What if Gandalf Took the Ring? | Tolkien Theory

[@NerdoftheRings]

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[@asabovesobelow5368]

@Marvin Bass go away bass. No one is listening. Keep your cult. Your the same as BLM

[@Blackpheonix99]

@@asabovesobelow5368 not defending him cause I find it annoying as well but you do know lord of the rings is heavily based on that cult you speak of right?!

[@Blackpheonix99]

While I agree with 98% of this theory I think the ring may have corrupted gandalf more and possibly made gandalf a new sauron or fuse with sauron somehow possibly rid the taint of man and establish an order with elves or some other creature/race to truly rule over middle earth and more

[@xxRamD3yruxx]

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals. ― C.S. Lewis

[@Charok1]

well real life humans are mostly greedy hypocrites and the only way to keep them from doing harm to others is a real threat of harm to themselves, so Gandalf made their world better if it is like ours.

[@patrickstar5136]

I love how Boromir just pointlessly travels around the world for the entire story.

[@samwrai]

Right? Lmao

[@aliasmcdecoy8349]

He would also make Gandalfs perfect puppet king so eager to please a father figure

[@HerosTheme]

😂 LOL

[@blazedean725]

Then he gets crowned king out of no where

[@TheHuginandMugin]

At least he is alive, had a nice peaceful journey and became King. So i think he is the true winner here.

[@Menthix]

Imagine if in an alternate universe this is cannon, and someone made a video about a theory with Gandalf not accepting the ring from Frodo, but instead sendt him off to Mordor with his gardner. Just imagine the like-dislike ratio on that video.

[@McBrideRH]

It would seem really messed up bc we'd assume he was condemning the simple gardner to become another Golem. "But Gandalf would never do that!"

[@qwertyb18]

It would seem really illogical as the eagles could just fly Frodo to Mt. Doom.

[@PigreKo]

@@McBrideRH thus the greatest writer is revealed, as he made one very hard to believe plot point its best feature. Tolkien was a beast.

[@nicknickson2734]

I felt I had to snap shot this comment lol

[@DE-Martin]

Haha, i was confused when this history start to dodge the movie history( i didn't read the books yet) but i didn't consider that is an alternative history, till i decided to give a look at the comment.

[@Cloud.Strife]

Let us be thankful that the one ring of power did not fall into the hands of a Took. For this outcome would lead to the creation of something far more vile and sinister... Third breakfast...

[@praetorian3902]

Great comment.

[@whereismycup]

100 years later: WHAT ABOUT 4TH BREAKFAST

[@burpostockings]

4th breakfast, 8th breakfast, 19th breakfast... The horror would only grow as fat as the hobbits under his rule

[@shastanarnian233]

Just like Fast and Furious series ))

[@L33T_Taco]

This fucking comment is underrated xD lol, or also instead of "elevensies, theres thirtensies"

[@MrXScarFacexTV]

Boromir really did nothing but ride his horse to and back from rivendale only to become king. What a champ. Total hero.

[@MarvinT0606]

He'd most likely fight Gandalf instead of taking the throne. Remember, Boromir loves the People of Gondor above all others. He'd realize Gandalf is trying to enslave Gondor and flee with his brother to resist him. It'll be like Red Dawn but set in Middle-Earth with Denethor's sons leading the rebellion.

[@Donnybrook10]

Galdalf: I killed your Father... oh, and Aragorn, but don't be mad Bro cuz you're King when I'm not around. High five! Boromir : Cool...so, where's Arwen at? I'm gonna get me some of that.

[@mrknockknock1]

@@Donnybrook10 This man understands the deep lore like none other. Give him many thumbs ups! :P

[@trueredpanda1538]

​@@MarvinT0606That depends, did he know Gandalf has the one ring or not?

[@Zorstor]

😂😂

[@187Cazcrash]

I would absolutely watch this version of the story, specially the part where Sean Bean is not killed and wanders endlessly only to be named king.

[@AbsurdOod]

After all, who has a better story than Bean The Broken?

[@spielunker8438]

One does not simply wander endlessly waiting to be named king.

[@joshuaperry4112]

Boromir would be so stunned at being named King, he would have a heart attack and die.

[@bogdangrigore89]

One of the best comments I have ever seen on a YT video

[@s_shaleh]

@@AbsurdOod hahahaha

[@jpenn9635]

I imagine he would become a ghost-like being and they would call him... Gandalf the Wight

[@NerdoftheRings]

🥁ba-dum-ch!

[@meltingpointcreations1457]

Gandalf the Gray-ish?

[@tylerborah6737]

The Black

[@khatack]

nice one xD

[@MikeG-rp7ep]

You have officially won this thread. Well done!

[@thomaslampl3001]

Boromir: *arrives in Rivendell after travelling for a good 4 months* Finally, now what is this urgent matter that I was called here for? Elrond: some guys are travelling to minas tirith, you should meet them there Boromir: Are you f*cking kidding me

[@elijahjones2710]

They weren't called to Rivendell. They all just happened to be there on their own business.

[@PunkRockJ]

@@elijahjones2710 boromir sort of got "called " there since his dreams told him to go find elrond's house

[@elijahjones2710]

@@PunkRockJ Your kind of right. I was just pointing out that it wasn't like in the movies and I hoped that my comment would get someone who didn't know to look deeper into it.

[@PunkRockJ]

@@elijahjones2710 Sorry, your point was pretty on point it was just a bit more context for those who didn't read the books

[@elijahjones2710]

@@PunkRockJ You're all good. We were both trying to do the same thing. Have a great day.

[@jvvtheater]

How to become the King of Gondor: 1. Travel aimlessly to avoid war. 2. Return to Gondor when war is over. 3. Wait for your coronation.

[@jonathancarlson6127]

And then he returned to Mordor and ordered Mt. Doom filled with pipe weed. The smoke was so great, it enveloped Middle Earth, and all were giddy and slightly peckish. And there was peace.

[@skatemetrix]

The one spliff to rule them all!

[@Peaceful_Gojira]

And there was much rejoice! *_depressed yay's heard about_*

[@SoulyG]

Actually there is an italian redub called "Lo Svarione Degli Anelli" where the story is about the one ring who hold the "svarione" (svarione means kinda like being stoned as fuck) and they have to destroy it to free the real highness for everybody, since Sauron (renamed Svarion) stole it and kept it for himsel even if destroyed. All character are renamed: Gandalf became Ganjalf, Legolas became Rizlas, Aragorn became Arabong, Gollum became Condom (cuz he's crusing naked) ecc. they redub mostly of the 3 films, i don't think u can understand it but you cracked me with this comment

[@tcgcollector855]

The wide spread food shortage that followed.....

[@kahnfatman]

Let me guess, you come from Colorado or New Mexico.

[@DamonNomad82]

This theory of how Gandalf would rule Middle Earth wielding the Ring and becoming far worse than Sauron because he would be actively trying to do good and would be righteous in his own mind fits nicely with the position that Tolkien's close friend C.S. Lewis took that those who think they are doing good can do far more damage than the utterly evil, because they have the approval of their own consciences.

[@dominikszakacs7070]

But still, Sauron himself thought that he was doing good. He intended to maintain order in Middle-Earth, though through extreme measures... orc armies, former men who he turned into slaves. It is also like Gandalf without the Ring is a protector of free will, Sauron still wants to maintain order, without respecting the free will of others.

[@thewanabees123]

@@dominikszakacs7070 this is wrong. Sauron thought it was necessary to be the way he was because I valued ORDER above all else. And he felt justified, but I did not think he was “good”

[@Egryn]

Not only that but Gandalf had a second ring if power, Narya. His possession of both rings would not only give him immense power but the ability to inspire hope in any who found him. This would allow him to amass a very large army who despite being corrupted by the one ring would think that Gandalf would be fighting tyranny against any who would suspect him of evil. He would have ended up ruling Middle Earth for ages since Narya also lengthened the life of the user.

[@Travlinmo]

Then engineer in me wonders if Narya would have actually meant anything if both the one ring and Narya were being used by the same person. Also, this Gandalf reminds me of the movie version of the Lady of Lorien.

[@Egryn]

@@Travlinmo it would because the righteous man using both would instill the false desire to fight anyone trying to harm the bearer of the one ring, thinking the other person to be a tyrant and oppressive.

[@RachelHardy]

You put an incredible amount of time and effort into your videos. This is awesome, I'm hooked on your videos!

[@codyallen2838]

Hey Rachel! I love your music, and I think you're pretty darn cute! (:

[@kirkpatrickg191]

fr

[@sandychen1381]

Fr

[@castletreetv149]

Agreed!

[@dirkvoltaar]

Fr

[@dark7element]

The interesting thing about this theory is that if it had happened, Sauron wouldn't have been surprised at all. Dismayed, yes, but not surprised. Something like this is exactly what Sauron expected to happen if his most powerful enemies like Gandalf got hold of the ring. Sauron couldn't even conceive that someone would willingly try to destroy the ring until the very moment that Frodo put on the ring in the chamber above Mount Doom. He always assumed that anyone who got the ring would use its power for themselves.

[@bzqp2]

Didn't he know about Isildur and Elrond? They set the precedent and were pretty close to destroying the ring. With how circular all the events in Tolkien's World are Sauron would surely at least consider it to be a possibility.

[@Ryplinn]

@@bzqp2 I feel like Sauron may have been a bit distracted at that time, being as close to dead as he can get. Even if he did know about it, I'm guessing that he would count on the allure of the Ring protecting it from destruction. And it did end up being a pretty good deterrent, since exactly two people ever voluntarily gave the Ring up (Bilbo and Sam), and exactly zero people managed to purposefully attempt to destroy it.

[@Hyperversum3]

@@Ryplinn He could be perfectly capable of seeing Elrond call for the destruction of the Ring, but he also saw that Isildur didn't do It. He has no real reason to believe that ring in hand the Elf lord would do what he was saying. Not Elrond could swear about It lol

[@bananamafana3433]

@@bzqp2 well in the books, elrond and isildur never went to mount doom. that whole event of standing above before isildur claims it never happened

[@bzqp2]

@@bananamafana3433 Huh, never realized this difference.

[@stefanmekkinosson175]

A Dark Lord is never late, neither is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.

[@TiaMargarita]

As is a military general!

[@AlmostJordan]

“Nor is he early” GET IT RIGHT! :)

[@andreashansen5313]

@@AlmostJordan One does not simply misspell a LOTR quote.

[@michaelfrankel8082]

Well played sir.

[@mr.honeybee7661]

Oh fuck lol 😂

[@MikeC-ce2dz]

True terror would be if the one ring fell into the possession of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins

[@ThoriberoCaroli]

There would be no spoons left in the hands of any free man or woman. :I

[@markbarthel9835]

No spoon would be safe.

[@TonusFabri2024]

@@markbarthel9835 That's OK, *there is no spoon*....

[@helloworld1249]

This. This is the fanfic I desperately need. Million dollar idea.

[@RafaelSolaPACalsaverini]

My god...

[@ΙωάννηςΜέρμηγκας-σ8σ]

Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a king, not dark but gray, never late and terrible as the dawn of the fifth day! Tempestuous as the fireworks, and stronger than the finest Longbottom leaf! All shall not pass and despair!

[@JFskeezix]

haha nice

[@lordoftherings999]

Great

[@raphaelfelipe1474]

this was the best comment I've ever seen in my life, thanks from Brazil

[@philippecollin559]

Eloquent and funny. I raise my hat to you.

[@fortunatodelacruz2451]

this is perfect! LOL XD! i am reading this like Gandalf is actually saying it in the movie

[@swordablaze9259]

This was interesting. Now I want to know how Galdriel, Glorfindel and Elrond would deal with Gandalf as the new Ring Master. They'd realise and be worried and/or kicking themselves. I can also feel all the Valar facepalming at this ending. "You had ONE job, Olórin!!"

[@baabaaer]

Tulkas may arrive cloaked to meet Olorin, then when he is at most vulnerable, Tulkas brought forth the paddle of Manwe, and gives Gandalf a raw bum.

[@thegianttater]

I feel like all the Elves would still leave Middle Earth, just a bit more hastily, seeing no hope in fighting Gandalf with that power and his knowledge. The REAL interesting thing, would be to see if Gandalf tried to, and was successful in, seizing the other two Elven rings of power before they yeeted off to Valinor and left Middle Earth to fend for itself?

[@papuan369]

@@thegianttater I think thats explained by his asking for a modest force and his destination of both Rivendell and Lorien, where the last two rings are, to be taken by force, or as payment for safe passage to the havens

[@dark7element]

@@papuan369 But with his wisdom and power over the other rings, wouldn't Gandalf be able to convince the elves to bow before him? The elves would realize that by that point, if they hesitate even a little in recognizing Gandalf's rule, he'd destroy them all, and even a fraction of the armies of Rohan and Gondor would make the odds of them resisting him utterly hopeless. Leaving for Valinor wouldn't do them any good.

[@jessepinkman5702]

I think Gandalf would still end up killing himself like most who carry the One Ring

[@Definitely_Not_Sheev_Palpatine]

So basically, Boromir is just late to everything for months on end, then one day Gandalf is like "Hey, wanna be king?"

[@razorsharpview9090]

What the hell are you here at Middle earth, SENATE?!

[@Hades8103]

He isn’t the senate YET

[@tidemaster]

Here ya go doopemsksoblap eipdeep boing

[@legion9327]

That pretty well describes how Joe Biden became President.

[@Definitely_Not_Sheev_Palpatine]

@@legion9327 Actually, Joe Biden became President because the majority of voters voted for him.

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

Balrog: I like this version much better.

[@arjenvk1]

Gandalf to Balrog: come along friend, We will kick ass!

[@Schrodingers-Fat]

@@arjenvk1 Durin's Bane would definitely be no match, but also wouldn't try anything.

[@1ceH3art]

Man I wish they dove more into the old lore. Balrogs were just foot soliders

[@MrNicoJac]

@@1ceH3art No they weren't 😆 Balrogs were fallen Ainur(?), basically like Gandalf. There are plenty of videos explaining the precise details 👍🏼

[@1ceH3art]

@@MrNicoJac hu I guess things changed since my lore book was published. Wonder how much else was changed. Just went to google to find out why I had a different story. The early conception of Balrogs makes them less terrible, and certainly more destructible, than they afterwards became: they existed in 'hundreds' (p. 170), and were slain by Tuor and the Gondothilim in large numbers: "thus five fell before Tuor's great axe Dramborleg, three before Ecthelion’s sword, and two score were slain by the warriors of the king's house. (From Fall of Gondolin, Christopher Tolkien commentary)

[@sithmaster4305]

Won't lie It would be hilarious to see Gandalf ask Boromir to be king just for him to look left to see a Nazgul holding a club just in case he says no.

[@jhamPlays]

Punching his fist like a comic book goon

[@Bakamoichigei]

...and then look right to see his old man's still-smoldering remains? 🤣

[@kennethmoses4900]

This made me laugh out loud

[@eimanb3887]

This is unnecessarily funny.

[@Felix-dh9tl]

Won’t lie this theory would make an interesting movie

[@iainballas]

I like how you kept things in line with Gandalf's main idealism: Gandalf (and Tolkien) acknowledge that strong and powerful people can do great good, but equally may do great evil even if they desire to do good. Meanwhile, the meek and timid may also do great good, but rarely seek to do great evil. Gandalf was always meant to be a supporting character. His power was bringing out strength in others, which is one of (if not the most) powerful gifts of all.

[@songsforthemadre7337]

Nice one. I really like the deeper implications of Tolkien's world about human nature and Life in general. Time and again, souls have fallen into temptation when faced with the possibility (or illusion) of power. At the pinnacle of this, a mature or perhaps more experienced or pure being will know instinctively the simple fact that real power does not seek for more. They would genuinely have no interest in it. In a way it simply makes no sense to them. And even deeper, it's completely outside of their very own nature. It exists in a realm outside of the one a pure being exists in.

[@aaronward3508]

Gandalf would enslave Middle Earth and everyone would work in pipe weed factories. In the Fourth Age, Dark Lord Gandalf creates a pipe weed hybrid called “Fool of a Toke”.

[@gm2407]

The fields shall be fertilized by the dead Hobbitses.

[@nikolanovakovic4150]

Oh boy this made me laugh so hard

[@castletreetv149]

"Fool of a toke" :)

[@redabales8828]

@@nikolanovakovic4150 agreed!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gandalf7262]

Yes

[@fenixmyaroon8633]

Dude every LOTR nerd needs to know you exist, you put so much effort and have great inflections when speaking. This is how I want to ingest my LOTR content from now on. Clean, well written, and produced with real heart.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much! I truly appreciate it! :)

[@watkins7086]

100% agree

[@aceofspades4948]

Exactly what I thought when first watched

[@cmdrTremyss]

He is like a fine glass of whisky after a long day.

[@Ubermensch201]

I've been stuck on them for a week now lol I love it

[@videos8159]

The fact I love about this is that even tolkien himself wrote some fan fiction about his own property haha

[@Graphomite]

Doesn't really surprise me. The Hobbit was a pretty restrained novel compared to the LotR trilogy. LotR was def Tolkien indulging himself and/or the geek audience he had awakened and it doesn't surprise me that the dude entertained spinoffs and what-ifs.

[@Kaaxe]

"author fiction" perhaps

[@ggt47]

What?!

[@comradeschnitzelstein7177]

I'm literally trying to write a universe and novel whenever I can and I cannot resist writing fanfiction of what plans I have for it, even when it's not even close to finished. I can see why, lol

[@liquidsnake6879]

entertaining what-ifs is pretty common in writing and a fun exercise

[@jakobbauz]

I like your alternate version a lot. But: I think Aragorn would have been suspicious from the start. I mean he is a hardened, worldly-wise man who barely trusts himself (he is the one instantly realising what's up with Boromir in the original Fellowship after all). As soon as Saruman was dead he would have made plans.

[@MarvinT0606]

There are other things that would drastically change: 1. Minor characters in Minas Tirith like Beregond and his sons will play a bigger role, maybe even the sole witnesses to the murder of Denethor 2. Boromir will also have a bigger role, having *never* been corrupted by the One Ring when he meets Gandalf. When he finds out Gandalf actually murdered Denethor there will be hell to pay 3. It's also possible that instead of killing Aragorn, Gandalf will instead try to break his will or puppet him like what Saruman did. Aragorn as a "new" puppet king while Gandalf rules from behind the throne makes so much more sense than passing the crown to Boromir (who has no right to kingship) 4. Galadriel and Elrond might intervene and "change" the plan somehow, maybe give the Hobbits and Boromir a bigger but different role 5. Ultimately, Boromir the Vengeful Captain of Gondor and Aragorn the Puppet King will have to fight- backed by Gandalf and Galadriel respectively. 6. The story will play out more like a Greek Tragedy than Fantasy.

[@oblivion1924]

​@@MarvinT0606respectfully, there is no way that happens to Aragorn. I agreee with the rest of it, but Aragorn becoming a puppet king just doesn't seem possible to me. Gandalf wouldn't be corrupted so quickly that he would try that and Aragorn would fight to the death to ensure the ring's destruction if he was never controlled by the ring himself. I just don't see that happening. Everything else, with Boromir and the hobbits seems likely to me though.

[@alanfrost75]

So the real winner is Sean Bean. He doesn't get to die for a change...

[@samwrai]

For a time...

[@roxanneranchhand1245]

Not until 'the Frankenstein Chronicles' on netflix

[@vincentsanniti2438]

Que piano falling from sky

[@1freakgamer]

He survived The Martian.

[@darktrooper2099]

@@vincentsanniti2438 *: : : : : : : : : : : :Shortly followed by pirate-ship from "TIME BANDITS"*

[@jeanbizet931]

Boromir: *holy hell I finally found this place* Elrond: *you have no need here, go back*

[@Langstondennis]

*Photoshopped Sean Bean's face into Mike Wazowski meme*

[@hisLoneliness2961]

At least he didn't die in this version so far 13:00 Edit: he didn't die which is nice

[@Langstondennis]

@@hisLoneliness2961 wait until Middle Earth terraforms into Westeros

[@jeanbizet931]

@@Langstondennis 😂😂

[@WatcherOfTheOpera24601]

Seven hells

[@DirtTheGamer]

Imagine if the Game of Throne writers put this much thought into how the characters teleported, I mean traveled.

[@coreymayo8321]

Hexcrawl vs. hand-wavy theater of the mind

[@awesomeluciano78]

When reading the books it's pretty evident that Tolkien had experience with war firsthand and troop movements as well.

[@Khantia]

GRRM actually did put this much thought into it. Just the TV show writers didn't care :P

[@Enonymouse_]

Big difference between writing a book and writing a screen play. Screen plays have considerations forced upon them a novelist doesn't need to concern themselves with. Tolkien was an amazing author.

[@HackerArmy03]

The TV version of Game of Thrones you mean. GRRM hasn't even begun to write the ending for his books. TV/studio foreign writers are honestly such a dumb dumb, remember what happened with the hobbit? Such a shame.

[@vagabondx2132]

i really enjoyed the mixture of canon lore and his own conjecture, here. i think he did an excellent job. well done!

[@WardenFG]

I believe that Galadriel, sensing Gandalf's actions with the Ring would travel West as she does on the book and eventually warn the Valar of what's going on. Then a crazy war would happen between the Valar and Gandalf controlling the Nazgul. - Cheers from Argentina!

[@spiffygonzales5899]

I dunno about the crazy war part. Gandalf would be powerful but not dumb. I don't think he'd pull a Morgoth and start shattering continents and allying with (potentially) mountain sized spiders.

[@LateNightVibes56]

@@spiffygonzales5899 mountain spiders?

[@spiffygonzales5899]

@@LateNightVibes56 Yea. Ungoliant. It's more or less left up to speculation as to how big EXACTLY she grew, but I've heard some very interesting arguments that she'd be hundreds of feet tall.

[@WardenFG]

@@spiffygonzales5899 I agree with you, I kinda pictured it like Galadriel going to the Valar and the Valar taking action before Gandalf gets to do anything stupid. Yeah, maybe a "crazy war" wouldn't come to pass.

[@joaofarias9986]

The Valar don't give enough fucks to stop him. If they did, Tulkas could have killed him in three days, two of these days woyls be the travel to Mordor and back.

[@keithjzammit]

This is impossible. Sean Bean didn’t die in this movie. So it just cannot be. Sorry.

[@simonhbacon]

Sean Bean plays Aragorn in this version?

[@nodaknegan9111]

Right! He would have turned down the role! "I dont die?!" "Feck that!"

[@keithjzammit]

@@simonhbacon seems possible! I think Bean could make a good Aragorn

[@dandini0698]

We can fix it! On the road back to his home city, Sean Bean öhömmm... I mean Boromir, walking while watching the beautiful glades of Rivendell, trips over a tree root and falls, until his head experiences a sudden stop by a giant rock.

[@Nutsaur]

@@simonhbacon Seen Been.

[@ben10the10]

I would have loved it if Boromir saw through Gandalf's sweet offering and the "King" label. Perhaps he smiles and gets close to Gandlaf, maybe even embraces him. Then he runs Gandalf through with his sword, whispering in his ear: "Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king."

[@MarvinT0606]

Boromir founds the People's Republic of Gondor 🤣

[@ZealousValkyrie]

Honestly the perfect ending to this. Plausable, too.

[@carolparson787]

Then Boramir would get the ring and end up Sauron’s slave

[@Azuria969]

lol no boromir was a human, galdalf a maiar with the one ring, no sword could pierce him

[@ben10the10]

@@Azuria969 No sword could pierce him? Where is that stated in Tolkien's legendarium?

[@Bakamoichigei]

The idea of Gandalf turning Middle Earth into some kind of dystopian police state under the watchful eyes of his nazgul enforcers is both fascinating and terrifying. And yeah, Gandalf being like "Well, have it your way..." and just straight-up incinerating Denethor _is_ pretty amusing. 🤣 And Boromir spending the whole time just wandering all over the countryside, always missing whatever's going on, only to finally arrive home and be like "What'd I miss?" and have Gandalf make him King of Gondor? I am _dying._ 😂😂😂😂

[@Dogsparkster]

reading your comment, i lost it at the boromir moment, i can just imagine him wandering the trollshaws lost while all the interesting stuff is going on. lmao

[@sentientmustache8360]

“What did i miss?” “Your dad’s dead, here’s the crown” “Cool”

[@hypermaeonyx4969]

@@sentientmustache8360 "Also I need an army" "Aight man"

[@KicktheSky34]

Funnily, this kind of reminds me of the plot of this old PS2 game called LotR: The Third Age where you play as an off-brand Fellowship perpetually lagging behind the real one...

[@Backonos]

the order Sauron wanted

[@paulgallagher5889]

Some tales are "There and Back Again." Others are "Boromir: Or How I Walked Around For 5 Months and Became King!"

[@MANB91UK]

Well, at least it only took him five months, he didn't have to spend a few years in a frozen cave learning how to become an emotionless drip that can navigate the Middle-Earthern-Tree-Internet

[@blshouse]

One does not simply walk to Imladris.

[@masterexploder9668]

Boromir had the best story, so he's king now.

[@ricksaburai]

It's still "There and Back Again" if you think about it lol

[@MelindaGreen]

Who made him king? I didn't vote for him!

[@psychepeteschannel5500]

Complete Travels of Boromir (Gandalf the Ring-Lord Edition): "He runs a lap around Middle-Earth, doing nothing. For this great service to the free peoples, he is crowned king." THE END

[@psychepeteschannel5500]

@ I would like to see the look on Boromirs face as he returns, after walking around for a year getting no results, to suddenly being told that the war is won and he is king :D

[@joyfulyes]

@@psychepeteschannel5500 love the absurdity of it. There's something Python-esque about it, isn't there?

[@alaljarensi6990]

Corrupted Gandalf would give king Boromir a new ring of power and immortality.

[@gregg1067]

What if not quite corrupted Gandalf destroyed the Nazgul, and kept their rings. Later, when frustrated with the lack of order across his kingdom, he begins gifting them to his most loyal allies. Aragorn, Theodin, Borimer, etc. to assist with their work to support him. They enthusiastically start helping Gandalf, before any of them realize that things have gotten out of hand…

[@13g0man]

Nothing would have gotten out of hand. The Nine Ring-Wardens would eternally keep peace throughout Middle-Earth, at the will of the Bright Lord Gandalf.

[@dancooke8811]

Impossible, no living man can kill a Nazgûl remember? Gandalf couldn't kill them in any other Lord of The Rings that's why.

[@CarzorStelatis]

@@dancooke8811 Gandalf isn't a 'living man' though, he's a Maia. Same sort of get-out as Eowyn.

[@SioxerNikita]

​@@dancooke8811That was simply a comment from someone cocky, not really reality. Everything can be slain in a world like Lord of the Rings

[@mon_moi]

​@@dancooke8811can't he just use some Noldorin blades like Merry? I mean Gandalf in this alternate timeline probably wouldn't be welcomed in Lothlorien, but I imagine he could still acquire those blades somehow

[@andreasul2608]

Movie elrond: Strangers from middle earth, friends of old. You've been *summoned* here to answer the threat of morder. Book elrond: Why does random people of different races keep appearing in my super secret hidden place?

[@pickybitch2707]

🤣🤣🤣 true!

[@psychepeteschannel5500]

Yeah :D that is the book version alright. But I think it is quite fitting. The evil is simply rising everywhere, all sides are taking notice around the same time and so Elrond would likely say something like "It has begun"... or perhaps he would say "I was expecting you, Mr. Anderson". Who knows :D

[@andysuryantorovanruzzette8085]

@@psychepeteschannel5500 dang it, you cracked me 😂😂

[@InquisitiveUniverse]

😂😂😂😂

[@LagunaShirogane]

@@psychepeteschannel5500 Elrond takes the ring...hence we have Agent Smith

[@Malsavahara]

notice how gandalf said "over me the ring would gain a power still greater" hes basically saying when you "Wear" the ring, you're not wearing it, the ring wears you.

[@zakpodo]

Yes. Isnt that what separates the one ring from the others. It is made of the will to power and domination. And Sauron, like Morgoth before had that in spades.

[@KnightOMurk]

In America, you wear ring. In Soviet Russia, ring wears you.

[@johnhansen4794]

What is the Ego of this magic? Oh, infinite... K'Thanx, bye.

[@aminulhussain2277]

@@KnightOMurk The ring wears you in both.

[@rykehuss3435]

@@zakpodo No, the One Ring was created to dominate and subjugate all the other Rings of Power. A Puppetmaster, but first there were the puppets

[@natehall2573]

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience". CS Lewis

[@Crash103179]

A most appropriate quote.

[@filipferencak2717]

Monotheistic Gods be like:

[@whitingpie5146]

Hate to bring Politics into it, but sounds awful lot like Far Leftists of today who have turned into the Fascists they claim to oppose. All for our own good.

[@era5773]

Good .

[@drunkenphilosopher5159]

@@filipferencak2717 never saw someone so stupid lol. "Monotheistic" and "Gods" in one sentence. The logic.

[@justaneedlessboi6710]

I love Tolkien's description of how Gandalf the dark lord would be like, it's spot on, and honestly a really believable corrupted version of the character

[@istvanfodor9749]

Best channel to listen to in-between first and second breakfast

[@NerdoftheRings]

Most important meals of the day too!

[@FreeSCV]

@@NerdoftheRings an absolute treat to be sure! =)

[@stonefox9124]

Best at tea...

[@dheijnemans]

No mistake!

[@CognizantCheddar]

Gandalf in possession of the One Ring makes a lot of sense as an Anti-Villain. That said... can Sauron truly be destroyed so long as the Ring is intact? Even by a fellow Maia? Aren't we told over and over again that so long as the Ring exists, Sauron _can't_ be permanently vanquished? So, for me, this suggests a wrinkle in this scenario, in which part of the reason why a Ring possessing Gandalf becomes a tyrant is exactly because the threat of Sauron permanently lingers around Middle-earth -- Gandalf uses the constant threat of Sauron's return to justify everything he does as tyrant.

[@guccifer764]

Tolkien himself admitted that theoretically, someone _could_ become the rings new master, severing Sauron’s hold over it. However, in doing so, they would become an even greater Dark Lord than Sauron ever was. So, it’s kind if a pointless endeavour if your goal is to make sure there is no Dark Lord.

[@Ubermensch201]

@@guccifer764 why would the new owner be an even greater Dark Lord than Sauron?? Especially if it's just a Man or "regular" Elf.. Seeing as Sauron was a Maia so anything less wouldn't be as powerful as him, you'd think

[@guccifer764]

@@Ubermensch201 It’s not so much that the Ring could turn Steve from accounting into an even more powerful dark lord. It’s more that the ring could only be mastered by someone who already had the potential of being a worse dark lord, like Gandalf or Galadriel.

[@justink1985]

@@Ubermensch201 For someone to take it from Sauron one would have to be even more powerful and they in time would also be corrupted. Creating an even worse situation. I think this is more whats alluded to in the books or what Tolkien meant by it.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

What if ... Gandalf does not kill Sauron? If Gandalf can command the Nine... could he also use the ring to subdue Sauron himself? Is obedience a worse fate than death to Sauron? Sauron as a Gandalf lackey, would be interesting and terrible. He would do exactly what Gandalf orders...but everything would be done with resentment and hatred.

[@misterbadguy7325]

Denethor being actually 100% right in this timeline is so goddamn funny.

[@Facade953]

A " wise " and " misunderstood " man!😅🤣

[@jout738]

Who is Denethor by the way?

[@thebigshep]

@@jout738 Boromir's (Sean Bean's) shitty dad. The one that makes Pippin sing and also later burns himself to death while trying to light his other son on fire

[@milannagy4281]

@@jout738 Father of Boromir and Faramir

[@shaeltr]

@@jout738 the dood who get caught in fire and to extinguish itself he jump on top of Minas Tirith 💀

[@UXSpecialist]

I think gandalf wouldn't turn evil all at once. He would use the ring with the intent to do good, but would become so powerful, he would become a terrible force in the world, become somewhat of a tyrant and feared among all... It would seriously throw off the balance of middle earth.

[@castironchaos]

If this scenario were to play to the bitter end, Gandalf would find himself at war with the Valar themselves. First, Sauron's ultimate loyalty was to Melkor (Morgoth), as seen when he corrupted the realm of Numenor. Under the Ring's thrall, Gandalf's reign over Middle-Earth would be unending, and would certainly come to the notice of the Lords of the West. After all, they had sent the Istari to Middle-Earth in order to inspire the peoples there to find a way to free themselves from the mastery of Sauron, and ultimately Morgoth. The Valar might certainly blame themselves for the failure of their plan. Even though this time they acted with subtlety rather than brute force, it would mean *every* action taken by the Valar to save the Children of Iluvatar had failed. They summoned the Elves to Aman, and this resulted in Morgoth destroying much that they had built and nearly conquering all of Middle-Earth. They rewarded Men with the land of Numenor, and that led to the Downfall of Numenor and the changing of Arda itself. Now, once again they had taken action by sending the Istari to Middle-Earth...and Olorin, one of their own kindred, had succumbed to the darkness and fallen, rising to dominate Middle-Earth with a power that may never end. Surely there would be nothing left for the Valar to do now but call upon Eru Iluvatar for judgement, and remove themselves forever from Arda? Meanwhile, Olorin - Gandalf - would be working towards an ultimate plan to make war on the Lords of the West, open the Gates of Night and bring Melkor back. This, again, would mean the Valar would be forced to judge their Guardianship of Arda to be a failure. They would call for Iluvatar to pass judgement...and thus the End would come. Dagor Dagorath, the final end of the Music of the Ainur.

[@liamscienceguy8153]

Oh jeez this comment is INSANE (in a good way)

[@xXMoneyLensXx]

On the other hand, maybe the valar would let him be exactly for the stated reason. Nothing had worked so far, and it was better than Sauron or perpetual war. Also, the elves are almost gone, and most of the host of Amman in the end of the first age was actually just elves (vanya etc.), with some Maiar and Valar as well. So there would probably be less of an incentive for a host of Amman to go and help out, especially when it was not against the previous right hand man of Morgoth but one of their own.

[@rykehuss3435]

Olorin is not Valar, he is a Maia. A lesser being compared to Valar. So I wouldnt call him a 'kindred'. Sauron was a Maia too.

[@OljeiKhan]

Why would Gandalf (with the Ring) ever want to bring Melkor back? Gandalf in this scenario is still good (tyrannical but in an ends justify the means kind of way) and Melkor is pure evil. He would still hate Melkor with all his heart. He may not even wish to make war on the Valar , so long as they themselves don't come to remove him from power. Wich he wouldn't know of before they actually arrive in Middle Earth with all their forces. At wich point Gandalf would not have time to prepare for an actual war with their armies. He MIGHT choose to stand up to them in person and get obliterated by Tulkas the giga-chad , but he would know that even with the Ring he would be no match to an actual Valar. So best course of action for him in this case would be to vanish with the Ring. This is all assuming the Ring still has power over him. If he can fight and defeat Sauron while wearing the Ring , instead of being dominated , we can assume HE would be dominating the Ring (wich is a part of the power/soul of Sauron) and that means he could also just choose to give the ring to the Valar. Seeing as how they have arrived to bring order into Middle Earth. Wich is exactly what he was using the Ring for.

[@rykehuss3435]

@@OljeiKhan I didnt say Gandalf would want to bring Melkor back, I just added that part as a final tidbit. That Morgoth will return and that'll be the end of everything in any case

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

Gollum: How the hell am I going to lure a WIZARD into the lair of Shelob?

[@saltedllama2759]

Underrated post right here.

[@jarskil8862]

Tell Gandalf that there is Old Toby in the cave?

[@Telepian]

gandalf wouldn't need gollum because he already knew the way

[@astwas]

He tells him a naked Dumbledore is in the cave waiting for him

[@spiderprint]

*Cough* Eagles *cough*

[@medyoscientific]

Man… I expected the usual analysis of power levels and abilities, not a whole timetable for traveling on horse and foot!!! Amazing work!

[@j_m_b_1914]

This video is definitely worth a coffee. Amazing research!

[@Autocratical]

I’d like to think that the ring would betray Gandalf just when he needed it most, if not as they enter Mordor with the 9 turning on him or perhaps slipping off his finger during the confrontation with Sauron.

[@namankumar1677]

Yeah, I think this is much more likely. Gandalf is not the true lord of the ring, the ring knows that. It would betray him at a crucial moment.

[@ricksaburai]

@@namankumar1677 could be. But then again, unlike lesser wielders of the ring who were betrayed by it, Gandalf is a Maia, same as Sauron. Just like Gandalf's will was prone to its corruption, so could he too subjugate the One Ring's will. I think it's quite possible considering he had more potential than Sauron after becoming a dark lord.

[@namankumar1677]

@@ricksaburai You might be right, not just because Gandalf is a Maia but because he also carried Narya. I wonder what carrying two rings of power does to you.

[@HeavyMetalGamingHD]

I am pretty sure that gandalf would be able to defeat sauron. sauron is very weakened without the ring. he put his own power into forging it. the ring is basically a part of him. both of them are mayar. they are on the same level and gandalf had narya. But sauron would never fight gandalf without this theory. Sauron did basically never fight unless it was completely unavoidable. The last alliance besieged barad dur for seven years until he finally entered the fight.

[@CaptainKirkZ1LLA]

That's a pretty tough sell. Abandoning someone like Gollum, sure. Leading Isildur to his death, Numenor or not, he's still just a man. But Gandalf is a being of great power. The only real complication as far as taming the Ring is concerned, is that Olorin, when he was sent to Middle-Earth actually feared Sauron, and was uncertain of his ability to keep him in check. That may play into the Ring swaying him or vice-versa.

[@melsilva9158]

This made me think of a quote from Yoda, "Paved with good intentions the path to the dark side often is".

[@sacharriolamarino317]

What about Yoda with the ring?

[@thunderstrike842]

@@sacharriolamarino317 the cockring?

[@alexworld1992]

An original quote: The path to hell is paved with good intensions - I think it is old testament Biblical

[@scottfitzpatrick1939]

100% true

[@castletreetv149]

Yoda and Gandalf should team up

[@sm9109-m3w]

I really like the poetic justice of Isildurs heir being the one begging someone to "CAST IT INTO THE FIYAH!"

[@DrBones-ys1ii]

Honestly, much better video than I was expecting. Really like how you laid out the events here.

[@lotsofspots]

So, in this timeline, Denethor doesn't eat a tomato? Where do I sign up?

[@adryanmonk]

This is my favourite comment so far and there are many good ones around. Well done, good dir.

[@kongchangfan2237]

i still feel kinda traumatised by seeing this creature eating his meal :O thanks for warming it up, haha

[@Missingafool]

That was brilliant and so spot on! Well done sir! We'll done!

[@nodaknegan9111]

That tomato seen makes my girlfreind puke every time. Funny shit yo.

[@monex6447]

The only thing worse was the one dude in the Hobbit eating balls

[@JMThought]

This was fun as a one off especially as Tolkien talked about it himself.

[@yisroelackerman]

That’s right! In his letters he says Gandalf would have been a “self-righteous” despot. This video acts like Tolkien himself didn’t already have this conversation.

[@vaahtobileet]

@@yisroelackerman he quotes that very letter in the video. Maybe you didn't watch it?

[@justanothaguy3714]

@@yisroelackerman Only now we have a engaging 20m video to enjoy rather then a single sentence. Its backed by a love of the world and the care to consider timelines and personalities. Do not disregard the beauty of a rose because you choose to grasp its stem rather enjoy is visage.

[@yisroelackerman]

@@justanothaguy3714 okay

[@thomashall3314]

@@justanothaguy3714 YEAAAHH.

[@Lesheer]

Very interesting theory! I feel there would be much more nuance and struggle between Gandalf and the Ring. Gandalf was incredibly strong-willed and pure of heart. It would take a long time for the ring to take hold - and even longer to get such a strong hold as to make Gandalf murder friends like Aragorn in cold blood. If it came down to it between Aragorn and Gandalf, I find it more likely that Gandalf would render himself vulnerable in a moment of clarity allowing Aragorn to strike a deadly blow. I just feel Gandalf would be wise enough to realize he was being pulled in by the ring, and also strong enough to exhibit great resistance to its power. He would eventually lose if he kept on with the Ring, but I think he would find a way out - either by himself or by the aid of his friends.

[@SteliosMusic]

This should be top comment. Not just because I fucking love Gandalf, but also because it would fit Tolkiens happy-ending, optimistic style. That being said, I do like a good movie that breaks the mold... I suppose execution would play a big part in this.

[@SteliosMusic]

*mould

[@purgatorial]

I actually expected it to play out with Aragon severing Gandalfs hand that bares the ring or something, making him see sense.

[@SteliosMusic]

@@purgatorial Was thinking the exact same thing last night! This comment & the excellently done video, have certainly stirred up the imagination.

[@damianrehbein3992]

I belive Gandalf to be TOO good of heart to not use the Ring. Like if I gave the nicest guy on the planet ultimate power and be like. "You cant use this shit to help anyone." "Kids starving?' Nope. "War?" Nope I think this wold break him sonner then later.

[@blueshit199]

I love the idea that Gandalf ends up having the same motivations and means to an end as Cortana in Halo 5, especially with stationing the Nazgul in each major part of Middle Earth for peacekeeping purposes

[@thematrixlunchhacker]

Nice reference

[@TheZoltan-42]

"All hail the new king, Boromir Blisterfoot!"

[@JakeLondonRivers]

😂

[@shanedude91]

Lmao

[@odger3700]

lol Best comment :D

[@tijltrienen]

Nahh he rides a horse. So its marathon horse of lonely boromir

[@TheZoltan-42]

@@tijltrienen I don't think he touched a horse in the entire story, except for the ponies carrying their supplies.

[@gamingwithquancena4989]

Totally serious video idea: What if Thorins company turned around to get Bilbos handkerchief

[@NerdoftheRings]

😂😂 Would’ve been catastrophic!

[@LookingTheBest]

WAAAAAAAIIIIIITTTT.

[@patrickramseyart]

Stop! Stop! We have to turn around.

[@tygovisser5626]

Bilbo would have something else (handkerchief) to call precious and never gets corrupted by the ring

[@odd-ysseusdoesstuff6347]

@Fred Trunce They would likely miss Durinsday.

[@valritz1489]

And so it was that from the lands of Gondor and Rohan there emerged a great host, and their shields were painted black with mourning, for the death of Elessar still weighed heavily upon them. At their head rode the Wizard, Grey no more, for he had also taken on a mourner's raiment and went now in sable, save where the sun struck him just so and a shimmering multitude of colors could be seen, twisting with a seeming life just beneath the ebony cloak. They departed Rohan and passed beyond the Gap, taking roads unknown and northerly to the eyes of Men. But when they arrived upon the Bruinen they were stopped before the fords, and there stood in shining mail the House of Elrond. Its master was there, bearing mighty Aeglos Snow-Point, and at his right side was Arwen Undomiel, whose fairness seemed not dimmed by warlike visage, but instead conferred upon the latter a terrible and fearsome dread that could not be named. At his left side rode Glorfindel, a burning star of emerald upon his brow. "Lo!" said Gandalf, his eyes terrible and bright beneath his brow. "And thus the line of Beren greets its saviors." "Thus it greets the Shadow," answered Elrond, "for Shadow lies heavy indeed upon your words. I heard them at the Crack of Doom."

[@AH-yg8xb]

Amazing, please continue. (I read wrong "Lo!" as LoL XD)

[@BackcountryForward]

THIS IS GOLD! I feel like I was reading the books themselves! Please continue or link to where you continue!

[@Cordis-Ater]

Excelent, very genuine -feeling

[@michelle7410]

I would love to read more of this. :)

[@MaisterRaebbit]

This is great! More!

[@bubblebus1]

An interesting interpretation of the scenario. I like the fact that it chimes with the comment of JRR himself.

[@crazyd3uces]

My wife just asked me what I was watching, and I replied "a hypothetical conjecture about if Gandalf di-..." she's like stop stop stop I don't care lol

[@anakay1184]

I'm sorry that you chose mistakenly

[@bitchursofake]

I too apologize for your mistakes

[@mitzukirigaya3180]

there will be preyers for you our fallen friend

[@BeardAxeMcAxeBeard]

Divorce

[@leothelion19]

Divorce her lol

[@NerdoftheRings]

Be sure to hit SUBSCRIBE to get your dose of Middle-earth each week! Next week, I'll resume my regular lore videos, but today we are asking "What would happen if Gandalf took The One Ring?" What do you think of my theory? Any changes you'd make? How do you think things would play out?

[@dw1419]

My only complaint is that you stopped short before Gandalf's inevitable epic power struggles with Galadriel and Elrond, resulting in his taking control of all three elven rings. Great job!

[@Laufissa]

I think Sauron would have noticed that the ring was claimed by Gandalf and taken action. Maybe by knowing this he could've kept the Nazgul in his command, and then the final battle wouldn't be so easy.

[@scorch2020]

I love these theories please do these equally to the lore!

[@joaqu7002]

I myself think they would send along Glorfindel, for that was the original plan. They wanted to send Merry home to prevent the scouting of the shire, and let the fellowship take Glorfindel. I think the pressure from all members of the fellowship + kings of Rohan would force Gandalf to throw the ring into the fire, or throw it in with Gandalf.

[@NerdoftheRings]

I’m glad you picked up on what Gandalf would’ve done after this. Thought it would be kinda fun to leave it open-ended at the end. Gandalf wielding 4 rings does sound pretty epic!

[@boomkruncher325zzshred5]

Gandalf had Narya, the Elven Ring of Fire. That ring was made to inspire people and resist evil, in whatever form it may come, kindling their spirits. Gandalf with the One Ring as well would be a cult leader, inspiring madness and insanity by leading crusades against those he would preach as enemies. Gandalf corrupted by The One Ring would not be a battlefield commander; he would be a preacher, a twister of words able to implant awful corrupt desires into the people who listen to him. He would be very charismatic… and oh, SO convincing. With The One Ring, Gandalf would instantly know the presence of any other Rings of Power, and would be able to bend the wielders of those rings to his will with enough time and effort, as the One Ring was The Master Ring, The One Ring to Rule Them All. Gandalf taking the Ring would have been Gandalf believing that the only way to free Middle-Earth from Sauron’s evil was through sheer domination. The other wielders of the Elven Rings would instantly know Gandalf had The One Ring, and would know of his betrayal, and would either abandon their rings or flee from Middle-Earth, or both for all I know. Gandalf would make Sauron a puppet, a boogeyman to keep the populace fearful and docile, while making sure any actual threat Sauron could pose would be negligible, a token force to scare the people into submission. Notice I said people, not countries; Gandalf would not target the countries or their sovereignty, but would undermine the people within the countries, converting people to his fanatical cult or”Fellowship” and wielding power through their fear and blind devotion. No need to defeat an army if over half the army is already on your side, after all. Gandalf truly was wise when he refused the Ring. The nightmare he would have unleashed would have made EVERYONE wish for the “simpler” days when orcs would try to storm Osgiliath as part of a straightforward military campaign to wipe out the World of Men.

[@witgar1]

This is exceptionally well done. I would ask you continue this story with Gandalfs domination of the elves and dwarfs.

[@7000Darklight]

@Nerd of the Rings, you overlooked something crucial. Theoden was controlled by Saruman. When Gandalf killed Saruman, that toxic hold over Theoden would have been disrupted as well. Therefor the company would arrive in Rohan having to explain everything to Theoden and Grima would have actually died then and there because Aragorn would not have been there to stop Theoden.

[@drewboogie2849]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

[@Saphire_Throated_Carpenter_Ant]

and the road to good intentions can take you through hell.

[@renato3]

There are people who have to go through hell before understanding the value of good intentions. Others do not. They are already wise

[@pwnmeisterage]

Our mythology offers intrinsically good and holy artifacts, things like the Holy Grail. Middle Earth's mythology offers intrinsically evil and unholy artifacts, things like the One Ring. While the intrinsically good and holy powers are immortal beings like Gandalf and Sarumon - who can be corrupted.

[@CalridRobnor123srs]

@James Gravil The endless Tolkien theme, a thing in itself is not good or evil with the exception of the ring because it was much of Sauron's malice and will, but the peoples of Middle Earth are corrupted by power, even by tools that are meant for good, and even with the best will in the world. eg get that +5 sword, and you become hastened towards fighting things to get the better chance at a critical to use RPG nerd speak. And then you get your skull cleaved by an axe wielding orc horde. Tis ever and so. :)

[@CalridRobnor123srs]

You kinda have to remember too, The Lord of the rings is a Biblical Exegesis too, it's what it is about really, especially when you consider as some people have said CS Lewis (A Christian Apologist) influence on Tolkiens story. The Silmarillion is the war for heaven in The Bible and the LotR is the end times when the beast comes to corrupt men because they are jealous of their free will.

[@jasongallagher1185]

this is the most entertaining piece of fan fiction ive ever seen.

[@sandychen1381]

Hi

[@castletreetv149]

He definitely goes all out

[@gandalf7262]

Yes

[@acehardware2823]

God damn, I can't believe I've been sitting on this channel for a year. I never thought it would be in line with the books instead of the movie. Instant sub!

[@Puma5]

As much as I like these speculations, these „what if X took the ring“ scenarios are sitting heavily on my stomach. Gandalf murdering his friend King Elessar on Mount Doom is absolutely horrifying.

[@justalonesoul5825]

The power of corruption of the One Ring is truly terrible...Even a being as pure as Frodo wasnt able to resist it very well very long! And in the case of Smeagol he became a murderer right away... But yeah that scenario is horrifying ;-)

[@marshallnichol1655]

Very “anakin”

[@martinfiedler4317]

But it had to be done. He wanted the ring for himself and would have dealt a great harm on Middle-Earth with it. Gandalf is the one who lost the mos: his dear friend.

[@Puma5]

@@martinfiedler4317 It doesn’t seem like Aragorn wanted it for himself. It’s a lie the ring whispered into Gandalf’s mind. Just as with Frodo, Aragorn would have had an upright desire to assist his friend without taking it, let alone having the strength to do it. Murdering out of paranoia is the move of a deluded mind.

[@CaptnJack]

@@martinfiedler4317 or he and aragorn could have had a little heart to heart chat, and cleared things up, and tossed it into the nearby volcano, and then what....

[@Krisu_1000]

Sean Bean approves this no-dying ending

[@deusexaethera]

Wait for the sequel.

[@redwaldcuthberting7195]

Sean Bean has a clause that he's contractually obligated to die in everything he's in. 😏

[@paxnorth7304]

now THAT'S soldiering

[@EletroBeau]

Whenever there's a struggle for power and land, Sean Bean dies.

[@castletreetv149]

Weak!

[@Delta9Church]

Your voice work is so great! Glad i just stumbled on this channel.

[@thepoet82]

Sauron, when he realizes the Ringwraiths are no longer under his control and Gandalf has the One Ring: "Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him."

[@jacobadam6804]

Is this an Underworld reference?

[@dawsonjacobson4451]

@@jacobadam6804 it’s a reference to a quote in lord of the rings that was popularized by the KZbin music parody video “they’re taking the hobbits to Isengard” created in the mid 2000’s, funny video.

[@aiestef]

@@jacobadam6804 in the movies, Galadriel spoke those words when the Fellowship entered Lothlorien

[@jacobadam6804]

@@dawsonjacobson4451 I just watched that for the first time. Hilarious. Thank you.

[@maxsync183]

@@dawsonjacobson4451 damn seeing that referenced felt like pippin looking into the palantir. A dark force that one would like to quickly forget.

[@kdn5383]

I think Gandalf would have become the new Sauron with far greater power. Even if Sauron's physical form was destroyed, his spirit still dwells in the ring and in time it would have corrupted Gandalf to the point where he would have become the new dark lord with the combined power of both Sauron and Gandalf.

[@b.b.s7545]

Gandalf the black Except he would lose his original powers and staff gets broken

[@stryker5573]

Tend to agree. While Sauron appears to be a more powerful Maia originally than Olorin, Sauron had poured out much of his strength into the One Ring just like Melkor had into his creations. 3rd age Sauron without the One Ring was likely not very strong as compared to say Saruman or Gandalf even, but he still had his fortress and minions, including the 9. This probably contributed greatly to the success of the Fellowship overall. Taking Gandalf and adding the One Ring to his power, along with one of the elven rings, and he would likely be materially stronger than Sauron even was, even in the 1st age.

[@susanapol382]

The only one who was not afraid of the ring was Tom Bombadil.

[@guyguy7928]

@@susanapol382 Tom Bombadil didn't care about Ring he probably respected it. Shelob also didn't care about it

[@ethribin4188]

I mean, he does. Just his reasoning is that of Gandalf, not that of Sauron. Sauron wants to rule because he belives he can make the world more prosperous, and because people are stupid and egotistical. Gandalf would rule to make the realm peacefull and safe. Because he belives people wouldnt be by themselves. Its the same thing. Just Sauron comes from a sense of physical/mental superiority. And Gandalf comes from a sense of moral superiority. But in end effect,it is the very same thing and very same ruler. So, in in its sense,Gandalf actually does become Sauron. And Sauron has become Gandalf.

[@kjekelle96]

Imagine he took Frodo with him, knowing full well that the ring would corrupt him, and being determined to hand over the ring back to Frodo when Sauron was defeated, as a last resort if he couldn't destroy it himself, and in hope he would have retained his deep compassion for Frodo (and that killing or imprisoning or ignoring Frodo would eat at his conscience if there still was some left).

[@Gilliganfrog]

If Gandalf had already taken possession of the Ring, wielded it to destroy Saruman and Denethor, used its full power to help him destroy Sauron, and then murdered Aragorn when confronted to destroy the Ring, then Gandalf would be far, far beyond any point of being willing to give the Ring to anyone else, ever again. He'd be 100% Lost Boy; might as well call him Sauron II (the Second). Because Frodo and all hobbits would be considered too weak, harmless, and useless to be of any concern, they'd all be ordered home and given a warning to remain peaceful and law-abiding... or else face very severe consequences.

[@gabrielegilodi3489]

Love this channel! Congrats!

[@chrisz8462]

This is an interesting theory. Especially with Tolkein's letters. However, I think that Gandalf would actually have received a lot more opposition from the wiser individuals in his company. Especially Aragorn with his knowledge of, and familial history with, the ring's power. I don't think Gandalf would have so easily convinced others of his "good" intentions and use of the ring and I don't think he would have ever ultimately made it to Mordor, or at the very least, not whilst still in "fellowship" with his previous company and allies. I also think that those with powers to "see" like Elrond, Galadriel, etc. would have sensed a darkness closer to home, so to speak, and again, probably would have become more involved in hindering Gandalf's actions.

[@peanutbutter7721]

I think if they did start confronting him he would only grow more weary and jealous. His concern over losing the ring would probably grow every time somebody brought it up. In the end he'd just kill them sooner if they tried taking it. With the ring he could practically do whatever he wants.

[@AugustinHadelichViolin]

exactly -- the moment Gandalf put the one ring on, Elrond and Galadriel would have known, wouldn't they-- wearing the other rings of the elves.

[@NLBusiness391]

@@peanutbutter7721this the kicker: The Ring would feed into his jealously and mistrust, amplifying it and only motivating him further to use it.

[@bryndynirving7333]

The only flaw with this theory is that Sean Bean doesn't die.

[@MrSyco07]

One does not simply... save Sean Bean.

[@damianrehbein3992]

@@MrSyco07 Come on, once we can give him. But just once he has a reputation to hold up.

[@damianrehbein3992]

@Grandson Of Cherve Maybe.

[@TurboSilke]

yeah, the movie version of this would need to recast Borimir.

[@roman2374]

They would’ve simply cast Viggo as Boromir and Sean Bean as Aragorn! And there we have a pointless death

[@stand355]

Gollum is going to get his shit beaten out of him by a dark Gandalf everytime he tries to steal the Ring.

[@gandalf7262]

Yes

[@sledge2742]

This cracked me up 🤣

[@chriscobble48]

"You poor, wretched soul," Gandalf said, standing over the cowering figure of Gollum. "The torture you must feel, the sadness and longing in your soul for that which does not belong to you!" "Smeagle will serve Master, will protect his precious, will do as Master Wizard says!" croaked Gollum, wringing his hands and backing away from the towering figure before him. A light shone now in Gandalf's gray eyes, a spark mirroring the very fires of Mount Doom. " Oh, pitiful creature, I do not need you as a servant, " chuckled Gandalf, raising his staff. "With this Ring, all of Middle Earth shall serve me. I have no need for your sniveling wretchedness!" Gollum's screams echoed through the night as the Gray Wizard drew near, but were cut suddenly short. The night air grew silent as a dark cloud rolled across the moon.

[@GamerBlue-cv8vv]

love your vids pls make more what ifs keep up the good work

[@KoyMcCloud]

Most impressive. But I do have a question. Won't Sauron always come back, so long as The Ring remains? Do correct me if I'm wrong on that account.

[@froexd]

i think you're right

[@NerdoftheRings]

This is a pretty common question and it's definitely a deep dive to find the answer. In one of his letters, Tolkien states that had someone like Gandalf taken the ring for his own and defeated Sauron, it would be the same for Sauron as if the ring had been destroyed. Therefore, he would not have been able to return.

[@KoyMcCloud]

@@NerdoftheRings Ah! Alright, thanks for clarifying! Makes me wonder, just how powerful does one need to be? I mean a man or hobbit could probably not do it, but if say a high tier elf used the ring to destroy Sauron, would that count? Or would Sauron make a comeback?

[@NerdoftheRings]

That’s a great question! I’ve always wondered the same thing. My first thought after learning this was: what about Galadriel?

[@KoyMcCloud]

@@NerdoftheRings Now there's a What If idea for you. What if Galadriel accepted the ring when Frodo offered it. Course at the end it be a question if Sauron would be able to come back or not, could make two endings for it or something.

[@RedTBasco]

That may be the coolest "What if..?", I've ever seen! Extraordinara!

[@arminmowenbeinchen5185]

Sauron:"From my point of view, Gandalf is evil!"

[@shlongbongchewy]

Then you are lost!

[@Quantakinetic]

There was a book written with exactly this premise, as an unofficial sequel, called The Last Ring Bearer by Kirill Yeskov if you want to look it up. The idea is that 'history is written by the winners" and thus all the LOTR stuff was propaganda. Quite an interesting read.

[@carnivorecaveman]

@@Quantakinetic Hi, I would like to read that book! Where can I find it in English, either as a paper-book or a digital version? Because I found it on Amazon just in russian edition.

[@TheEllord33]

​@@carnivorecaveman Sauron was not that different of gandalf. He wanted to do good and eventually corrupted himself with lust of power. But taking aside the lack of freedom of beeing under by Sauron, he was actually pretty good at managing an empire.

[@carnivorecaveman]

@@TheEllord33 Sauron was surely good at managing an Empire, this is out of queastion! Without this talent he could not have been a powerful enemy of Gandalf and others. However, freedom is a great value in my eyes... But, even if we take no notice of freedom, the orcs in the empire of Sauron seemd me poor, ragged, they were not wealthy at all, so they were in general unhappy. Additionally they were even ugly, because their body had numerous signs of a vast number of serious sickness'. Therefore it is my opinion that Sauron was not really a good king at all.

[@madzod0076]

Since the ring wouldn't be destroyed, could Sauron still return and maybe take the form of a liberator to deceive men into helping him overthrow gandalf?

[@oberonpanopticon]

Despite watching this channel idk much about lotr, but that seems totally possible!

[@christianholzschuh6853]

"People of Middlearth, I have come to liberate you!" Hurray! It's Sauron here to help us! "FROM YOURSELF!" Oh no! It's Sauron, here to help us!

[@GoldenSW]

It's possible but unlikely. Gandalf would be too strong. Sauron also needed a very long time to regain a semblance of his former strength without the ring.

[@ryhi5]

@@christianholzschuh6853 "GREAT LIBERATOR! YOU HAVE SAVED MIDDLE EARTH!" Sauron: Oh, I wouldn't say "saved", more like..... UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT!

[@thatguywhosenameyoukeepmis9450]

I think over time, Gandalf would have claimed the ring, leading Sauron to be unable to reform physically. Or maybe he claims it once Sauron comes back and tries rallying discontented people to his cause.

[@SkywalkerSamadhi]

One consequence of this timeline would be the Barlog still lurking away in the basement of Khazad-dûm. Idk If it would have too much of an effect on this particular part of the story, but having that left over vestige of old, dark magic survive into the 4th age which is characterized by the lessening of magic in the entire world might be catastrophic.

[@OceansBane]

I’m pretty sure this new Gandalf could kill it with ease or even enslave it, as compared to the original timeline.

[@TY-km8hj]

@@OceansBane most likely enslave

[@candylord]

We might finally get to see if it has wings or not

[@ThwipThwipBoom]

Wait, why is magic going to be lessening in the 4th age? That'd be boring

[@FerdinandFake]

Lord Gandalf would put a saddle on that guy

[@plasmathunderdx]

"Villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged." - Jean Luc Picard

[@CaspianandFriends]

Pure beauty

[@stiimuli]

I think the real tragedy here is Borimir going all that way to Rivendel for nothing and has to WALK all the way back home. He was probably attacked by a moose on the way back and never seen again.

[@vivthefree]

Killed by a moose in the dramatic fashion of his death in the film.

[@stiimuli]

@@vivthefree a moose with a bow then

[@jacobadam6804]

The moose was obviously one of the many servants of Sauron, sent out to personally deal with the biggest threat to his reign.

[@evanscammell4194]

The moose: So passes Boromir son of Denethor

[@citricdemon]

A møøse once bitte my sister

[@b199b55]

The ad break at 8:47 with liberty mutual is incredibly seamless. If intended, it didnt go unnoticed

[@animatinglegionnaire7223]

Gandalf: Witch-king of Angmar, the time has come. Execute order Sauron. Nazgul: It will be done Supreme Wizard.

[@totmgsrockxd9900]

"BLAST 'EM!"

[@gandalf7262]

@@totmgsrockxd9900 Yes

[@djelvice]

Execute order 99

[@mrc3885]

In the 90s, a group of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition role players embarked on this line of thinking. It took 12 years of 5-14 hours per week of adventures to complete our campaign.

[@Schimml0rd]

how did it end? :D

[@mrc3885]

@@Schimml0rd Well, in our world, Frodo defended the ring from Gollum. Seconds later, Sauron hovered over Mount Doom and collected his ring. Instantly turning Gandalf, Galadriel and Elrond into Nazgul. Most of the armies of men gathered at the gates were slaughtered by Gandalf the black. The campaign's mission was to find out the specific means of killing each ring carrier, destroying the rings with the Hammer of Celebrimbor and absorbing the purified power into our party members. We destroyed the last ring wraith around level 23, year 12. From there it was one last boss fight to snatch the ring from Sauron and wisk it into the lava.

[@MusicAlbion]

Gandalf uses the power of the ring only once to make a huge firework display, the likes of which had never been witnessed in middle earth, and passes into legend

[@sandychen1381]

Hi

[@PhodexGames]

Actually the EDAIN modification for the LOTR game "Battle For Middle Earth 2" illustrated this very nicely. You can give the ring to gandalf there and see how it affects him and his surroundings. Very cool, one of the reasons I love this mod and game.

[@RedSpade37]

How have I, major fan of this series and its video game adaptations, missed that? Thank you for mentioning it!

[@josehenrique711]

There are no words in elvish, old entish or in the languages of men to commend your wonderful work...

[@sandychen1381]

Hi

[@inquizition9672]

All this could have been avoided if Elrond had just struck Isildur down when he refused to throw the ring into the forge.

[@aaravsaini2246]

Hehe true, but then there wudve been war between elves and men, ig

[@tazcockerill1189]

@@aaravsaini2246 Not necessarily. No one else was inside the volcano but those two. So, Elrond could have just made up some story like "Isildur slipped and fell to into the fire to his death and (by happy coincidence) took the ring with him." And everyone would have believed him not knowing any different.

[@oopus4]

@@tazcockerill1189 And they would just believe Elrond? Just like that?

[@tazcockerill1189]

@@oopus4 Why not? It's to this day in middle earth that Frodo is the one getting all the credit for destroying the ring, but we all know what happened there...

[@witoldschwenke9492]

@@oopus4 even if not all believed it, many would likely see the benefit of the ring being destroyed and would keep their doubts to themselves

[@bockmaker]

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” ― C. S. Lewis Who was friend of Tolkien

[@st.michaelthearchangel7774]

I wonder what torment he was referring to? In reality, morality is a good, and if we are living an immoral, unethical, sinful life, and are challenged by it from someone who is virtuous, then we will see it as a torment, especially if we are proud and arrogant, because we are being called out on our sin and don't want to repent, but want to remain wallowing in our filth and not grow in in virtue and righteousness.

[@apalsnerg]

@@st.michaelthearchangel7774 Lashes for smoking. Prison for not exercising. A fine levied for every day you go without having a clean home. You WILL do what is best for you, or you WILL suffer.

[@Alex13501]

@@st.michaelthearchangel7774 Morality depends on point of view. Me and you, we both most likely share few, but differ in others. Now imagine if somebody would enforce his morals (which he believes is perfection and without flaw) on you and could do nothing about. You maybe just want to live your life in peace, you never hurt anybody, but that doesnt matter, no exceptions, you will submit or you and your close ones will suffer or maybe even be killed for the greater good. I dont know about you, but this seems like a nightmare to me.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I think this could be applied to anyone from Cromwell to the Pilgrims to Hitler, Stalin and Mao. Despite the evil that they perpetrated, they all felt that were acting for the greater good of their people though they were actually causing great harm. (The list could be expanded to include several dozen names.)

[@kevinzhao9524]

Not sure how applicable this quote is. Here's what I think is an obvious counter-example. If you asked a Roman of the early Principate whether they prefer the notorious self-righteousness of Augustus Caesar or the cruelty of the rich oligarchic senators (robber barons) of the late Republic, what do you honestly think they would choose?

[@Tehownilator]

It’s so crazy to think that Bombadil asks to see the ring, laughs at it, and then puts in on his pinky for a joke and doesn’t disappear. Then he can see Frodo while he’s wearing it.. The humility this imbues in me, I can’t express.

[@heisenpsych3198]

"Will you not take it?" Said Frodo, holding out the ring. "No!" Exclaimed Gandalf jumping to his feet. "I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. I would have such need of it." But Frodo insisted. "Please, Gandalf, best of friends, take it. I cannot bear it any longer. You are stronger, both in mind and spirit." The wizard's heart was greatly conflicted and no words were spoken for several moments. All that could be heard was the crackling of the fire in the hearth. He loved Frodo and all these ridiculous hobbits and the pleading in Frodo's voice caused his heart to ache. Finally, he stretched for a hand and took the ring from Frodo. "I will not keep it long," said the wizard. "I will ride for Rivendell at once. That, or I shall go to Issengard to meet with Saruman. I have not yet decided. But I must go now. I cannot chance the ring taking hold of me. Goodbye Frodo." Gandalf headed out the door and as Frodo watched him make his way down the path, he saw Gandalf holding up the ring and admiring it and he heard him whisper, "Such a precious, little thing, this ring."

[@_JayRamsey_]

That's so cool. I legitimately thought I was reading a book quote (and I've read it before!) until Gandalf took the ring. Mad props.

[@heisenpsych3198]

@@_JayRamsey_ Thanks bro. You have no idea how much I appreciate that.

[@eliwalther4677]

@@heisenpsych3198 same I almost thought I was reading a book quote too, it was like reading Tolkien’s language

[@_JayRamsey_]

@@heisenpsych3198 You deserve it, Bro; glad I could be here to read it.

[@heisenpsych3198]

@@eliwalther4677 Tolkien was in a class all on his own. But I thank you for that compliment. It put a smile on my face. I will say that when rewriting scenes from a story I like, I do my best to capture the same...what's the words to use, flow and sentence structure that the original author used. For someone to see that effort, though simple as it is compared to the one and only Tolkien, is such a honor. Thank you again😊

[@khatack]

I think the "what if" tragedy would really just begin at where you left off, Gandalf's mind slowly being twisted by the ring becoming more and more evil, paranoid and dominating, until finally he'd begin to resent those he's supposed to protect. Slowly and surely, he'd strangle the life out of middle-earth.

[@kragary]

"until finally he'd begin to resent those he's supposed to protect" This rings true to me and I believe this would be key in his downward spiral. At first he'd make good decisions, rules and laws to protect people. However, eventually some group somewhere would begin to chafe under his control and resist. Kinda be like "we understand you mean well but sometimes it feels like you don't really understand our point of view, so could you maybe listen to us more or let us rule ourselves or..." A reasonable request, only Gandalf, twisted by the Ring and believing himself to be the wisest of all, would be offended and feel victimised; after everything I do for you this is the thanks I get... Then he'd decide people need to be taught a lesson so they'll appreciate him more, and that's where the true horror would begin.

[@xLeitix]

Agreed. What's missing here is the actual downward spiral implied by Gandalf. Because where this theory stops, the peoples of Middle Earth are, by and large, not worse off than in the actual story. Yes, they are ruled by a benevolent, wise, order-loving dictator, but that's preciously close to the position held by Aragorn at the end of LotR (don't forget that he's still an absolute feudal king).

[@Feanor1988bis]

And let's not forget Galadriel herself pretty much said that her taking the ring would end up in despair for the people of Middle Earth. It's really no different with Gandalf, except he is more powerful, more or less on par with Sauron.

[@grahambrowse23]

Is he though?

[@khatack]

@@grahambrowse23 yes, technically. In practice, gandalf's power is 'sapped', but he IS a maiar. Then again, Eru Illuvatar being omnipotent renders everything moot since either Gandalf couldn't fail or there would be something else in store to restore middle earth and destroy the ring.

[@LazyEyeMan]

I've been binging the extended versions of lotr for a couple of days. I found your videos by chance while looking for something to listen to on my daily commute. Your videos compliment the movies so nicely, thank you for the content. What luck for me!:)

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks! So glad you found the channel! :)

[@informationageenterprise2184]

Dude, the voices you do are incredible!