Tolkien's Abandoned Lord of the Rings Epilogue

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Well, I'm back - Miriam Ellis
The Shire - Painted Dragon Studios
Sam in the garden - Tolman Cotton
Grey Havens - Alan Lee
Misty Mountains - Felix Englund
Osgiliath - Abe Papakhian
Felix Englund - Stranger in city
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Sam - Tolman Cotton
The Shire - Šárka Škorpíková
Old Sam - Ralph Damiani
bilbo's tales - Tolman Cotton
Red Book - Shannon Moe
Elanor the Fair - Jenny Dolfen
Sam Gamgee - Anna Kulisz
Hobbits - Lída Holubová
Samwise - Matt_Stewart
Spring in the shire - Painted Dragon Studios
Lorien - Ralph Damiani
Old Bilbo Baggins - Elrodimus Flash
Saruman - LOTRO
Merry & Pippin - Šárka Škorpíková
children of rohan - aegeri
Pippin - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Frodo - Anna Kulisz
Old Bilbo - John Howe
The Forest of Lothlorien in Spring - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Grey Swan Ship - Alan Lee
Celeborn - Soni Alcorn-Hender
Celeborn - Tolman Cotton
celeborn in lothlorien - anotherstranger_me
the power of the three - mellorianj
Dark valley - Felix Englund
Celeborn and Arwen - Ralph Damiani
Celeborn - Jenny Dolfen
Legolas and Gimli at Helms Deep - John Howe
Gimli2 - Elrodimus Flash
Gimli - Jerry Vanderstelt
Gimli in Minas Tirith - Ralph Damiani
The Glittering Caves - Ted Nasmith
The Glittering Caves of Aglarond - Ted Nasmith
legolas and gimli visit fangorn - alystraea
Ancient Knowledge - Ralph Damiani
Treebeard - Anke Eissmann
Ancient Garden - Ralph Damiani
Ent - Turner Mohan
King Aragorn - Janka Latečková
The King Journeys North - Ralph Damiani
The Shire - Ted Nasmith
Arwen and Aragorn - Catherine Chmiel
Annuminas - Lída Holubová
Galadriel & Celeborn at Lake Evendim - Ted Nasmith
summer in the shire - kuliszu
Fireworks - Lída Holubová
Hobbits - Lída Holubová
winter in middle earth - aegeri
Fantasy landscape - Felix Englund
JRR Tolkien - skullb*st*rd
evening in the shire - kuliszu
Hobbit pony ride - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Bilbo at his desk - Abe Papakhian
Three Books of Lore - Miriam Ellis
frodo in bag end - anotherstranger_me
Parchment & Coins - Bryan Bitter
Hollin gate - Ralph Damiani
balin, lord of moria - tulikoura
Dol Guldur - Felix Englund
Legolas in Ithilien - Ralph Damiani
Departure at the Grey Havens - Ted Nasmith
The Riders of Rohan - Ted Nasmith
Merry & Stybba - Catherine Chmiel
entwife - Soni Alcorn-Hender
The Forest of Fangorn - Alan Lee
Frodo & Haldir in Lothlorien - Ted Nasmith
Gildor, Sam, Pippin, Frodo, and Elves - Steamey
Frodo Departs - Ralph Damiani
Eavesdropping - Francesco Amadio
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King Aragorn - Steve Airola
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sam & rosie - Tolman Cotton
Professor Tolkien - Kinko White
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Summer in the shire - Painted Dragon Studios
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Frodos Dream of Earendil - Anke Eissmann
A Hobbit's Garden - Emily Austin
#tolkien #lordoftherings #samwisegamgee

[@sophdog1678]

The Lord of the Rings was the first time I felt nostalgia for a time and a place that never was.

[@robhart6042]

The books set - or the moo-vee ??

[@sophdog1678]

@@robhart6042 The books first, then the movies captured it well too.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Sam deserves everything he got at the end. He went through terrible hardships and challenges, fought beasts and monsters, and went to one of the most dangerous places in the world. He deserves nothing but a loving family and a warm home.

[@oneoflokis]

🙂👍

[@oneoflokis]

He ends up Mayor of Hobbiton too! 🙂👍

[@paulsarnik8506]

And taters! Prescious! 🤓😎✌🏻🇬🇧

[@alexcrockett5665]

@@oneoflokis a well earned title by all means.

[@5764rich]

Sam gets as many f’ing breakfasts Sam wants for the rest of time.

[@charleshardy2252]

That mentioning of Sam hearing the sound of the sea at the end is so beautiful

[@Enerdhil]

Yeah... Hopefully, he wasn't severely seasick for the whole trip.😅

[@Annielee825]

It is so bittersweet. Knowing that he'd have to choose between leaving his family - or forever-abandoning his friend. At the same time always an unspoken promise of a future and new adventure to come, yet acknowledging that the quiet yearning for the waves might never fully allow him to live in the now. I both love and hate it.

[@GameAnGrog]

Something about the "Well, I'm back." line always felt so strangely humble and final. It also always felt like a wonderful reference to "There and Back Again: A Hobbits Tale". Coming back, and bringing an end to another hobbits tale.

[@JDgq3yj]

Sean Astin delivered it very nicely in the film.

[@loganv0410]

As a soldier returned from war I find the simplest family time and connections to be the richest healing of the scars of war. Much, I feel, as Prof Tolkien must have found.

[@Chris-cf2kp]

Tolkien served in WW1 trenches and saw combat, I'm certain he felt the same.

[@retriever19golden55]

What Tolkien went through in WWI was horrific...much as what you went through, I expect. Thank you to both of you, for what it's worth.

[@monsieurbennett]

I’m a grown man and this I made me cry like a lass. Such is the power of Tolkien’s writings and this supremely well crafted saga that I feel these are real people I have a deep emotional bond with.

[@oldoneeye7516]

so I am not alone it seems

[@cohort075]

Aye, such Enchantment is hard to find.

[@monsieurbennett]

@@oldoneeye7516 not alone!

[@jolyonfolkett2677]

My eyes too are afflicted with the mist of emotions

[@TheGeneralGrievous19]

"Well, I'm back". An ending that hits you in the feels & makes you reflect. And an wnding to one of the greatest stories ever told. Thank You Professor Tolkien! 🙌🏻

[@martinxvidxb]

There and back again. :)

[@myriadmediamusings]

All of Tolkien’s epilogues to his universe are very bittersweet now that I think about it, between this abandoned epilogue, the state of the world in The New Shadow, and the Dagor Daggorath.

[@istari0]

Don't forget that there would eventually be the Second Music of the Ainur when Arda would be remade as it should have been before Melkor got his hands on it.

[@Rellana1]

@@istari0 I wanted to see the world remade as Melkor and later Sauron corrupted it to the point where it'd have to be remade as you could see things gradually falling apart.

[@Terezar]

I think that's because life itself is bittersweet. All meetings must part, all friends must pass, and all happy moments must end eventually. We get many great joys in life, with the foreknowledge that at some point, inevitably, it all ends and goes away forever

[@redomega24]

@@Terezar Very well said. I just lost my dog who I rescued almost 18 years ago now and bittersweet seems an appropriate term because I gave him the best life I could and although I knew his life was coming to an end I wasn't ready to accept it and his passing will vividly stay with me for the rest of my life.

[@BrianEthridge-wg6ko]

That was well put. Bittersweet It's right on the money. Nice comment

[@nhmooytis7058]

When the last elves finally left Lorien did someone say Elvish has left the building?

[@tessierashpoolmg7776]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TolkienGeek.]

Can't stand when people tell me that they don't like Lord of the Rings because it's a happily ever after story. It just goes to show that either they hadn't read the book or didn't pay attention. The whole book, you believe that if Frodo survives, he will be happy to return and retire to the Shire. But then, when Frodo announces that he plans to travel to Valinor due to his traumatic experiences, it's a punch in the gut.

[@necron99.aka-sammyboy92]

There was a pseudo curenin Lorien to for his Stab wound that was making him miserable in middle earth

[@higginswalsan]

There are so many small details in this epilogue that are great: Frodo Lad liking the parts with Sam the most (fulfilling his namesake’s prediction of readers in the future wishing to hear of Sam’s exploits as well as his master’s), Elanor inheriting Sam’s longing to see the elves, and Pippin being referenced as a prince as the men of Minas Tirith did

[@baystated]

"night-folded" I love Tolkien's vocabularies.

[@adpirtle]

I love the epilogue, but I'm glad it was cut. The book closes on Sam without taking the focus off of Frodo's departure.

[@katie7308]

I live in Evesham, UK. Where Tolkien’s mother was from and where his brother had a horticultural garden and is buried in the graveyard next to the river. Nearby is his aunts farm called Bag End. Looming over Evesham is Breedon Hill, which for all the world matches the description of Weathertop. 10 miles away is The Bell in Morton in Marsh otherwise known as the Prancing Pony. I’m from Oxford, LOTR was seeped in our bones. The Bird and Baby (Eagle & Child) pub was unchanged until it recently closed (how did that happen). Tolkien lore was just, well ‘normal’ when I was growing up. Peter Jackson films…brilliant. Sad that Amazon have mangled it all beyond recognition but I guess so long as the books are in print it really doesn’t matter. But seriously how did they turn Galadriel from the Queen of the Elves into the Gnome Queen.

[@istari0]

In his earlier writings the Noldor were called Gnomes.

[@bobo577]

@@istari0Indeed. Gnome had more to do with knowledge if I recall rather than a dwarf with a cap on its head in a garden.

[@Wooster23]

The eagle and child pub closed??

[@katie7308]

@@Wooster23 it did ☹️

[@katie7308]

@@istari0 I think the version of Galadriel in the Rings of Power is more like the Queen of the Gnomes than the Elves

[@Amaya-ct7777]

I can imagine that Sam is very happy with his wife and his family and children

[@KC-py5vq]

He was "fuckin" happy alright

[@scooterdtx]

I love both versions of the epilogue. Tolkien shows so much love and warmth in Sam's family. Also appreciate the glimpses of Elanor as a child and teenager that round out her mentions as an adult in the appendix. Lovely and moving. Thank you for the narration!💛

[@ketanhein]

I would love it if they published this epilogue as a short story along with tales about Merry and Pippin as well as the rest of the characters in more depth than what we got in the appendicies.

[@Enerdhil]

Well, then you'd be reading mostly fanfic.

[@WasabiSniffer]

there's something very special about an epilogue for sam. while the other members of the fellowship went on, establishing realms and kingdoms, ruling with a just and kind heart, sam lived out his days in the calm and peaceful beauty among those he loved in a place he loved. after seeing so much horror and enduring so much evil, this was as much a happy ending as any war-weary soul could hope for: a quiet place to settle into and call home and sigh, setting down the burdens of his journey.

[@Enerdhil]

I don't think Sam had an easy life when he got back. I believe that he had a very hard, busy life, only retiring when he was around 96 years old. First of all, he had to repair the damage done by the Scouring by taking his gardening skills throughout all the land. Of course he planted the seed of a mallorn tree, but he also used some of the "dust" Galadriel gave him to replenish all that was green and blooming, to give the Shire a landscape makeover, so to say. Also, I am sure that being the Mayor of Hobbiton for so many decades was not easy for Sam. He had to deal with a lot of stressful problems and angry Hobbits, many of whom were probably business owners.

[@thomasrichardson7543]

Honestly when you build an entire world with in-depth history, lore, and a cast of characters as varied as these, I can see how coming up with an ending would be excruciating. Seriously, how can you write any sort of epilogue? The way Tolkien ended it was probably the only option and leaving it open to let others follow was best.

[@Enerdhil]

You mean let others follow their own headcanon, right?

[@seanthorntonmd3908]

Thanks for including the image at the end showing the view from Bag End SSE-ward to Hobbiton and Bywater. Looks very accurate. I've never seen that image before. Love it!

[@SamuIise]

Beautifully told and (as lots of comments have also said) the epilogue is very bittersweet but really heartwarming to hear still with Sam and his children

[@KingJamesDisciple]

All of Matt's vids are amazing but this one was extra special. Thank You!

[@bdonaghu]

I have reread LOTR many times, and every time it is such a struggle to get through that final chapter... I never want it to end.

[@Etlelele]

Just realized they used this epilogue as the frame story for the video game Aragorn's Quest.

[@ghostlyfieldclub2930]

I'm glad to not be the only one who remembers!

[@GrosvnerMcaffrey]

That's a name I've not heard in a long time

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I gotta say, the father-son tandem of J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher was very lovingly close. Too bad the grandchildren didn't got the memo and sold out to Amazon.

[@Enerdhil]

Yes. Simon sucks!

[@simonster-9094]

@@Enerdhil Yes, keep trashing on people, see where that gets you in life.

[@Enerdhil]

@@simonster-9094 I said "Simon" not Simonster.😂🤣😆

[@SupremeLadyofDarkness28]

hearing Elanor wonder about her namesake and Sam and Rosie's conversation in the end was so lovely.

[@joseantoniobatac6322]

Sometimes I wonder if Sam's children wept for their father when it was time for him to go to the Undying Lands. And then Sam still remembers what Gandalf once said to him, Merry and Pippin when Frodo left where "not all tears are an evil" to comfort his children. 🥺

[@Enerdhil]

I think Sam's children were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, so they probably handled his leaving better than they would have if he had left when they were all kids.

[@mikevincent8728]

What has the world come to when a dude making videos on the internet can bring a tear to my eye in 26 seconds! Great video, as always :'D

[@RYwoodview]

The ending of the books at Sam's return to Rosie was the perfect literary ending. But of course every additional bit of story is precious. The epilogue material probably belongs in an appendix. Yet it also confers the better end of the overall drama. After all, the whole point of opposing the darkness was to enable the continuation of ordinary life and joys in Middle Earth. I hope we all remember that.

[@minikiller77]

Can I just say. I love how “and Debbie” ends all your vids 🤣

[@istari0]

Lovely. It's been so long since I looked into "Sauron Defeated" that I had forgotten all about this.

[@Enerdhil]

I think Sam's statement, "Well, I'm back" tells us that he is back to stay and will never again leave Rosie or Elanor. He also leaves behind his old life to do so. That is a happy ending.😁👍

[@TrekBeatTK]

Except that he eventually does leave.

[@Enerdhil]

@@TrekBeatTK Yes he does leave, but at that time he wasn't thinking about leaving his family.

[@martar.2085]

I had no idea about that epilogue. Wow. Lovely. ❤

[@tkinsey3]

Sam hearing the sea 💙 Also, small note - great job on the voices/accents for Sam and his family! You are a great reader.

[@lipingrahman6648]

I always liked to think that Elenor, in her old age, gave a copy of the red book of west-march to the kings of Gondor. Who in turn gave a copy of it to the last elves leaving middle earth. From whom the Anglo-Saxon sailors learned of those days.

[@12classics39]

When Pippin and Merry left the Shire for good two years after Sam sailed West, Pippin took a copy of the Red Book with him to give to Aragorn in Gondor, at the King’s request. I wouldn’t be surprised if Elanor created this copy herself. My headcanon is that Legolas created his own copy in Sindarin and brought it with him when he sailed West with Gimli, where it was translated into Quenya so the population of Valinor would know of the Fellowship’s story.

[@Enerdhil]

My guess is that when Legolas was transcribing The Hobbit portion of the book, he said: "Hey, wait a second! I'm not in this story, but I must have been in the Woodland Realm when the Dwarves were there!" 🧐

[@sarahwright2680]

Lovely. Thank you so much @NerdoftheRings. And i like your ascent with Sam. Very Irish. Very sweet and calm just like 'the chief hero'.

[@fr.andygutierrez5356]

Absolutely beautiful… thank you for bringing this to our attention!

[@paulmcleod8370]

There’s only one word for this episode and that word is WOW !

[@qwertyTRiG]

The idea that they get a spell of good weather every spring, and every spring people say that it's surprising and unseasonal, is a classic touch of Tolkien's humour.

[@Enerdhil]

Great point!😁👍

[@RoquenoLiraIluvatarva]

This is one of my favourite videos you've ever done, it's so beautiful. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but it sounded like Elanor had an Elvish accent, particularly the distinctive tapped R sounds. Very appropriate! As much as I love the humble and simple ending we got, I think this epilogue reminds us what the Fellowship were fighting for this whole time, and helps me feel in a more personal way that all the sacrifice was worth it.

[@afolsom685]

Ah Matt...this is wonderful! Of all your great videos, this has to be one of my favorites. Thanks so much.

[@burninlightpresents]

Well this one made me cry! Thank you for all your hard work, I don't have time to read the histories books, but you pick out the important parts.

[@Transilvanian90]

I love this! Very beautiful epilogue, and wholesome. I wish this had been included, either at the end or just somewhere in the Appendices.

[@GRWelsh7]

That alternate epilogue was AWESOME! Thanks for the wonderful video!

[@matthewarant377]

As amazing as this is and as much as it brings me to tears. I think the current end of LOTR is absolutely brilliant. Tolkien managed to capture all of these feelings and all of the contentment of this epilogue in the words "Well, I'm back." 😭

[@Enerdhil]

11 kids later.... Samwise: Stop,Cirdan!!!! Wait for me!!!!!!🤪

[@danielsilva-duarte571]

Oh boy. One of the best videos I have ever listen to. Thank you!

[@estel-randir]

Before the Tolkien fandom ever could, Sam's children started the grand tradition of taking the piss out of Celeborn. =D

[@Enerdhil]

With Galadriel as his wife, Celeborn is an easy target.

[@tsuchan]

This is the most novel Tolkien video I have watched for many a season. Thank you.

[@Eowyn3Pride]

Well done! Great fan art! "I'm glad you're with me Sam...here at the end of all things!"😢❤🧝‍♂️🧝‍♀️🧙‍♂️🥔🥓🍻

[@ImagineMySurprise510]

Last year I wrote an Epilogue patterned somewhat on the second Epilogue written by Tolkien, but I included a visit by Merry and Pippin to give the reader characters with whom they are already familiar and comfortable with to round out the Epilogue, who answered some of the questions that were posed because they had been witnesses to some of the events. Then the discussion goes into Sam maybe going into the West, how Merry and Pippin felt about not seeing Frodo again and their lives eventually coming to an end, what they had achieved in 14 years and what might come, their plans to meet the King, and other matters. This is in a finished form, with a draft about actually meeting the King and Arwen and other things happening in Middle-earth. I've never put this, and other writings such as the expansion and completion of the Battle For The Fords Of The Isen and expanding the Battle Of Helm's Deep [drawing from Tolkien's other writings where I could], on any website because I know many people hate 'fan fiction' and I expect my writings would not be well received, though I've tried my best to emulate Tolkien's 'voice'. But at least I have them for myself. Call them a labour of love, if you will.

[@RoseBaggins]

Oh, that sounds lovely!! Funny thing, that, I have seen Fanfiction that, um, shall we say, took more liberties than that? Like Frodo coming back from the Undying Lands to marry Pearl Took, after getting her pregnant before he left? You know, things like that. 😅 I am working on my own fanfic as well, but am putting it out on Wattpad to, shall we say, raise the level of fanfic out there.

[@Enerdhil]

Now you piqued my interest. I am always interested to read what serious lovers of Tolkien think happened in the Legendarium and beyond.😁👍

[@Enerdhil]

​@@RoseBaggins That's still better than gay Frodo and Sam.😅😅

[@erwindennijs6639]

Awesome, was looking forward to this!

[@bieuxyongson]

This was wonderful. Faithful wonderful Sam. I loved reading the epilogues. Tiny glimpses. ❤

[@Libroerina]

Another great one. Thanks for the constant supply of fresh looks at middle earth!

[@petereldergill2942]

Tolkien should have expanded on the last journey Sam takes with Elinor when he leaves the Shire for good. I tear up every time I read it in the appendices

[@Enerdhil]

Yes. Sam leaves her in the same year Rosie died. It's brutal to lose two parents in a single calendar year. It actually happened to me.😞😢

[@exiledscouser919]

Thank you for that moving episode as regards Sam and his family.

[@kanealoha]

I didn’t know either of these epilogues. Amazing

[@pastordc3702]

I have jusrt reread the trilogy and stumbled over this video today. Thank you, for creating it. It fills an emotional hole after being with the Lord of the Rings again for over 3 months. Well done, Sir!

[@kevinmoore4845]

You Mr. Nerd of the Rings, are a poet, as was Tolkien. Personally, I would have loved to hear Rosie beg Samwise to never leave Middle Earth while she lived. Such a statement would have heralded back to Beren and to Aragon's plight. Thanks again.

[@TheYellowshuttle]

The narration & artwork were beautiful, warm and comforting! ❤️

[@cohort075]

Even at 63, the wonderment of these stories still fills me with a child’s curiosity, and enchantment. You have done well my young Hobbit! Keep it up, and one day you may even surpass the Greatest of Wizards……Gandalf.

[@cbrettb]

One of your best videos. Thank you

[@paulaunger3061]

This is beautiful. I wish JRRT had written it up as a collection of short stories. Then it would have been just a set of stories connected with the total myth instead of a sequel or epilogue.

[@joeybox0rox649]

Thank you, Matt. This was very heartwarming.

[@rigistroni]

I really enjoy your more outside the fourth wall type content, delving more into Tolkien's writing process or abandoned projects of his. As much as I love Middle Earth lore, a good chunk of it is stuff I already know so I find that these videos bring much needed variety to the channel and are much more likely to teach me something I didn't know. If I may offer a suggestion, I think delving into some of the things that inspired Tolkien and drawing connections between those stories and the books would be really interesting. I.e. the parallels between Beowulf and the smaug centric chapters of The Hobbit. Keep up the good work, love the channel.

[@WhoIsCalli]

So lovely, thanks for putting this vid together

[@lukasskywalberg4253]

This is just amazing! Thank you.

[@adrisan6296]

This is one of your best productions. Loved it!

[@marcelmariano3311]

Great video! Beautiful insights into the lore! Tolkien's work reaches such width and depth that one can forget the beauty of the stories crafted for each character. This insight into Sam's family life after the events of LOTR is a beautiful reminder that his work is also amazing when you look at the detail. Thank you for sharing it!

[@HowardG117]

I wish kids my age were into lotr

[@jomanclus108]

Excellent, as always. Thank you.

[@markusrobinson3858]

Seriously cool that you present these extra tidbits of Middle-earth lore to us. The only suggestion that I'd really appreciate would be if you would reference WHERE in the additional Tolkien writings you find this stuff. I have most of the other books (Unfinished Tales etc.) and would really like to read those sections myself. PLEASE!!!

[@LordTelperion]

The call of Valinor…

[@D.Rivera-bh6xc]

Storytelling above any other level by Tolkien. Beautiful 💗

[@hbme1390]

Beautiful artwork to accompany narration

[@bennoe5715]

This was really great. Thanks!

[@zoewarren2148]

Thank you so much, bro. You are a gift to us ❤

[@Wombatmetal]

But you know, Sam was one and whole, and all that was said when Rosie placed Elanor in his lap and he said I'm home. Really is a great place to end.

[@Enerdhil]

It was closer to a "beginning" than an ending.😁👍

[@ClarenceBoddicker1130]

Choked up at the end then 😢😢

[@federicaesu8580]

The final words of The Lord of the Rings are perfect and any addition would sound redundant, this conversation between Sam and Elanor and between Sam and Rosie is so sweet , though. The final hint to the sea washing on the shore gives a bittersweet tone which is wonderful

[@HighRiderSonoma]

Epic story telling sir!!! I am a subscriber but I only occasionally watch your videos. Especially after the Amazon Prime fiasco. I just wanted to say…wow!!! I was immediately taken back in the Middle Earth. Keep up the great work sir!!

[@arcraith]

You should totally record an audio book one day Matt, you have the talent!

[@michaelwilliams949]

Gotta say, I have so much respect for the amount of writing he did. I can only imagine the feast he’d deliver if he had a laptop (I know he wasn’t happy with technology I’m just dreaming). Also may I pose a theory about the Entwives that only came to me while watching this. As tragic as it sounds what are the odds that they were drowned during the sinking of Beleriand 🤔 just a thought

[@Enerdhil]

I think, based on what Matt said about Tolkien's thinking about the Entwives later on, they are at least alive somewhere.

[@cellardoor5564]

Clicked on this faster than shadowfax 🐎 keep up the greatwork Notr

[@johnopalko5223]

On the one hand, I'm disappointed that Tolkien never published the epilogue. On the other hand, I think he made the right decision.

[@eowynabinadi]

this is so precious, I wish this would go on and on

[@floridaprepper751]

This was a very good video, thank you sir.

[@markstott6689]

This was exceedingly poignant. There may have been a tear or two. ❤❤❤

[@TrekBeatTK]

It’s clear to me the epilogue is the fulfillment of the title “the Return of the King”

[@raymondzellar5523]

Man I love the more plain story telling in the shire. This has the same feeling that the beginning of the fellowship. This vibe, Tom bombadil and treebeard are my favorite

[@luvmuzik4me]

If you read the books, (Return of the King) you will note that Frodo takes Arwyn's place to go to the "undying" lands. It isn't mentioned who takes Sam's place.

[@Enerdhil]

I think it is symbolic that Frodo is going in place of Arwen, meaning he would've gone even if Arwen were going.

[@lamdao1242]

Arwen would never sail to the grey havens after she chose Aragorn. Frodo then replaced her on that ship. Sam did not sail on the same ship. His time had not come. But Frodo had promised him that he too would sail to the grey havens when the time came because he too had been a bearer of the ring, albeit for a short time only. And in the meantime, he had a family to raise So no one was required to take Sam’s place or vice versa

[@Enerdhil]

@@lamdao1242 I think Frodo was wishful thinking about Sam eventually joining him in the Undying Lands later. The truth is that we don't know if Bilbo and Sam even survived the long voyage by ship at their ages. The news of what happened to Frodo, Bilbo, Galadriel, Elrond, etc. never gets back to Cirdan or Sam, just as the news of Sam going to the Undying Lands never gets back to Elanor. We want the happy endings, but we never know for sure.

[@seanelcock]

This is really beautiful

[@sourisvoleur4854]

The mention of the sea at the end is chilling.

[@Enerdhil]

Yes because the sea is symbolic of death....

[@stephaniecowans3646]

This particular video was such a soothing balm to my soul, given all the hideous things going on. I feel much better, mentally, for watching it. Keep up the great work, Matt!

[@Enerdhil]

I hope God will help you through this difficult time in your life.🙏✝️

[@stephaniecowans3646]

@@Enerdhil What I was referring to is more of the political crapola surrounding the news lately. Just didn't want to get political in such a non-political channel.

[@Enerdhil]

@@stephaniecowans3646 I know what you mean.😅

[@MrElladion]

Thank you for the amazing video.

[@erikbender1967]

Yeah, I really like that ending, more so than the book just ending after Sam returned from the Gray Havens. I surely do miss Christopher Tolkien finding his dad's early writings and publishing them.

[@EricGasz69420]

Love the voice acting!

[@darrenlong7385]

Thank you, a great topic.

[@Enerdhil]

I think there may be some applicability between Sam handing off the Red Book to Elenor and JRR handing off his Legendarium to Christopher.🤔

[@raymondlugo9960]

I've always seen it as Bilbo giving the book to Frodo as like Christopher taking control of the IP for his dad. Christopher is gone and now someone else has taken the figurative baton.

[@Enerdhil]

@@raymondlugo9960 The problem is that Simon is more like the New Shadow than like his father. Look what he permitted Amazon to do with The Rings of Power.😞

[@raymondlugo9960]

@@Enerdhil it will all right in the long run. Try to enjoy it for what it is instead of what it is not.

[@Enerdhil]

@@raymondlugo9960 That's my plan. I watched Season 1. I will watch Season 2. I mostly credit Jeff Bezos for his decision NOT to get the rights for The Silmarillion or Unfinished Tales. That was genius. That meant if he had stuff in the series that came from something other than Appendix B of FotR, then he could be sued for breech of contract. It also allowed him to create stories that could infuse his DEI, ESG, LGBTQA, etc. ideology into the series. Brilliant!

[@traceyedson9652]

Folks often think of March 25 in “our time” as the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, which it is. But in the ancient Church, it was the day of Christ’s Crucifixion. (In Antiquity, a great person’s birth/death were often reckoned the same, or conception, in this case.)

[@Enerdhil]

I'm sure Amazon is glad to see that.🙄

[@deathmachine808]

Celeborn is the true soldier. Going down with the ship.

[@Enerdhil]

Well, he DID have two grandsons, Elladan and Elrohir, who could keep him busy. He could also visit his granddaughter in Gondor.😁