What Happened During the Scouring of the Shire?

[@jamescogswell9297]

Bill the Pony is easily the most strong-willed LotR character....waits for over a year to get revenge on his old master. The fellowship should’ve sent him into Mordor with the ring, but then again he’s so powerful that there would be no tension in the tale at all.....Sauron would be doomed.

[@dominicomegon4714]

Lol. I love the idea of Bill sneaking around Mordor like Pink Panther. XD

[@BeeWhistler]

If I remember right, Ferny never walked right again after Bill kicked him. Truly he’d spent his year planning just where to land that sucker.

The Horse of the Rings

[@nayeemhaque1064]

One horse shoe to rule them all

[@jamescogswell9297]

nomar Dinkleberg Exactly.....imagine Bill kicking the ring over the edge while Howard Shore’s epic soundtrack comes in....the audience would be in tears!

[@AlexJones-ue1ll]

When Saruman died, the grey mist rising from his body first turned to the west, before a wind rose blowing it eastward and dissipating it. So in essence, Saruman's spirit wanted to return home after the death of his shell, but got denied access to the eternal lands from whence he came.

[@williamrosen3179]

And considering that it was wind that dispersed his spirit, it could be argued that Manwë directly or indirectly banned Saruman from returning to the West.

[@jakehrfisher]

My a

[@ahmirjaxen9480]

Sorry to be offtopic but does anyone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb lost my login password. I love any assistance you can offer me

[@jasemisael646]

@Ahmir Jaxen Instablaster =)

[@ahmirjaxen9480]

@Jase Misael i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@Aethernaut755]

The scouring of the shire is one of the best fantasy endings ive ever seen. It really shows how sam and frodo will never be the same. If only the movie would’ve included it even if it was only the digital extended versions.

[@Longshanks1690]

@TheRexReborn The scene in that Tavern where the four heroes sit in silent understanding that the frivolities of a pumpkin will never have relevance for them accomplished that sentiment with the same power in much less time. Frankly, it was more powerful than the book because it’s easy to have your home destroyed and you with it. It’s hard to go back to a place that looks, feels and acts the same but _you_ are the one that’s changed.

[@nuclearjanitors]

@@Longshanks1690 i don't think it's more powerful but you do raise a good point.

[@constantine9142]

@@Longshanks1690 well too I don't think we all could handle seeing the Shire looking like that at least it would be something I wouldn't want to see. But saying that Jackson could of done this without destroying the Shire by enslaving the poor hobits and making it look grey and sad but still keep the party tree alive which I feel the 1st movie didn't give it justice tbh when you read about it in the books. Btw I want a hobit house, it's my dream home but of course big enough for my fiance who is 6"5 (I'm 5"3 so no wonder I love it other than it's beautiful and cozy) and better made then most underground homes which alot of the problems with them could be prevented if you build them on the top part of the hill and not in the middle of lower. You have to worry about leaking, cracks, and temperature and etc I've seriously looked into it and no one has made an actual livable replication that doesn't have these issues and doesn't look like it's from some stupid sci fi movie. SMH I just want an exact looking hobit house that isnt a death trap and insurance will actually cover without losing at all the beautiful look.

[@joedemelfie5509]

It was too much.. kind of ruins the happy ending too. I agree though yes. Unfortunately, mainstream viewers still think the lotr trilogy was too long as it was already when it came out. Most films didn't review well if they were over 90 min long. Now that's not the case at all. Lol. Marvel movies anyone? Sadly the hobbit was made into 3 movies and maybe that's how the lotr trilogy should of been 9 movies long. Yes? Haha I would watch.

[@joedemelfie5509]

@@Longshanks1690 I like your point but it goes against the hobbit book even when biblo returned home, it was in shambles and he had to buy back all his own things. Torture for months I'm sure with family friends neighbors etc... I like both ending honestly. I get them both as well.

[@ronaldpurviance9933]

First, you cheer the Hobbits on into battle against Sharkey's men. For they are getting their revenge for what was done to their beautiful homeland. But then, some of the Hobbits die, their laughter and joy never to be heard in Middle Earth again. Evil comes home, even into the beauty of the Shire, and they will never be the same, no matter how hard they rebuild or try to heal. Frodo and company sacrificed so much to protect their homes by going to Gondor and Mordor. They came home to more of the same, and the Shire forever sacrificed it's innocence. It really is a profound ending to the tail.

[@MenoftheWest]

Indeed, you are absolutely right. It is heartbreaking that some Hobbits fell in battle, for they would never know their simple lives again. But, they passed ensuring that their kin and descendants would have that peaceful life, and that is worth some measure of happiness.

[@Musicsalife]

But that’s the point of the story for Frodo Sam Merry and Pippen to use the knowledge and wisdom they had gathered on their travels to protect and save their homeland and to show that every land in middle earth was effected by the hand of darkness.

[@stephensmith3111]

Some things are worth fighting and even dying for. The hobbits are initially represented as being almost childlike in all the good ways. But children must eventually grow up, too often in the shadow of tragedy. This was Curumo/Sauruman's final act of betrayal against the Valar who had sent him to contest the growth of shadow of Sauron and against the children of Eru Iluvatar that he was meant move to beware their peril; not to rule by open displays of power, but to advise and persuade (re: Unfinished Tales, part four, ii The Istari). In the end he perished at the hands of one of his own slaves and his spirit rose like smoke from a fire only to be dissipated by a cold wind from the West into nothing.

[@endermanwithalowercasee]

@@MenoftheWest love your videos, they're always great! I was wondering if you planned to do a full video on the War of Elves and Sauron? I know you've mentioned it in some videos but will you do one about just it?

[@stephenbrady5220]

@@stephensmith3111 Saruman is more satan like then Sauron. He's jealous like Morgoth.

[@AngelArm1110]

I just love the idea that the entire purpose of the journey of the fellowship was to prepare the Hobbits for the challenge they would face upon returning home

[@AngelArm1110]

@xyz abc boy it really sticks in your craw when someone doesn't think the exact same way as you eh? I didn't say that that was the point of the journey, or even that it was implied in the story. I just said I liked the idea of that being the case, whether it was the case or not. The video author even liked my comment, so clearly he knew what I meant, what happened with you??

[@futuresonex]

I just finished listening to LOTR on audiobook today (a fantastic way of experiencing the story by the way, highly recommended!), and after seeing this video I was just thinking how different things may have ended in the Shire had not Frodo, Sam, Merry, & Pippen gone through everything they went through in the War Of The Ring. Had they stayed as nothing more than normal peace-loving hobbits rather than becoming the warriors they became it's unlikely that they'd have been the ones to lead the uprising and overthrow of "Sharky" and his army of scoundrels & half-orcs. The Shire would have likely suffered far more for far longer as it would probably have had to wait for someone from the outside to fix things, King Ellesar for example, and without Lady Galadriel's gift to Sam, it would've taken far longer to recover from the destruction as well.

[@EmrysMerlin8807]

I think you missed an important detail: the mist that rose up from the body of Saruman at first attempted to turn Westward, but a wind from the West itself dissipated the mist. To me this was a judgement from the Lords of the Undying Lands upon Saruman for his treacherous ways and if the damage he wrought on Middle Earth when he was supposed to be a guardian and teacher.

[@gargoyles9999]

Nice of them to finally do some thing about the guy they themselves sent. Better late than never

[@AntPDC]

You make a crucial point!

[@EmrysMerlin8807]

@@gargoyles9999 To quote David Xanatos: Revenge is a sucker's game.

[@EmrysMerlin8807]

@Vkng Wmn Huh?

[@dionmcgee5610]

@@EmrysMerlin8807 to quote David Carradine in "Kung-Fu" REVENGE IS LIKE A VESSEL WITH A HOLE IN IT. IT PROMISES ONLY EMPTINESS. . -Angry man shouting at Cain as he's walking away"...if I don't have the right to revenge, then who does?!" Cain " No one."

[@shadowofchaos8932]

I have always argued the scourging of the shire was Tolkien showing the growth of the fellowship. All four witnessed the best of middle earth, men, dwarves and elves, and used what they saw to free themselves from Saruman without any help from the outside. Then rebuilt the shire and were leaders of hobbits.

[@akula3094]

"Bill the legendary pony" Legend is right-he deserves his own epic character history , after all he played such an important role in the war of the ring ;)

[@shep9231]

Amen.

[@CharlesMarlow1898]

"If we all got angry together something might be done." Robin Smallburrow J.R.R. Tolkien, Return of the King

[@radagast7200]

I just started reading Gulag Archipelago and there was almost that same line, verbatim.

[@CharlesMarlow1898]

@@radagast7200 Really? If you have the time could you post the line? I started it but never finished.

[@radagast7200]

@@CharlesMarlow1898couldn't find the exact one I was thinking of, though i will keep looking. This one felt relevant though... "and so they are leading you. During a daylight arrest there is always that brief and unique moment when they are *leading* you, either inconspicuously, or on the basis of a cowardly deal you have made, or else quite openly, their pistols unholstered, through a crowd of hundreds of just such doomed innocents as yourself. You arent gagged. You really can and you really ought to *cry out* - to cry out that you are being arrested! That villains in disguise are trapping people! That arrests are being made on the strength of false denunciations! That millions are being subjected to silent reprisals! If many such outcries had been heard all over the city in the course of a day, would not our fellow citizens perhaps begin to bristle? And would arrests perhaps have not been so easy?"

[@joedemelfie5509]

Who what ?? Lol

[@wardaddy6595]

@@CharlesMarlow1898 “And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: What would things have been like if every Security operative, when he went out at night to make an arrest, had been uncertain whether he would return alive and had to say good-bye to his family? Or if, during periods of mass arrests, as for example in Leningrad, when they arrested a quarter of the entire city, people had not simply sat there in their lairs, paling with terror at every bang of the downstairs door and at every step on the staircase, but had understood they had nothing left to lose and had boldly set up in the downstairs hall an ambush of half a dozen people with axes, hammers, pokers, or whatever else was at hand?... The Organs would very quickly have suffered a shortage of officers and transport and, notwithstanding all of Stalin's thirst, the cursed machine would have ground to a halt! If...if...We didn't love freedom enough. And even more - we had no awareness of the real situation.... We purely and simply deserved everything that happened afterward.”

[@pokejoe7346]

one if my favorite chapters ... shows how much the hobbits have grown since the last time they were in the shire

[@chriscooper654]

Even Galadriel praises Sam for his restoration and use of her gift in healing the Shire. As Frodo says, Sam becomes his heir, lives the quiet, prosperous life Frodo has sacrificed to fulfill the Quest.

[@micklumsden3956]

When you are looking for the real heroes, look what they sacrificed. Frodo and Boromir !!

[@narri214]

Have you done a character piece for bill the pony.... a true hero of middle earth. Might make a good character piece if you havent talked about him yet. Maybe in April?

[@ahandsomefridge]

One might actually be able to fill about six minutes of content for Bill (and Bill in perspective to the other horses), I think.

[@xCheeseHead95x]

Hmm, I wonder what's significant about April.

[@narri214]

@@xCheeseHead95x there is a wonderful silly tradition on the first of the month, although Yoystan's upload schedule doesn't match so I just said April

[@BigBWolf90]

The Scouring of the Shire shows what happens when the "respectable" hobbits who "never did anything unexpected or had any adventures" can rise to the occasion when given the right motivation.

[@johnwamsley1896]

Yip, I like that, given the right motivation (and direction). That came from the hobbits who had experience with evil, and experience with those who knew about evil. You can't always hide from evil, but don't let it turn you.

[@treydixon5399]

It's what the kids are calling an Easter Egg in LOTR. Remember when Frodo and friends first get to Rivendell. They meet Elrond, who comments that he admired Bilbo and thought him unique among hobbits until he met Frodo. I can't argue whether the Scouring should have been in the movies, but it's clear that the chapter meant a lot to Tolkien and on such matters, I trust his judgement. Remember what they said to Fatty when they pulled him out of jail "you should have come with us." It seems that JRRT is telling us that dodging hardship isn't always possible, so you might as well do the right thing.

[@tiaaaron3278]

The rest of LOTR books was literally about Hobbits becoming their own persons. Scouring was redundant.

[@BigBWolf90]

@@tiaaaron3278 yeah ok. We see 4, repeat 4 Hobbits coming into their own. Given Tolkien's love of the Hobbits, since they're based on the kind of people he knew & was very fond of, it's no wonder he gave THE ENTIRE RACE their moment to really shine on their own without really being so attached to the bigger story. Honestly did you pay attention to anything in the legendarium involving the Hobbits or are you just complaining about what YOU think was unnecessary?

[@treydixon5399]

@@BigBWolf90 Remember when they are coming back to the Shire, Merry makes the comment "it's like waking up from a dream" and Frodon replies "to me, it feels like falling back to sleep." The Scouring was not hobbits coming in to their own. It was Tolkien's showing that the Shire is part of the world, whether or not it's population knew it. Pippin saw Minith Tirith in flames, but that was his adventure. For Bergil and Bergeron, it was their home(ish). Tolkien feared that the reader would pull a Frodo and "just go back to sleep". I am not saying the reader has to like it. Not saying LOTR doesn't makes sense without Scouring. I just think it's a valid and useful part of the book.

[@MedievalFantasy93]

I don’t mind it not being in the film. I love the chapter in the book, and seeing the hobbits take back their land, but the way PJ did the ending in the film was more fitting. The four hobbits return to their home, each changed with fancy new clothes. They go and sit at the Green Dragon, look around, and see how none of their fellow hobbits know of what was going on for the last year or more. So they quietly just clang their tankards together for what they all went through and saving their homeland from being destroyed by Sauron. I like the more quieter way it ends, with Frodo narrating how can you go on with a normal life after what he went through, and then the big emotional moment at the Grey Havens. Having another battle take place after all they went through in the film would just be a bit too much. Again, works for the book, but might not translate as well into film.

[@andrewolivetreemixing]

I agree, it would be a little strange in the film medium to reach the gigantic climax of the destroying the ring, to then start another small narrative

[@marwapranata5698]

The ending in the movie is actually much more accurate to the feeling WWI veterans like Tolkien felt after the war. So in a way, the movie's ending is still accurate since the book is a reflection of Tolkien from both World Wars (While the movie is more reminiscent of WWI veterans feeling, the Scouring of the Shire could also be a symbolism of how the WWII veterans are helping the rebuilding process post-war era)

[@twotubefamily9323]

Shite

[@knarftahw]

Thank you for actually taking that into account cause I've seen people complain about the movies and their logic is telling when they complain that Tom "The Bomb" Bombadil wasn't in it or other things that would of made the films as films worse because they're films. Deleted scenes are a thing for a reason.

[@BillyTheBigKid82]

Indeed, the Movie had a very peaceful and happy ending which I liked more than the Scouring in the book.

[@christina1wilson]

This is when Merry, Pippin, and Sam become leaders.

[@loneronin6813]

I see the scouring of the shire as a lesson that with the courage to defend, the kindness to forgive, the benevolence to show mercy, and the compassion joined hand-in-hand with love and kinship, the world can be rejuvenated and brought back from its darkest hours.

[@micklumsden3956]

Frodo is not given enough credit. He really learned his lesson at 5 pm importance of showing of Mercy. It’s not so clear that the others had learned this lesson.

[@Longshanks1690]

Do you think that Saruman looking to the West as he was dying was his attempt to rejoin Eru but the wind was the creator’s rejection of the traitor, casting him into whatever darkness was waiting beyond “God?” (Might have forgotten the details but I’m pretty sure there was reference to that lol)

[@MenoftheWest]

I could definitely see that. He was far beyond the point of redemption, for Eru and the Valar.

[@Longshanks1690]

@ArchEnema 67 Lol what? 🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣

[@archyneverpicked]

@@archenema6792 Think you need your meds, mate. Maybe double the dosage

[@MetaSynForYourSoul]

@@archenema6792 I love how you end every threatening response with a smiley.

[@BrokenCurtain]

@@MetaSynForYourSoul They got triggered by that other guy's adoration for Edward I, who was also called "Hammer of the Scots". We're witnessing two morons who're still clinging to a 700-years-old blood feud and refusing to let it die.

[@HistoryoftheAges]

Thanks so much for the shoutout at 14:28 - Love the video as always!

[@MandalorV7]

It is interesting that Saruman, out of all the places in Middle Earth he could have fled to, he chose to sack the Shire. Basally after Helms Deep and the Ents sacking of Isanguard, Saruman knew he had failed his new master and perhaps realized he had backed the wrong side. But instead of trying to atone for his crimes, the wizard's hardened heart to turn to vengeance.

[@micklumsden3956]

Definitely the saddest character of the entire tale. I need to do a lot more reading to understand the character of Saruman.

[@KesselRunner606]

All those complaining this was abridged in the movies, as much as I love the Scouring, it only makes sense you would leave it out. There are some things you can get away with in a novel that really do not work in a screenplay. The main focus was The Ring, its journey and the war around it. You had a truly *massive* epic climax after nearly 3 hours. You don't then start a whole *new* story, with new characters, new stakes and a new build up to a new climax. The Scouring would require a whole movie on it's own, and dramatically, it's a huge left turn diversion. Besides, it's good theres parts left out of the movies, as that allows their discovery in the novels.

[@dannyhuskerjay]

Like my comment. Exactly tv show wise and novel wise you can change tones . But film you can’t. It must stay consistent or you could end up with a Frankenstein mess.

[@user-zg5ey5xo9i]

Most people don't understand that you can't just copy and paste a book into a movie. These are different mediums that don't work the same.

[@xCheeseHead95x]

Lol most people can barely sit through the movies as they are. Let alone go read the novels afterwards. We are a niche group of niggas.

[@sargonsblackgrandfather2072]

KesselRunner606 much as I love the third movie even the non extended version goes on too long as it is. As an extra on the Blu-ray it would have been good.

[@nhmooytis7058]

KesselRunner606 main focus was FRODO!!

[@glennross85]

Dont tread on The Shire

[@thedreadtyger]

The Scouring was repeated in the 1946 Battle of Athens, Tennessee, wherein some WW II vets cleaned up the dirty politics of McMinn County. God bless them.

[@its0KagemanxD]

Best wikipedia article I have read in 2020. Thank you Sir

[@TomorrowWeLive]

What they did in McMinn Country, the man they had just been duped into fighting against was trying to do for the world. I wonder if those men now feel it was worth it?

[@briangarrow448]

Or in North Carolina in 1958 when an Indian tribe kicked the asses of the KKK who tried to run a meeting in their home area.

[@karimmoop9560]

"The Battle of Athens initially received criticism in the press. Coverage however quickly faded, and after Alan J. Gould, an executive with the Associated Press, told the Conference of State Directors of the Veterans Administration that the AP would try to suppress the use of the word "veteran" in conjunction with crime stories, the story of GI violence began to disappear."

[@shooterqqqq]

Thank you. I mentioned it without reading the comments. We send brave men to protect borders a half a world away and denied the ability to protect our borders at home.

[@ds698]

Your words at the end of these telling are beautiful man. It really helps give a veteran, and lotr fan hope for good stories and good people and lessons!

[@MenoftheWest]

Thank you, my friend. I’m glad my words could do that! Thank you for your service sir!

[@ds698]

Thank you for your service to middle earth my friend!!!

[@PADARM]

Fun fact, Tolkien wrote this as an allegory (yes, I know Tolkien hated Allegories) but when He was a kid, he watched in horror as the chimneys of the factories filled his beloved English countryside with black smoke. The Scouring of the Shire is a criticism of the industrial revolution

[@ingold1470]

The ugly utilitarian buildings, the "gathering and sharing", the multiplication of rules and sheriffs, and decline of the standard of living reminded me of communism quite a bit more. Though unlike communists Saruman's goons weren't any good at indoctrinating the hobbits, fortunately.

[@brt1strrbb110]

Applicability, not allegory. Allegory is one for comparison and that's why he didn't like it. As it makes things very specific to certain people. I'm from Kentucky, seeing coal country compared to what it could look like without industrial workings is applicable to people around these areas, not allegorical to what Tolkien's eyes saw first hand.

[@ChatBot1337]

Another reason I just love Sundays. Thanks for another excellent vid.

[@Meymeygwis]

One of the most important parts of the story bringing so much together. Sad it was left from the movies...thank you for this, Namarie

[@MetaSynForYourSoul]

0:56 OOOOOHHHH!!! Pippin bringing tha fire! That was the middle earth equivalent of "I KNOW you fools don't want any!!! Punks jump up to get beat down!" 😁

[@hudsonball4702]

With rolling hills and fertile lands of green Hobbits enjoying themselves with food could be seen But during 3018 the Sackvilles gave lands to the south Lotho the pimple other hobbits called him by mouth The Brigands plundered the food and pipe-weed And much evil was done through their hash deeds Bagshot row was made a quarry and the party tree cut down A bigger mill was then built that polluted the once lush ground The waters were murky and the whole place now stank The whole Shire was turned brown and was now very dank A man named Sharkey then came up and took over the place He wanted nothing but suffering for the entire Hobbit race Then the 4 hero hobbits would finally come back Much courage and stoutness their hearts did pack Marry roused many hobbits to him with his silver horn Mary and Pippin with weapons and armor they were adorn The Hobbits had gathered to clear their land Arrows, axes, and pitchforks they had in hand A trap they did set for the brigands at Baywater They ambushed them and it was nearly a slaughter Frodo and his gang went to confront old Sharkey It was Saruman who was acting just a snarkey A curse he made should he die by anyone in the Hobbit clans Frodo let him go even when the wizard tried to kill him with his own hand But Grima had enough when the wizard kicked him in the face His throat Grima sliced open and the Hobbits showed him no grace The Hobbits then set to work rebuilding their home The Shire healed quickly from elven soil Sam had sewn Lush berries with cream the Hobbit's bellies were full to near bursting Blonde hair, once rare, would then come to children of the Farthings.

[@dustygrant3043]

This WAS an absolutely excellent ending for the entire Hobbit stories!!! Including the original Hobbit story!!! It shows the REAL strengths of Hobbits: unity brotherhood and the care of the natural world around THEM and AWESOME Hobbit FAMILIES!!!

[@hrperformance]

I'm reading the books now and j must say I'm very pleased that Bill the poney survived in the end! 😁

[@maureenhubbard9575]

Thank you!!!!! I am a little disappointed they did not include this event in the movies. This is a great topic to cover in a video, and I really appreciate all of your videos!

[@orrointhewise87]

“The fires of Isengard will spread. And the woods of Tabrune and Buckland will burn. And all that was once green and good in this world will be gone.....There wont BE a Shire Pippin” I’m actually glad they didn’t include this part in the film. For one thing it would have been another 2 hours or so, but mostly because it would have been too sad :( Tolkien was similarly devastated when he saw the affects of mass industrialization upon his home land. So clearly this part in his tale hit harm for him. But in the end the long and perilous journey that they endured with the ring and Sauron set them up for Saruman and dealing with his shenanigans. That’s an encouraging thought at least :)

[@Obi1kenobi10]

2 hours? You think it would be that short? 3 parts. 4hrs each. (It's Peter Jackson we're talking about here.)

[@anjudazo1368]

Whatt?? It still would have been something to watch wtf

[@joedemelfie5509]

There won't be a shire pippen. That's the ending of the quote fyi

[@joedemelfie5509]

@@Obi1kenobi10 haha lol yes halarious comment my friend. Nicely done. :) so true.

[@pmg83]

Those would have been worthy two hours if filmed according to the book, considering the BS that Peter Jackson spread with his version of Hobbit story just to make it 3 movies instead of one.

[@rorydonaldson2794]

That intro monologue gave me chills. Hobbits are truly amazing creatures :)

[@dannyhuskerjay]

The filmmakers I remember tried so hard to put this in the film. But film wise .. it makes no sense to add it. The great battle was fought and won . Adding another one and another hour would have confused the films tone and run time . Them returning home to the shire still being the same while they are forever changed was a powerful change I loved. Novel wise and if they ever did a tv show of the books in 50 years it would make sense. But film is a whole other beast and leaving this part out made sense.

[@micklumsden3956]

I quite agree! But I’m still sad that the deep ending we couldn’t be fitted in

[@nipnip2551]

In the hobbit the desolation of Smaug, king thranduil talks about his past battles with dragons “I have faced the great serpents of the north”. Who are the great serpents of the north, are they in the legendarium or were they made up for the movie, please explain/make a video on it. PS, great video as always 👍

[@nipnip2551]

rthomaswright thanks, I’ve already seen that video, but if you don’t mind me asking, we know about the dwarves but what we’re the elves doing up there, why were they involved, were they just helping the dwarves.

[@nipnip2551]

rthomaswright from what I’ve read from online sources about the withered heath, is that it had so many dragons in it that the very earth of the valley was scorched from dragons fire. It also said that after Smaug was slain, many of Smaug’s lesser brethren lived there well into the fourth age.

[@constantine9142]

@@Thomas.Wright if I remember right which I really don't so take this with a grain of salt and look it up yourself. morgoth who was before sauron created smaugs very first ancestor there, who didn't have wings yet but he could convince people of anything kinda like sauromon. But worse even made two elf siblings fall in love since they didn't remember they were brother and sister fucking them up as you can imagine when they knew the truth. The very first dragon despite being wingless was truly evil and he had the soft belly like smaug but without the jewels and gold imbedded into his belly like smaug had which took him down.

[@strider04]

@@constantine9142 the children of húrin, it is a really sad book

[@constantine9142]

@@strider04 very sad

[@skmcconville1566]

Great video for another week. Thank you.

[@craigfutch1670]

Thank you for the wonderful telling. Have a blessed day!

[@PhileasLiebmann]

I think this is really what cements the Lord of the Rings as a classic. The Scouring of the Shire and the aftermath turn it from a very good, but ultimately inconsequential fantasy epic into a modern war story. It shows how war does not just hurt the protagonists and rando soldiers and townspeople and how it does not just go away with the war itself ending. It affects everyone, it's drawn out and messy and it leaves scars on the land and the people that never truly heal.

[@shadowfey2631]

What a wonderful site! After returning to writing after a long hiatus, it is so nice to see a site dedicated to the author who has inspired me the most. Well done!

[@aguy6943]

Another incredible and great detailed video by one of the best if not the best middle earth KZbinr in KZbin Keep up the good work sport 👍

[@huanhoundofthevailinor2374]

Never should have left this out of movie it shows how much the 4 hobbits grew on there journey

[@RogueVideo]

Am I the only one who loves watching Men of the West videos before going to bed? It's like the perfect Middle Earth bedtime story to send me off.

[@johnsowa999]

Ty love watching your videos you are teaching me the history of middle earth

[@colmhain]

The quoting of Pippin's bad-assery alone was worth a like. Great vid, as usual!

[@deanlawson6880]

Very nicely done! While it's a sad tale about the scouring of the Shire, I think you did it justice in a thorough and complete way! Thanks for this tale!

[@michael.bombadil9984]

An excellent commentary, brief and to the point. As far as the chapter itself, I have always thought of it as one of my favorites. It illustrates that good can win in the end, and “green and quiet “ can be returned. 🎩

[@bsa45acp]

I finished LOTR for the 22nd time yesterday and then found your delightful video. The timing was perfect! Next year I will visit The Shire again.

[@eliotreader8220]

I loved hearing this story about the battle for the shire. I like how Pippin sent the bad guys running for the hills

[@PleaseNThankYou]

Always like a good Aesop 's fable. I'm enjoying your channel so much. You are so refreshingly humble and sincere. Thoughtful and well studied of Tolkien 's stories. I wish this would have been available when i was in 7th grade (48-ish years ago) so that i could have better understood my reading. Gifts from my mom and dad.

[@SombrAngL]

Just joined and I'm absolutely obsessed with this channel now. My GF is gonna kill me because I already spent enough time talking about this epic story. Thank you for doing this and telling some of the lesser known stories of middle Earth!!!

[@JushuaProvido]

Saruman's pettiness stealing Merry's weed pouch before the Scouring of the Shire puts a giggle in my belly.

[@joedemelfie5509]

Congrats on the growing success of your channel. You have earned it. Your the best lotr middle earth tolkien lore youtuber I have watched entensively and it's not even close. I have watch many lotr channels. Some good ones sure like the explorer series guy but he left it after 20 videos... and the geek zone ur pal guy does great work. Anyway, I can get a sense of the quality of your work with each video I watch of your. I'm not going to lie, I don't often watch all your work but most all I have watched that intregued my interests has been A plus material sir. Awesome work. Keep it up. Love your pictures and how you go about your videos starting it out with a straight book quote and a recap ending that makes you think and feel good with a great person imput on the moral of that story you told. I think tolkien would be impressed with your work. You do his lore creation justice. You get his mind if that makes sense. Enjoy your future work and if it ends. It was a great remember able run... God bless. :) Bellock.

[@KS-xk2so]

Honestly the character of Frodo is so tragic. He's borne a great evil as a burden for so long, suffered such grievous wounds, that by the time he gets back to the Shire all he wants is peace, which he will ultimately never get, at least in mortal lands. I love the mercy he tries to show Saruman, and other who surrendered. Its so sad how little regard he ends up receiving in the Shire.

[@jovanweismiller7114]

Excellent! I think the 'Scouring' is my favourite section of the books.

[@michellejacoby8490]

Love it! Excellent work

[@semperintrepidus16]

Excellent choice of lines to read at the onset of this video

[@gdubsterz1238]

Your videos are so positive. Thank you for contributing them to the human experience.

[@digitalis2977]

This was my second greatest complaint about the Return of the King film...behind Jackson declaring Frodo's ship "The Last." Many followed Frodo to The Undying Lands, including Gimli, Legolas, and Samwise.

[@MountainFisher]

It was called the Last Ship because it took the last of the High Noldor Lords and the Lady Galadriel. Only Sindar and Sylvan elves were left. Celeborn, Galadriel's husband was a Sindar.

[@christopherbrosz5003]

I think the sons of Elrond stayed for a time and eventually Celeborn joined them in Imladris until all three went West. But I suppose they aren't full Noldor, tracing their heritage through the Noldor, Sindar, Men, and Maia.

[@MountainFisher]

@@christopherbrosz5003 They also were not Noldor lords either. Also there is an discrepancy there. According to the rule handed down by the Valar to remain mortal the sons of Elrond were supposed to leave Middle Earth with their father or become mortal like Arwen. Then again she did marry a mortal and died on the hill of Cerin Amroth in Lothlorien. The sons had an Elvish mother too, so maybe there was an exception.

[@tiaaaron3278]

It was called the last ship in the books too. Yes, we know the real Last Ship was Círdan's boat but we know Tolkien wasn't always consistent with such names.

[@thekiss2083]

Also helps create the need for Frodo to leave now, not later. I think it's forgivable artistic license since the movie didn't have time to explain everyone who sailed, or when.

[@-johnny-deep-]

What a coincidence. I just stumbled on this per a KZbin recommendation, and I had just finished re-reading the LoTRs trilogy last week. Now I have somewhere to go whenever I feel a longing for Middle Earth!

[@holicekaderliiii6787]

Great video. I think that having the Hobbits, beside Frodo and Sam, come along helped to strengthened them for what was inevitably coming to the Shire.

[@timbeatty8031]

dude i love you videos

[@spawnofkings3059]

Been binging your videos for two days now my love of Tolkien had turned to embers but you have woken the flames again you earned my sub thank you!

[@davidkaplan2745]

Pippin is not just "a Took", he's the son and heir of "The Took", his father Paladin.

[@Hepponisme]

Frodo with dat general skills.

[@neblettadam]

Your videos can always turn around a bad day!!!!

[@thebag-lt6wv]

Man this would have been so cool to see this in the movies, great video as usual!!

[@andrewolivetreemixing]

It is sad that some of the Hobbits died, but I read this section feeling hyped for them. The new courage, leadership and strategic skills they picked up during their journey put to use in their home. The Hobbits could defend themselves and didnt have to be bullied. The Shire was quickly overrun by Saruman, because of their passive nature, but THESE hobbits were having no part of it. Some had to die in the fight sadly, but that's the price of defending your freedom sometimes. It also helped that Merry and Pippen were a little taller ;)

[@bigdaddy11160]

It was absolutely necessary to happen. The Hobbits needed to experience what the rest of Middle Earth was going thru in order to appreciate the huge sacrifices made for their survival. Bilbo himself made reference to them needing a catastrophe of sorts (an invasion of dragons I think) in order to wake them from their stupor

[@walkingwriter4325]

Fantastic chapter! Awesome video! The depicted events, like those in Animal Farm, perfectly mirror the oppression of regular folk (at present and throughout history) when those in charge simply become mere bullies as they accumulate power and help themselves to the money and labors of others. Excessive laws and taxes are passed and populations disarmed so those Sharkeys and ruffians in charge can live it up, not concerned about the hellholes they create in the process. Would have been great to see more of this chapter in the movie other than the reference in Galadriel's mirror. Great job!

[@VicksasT]

You have inspired me to write my own book JRR Tolkien. And you and your videos make me feel like we all live and dwell in middle earth thank you Thank you both.

[@redjulius33]

I really enjoyed this. You explained the scouring well. Thank you

[@willowwhisper6575]

You're such a beautiful soul. Thank you.

[@crazykids2004]

The Scouring of the Shire Shows that Hobbits if Pushed they will Push back and if they see horrible things and have defected the evil they will bring them together to save their home amazing video as always 💓

[@thesmugglers491]

I have been watching alot of ur videos and other channels aswell with content from Tolkiens work But i cant find a video about Durin. Would appreciate if u make a video about Durins story, his life and death. Love ur channel keep up the good work

[@Oakshield2]

I really love the scouring. It's the bow that ties everything up. It's Gandalf, after thousands of years passing the torch to his fellowship companions. It's the hobbits growing out of their stale state, it's the main characters of the story displaying their growth. Tolkien was a fucking genius.

[@kaikai111222]

Love your videos, Keep up the great work mate!

[@hughgedney3393]

A very great video as always Men of the West.

[@davidemarino1364]

Godspeed Man of the west I'm learning your language and going deep about Tolkien, hail to you! Grazie bravo e continua così

[@Longshanks1690]

What we learn from this story is that if you have a giant tower that no one can get inside, don’t leave it to settle petty grievances with hairy midgets, especially not travelling with a guy who is only in your retinue because he betrayed his former liege.

[@Sizdothyx]

One of the things that alienated me from Scouring of the Shire is that it felt like it was Mr Tokien's personal "exit from purgatory" rather than a proper closing slope to a novel. It's especially highlighted because they literally run into Grima Wormtongue and "Sharkey" on the way back from Gondor and, pace-wise, make it seem like that's the last of them.

[@songohan4668]

Love all your videos, man. Thank you. 👍

[@russellf1339]

Thank you for sharing! Great content 👍

[@thevoidlookspretty7079]

This chapter was sad, but I loved the Tooks in it because you know dang well that they’ve been waiting for this since the Fell Winter.

[@Trumpsterfire101]

Greatest story ever told.

[@gordonmills2748]

Thank you for this.

[@badpop987]

I’m just a “rah-rah fan” of lotr, but I was freakin mesmerized. I think I’ll to,e up and binge, your a great story teller!

[@PipsKay]

Thank you for the telling the Souring of the Shire

[@nathanrogers4622]

Thank you for this. I love your videos.

[@williamwyckoff]

I've been waiting a long time for this

[@13141Scott]

Tolkiens works here resonate so much the return of soldiers from the western front in ww1. The loss of innocence and how no matter how much they heal, home will never feel the same again.

[@synthWizkid]

My children were conceived to the sound of your voice 😎

[@kendhoward551]

Thanks so much. A great reminder of the actual events of the Heroes home-coming. It is a shame, despite some the poetic license that worked so well in his film, that Peter Jackson did not add this part of the epic tale to his Trilogy's conclusion. Thank you again ... :)

[@Lngbrdninjamasta]

I agree with your views on the scouring of the Shire completely! I was so sad that it never made it into the movies. As much as I love them so, I'm always left wanting at their end so I reread this part of the books to fill it in 💯

[@elorthan7550]

Great video, keep up the great work

[@jenniferwood144]

Wonderful video!

[@noahnieto5253]

Great video my guy! 👌🏼👌🏼

[@brocklawer7635]

It represents man's greed and demolishing and dominating the landscape and natural world for industrialism and corporate monetary gain. It truly shows how delicate the natural world is and that we must preserve it.

[@Valandix]

Even if Tolkien usually doesn't like to compare his works with real life events, I usually like to find events in our history (I'm kinda an history buff) wich does have similarities with the stories tell by J.R.R. When I first read the part of the Scouring of the Shire, years ago, I did feel the same emotions when I did learn the first time of the Rape of Belgium in WW1 or the Warsaw Uprising in WW2. The loss of one land and simple folk's innocence, the evils of an occupation by foreign people, the return of heroes to gather people of resilience and free their homelands,...

[@davenelson1571]

I really enjoyed this one thanks

[@AlejandroSanchez-pl6jw]

Worthy of a mini series