old Grand Theft Auto games

[@johnlucas1543]

The Sheikah & The Gerudo have long-standing ties going all the way back to "Granny" Impa & Groose of Skyward Sword. My theory is that the cause of Gerudos falling out with the Hylians led to a split in loyalties of the Sheikah. Loyal to the mortal incarnation of Hylia & her mortal family or loyal to the people who descended from an allied hero of the past. And that split is the root of what caused the Interloper War with the scramble for the Triforce. That's why the Fused Shadow has the Sheikah Eye on it. The Sheikah may have been trying to aid the Gerudo. Afterwards in the formation of the Hyrule Kingdom with Hyrule Castle & the Temple of Time, some surviving Sheikah resented the Royal Family for abandoning the descendants of an old friend. These Sheikah secretly passed Royal secrets to the Gerudo. That's why Ganondorf knows so well where & when to strike. Twinrova knows & passed this info onto the Gerudo King. So the Gerudo knowing about the "Eye of Truth" is possibly connected to the Sheikah Rebellion's info sharing. Bongo Bongo seemingly is one of the Sheikah Rebels who aided the Gerudo & was found out in the Hyrulean Civil War. That's why the Sheikah have a decimated population by the time of Ocarina of Time. Sheikah Loyalists like Impa vs. Sheikah Rebels like Bongo Bongo. Sheikah are supposed to serve Zelda AKA Hylia by design.

[@sykune]

Well Japanese translations concerning the dark interlopers states they were just people from the normal populace that excelled in dark magic and the mastery of that magic was the fused shadows. So I agree that with the connection between the sheikah and gerudo as they seem to be the only ones capable of using magic innately. It would explain the sheikah eye and some gerudo symbols in the twilight realm. Which was said to be used to banish criminals to even after the dark interlopers were banished.

[@tdl487]

To tag along on your theory, the orgin of the Gerudo is still pretty scarce even with it being confirmed that Groose is a direct ancestral link. That and the original Impa(granny) never refers to herself as the last Sheikah but just "of" the Sheikah tribe let's us conclude that there are more Sheikahs out there of the time of SS. With Groose's close bond with granny he might have seek out a Sheikah wife/partner and from there the Gerudo line started. Also a number of high ranking Gerudo in OoT and MM where jewels on their foreheads like a third eye, even Ganondorf and Nabooru do so it might not only be a status symbol but a connection to the Sheikah third eye. That and they are the only race that can use magic other than the Sheikah or royal family(not including the BotW champions' powers).

[@saphiriathebluedragonknight375]

@@tdl487 When and where was it confirmed Groose is the ancestor of the Gerudo? I have to know! It's something I always thought.

[@dunc1156]

Do this for all temples, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@djalpha1407]

x2

[@kathe3745]

I can't believe it took me this long to realize the face on the paintings in the temple is resting on two hands! I just thought it was a creepy grimace, but that posture almost has a mischievous or teasing vibe, like it's enjyoing itself watching you struggle to navigate through the temple.

[@larcek.giglamesh]

i always thought it to be an idol held high by the hands, maybe some kind of artifact, instead of a physical person resting his head.

[@cruxisofhyrule1421]

I've noticed those contributors LLLLLink, LoruleanHistorian and Chateau LolLon are in a lot of KZbinr's best Zelda videos.

[@NintendoBlackCrisis]

They're very knowledgeable when it comes to the Zelda series!

[@Plokman040]

I was 13 when I first got OoT and it took me 10 years to get a full playthrough dlue to this place and the well. It freaked me out, but not the Redeads or Bongo Bongo,but the Dead Hand which oddly I am quite fond of as a monster and hope it returns. The fact I only knew what it looked like back then was why I would aimlessly exploring hyrule, chasing myths and making up little stories to have fun. Haha I have a odd imagination, and Majora's Mask and OoT are two of my favorite Zelda games. They hold more Nostalgia than a Keeton Mask for me.

[@fshonuff]

Haha similar…this temple scared me so much I put the game down for a few months because I didn’t want to go through it. 😅😅😅

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

@@fshonuff That was me when I play Metroid Prime 2 first time.

[@Mango_95]

That fucking Deadhand ruined my childhood, waited 8 years to try again 😔

[@Skelterbane69]

It took me years to beat yabu yabu's belly. I kept falling through the floor and I only realized many years later that I just had to walk past them and go through two doors, ot get the boomerang.... Then I immediately got stuck in the forest temple lmao

[@narutofox180]

I don't think I can actually do a full playthrough, this game is just too scary for me lol I might have gotten through a decent amount of the game as a kid but I'm pretty sure I never beat it myself, my older brother always helped me.

[@MisterRose90]

On the green substance. I tend to side with Occam‘s razor on this one. The simplest explanation that requires the least amount of assumptions is typically for correct one. I honestly think its just tainted water. Almost every time you see it its full of corpses. Can you imagine what that would look like?! As for its color and the fumes coming off it, i think its just a visualization of how putrid it is. It stinks, green is associated with sickness. Simple. But I mean what if it was some mysterious substance they found while excavating the temple and it is responsible for the dead rising again?! What if it was the reason for the sheika leaving the town or maybe even being banished or worse!? What if some of it got into castle towns drinking water during Ganons uprising and that’s why there are redeads there in castle town?! But maybe its just gross water.

[@Retro_Red]

Well, if it's water with dead bodies in it, there would be mold, bacteria, flies and maggots, the water could grow stagnant. No wonder it's harmful.

[@BrewstaRoost]

Redeads are just made of magic. Not actually people.

[@chrisbkingdom]

Bongo Bongo was so hard for me to defeat on N64 when I was a kid. The shadow temple was very scary also but I have to admit that was also one of the things that keep me coming back.

[@TheGeekApprentice]

GOD BLESS YOU for that second channel! I have a friend who has a second channel for similar reasons and my gosh is it sooooo helpful! I used to never use game footage in my videos, but the videos just turn out better when it's a mix of my face and the games themselves. So, thank you!

[@roberarevalo6837]

Thank you for keep bringing such interesting Zelda content, I loved this. To me the "third eye face" paintings scattered throughout the temple always reminded me of the cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Not saying that both things are connected in any way, but I think they just look funny yet disturbing, like if they were mocking Link.

[@audioblogs12]

Thank you for telling us about archive64. I foresee it being a great resource for many an abridged series.

[@swampygaming2975]

I was thinking of a more “musical” explanation to Bongo Bongo. Maybe he was related to the conductor brothers (the ones who wrote the sun song) which would explain why he’s a drummer?

[@tdl487]

I like that theory a lot. The conductor Brothers were important enough to have their graves near the Royal tomb. Maybe Bongo Bongo was an drummer for executions/royal burials that was convected of treason during the great Hylian war? The conductor brother's magic was strong enough to influence the time of day and effect the dead, so why not Bongo Bongo's drumming?

[@saphiriathebluedragonknight375]

@@tdl487 Maybe Ganondorf killed like he killed the brother. Though unlike the brothers, he corrupted the man's spirt and turned him into Bongo Bongo.

[@ShadowJay98]

You are an amazing creator for providing free playthrough content for others to use. Your reach is wide, and so many creators of many types and genres will benefit from it. On behalf of gamers and reviewers alike, thank you!

[@hidinginmycaropeningpokemo9006]

The Idea that you have decided to put up high quality, 100% completion videos so OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. That just blows my mind. That is such a lovely thing to do for would be content creators. I really do think that is one of the kindest, most considerate things I have heard a creator do. I know a lot of creators do kind things but they always, always profit massively from it. This on the other hand, it just seems real pure. Well done man 👏👏👏👏

[@XradicalD]

I love how much theories can be made of old games. Of course creating narrative heavy experiences wasn't exactly feasible, and when creating areas, inspiration comes from all places and are not exactly visible from the end user on the final product. What I'm trying to say is, the developers probably had some sort of unwritten cannon of the use of the layout that made sense to them. Thinking about how much isn't said about the temples themselves and much of the Ocarina events and cannon is up for speculation just makes me wish there was a remake of the game in the same scope as the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. I know is not really Nintendo's strong point to make lore heavy games with cinematics, but would be an interesting experience for sure. Just imagine seeing Hyrule as adult completely scorched and full of monsters patrolling, that would really drive the point that Ganondorf took over. But anyways I'm rambling, amazing video!

[@raskolnikov6443]

I don’t like the FF7 Remake. I like the mystery

[@XradicalD]

@@raskolnikov6443 There's a lot of mystery in FF7R.

[@kay_keik7842]

its called environmental story telling. something bethesda is really good at

[@GaiaLegendNL]

These temples are always so awesome to talk about. Ocarina of Time might have been the last game that was the most terrifying as a kid, Majora's Mask comes close but that game is more depressing. I haven't seen anything else quite like the Shadow Temple, which is a real shame but understandable. It also might have been the most censored temple of them all, because a lot of things in that temple do not appear to be child friendly :P Not that I was scared as a kid but, I can for sure understand if other kids didn't like it.

[@slumpedxd9448]

The Quality of your work is astonishing. Peak Zelda Theorist.

[@NintendoBlackCrisis]

[@drewg4323]

"Just because you have a big community, doesn't mean you're the smartest one in the room." Haha I like that, and good on you for being so humble, fun video

[@SparksOpus]

Take a Shot every time he says "Bongo Bongo"

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

No don’t do it.

[@dreadburnz3522]

Prepare to die edition: take a shot every time he says "Bongo"

[@TheArrowofLight]

My one idea is that Bongo Bongo was the third composer brother who lived in Kakariko village and it was his house that was covering the entrance to the well. But he later destroyed it after finding out what the Sheikah were doing in the well that was connected to the shadow temple at the time and betrayed the royal family then got sealed within the well. Then once he breaks out of the well in the cutscene he only goes into the Shadow temple to show Link the truth of what the Royal Family had let the Sheikah do to the prisoners.

[@Gzilla313]

I guess I always assumed that since the Shadow Temple was where the Royal Family's enemies were tortured, that Bongo Bongo was a creature the Sheikah created as the ultimate tool of fear in the dungeon. Like, tell us what we want to know or we'll feed you to Bongo Bongo.

[@melissawaterman7159]

That honestly wouldn't be beyond their capability nor is it something they wouldn't do either.

[@Nightopian1982]

​@@melissawaterman7159and perhaps BB's contempt grew as a consequence, being used merely as a pawn by the royal family, a tool of terror locked away for one purpose. He developed a hatred for his masters and the world above him, and so when Ganondorf came forth and seized power he sensed it and was finally able to free himself. In their arrogance, they felt the seal would hold him, but they underestimated the level of malice within.

[@JackSpadeTaylor]

heavy speculation, but the cell area in the shadow temple could be the start of where Sheika trained- they'd wake up in the cell and have to make their way out- and or it was a sorta 'free range' prison- open cells doors with traps both visible and invisible- no one would feasibly escape lest they were very very committed and skilled.

[@deputydk9112]

Great analysis! A couple odd things I was waiting for but you never covered: why is it’s name Bongo-Bongo and why does it play a drum? I mean that has always seemed like a tonal shift from the rest of the dungeon, but maybe it’s related to some kind of funeral right? Just a thought, been watching for a while but only just subscribed! Please keep up the good work :)

[@atreyanixx2024]

1) The birdlike things are FAR more likely to be inspired by the Yokai know as TENGU. As they bear great similarities. 2) I personally believe the mini dungeon beneath the well was the main holding grounds for those meant to be tortured and executed in the shadow temple. It would be like having 200 people on death row but out of them you take 40 to be executed today. So beneath the well= mass prison and shadow temple= execution grounds

[@miaswapp]

I have a theory about Bongo Bongo myself, my theory is that his spirit was sealed in his skull. Which would be the giant bubble (that is the name of that enemy right?) floating around the bottom of the well and Ganondorf used malice to bind his spirit to the rest of his corpse instead. Idk I just thought it was strange that the giant headless monster emerged from the place where there was a giant floating skull

[@JeremyYoFosho]

Pretty cool theory.

[@melissawaterman7159]

I don't think Ganondorf had anything to do with Bongo Bongo though. I'm not sure he even knew he existed. If he did, why not break the seal and set the monster free sooner?

[@Nightopian1982]

A nice idea that, the problem there is that there's another green bubble enemy in the Spirit Temple, when you have to boomerang the crystal door switch across the gap.

[@toxic_revenant3]

@@Nightopian1982If the Bottom of the Well giant green bubble was the only one in the game, I’d say it’s practically proof of Bongo Bongo’s decapitated head. Shame this isn’t the case.

[@soundsofstabbing3627]

I really like the idea of the maker of the lens of truth being bongo bongo, it just wraps everything up neatly in a way I really like.

[@hoo7797]

Regarding the face on the wall paintings, I think they have a few similarities with Gorgons. In Ancient Greece, before the myth of Medusa was made, the Gorgon was meant to be a frightening figure that would scare away undesirable visitors, similar to the gargoyles that decorate the exterior of cathedrals; usually, the Gorgon depicted as an ugly woman (some depictions have a beard) with a wide mouth, boar tusks for fangs, bulging eyes that stare out to the viewers, and snakes instead of hair. The figure in the murals of the Shadow Temple seems to have snakes for hair, and as we can see it is smiling widely, and most of its teeth are long fangs. It's possible that these figures are meant to be Gorgons/gargoyles that guard the Temple, but they are also infused with spirits.

[@stephenrossi1918]

In regards to the green liquid. Nintendo may have taken inspiration from 'The Lazarus Pit' from the Batman Villain; Ra's Al Ghul, who uses it to restore health and even bring people back from the dead. I mean, all DC iterations of The Lazarus Pit are green afterall.

[@videocrowsnest5251]

To add to the gruesomeness, here is something to keep in mind. Some not-so-light browsing reveals: Torture, on top of being an already inhumane and utterly horrifying thing to subject someone to, does not work. Not as a form of interrogation anyway, because if someone starts hurting someone really badly, they will literally tell them anything and in specific whatever they think they want to hear to get it to stop. This means a torturer won't get any usable info if it were to be uses as a form of interrogation, cause the poor victim is just trying to figure whatever they want to hear the most to get em to stop. On top of that, if gaining accurate information is the goal, it aint a good idea to psychologically damage someone. So what is torture, then, if it's a very bad method for getting info out of anyone? Pure and simple sadism. So if the Sheikah - who seem like the sort to know just how to interrogate anyone to get them to spill their beans as it's kind of their thing being the de facto secret police and covert agents of the Royal Family - did some torturing down there sanctioned by the Royal Family of Hyrule, it was more for sadism’s sake rather than them wanting to learn anything out of their victims. (Apparently, as a bit of a lighter ending to this, if one really were to go about interrogating someone who doesn't want to tell one anything, then being nice to em and building trust is the best way to go about things. Which the Shadow Temple most certainly is not built for...that place probably had nothing nice happen there during its entire existence. Heck! Probably the nicest thing that ever happened there was that it was destroyed at some point or another during the timeline....I hope. Imagine finding the Shadow Temple's remnants somewhere down the timeline in a vastly more decayed state than it already was during Ocarina of Time? Doesn't sound nice.)

[@xxvaltielxx1789]

Better not let the USA know you're spreading this, oh wait, nevermind, they don't give a damn xD

[@danielholmqvist2713]

Great video NBC! The only thing I would note is to make it clearer if this video was mainly about Bongo Bongo or the whole Shadow Temple, because halfway through the vid I was still unsure. Keep going! :)

[@DeadeyeJedi85]

I LOVE these in depth Zelda theory dives you do! So well made, I'll watch them over and over in the background. Thank you!!!

[@szaboluca8064]

Good job NBC! This video is very well made, your effort really shines through!

[@CyborgCharlotte]

Oh dude thank you SO much for the 100% play throughs of the Zelda games. I’m trying to get back into the KZbin scene with a new series about game completion, so these will be an invaluable resource :D

[@marissabulso6439]

Stockpiling footage for people is so dear. And I really appreciate having a place to watch a full play through of several of the Zelda titles I don’t have the ability to play myself! Really interesting video, as always. Thank you, NBC!

[@jayv9070]

I really, really like longer and more in depth videos like this! Perfect for walks and background audio when drawing. I appreciate everything you do! 😍

[@JavierPwns]

40 min video dropped on a Sunday? Hell ya lets GOOOOOO!

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

Yes, I agree with that.

[@HyruleGamer]

Excellent video Will! I enjoyed :D

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

Agreed, nice to see you here.

[@gabriellockwood2780]

4:10~ This entrance, the middle pedestal, and the ring of torches... Looks like the Yiga Hideout entrance...

[@ChefJoy10]

I've barely watched any of this video but I'm subbing for the sole reason that you've opened your raw footage up for free use and I can't think of many people doing anything so true to the nature of art and education. Thank you for that, you're dope

[@ShaneJackson1985]

It’s ironic that the people escaped the Castle Town’s ruined Market Place that was invested by ReDeads just to go to Kakariko Village that has ReDeads at the Bottom of the Well, inside the Royal Family's Tomb and inside the Shadow Temple.

[@alexanderaleman3702]

the Shadow Temple is one of, if not THE best temple, in Ocarina of Time. So cool, unsettling and mysterious. Thank you for doing this amazing deep dive! 🌟

[@ChibiProwl]

And a breath of fresh air after that horrible, convoluted, loathsome, and vile water temple.😌

[@rejvaik00]

@@ChibiProwl i like the water temple more, the shadow Temple is my least favorite But my most favorite is the desert temple aka the Spirit temple

[@ChibiProwl]

@@rejvaik00 the spirit temple IS cool, and I agree about the shadow temple.😌😎

[@bloodblues85]

Loved this in-depth analysis of the Shadow Temple. There are a lot of videos on it, but none that are quite as thorough. Great watch!

[@kekcrocgod6731]

I normally don’t watch these sorta “spooky theories!!!” videos, but this one popped up in my recommended and I decided to give it a watch, only to be surprised by how high quality this video is.

[@alexzeo9553]

Would love to see a video like this for every temple. Each has so much lore behind them.

[@TheGoldenSilhouette]

Isn't it more likely for Bongo to be reacting to Zelda rather than the Master Sword? It didn't leave until she neared the well.

[@melissawaterman7159]

I have no doubt in my mind he knew who she really was

[@bergdismyntumjolk1517]

MAD! Mad editing on this one, man! It's one thing when a theory is well polished and backed up by evidence and logic; and it's another thing when it also comes with such perfectly smooth camera pans in sync with your voice and intonation. Damn. (also I felt that ending scream in my bones, and we're all screaming with you)

[@ufc3459]

I've been wanting a vid like this for so long. After now watching it this hit every single thing I wanted in a vid about the Shadow Temple. So good

[@seb-3]

AMAZING VIDEO! This relates to a lot of things on my channel, being sheikah themed and such, and the shadow temple is one of my foavourite things to theorize on.

[@cvanims]

Wow, I love this theory. I hope BotW2 has some more dark lore!

[@AFoxInFlames]

The Shadow Temple was always a mystery to me like it sticks out so much in the game it like goes horror for a while then back to just regular Zelda. Great video, I love these videos!

[@joshuaharmon6684]

I've only gone through the Shadow Temple without the Lens of Truth once, but now I must do it again

[@3NTR4PT4]

Also concerning the green liquid- Redeads and Gibdos will drop magic refills 100% of the time... which is green...

[@dominicmoisant8393]

Monster Maze did a video about this whole subject

[@3NTR4PT4]

@@dominicmoisant8393 OHH yeah I remember seeing that vid! I was glad someone finally mentioned it

[@anxia-tea5846]

7:58 further proof of this happening *within* the 7-year gap is the fact you have to go inside the same well as young link for the eye of truth, and there’s no bongo bongo there as young link.

[@melissawaterman7159]

Not that we see anyway. Doesn't mean he wasn't dormant in there somewhere. Link going down there and disturbing it could have easily woken the spirit up and then he fought his way out with the seal gradually weakening.

[@thegoldenwolfbtw4238]

Your videos have been very good and very entertaining, they are well edited and have very good commentary over it. Keep the videos going!

[@beccaann9500]

So happy to see another video up, great content as always!

[@fshonuff]

When I was scrolling through my feed I thought the Bongo Bongo pic was of a demogorgon for a second. 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

[@nathanbyberg]

This was a great video. The Shadow Temple is my least favorite temple in Ocarina of Time because of the spookiness behind it, and the nightmares I had of the bloody torture room as a kid. Now that I saw this, I appreciate my least favorite temple just a little bit more! Much respect!

[@ScarletThot]

Final Fantasy 8 music playing on a Zelda video. My heart is confused yet complete 🤣

[@Thinkafurr]

Ahh man watching this again right after last weekend is fantastic. XD you have a wonderful story telling method between telling a point and then timing audio and visuals.

[@michaelkaduck1915]

The green substance reminds me of the Luminous stones in Breath of the Wild...could they be connected by the sediments in the ground?

[@dominicmoisant8393]

Check out Monster Maze's video on the subject

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

@@dominicmoisant8393 I will check it out soon.

[@emmanuellewallach1790]

Blight ganons are called ganons shadows in french

[@anxia-tea5846]

it’s very thoughtful of you to do the no-commentary playthroughs for people who need footage for editing.

[@Kekoapono]

Great job on the presentation throughout this video; it makes already great content look even sharper!

[@dumbbirdyboysquawks8147]

This could be a stretch, but something about the figures at 31:22 remind me of the Komainu, a japanese lion-dog said to ward off evil spirits.

[@iamspringtrap223]

It's possible that the ectoplasm has a trace of Malice within it, not enough to change its color drastically, but enough to change its effects

[@anasazidarkmoon]

Very cool video! I remember the first time I heard about the Bottom of the Well being where a man's house used to be, and immediately came to the conclusion that the guy must've been a serial killer, due to all the blood stains and corpses everywhere. And then I got through the Shadow Temple itself, and was convinced for a long time that the pit you drop down to fight Bongo Bongo was actually used for human sacrifices.

[@wadawilliamj]

Nice! I can hear Final fantasy VIII soundtrack playing while you begin your explanation.

[@Volgotha]

I'm sorry but OoT 3D kind of ruined the shadow temple. Its notwhere near as scary or ugly as it used to be and that ruins its entire vibe. The Dead Hands were never purple or goofy looking, they were rotten-flesh purple/white and terrifying. :/

[@alexmagneiplays4555]

The rat statues in the 3DS version were terrifying, when you first see them it looks like they just have big ears, but then you look closer and it becomes clear that they are giant blank soulless eyes the size of dinnerplates that are staring at you. Nightmare fuel.

[@jaredr1621]

I feel the same way about the final battle. Original had a greater sense of gravity, with the dark outline of Ganon being breifly lit by lightning strikes... 3DS version made it way too bright

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

Shadow temple still was terrifying to me.

[@linkzelda9734]

@Volgotha Yeah. that's exactly how I felt as well, and one of the main reasons why I'll always prefer the original oot over the 3DS version.

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

@@linkzelda9734 I guess that makes sense, I like playing other version more.

[@dccrulez]

Some thoughts: The man who mentions Impa going to the graveyard to seal Bongo Bongo refers to the first time, and she hasn't come back because she was attempting to maintain the seal but wavered. The green substance could be a form of magic, not fully reviving things like malice does, but instead empowering the lingering undead energies with more magic.

[@melissawaterman7159]

That makes sense because Bongo Bongo came back more powerful than he originally was as evidenced by Impa not being able to stop him this time and I think he's the one entity Ganondorf actually had nothing to do with out of all the others you encounter. So if not him, something had to have powered Bongo Bongo up.

[@ZeranZeran]

This was an amazing video. I love these so much. I had no idea it said that in Sheikah! After 20+ years, still new secrets to be found. So cool.

[@scurgle]

This was cool to watch. You put a lot of love and research into this. Thanks!!

[@eddie8151]

A idea I like to point out is that the green liquid found in the sun song grave and bongo bongo chambers is similar to the green energy in the BOTW 2 trailer EDIT: Also the hands rising up from the green liquid kinda mirrors the hand grabbing ganondorfs corpse in botw 2

[@dungeondamsels]

I don’t have much evidence for this but my head cannon was that “the man who could see the truth” was a Hylian who wanted the Sheikah’s ability to see hidden things. So he started out in his basement. He conceived the idea of the lens. But how to put the power of the sheikah into the lens? This began a process of capturing shiekah and putting one of their eyes into the lens. He had to chain them to pull the eyes out. The lens is created. He wants more magic items. So he captures more shiekah. But he has to keep a lid on the missing people . So when he accidentally kills them he turns to necromancy. That way he can keep His exponents going. The torture is thrilling to him and becomes a power trip. Additionally … he shows the Hylian royals his progress. One of them liked the idea and opened the crypt of the shiekah. The shadow temple then became his play ground. They also have a madman who’s already good at torture. Might as well throw those who oppose the royals in there too. The next generation of royals is abhorred by this act and shuts it down. The man-having his life’s work shut down- turns himself into Bongo.

[@towakun6678]

Man, I love long game lore/theory videos like this! I don't care about tv or movies but this stuff I could watch for hours lol

[@brokeboypokemon7077]

I got to say this is the first time I've ever watched any of your videos but the whole spiel about the archive footage in the beginning is a godsend thank you for your service. I've been watching more Zelda content because I was thinking about doing my own review. So knowing that there's footage I can use makes this endeavor so much easier and I thank thank you good sir you are a gentleman and a scholar.