The Story of THEODEN, a Son of Greater Sires! | RIP Bernard Hill | Lord of the Rings Lore

Today, I look at the legendary King of Rohan from the times of the War of the Ring, Theoden King!
What did this leader go through in his life?
What events morphed him into the legend he became?
How on point was Bernard Hill's performance?
Let's see what we can find!
Also, if you missed the breaking news video last week where Warner Bros and New Line Cinema announced Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis were returning to the cinematic world of Middle-earth, then check out my initial thoughts and reaction to it here:
• Peter Jackson is RETUR...
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Chapters:
00:00 - Chapter 0: The Introduction
01:26 - Chapter 1: Théoden's Early Life and Rise to Power
04:53 - Chapter 2: Gandalf’s Intervention and Théoden's Transformation
09:06 - Chapter 3: Confrontation with Saruman and Rallying to Gondor
12:59 - Chapter 4: Théoden’s Legacy and the Aftermath of the War
16:35 - Chapter 5: The Conclusion - Théoden King
17:32 - Appendices: Call to Action
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Artwork Credits:
All artwork credited in the video in order it first appeared,
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - New Line Cinema
Theoden King - Ralph Damiani
Grima Wormtounge - Ralph Damiani
King Theoden - Ivan Cavini
Forth Eorlingas - King Theoden - SercanKaraarslanArt
Theodred - MellorianJ
Edoras - bakarov
Eomer and Eowyn - Rivaldiart
Theoden and Grima - Domerk
The House of Eorl - Aldor the Old - Lida Holubova
King Theoden and Grima Wormtongue - Laura Astrolauu
Eomer - RauschIllustration
Theodred's Funeral - Lillian Liu
Eomer son of Eomund - ArtbyLily
Theodred, Prince of Rohan - Wesley Burt
King Theoden, Grima Wormtongue and Saruman - MartinSzymanski
Gandalf White - snezhana-mirkwood
Theoden and Wormtongue - Anepticus
Theoden of Rohan - kathrynlayno
Theoden, King of Rohan - ArtisAllan
Theoden - VarshaVijayan
Middle earth - Klaradox
Helms Deep - Paul Lasaine
Attack on Helm's Deep - Ivan Cavini
Helm! Helm! - Smirtouille
Helm's Deep - Alan Lee
Helm's Deep - John Howe
Gandalf the White - Penfield06
Erkenbrand, Lord of the Westfold - YoritomoDaishogun
Theoden King of Rohan - Rylyn84
Across Middle-earth - The Ruins of Isengard - ralphdamiani
A Fell Voice in the Air - AnatoFinnstark
Theoden - BrightWatcher37
Lord of the Rings - Gandalf the White - p1xer
Dark Lord - Helm1892
King Theoden - Marinatsareva
Ride now! Ride to Gondor! - MagdalenaKatanska
Charge at the Pelennor Fields - Mischeviouslittleelf
Witch-King of Angmar - Pablo Oliver
Eowyn and the Nazgul - Matthew Stewart
Theodens Last Charge - adibara
Ride of the Rohhirim - HolyVarus
Across Middle-earth - The White City- ralphdamiani
Eomer and Rohan Riders - Ivan Cavini
Battle of the Black Gate - Ted Nasmith
Eomer and Aragorn - KipRasmussen
Across Middle-earth - The Golden Hall - ralphdamiani
Simbelmynë (Eowyn at Theoden's Grave) - Anato Finnstark
Shieldmaiden of Rohan - KuraiGeijutsu
Theoden King - harliskudo
Theoden - Magali Villeneuve
The King of The Golden Hall - Magdalena Katanska
Theoden King - Jenny Dolfen
Disclaimer:
This video is for educational and entertainment purposes, following fair use guidelines. All artwork is credited to the respective artists. Please feel free to contact us for any credit or removal requests.
Tags:
#Theoden #LordoftheRings #BernardHill

[@TheBrokenSword]

RIP Bernard Hill! Please share your favourite moments of his performance as Theoden 💚

[@johanabigasova6770]

My favourite scene with Bernard Hill as Théoden is this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boXKmmCgapuom7csi=0fj68PFArzSI22Ta

[@TheTableOfDurin]

My favorite scene is him making himself ready for a final fight during the battle of helm's deep, for one last ride. ❤

[@TheTableOfDurin]

Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth, Eorlingas!

[@55tranquility]

'My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed.'

[@masteroftheassassins]

My wife will always remember Bernard Hill as Captain Smith of the Titanic but I’ll always remember him as Theoden, King of Rohan.

[@genoeffapalumbo3378]

"I know your face". It always gets me. This is an Uncle like my own, who loves Eowyn and Eomer like he does his own son.

[@jprocha1570]

My favorite moment was the battle speech at the Fields of Pelennor.

[@davect01]

Serious respect for Theoden and Bernard A great King and actor

[@j-mc5201]

The Horn of BernardHill shall sound in the deep. One Last Time!

[@Timbulathespidermonk]

Theoden has always been one of my favourite characters, not just in The Lord of the Rings, but of all time, both literary and film. Bernard Hill was so good in the role. Exactly how I saw him in my mind when I first read the books close to 30 years ago. If I had to pick one moment from the movies as my favourite, it would have to be the speech just before the Charge of the Rohirrim. It’s in my top 10 movie scenes.

[@Ned_of_the_Hill]

A wonderful tribute to Bernard Hill. I can't imagine any other actor playing Théoden.

[@abelabner]

"Ride now" speech brought tears to my eyes!!!

[@holyarchangelmichael]

RIP Bernard Hill. He did a great job as Theoden and he will be missed. My favorite moment from his performance as Theoden was his speech at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Iconic speech.

[@christofferhoff6669]

Rest in Peace, he really was an essential part of the Lord of the Rings, I love his acting there, its amazing!

[@johanabigasova6770]

Farewell, Théoden King.

[@colinleat8309]

I want to do another re-watch, to have my own memorial, haven't been able to do it. Maybe this Sunday. Favorite scene...a bit obvious but the King's speech/rally at Pelanor Field's. I've seen the movie more time's than I care to admit, but EVERY SINGLE TIME...Shivers! 🖖😎🤘🇨🇦🕊️

[@gilbertlinsen9431]

My favourite moment is when he mourns Theodred

[@happysaffa8871]

"no parent should have to bury their child" God, gets me everytime. Saw it when my mother had to bury my sister. He shows that pain in his face and acting.

[@damihianimas6983]

When we watched this as a family back when they first came out, my dad said much the same thing. "That's right! None of you are allowed to die before me!"

[@eugenebelford9087]

My favourite scene is when, after being freed from Saruman, his gaze moves from his ancestral sword towards Grima. Even though without text and without special effects, this is just as powerful as the "I'm not a conjurer of cheap tricks" scene; you can almost hear the deep thunder.

[@psychkosys]

My favorite LOTR character precisely because of his flaws and drawbacks as much as his strengths.

[@lpedr0l]

I literally cried watching this. Tolkien and you are so precious!

[@user-fl9te5ur2n]

Is that all you can muster Saruman (2 seconds later) BOOM

[@damihianimas6983]

I don't know why, but my favorite moment is when he looks at Aragorn and says: "let this be the hour when we draw swords together." It's unfortunate because he's not the one who says this in the book. It's either Aragorn says it to Eomer or vice versa. Regardless, is my favorite moment for Theoden in the movies

[@A1990MusicMan]

Bernard Hill did an amazing job in his role. Thank you for making this video. My favorite scene of his was, "No parent should have to bury their child." The emotion he put into that line makes me tear up every time.

[@Kedajo13]

The moment when he realized that it was his niece saved his life.

[@ziusthefirst5387]

RIP Bernard Hill! Great video thank you for it.

[@Livingdeadinnz]

Love the scene when Gandalf frees King Theodon from Saruman. So good to see him free.❤

[@MithrandilPlays]

Hill in the movies is one of my favorite performances. He has 3 of my favorite monologues/speeches of all time - the one when he is getting armored during the battle of helms deep is the hest

[@briansheets3996]

Another video par excellence as usual! The Rohirrim are my next favorite group of the various peoples of Middle Earth after the dwarves. The movies gave them the aesthetics of Vikings on horseback. Which enjoyed throughly! Keep up the good work!

[@iainmc9859]

I have only cried at the passing of two Hollywood actors, Bernard Hill and Robin Williams. Bernard was brilliant as Theoden but to me he will always be Yosser Hughes from 'Boys from the Blackstuff'. I urge anyone that thinks Bernard Hill was a magnificent Theoden to try to watch him in 'Boys from the Blackstuff'. He was funny, tragic, heroic and deeply human. I suspect Bernard had these qualities deeply embedded in his gruff Mancunian psyche. RIP

[@alanmike6883]

Bernard hills theoden was a perfect example of courage and when despair has taken over you, you always have a choice. He chose to fight back at the edge. Consider he was also half Dunedain, yet denathor was a high Dunedain and yet the Same test, he failed

[@CedarRose7]

Bernard will always be King Théoden to me. What a great match of actor and character.

[@lauries1896]

The Ride of Faith, charging out of Helm's Deep....

[@Knight860]

The loss of a child can destroy a parent for the rest of their lives, but Theoden chose to rise above that in order to live up to the responsibility and glory of his forefathers, so when he died he would not be ashamed of his actions. Denethor, while not a complete jerk as in the movie, began a downward spiral after Boromir's death that he never recovered from combined with other events in the books lead him to end his life.

[@procrastinator9]

Beautiful tribute to one of my favorite characters. The art you've chosen is fantastic. Thank you.

[@aarondemiri486]

An amazing character played by an amazing actor.

[@elizabethanne8729]

All of it. Every scene with Theoden/Bernard. These films came out when I was in High School and immediately he was my favorite.

[@joecerda4075]

The moments when Aragon and Theoden share on screen together are Heart Warming we get to see how there respect for each other began (Aragon telling Theoden that the Rui Akai we're not coming to destroy Rohans crops or villages - Theoden telling Aragon let this be the Hour in which we Draw Swords ⚔️🗡️🗡️ together)

[@kojinaoftheinvertedeye810]

Honestly I would have killed to hear Bernard read the Ride of the Rohirrim, my favourite scene is everything, I like to think after the battle of the Pelennor Fields Théoden and other key members of the fight had statues to commemorate them, even the King of Dunharrow, I like the think that there were murals depicting the fight and greater war afterwards. I also like to think that on the spot he fell a single flower grew.

[@ericthompson3982]

I'll say it again: Hail, Theoden, King!

[@jamesrussell2051]

I spend a quiet moment of reflection in honor of the fallen lord of Rohan. My lord, my king....

[@williamstefens]

My favorite part for Bernard Hill as King Theoden reciting the Lament for The Rohirrim poem while preparing for Battle at Helms Deep. Where now are the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing? Where is the harp on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing? Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow; The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. Who shall gather the smoke of the deadwood burning, Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning? J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)

[@angeloalmario]

He was awesomd actor portraying as king theoden RIP dir bernard hill😞😞😞🙏🙏🙏

[@j.l.emerson592]

I paid my respect & bid farewell to Bernard Hill by watching all 6 of the Hobbit & LOTR movies in sequence over a 2 day period of time. I truly believe that no other actor could have done that role justice. Many fans get caught up in the characters that an actor plays, failing to recognize the skill that the actor brings to a role. Bernard Hill gave us a glimpse of the heroism & humanity of this fictitious character that Tolkien was trying to express. In that, he exceeded all expectations. Bernard Hill left this world an enduring legacy with a wonderful interpretation of a heroic character. Farewell Mr. Hill, you will be missed.

[@timroot4207]

Thank you !

[@Darkstar-se6wc]

When he asks Aragorn “What would you have me do? … If this be the end, let us make such an end to be worth remembering.” The only time someone tells off Aragorn for good cause.

[@annaroselarsen4218]

Rip King of rohan my favorite moment is when he got saved from worm

[@patdoe5242]

Bernard Hill was a true inspirational actor loved him as Yozza Hughes shall miss him rest in peace my Angel and God Bless you

[@thomastaylorjr.6366]

Favorite part... SPEARS SHALL BE SHAKEN!

[@ContemporaryCompendium]

Hail the victorious dead!

[@animesaveslives418]

When he said they would fight nonetheless, and just overall the humanity he brought to a fantasy world

[@carlambroson8872]

He has now gone to the halls of his fathers!!

[@BeppyTurnip]

Hail! Theoden King!

[@jlburilov]

Best speach eve. And one of the best charecters and charecter arcs in fantasy.

[@LordOwenLongstrider]

My favorite scene of Theoden will always be the Charge of the Rohhirim at Pelennor Fields.

[@n8dawg194]

Thank Eru that Gandalf had prepared Greater Restoration that day

[@KimP0612]

When he says “I know your face” both times.

[@SyonNathanAaronAstinHewson]

What a magnificent opus the Lord of the Rings really is one ☝️ could lose oneself in Tolkien’s huge tome, the most powerful and charismatic character is Sauron the eponymous Lord of the Rings

[@mattbryant4910]

his speech to the rohirrim at the battle for minas tirith

[@red5standingby419]

HAIL THEODEN, KING

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

Now he goes to the halls of his fathers, in whose mighty company he shall not be ashamed.

[@Bjorn117]

A great King no doubt, no one else could compel me as much to charge the hordes of Mordor 💪

[@TheForcesWrath]

Heaven has gained an epic man

[@frostmanticorerockadile9968]

❤

[@shereemcclelland2186]

One last time….

[@henrikg1388]

I am ashamed to admit to it, but for a few years, I was under the delusion that Bernard Hill also played the Onion Knight in ASOIAF/Game of Thrones. They looked pretty much the same and sorry for not noting that the former was English and the latter is Irish. My apologies to both Bernard Hill and Liam Cunningham. 😊 They fooled me...

[@11-AisexualsforGod-11]

O-din is of the One ring.. His berserkers close in from the periphery

[@TarMody]

So it is before the walls of Minas Tirith, the doom of our time will be decided.

[@paulhess1689]

Death! DEATH! DEAAATH!!!!!!!

[@davidmckown3590]

You left out the red arrow and so forth. This video is more about the movie version.

[@Brandon-a-writer]

It's a comparative version which draws on the portrayal of Bernard hill as he recently passed and, as script writer, I intended to highlight his impact and what he brought to the role. Instances of when the text differs from the film is noted, such as in the book when or first meeting with Sauron - surrounded by ents and trapped at Orthanc--is the movie's last enconter and in fhe book Saruman utters "A lesser son of greater sires" while in the film Theoden says this of himself. The journeys are different, and due to this actor's passing, it was only fitting in my opinion to draw attention to that legacy. To be fair, it was not as much intended to be about one or the other but rather about what we can learn from them and the honor we should pay to the iconic and emathetic, human, beauty of theoden's metamorphosis first into despair, from which Denethor does not escape while Theoden, who is nearly opposite in nature and in name (their phonemic structure is such that one's name is the others in reverse; and each end their life by running towards death, though this is ironic; Denethor is without hope and terrified of death, running from the parapet in the high courtyard of Gondor's high courtyard, in the end crushed by the impossibility he has been made to believe is his lot to bear, by way. of what we find is the gradual coercion and breaking of Denethor as he engaged rfepeatedly in a a war of will with Sauron-one on one with a god, for all purposes. And as Denethor runs from the precipice to his death and shame, theoden, along with his men, raises his sword and cries "Death!" and it is picked up by the muster of Rohan; and they, without fear of death, ride forth to keep their promise to the widow and the orphan, the week and dispossessed, that those of strong character will never think it burdensome to do all within their power to ensure your safety and that of the world you will live in come the hereafter. If not that brief slip of the promised hereafter, what have we but vistas of flickering images in rolodex, the mechanistic incest of the clockwork cycle of day, night, and day, though that tells us in no uncertain terms the ferocity for which we should do honor to our fellows and cling to our transient possessions as long as we remain. What would the world be indeed, where it not that in the end our obligation is to those on whom our own happiness depends? Thank you for this bit of a jab-I'm disappointed in myself that I spent less time going over materials from the book that potential film only viewers mght not know, though I thought that my years as a literal obituary writer brought about such a "cometh the hour, cometh the man", as I wanted to do more than expond on the beauty of Theoden's arc and the way by which our understanding of his actions can enrich us and our lives, but to mirror that in a eulo for Bernard Hill since he recerntly passed and, as someone who very much enriched my life, I thought it was fair to spend a bit more time on that portrayal todaty. I am sorry you are disappointed! The next deep dive will be mainly concerned with and centric to the book, that being the queen who never was and earliest ancestor of the family aragorn is descended from; the lady Silmarean who will be set up as a cadet branch of the royal family and inherit the hereditarry titles and land which comes with the sobriquet "Lords of Anduine", which is the official beginning of the line of elendil. Sorry, as you can see, LOTR is a ver passionate subject of mine and perhaps why I've been blessed to write for such an excellent channel as this since 21 August 2021! Hopefully we do you proud next time. If anything is specifically book appropriate which interests you, please leave the question in the comments and if it is intriguing, that beautiful blue eyed welshman narrating this video will bring it up when we're brain-storming future videos. thanks again, and sorry for such a long response. I intend not to rebuke you, merely clarify that i think you are right, it was due to a different focal point for the emotional thrust of this particular video. thanks again for leaving a comment. it helps us more than yoiu know!

[@morgoth173]

Video 303

[@ravenhill_firelord_1968]

we here, love and prefer Ralph Bakshi's version of lord of the rings in 1978 over jacksons attempt.

[@neildaly2635]

“Bring me my armor.”

[@Badclamz83]

Such a lose of a Great Man

[@jesusiglesiasthebadboy3638]

Rip bernard hill

[@jameshoffa7085]

Tolkien channels really milking this guy's death.

[@Frog_king11]

It's out of respect

[@red5standingby419]

@@Frog_king11 You'll have to forgive James there. He's terminally online and can't see the good any longer.

[@jameshoffa7085]

​@@Frog_king11Yeah really respectful to make as much money as possible while his name is still in the news. Good one.

[@jameshoffa7085]

​@@red5standingby419Your only two comments on this channel are about his death so thank you for proving my point. Moron

[@sarcastic_bananaOG]

@@red5standingby419 can confirm they are terminally online, they came back to reply

[@RawhideRohirrimAndRanger3777]

Hail the victorious dead!