What if Tom Bombadil is given the Ring? | Tolkien Explained

[@stevedenis8292]

Old Tom would probably toss it but only after he made up a song about it. Tom has a ring of gold and power ,I tossed it by a hill when I picked a flower.

[@МаксимЯромич]

What? The thing I picked's not flower, it is the One Ring, I threw it on the groooound!

[@NB-568]

Found Tom's account!

[@davemccage7918]

So he’s an idiot?

[@rubybuttons668]

@@davemccage7918 Dave, I can’t agree with you more. Try as I might I can not understand what the point of Bombadil is in the stories lol.

[@ALPHABARLOG]

Frodo: Why can't we call Tom Bombadil to help us defeat Sauron? Elrond: Tom Bombadil is indeed very strong, but he is not interested. Frodo: But if we tell him that Sauron called Goldberry a whore? *Roll Credits*

[@vortex_1336]

Tom: "A whore, you say? Well, I suppose he's not wrong. She was a bit wild I your youth."

[@ShervinZ]

Tom would have a laugh

[@HadrianGuardiola]

LMFAO!

[@jantjarks7946]

Neither Tom nor Goldberry would accept Sauron's gift and return it. 😉

[@johnsmith1953x]

*LOL!* You had me spit out my coffee!! Hilarious!! 100%!!

[@gr1lly]

I love the fact that, unlike other videos in this series, this hypothetical question is entriely dealt with in-universe by the characters, making this video more reportage than theory...

[@hughmann9568]

Unreliable narrator. These characters have been wrong before and have "knowledge" that we are not shown or told how they obtained it. "Dealt with" is a strong word I feel for a couple of conjecture statements.

[@Asfgxff]

I mean, the title does say Tolkien explained, not Tolkien theory.

[@willdabeast6503]

It’s for people like myself who haven’t read or finished the books but have seen the movies. I’m 300 pages through the first book atm.

[@spacequack5470]

​@@hughmann9568Wrong

[@irotr53]

He'd probably lose it💀

[@OrhallaZander]

Seems to everyone's answer. :( I would like a new idea on it.

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

​@OrhallaZander He'd lose the ring wearing it on his toe. Happy?

[@guptamadras]

​He'd probably forget about it💀

[@waldos.429]

@@OrhallaZander Tom puts on the ring, the nazgul declair him their leader but flee in terror when he starts to sing, decide the ring is not worth it, then they change their ways and become good men again, one starts a bakery, the others go their separate ways and live similar mundane lives until they die of natural causes. Tom goes on with his life and forgets he's wearing the ring, Sauron, driven mad by toms singing orders the orcs to tear his tower down, thus ending the third age. 100 years later tom trades the ring for a slice of pie.

[@cascadelowab6462]

@@waldos.429 the story of the day

[@SoficalAspects]

Everytime I think of Tom Bombadil, I think of the scene in HP: Philosopher's Stone with the mirror of erised, where Dumbledore says to Harry 'The happiest man on earth would look into the mirror and see only himself exactly as he is'.

[@MeanBeanComedy]

That's a brilliant connection.

[@jamesvalle9079]

Tom is definitely the happiest as he is the eldest

[@Vario69]

J.K.'s books did have plot holes and she wasn't by no means perfect, but her books are still great. Fk the accusations.

[@HansWurst1569]

@@Vario69 Man, I though HP was so boring always. The first books are good and I like the first movies too, but it doesnt even come a tiny bit close to anything written by Tolkien

[@boomboomskidskid]

@@Vario69I mean, is it accusations if they say yes that’s who I am?

[@dimitrilitovsk2372]

Bombadil is an enigma. One of my favorite theories is that hes a force of nature, kinda like how ungoliant represents darkness, tom represents music

[@gravestone4840]

@dimitrilitovsk2372 I had the theory that he was Father Time. He's oldest and fatherless, he had to exist before everything could come into being. The Ring can't effect him, nothing can stop the march of time itself. If he were Father Time that would also explain his love of music since music is all about timing. Just my personal perspective on Tom.

[@jeramy9787]

He is the Truth incarcerated. Simply that. He is very over thought.

[@Enerdhil]

"Force" of nature? His loud singing?😂

[@VoiceoftheRings]

ya I think he is the incarnation (or the mind) of the World when it was sung into by song and music. like you said. I find it making the most sence.

[@jeramy9787]

@VoiceoftheRings no. Not world mind. Just Truth. Just Fact. He only has control of what can hear him, and nothing has power over him. But to him, the world is irrelevant.

[@MPD90]

I think this video interprets Tom's downfall as being one of might, that Sauron's forces would overcome him through force. I interpret it very differently. I think the risk is that even if the ring is safe with Tom (assuming he doesn't throw it away of course), that doesn't stop Sauron. He would continue to conquer Middle Earth and likely succeed. And then when there's nothing left and nature is quite literally destroyed (forests burned, lakes drained etc), or the music no long flows to use the other interpretation of Tom (i.e. there's no free folk left and all is brought in line with Sauron's will), Tom will simply cease to be. The ring was a powerful weapon for Sauron, but it was also an essential weapon for the good guys. Not to wield it's power, but as something physical they could destroy to end Sauron. To put it another way, if the ring were hidden forever more, Middle Earth would still fall, so thank goodness Sauron was linked to that pesky, vulnerable ring!

[@levistoner]

I feel the same about Tom. By the time Sauron would be able to invade Tom’s forest, Tom would simply no longer exist. There would be no battle or exchange of magic spells. I honestly don’t think Tom would kill another living creature, even orcs, goblins, and trolls.

[@Barhador-gz6vw]

Sauron would invade Bombadil's realm, end up waking up naked in a field, forgetting why he was there, and leaving.

[@richbattaglia5350]

That is funny.

[@thedrinkinggamemaker9749]

Ayo💀

[@menorak]

Sauron would simply wait until Tom Bombadill got bored, forgetful, or just happened to do something else, leaving the ring unguarded, and have someone pick it up. Tom would be a near all-powerful guardian, but he couldn't be bothered...

[@GetsugaTensho85]

This is the most likely outcome. Honestly, I think he simply would just come himself and ask him nicely, and Tom would just give it to him or something stupid like that. Then Sauron would just leave.

[@solalabell9674]

I’ve always loved that line ‘if all else was conquered, bombadil too would fall last as he was first’

[@francissellerdude]

😂😂 wth

[@octaviusmorlock]

_"Would Old Man Willow claim the ring and go on a Hobbit eating spree"_ was not on my NOTR bingo card.

[@МаксимЯромич]

I imagined the willow marching through Hobbiton towards the Green Dragon furiously swinging its branches. Poor hobbits would definitely think they've had too much ale.

[@agentspaniel4428]

Tom (sees the ring): ooh a doughnut

[@Fishfellow_II]

He just eats it💀

[@dearthditch]

He does come across as a flighty dope. I’m so glad they didn’t use him (much less those horrible songs) in the movie

[@BrainboxccGames]

mmmm, danger donut

[@HadrianGuardiola]

@@dearthditch he wasnt that at all. He was just so powerful and loving he appears that way by choice. When they are at his home he wove his stories and appeared in different ways. To him everyone is a little childe not just in age but understanding.

[@tripleh327]

Tom did wear the ring for a brief moment when Frodo passed in his home The ring did not grant him invisibility and seemed to have zero effect on his mental state Tom was also able to see Frodo while he was using the ring Given this brief scene is safe to assume that Tom is unaffected by the ring This raise a very obvious question on the nature of Tom himself given that even maiars like Gandalf and Saruman are able to be subject to the ring power That make Tom at the very least a valar in terms of power level But we know each valar by name and he is not one of them The most probable origin is the same of ungoliant A spirit of arda herself created during the music or a spirit of the void trapoed and given form in arda during the music

[@generoberts9151]

Tom was able to a see Frodo when he wore the ring. That speaks volumes. He is an enigma so much more powerful than people imagined but he didn’t care to use any of it

[@kokainkalle]

@@generoberts9151 and yet Tolkien wrote " that even he would fall to Sauron". He wouldnt write that if it wasnt true.

[@generoberts9151]

@@kokainkalle Not sure what “fail” pertains to in context. What is this in reference to in the literature?

[@tripleh327]

@@kokainkalle not exactly tolkien actually wrote about this point by having gandalf speaking we know that tom would be a terrible ring keeper becasue he would not understand its nature power and danger to him it is simply a trinket at best he will lose it by not paying attention to it at worst the ring would in the end be taken by sauron after the dark lord vanquis the elf and the men of west as not even tom alone cannot stop the armies of sauron and all his servant tolkien is stating that tom is not a suitable solution becasue of that that is the in world explanation in a very basic narrative terms tom is not a suitable solution becasue he is so damn powerful that it act as a deus ex machina giving him the ring would instanlty solve the matter at hand and would nullify the need of the fellowship of the ring and even the story itself tolkien is doing the very basic act of explaining to us the reader why giving the ring to this apparently all powerful individual that is not affected by the ring isn't a good idea a question that would inevitably pop up in the mind of the reader if the author did not adressed it as the simplest and most effective solution yeah giving tom the ring would only post pone the problem but it would solve the issue for nearly all the non immoratl characthers in the books and end the story right there not great. so tolkien is forced to make the all powerful tom a non solution with a convining explanation and go on tom is an anomaly it is not a recognized "power" in the mythos of arda he is not recognized between the valar/ainur and he is much more powerful than any maiar we know of not only his power makes no sense, his origin and nature is wrapped in mistery he seem a man yet he awoke before both the men and the elves one of his title is literally fatherless also at a narrative standpoint he makes little sense being a joyfull and merry charachter tossed into the middle of nowhere during a scary scene where the hobbit risked their lives his behaviour and description fit much better into a kid tale or even the hobbit story than in the lord of the ring tone and mood not even the silmarillion explain tom in better terms

[@ThomasstevenSlater]

What if Tom is Ugoliant after she ate her own hunger and got all the chill.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

If the bad guys don't learn about Tom having the Ring, here's what would most likely happen: Gandalf: Bombadil, where is the ring I entrusted on you? Ton: Oh, that old thing? I threw it in the river. Gandalf: You WHAT!

[@patmarek1222]

Gandalf: "Sh*t. Here we go again"

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Then, two hobbits discover it, and one kills the other for it...

[@Spartan-Of-Truth]

This whole thread is wild.

[@hecatomb1864]

im wondering if Tom put the ring down somewhere and his wife found it, could she be turned evil?

[@МаксимЯромич]

I threw it on the groooound!

[@dangertube9198]

“The wise, the great and those who happened to be around…” you make it sound like they consulted EVERYONE even the janitor and the mailman for their opinion.

[@Enerdhil]

That was good👍😂

[@Lodrik18]

That idea comes dangerously close to the truth...

[@MidoriNatsume]

“It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale." Said an old and wise firebender.

[@LoneTiger]

Janitors see a lot of crap, of course they should be consulted. And don't get me started about mailman.

[@atimholt]

I mean, they invited some old ranger. Strider, wasn't it?

[@joviatrisyvaine]

Where would we be without TomDaBombadil19?

[@DavidCDrake]

Just don't give him the ring... 😉

[@Cruxvae]

The ring holds no power over Tom because its power is temptation. Everybody wants SOMETHING. Gandalf wants to defeat Sauron, Galadriel wants to preserve the elves, Boromir wants to protect his home. But Tom Bombadil has everything he wants already, so the ring can't offer him any temptations. His utter contentment makes the ring, and all of its power, worthless to him.

[@durkadurka4557]

Your description of Tom makes him out as a being that doesn't care about the lives of other beings simply because he is eternal

[@Firenutz]

You know we love the “What If X Took The Ring?” series, Matt! And you know what I’m going to ask again already! Please, please do a “What If Sam Took The One Ring?” video following an alternate path starting right after Sam takes the ring from Frodo’s “dead” body in the wake of their encounter with Shelob. Only in this tragic story, Sam never realizes that Frodo is still alive and resolves to finish the quest to destroy the One Ring by himself. I would be so thrilled to hear your creative take on this idea knowing Sam is arguably the most noble and incorruptible creature in all of Middle Earth save Tom. Pretty please? 😁💕😁

[@dominikbeitat4450]

I'm afraid there's not enough story left to explore at that point. And Sam's path would be the same either way: He can't go back (not that he would, anyway), so he'll try to make it to Mount Doom, facing the same problems. But I love the general idea! My variation would be "What if Frodo didn't make it to Rivendell, so Sam stepped up as the new Ringbearer?"

[@VioletSilence]

YES PLS WE NEED THIS

[@adamswierszcz5586]

What would happen if Tom Bombadil would appear at San Diego Comic-Con? thanks for the video, Matt!

[@ImagineMySurprise510]

I don't think he'd come. After all, Goldberry is waiting.

[@Enerdhil]

Maybe Rory Kinnear will be at Comic-Con.

[@Beriothien007]

I got an idea. Time to grow my beard and eat a bunch of edibles

[@istari0]

People would congratulate him for his great Tom Bombadil cosplay.

[@Eowyn3Pride]

MATT as Tom Bombadil at Comic-CON!

[@darthgibsonlp6631]

My intepretation of Tom and Goldberry is that they represent the spirit of humour and love that rises above dark times. It would make no sense for Tom to take the Ring because he exists apart from Men, the Ainur, evil and all the trouble of Middle Earth. It's not a question of power but purpose, and that purpose was vested in the Fellowship and Frodo in particular.

[@OhhJim]

Plus, there’s no need for 2 1/2 more books.

[@hariman7727]

Goldberry and the smart trees are the Entwives.

[@istari0]

Defeating Sauron required the destruction of the One Ring, not hiding it. By the time of the War of the Ring, Sauron did not need to have the Ring to conquer the Free Peoples.

[@justinhogue9861]

True.

[@CharismaticCheetah]

"Oh Tom Bombadil He's a jolly fellow!"

[@hannessagichnicht6073]

I think his boots were Yellow.

[@DavidCDrake]

"Bright blue his jacket is And his boots are yellow!"

[@octaviusmorlock]

Hey dol merry dol, derry dolly dillo!

[@JJHeff]

My god, the idea of Old Man Willow getting the ring is one of the funniest what if’s I’ve ever heard. If you’re ever fighting for an April Fools idea, that’s a video right there.

[@JT-qh2up]

On a more serious note, what about giving it to TreeBeard?

[@LordPadriac]

I don't think it's not within his power to resist forever. For one he is only found if he wishes to be found. The Hobbits found him in the Old Forest but his place was not always there and moves around. From things mentioned by Tolkien in his many letters and back story material Tom was the embodiment of the Song. Sauron and all his might could never hope to destroy Tom no matter what ring he had. I doubt Sauron would even be able to sense the ring if someone was wearing it in wherever Tom's domain currently was. Tom was beyond his power or that of his armies. However being the physical embodiment of the Song Tom would know what needed to happen to the Ring and so would have refused to take it or at the least would have taken it but also arranged for the Ring to be put back on its path for humanity to decide if they would destroy it or be subjugated by Sauron. It was always humanity's choice and would know that only humanity could make it in order for the Song to fulfill its purpose.

[@demilung]

I love when people ask this especially because this shows that they try to seem like they've read the book and/or have extra knowledge, since Tom is not in the movie, but didn't actually read it since they straight up ask and answer this question during the Council of Elrond.

[@ultimaIXultima]

I've always seen Tom as being a representation of Tolkien himself. The fact that he lives near the Shire, which was based off of tolkien's hometown and the fact that he doesn't have a true presence in the world - he just shows up randomly when he's needed. He isn't actually a part of Middle Earth, he just has a connection to it.

[@Enerdhil]

Plus Tolkien isolated himself from the modern world.

[@HarlequinWriter]

I also like the theory that Tom is a disguise for Illuvitar just as Gandalf is a disguise for Olorin.

[@johnpaul5447]

@@HarlequinWriterit can’t be. Eru as the creator of all things would know what the ring is and how detrimental it is to Arda (middle earth). If Eru really was Tom Bombadil, then it would be contradictory for him to be so nonchalant with the ring if given as described, because he would understand its severity. There’s also the fact that he is already present in the quest of the ring shown when he returns Gandalf to the fellowship.

[@HarlequinWriter]

@@johnpaul5447 true enough. Clarification, I just like that theory, I don't believe that it's true. Tolkein himself basically just equates the Tom Bombadil is just... him.😆 On another note, I was under the impression that it was Manwe or Nienna who had sent Gandalf back. That's interesting! To say nothing of how much sense it makes.

[@Anthony123212]

People don’t seem to understand why Frodo was the ONLY one that could’ve brought the ring to Mordor. Frodo idolized Bilbo and wanted nothing more in life than his own adventure. He didn’t want power, he didn’t want glory. He wanted an adventure and the entire trip was exactly what he wanted. The ring had nothing to offer him that he didn’t already have.

[@sargonsblackgrandfather2072]

But ultimately it did corrupt his heart at Mount Doom when he refused to throw it in the fire like Isildur before him. It was Gollum biting off his finger and then falling into the fire which destroyed the ring, but it was Frodo’s compassion and pity allowing Gollum to live when he was tempted to kill him that ultimately saved Middle Earth

[@Anthony123212]

@@sargonsblackgrandfather2072 Yes it did, but that’s because it was, in his mind, the end of his journey. He was about to accomplish what he set out to do. That’s why it was also important for Sam to be there to hold him accountable, help him commit to it and keep his spirits up. It’s suggested that going home wasn’t on Frodo’s mind when he questioned Sam why he was saving the bread. Sam said to him, “ for the journey home, Mr. Frodo.” And Frodo’s eyes light up and he smiled for the first time in a long time. It suggests that he realized the journey wasn’t over and the ring lost grasp of him for a brief moment. Gollum biting it off his finger was an unplanned, but helpful, scenario. I like your insight on how important Frodos compassion was and how that played an important role in destroying the ring through showing Gollum compassion!

[@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio]

I see Tom Bombadil as the incorruptible essence of childhood innocence. After all, the story of Bombadil began as one for Tolkien's children, and it was a bit jackhammered into the lore of LotR. So, whether Tolkien consciously saw it that way or not, he was trying to reconcile the unreconcilable, the innocence of childhood into a world of adult darkness.

[@jeramy9787]

I see him as Truth incarcerated, and simply that.

[@charlesjmouse]

Always excellent. FWIW - I suspect if Saruman learned Tom had the ring, I think he would just go ask Tom for it knowing how persuasive he was and how little Tom cared for such things... his betrayal was not well known, he was very 'persuasive', and Tom may well not work out Saruman's evil intent for himself - after all, in spite of his suspicions even Gandalf was literally caught unawares. Would Saruman find out? Probably before Sauron, if the council managed to get the ring to Tom in secret. Saruman had spies and friends everywhere, a good many either unaware of his 'fall' or sympathetic to him personally.

[@thegamingpigeon3216]

*Ah yes, now we're asking the REAL questions*

[@MegaMiner83]

I know, right?

[@tarzan8575]

I've always wondered, if the smiths of Rivendell had encased the ring in Mithrill, would that possibly have blocked the ring's influence or maybe hidden it's presence?

[@Roboticus_Prime_RC]

That kind of mithril forging was a dwarf thing.

[@tarzan8575]

@@Roboticus_Prime_RC I'm sure the Elven smiths would have been more than capable of doing the job but I'm thinking that the ring would probably not have accepted it and just shed the Mithril off afterwards.

[@iluxa-4000]

And one other thing about Saruman - was he to learn about the Bombadil having the Ring, he would have pretty much no troubles getting to the old forest, and I'm sure the old mage would easily convince Bombadil to give him the Ring

[@UncleJamie]

"Those who happened to be around" * Shows picture of Legolas * #SweetBurnBro

[@Menemen98]

Legolas is a baby compared to Tom 😂

[@enzo2023]

So it came to pass that 3 days after the 'Council of Elrond' Gandalf accompanied by Frodo (& the ring) met Radagast the Brown and Gwaihir the Great Eagle in Rivendell. It was an uneventful trip for Gandalf & Frodo on the back of Gwaihir to Mount Doom. Upon arrival, Frodo tossed the ring into the depths of the mountain (under Gandalf's watchful eye) and they once again jumped on Gwaihir for their return journey to Rivendell and everlasting peace on Middle-Earth.

[@hariman7727]

Gwaihir is the size of a Roc, and the eagles are PROUD. There would be a civil war and betrayal for the ring before they got to Mount Doom. There was also an army of orcs and the Nazgul around the mountain. The best they could hope for is the cracks of doom being open to the sky and a traitor getting the One Ring, but losing flight and falling into the fires of mount doom. It's also a long journey, so it would be have multiple night grounded, which would mean ambushes. Oh, and Rohan/Gondor would probably fall too, since the fellowship wouldn't pass through there.

[@Framed-Naraht]

I could actually see giving Tom the ring as being a way that Saruman obtains it - but not through his armies, but by simply heading to Tom, and asking. Even without trying to use his "voice" on Tom, Saruman could likely convince Tom that the ring would be safer with the Wizard, and then of course, bad stuff happens.

[@rubenlopezusa]

I doubt it. And I suspect it was him who told Gandalf the only possible way to destroy the Ring. Gandalf is not a simply wizard; he is a Maia. Tom can only be a reincarnated Valar, existing since the beginning of time, power in his singing, stayed in Arda, not affected by the power of the Ring... Gandalf must have seek his advice when he was searching the Ring and hunting Gollum. He returns to visit him after the Ring is destroyed, to report to him?

[@Tzizenorec]

@@rubenlopezusa Saruman is on the same level as Gandalf, and Tom... isn't a Valar. He's a complete break in the worldbreaking: a cameo from a story that predates that world and shares no continuity with it. The closest equivalent, in-world, would be something like Ungoliant: Something that wasn't created, but came from beyond.

[@rubenlopezusa]

@@Tzizenorec Tolkien didn't leave much written but he left us clues maybe to finish his story on another moment. What other beings sign as expression of power and exist before the creation of Arda? What beings cannot be corrupted in any way by the Ring created by a Maia? What beings are married or live with a life partner? And the list is long. You cannot provide a valid reasoable reason to argue with my comment.

[@Tzizenorec]

@@rubenlopezusa I can't even figure out what your argument is. Ungoliant and Tom Bombadil are both things that predate the creation of Arda without being included among the Valar. It doesn't make sense to me to stuff them into the Valar despite not behaving like them at all, just because you don't want any other pre-Arda things to exist besides the Valar.

[@rubenlopezusa]

@@Tzizenorec it's not an argument, it's an opinion. You are the one arguing, saying something Tolkien never wrote. He tells us Eru creates Arda, Melkor is sent before anyone else, and then the other Valar. It's not a matter of what I want or not; no living creature existed or arrived before the Valar. Period. Ungoliant seems to appear from Darkness, and after the Valar, so she might be a Maia. However, Tom is different. He clearly says he was there before the Dark Lord, which must be no other than Sauron because he cannot have arrived before Melkor. On the other hand, like the Ainur, he uses music as a source of power; he is described with a beard, like Orome, and like him, he has a close relationship with Elves and nature. He had a big pony, which could be Naha's form. Orome was known to be a raider and a huntsman and Tom cannot be human because humans are created after the dark Lord arrived. We know immortal entities adopt different names and forms when they stay in The Middle Earth. Maia Olorin is Gandalf, Tom could be Orome, and Goldberry could be Vana. And it's not unrealistic; they all loved the Middle Earth and its creatures. Read The Silmarillion; it's all in there.

[@Klisterkillen]

Found your channel 2 year’s ago, and your videos have helped me understand when i reed the silmarillion 👍🏻 you have made me love the world of lord of the rings even more then i did before 🙂

[@hard_at_work]

I believe Tom Bombadil was meant to not only be neutral as the Grey Jedi are depicted in Star Wars but to actually be an example of the query of use of the third eye. Intellect and being expanded from the reach of mortal affairs and in turn granted a place all his own. If Sauron was so inclined to focus solely on Tom for understanding there was a different power at work perhaps his efforts would change and mastery of such could instead lead him to a different calling.

[@danielgehring7437]

A lot of people seem to get this wrong about LotR: Sauron, at no point, _needs_ the Ring to win the war. He was crushinating the free peoples right up to the very end.

[@MegaMiner83]

Sauron poured his power, malice, and will to dominate Middle-earth into the Ring, and he is thus weakened without it, and strengthened with it. I do not know if he could win the war without it, but there is much I do not know.

[@danielgehring7437]

@@MegaMiner83 But we don't have to speculate. From the very first meeting in Lothlorien (where they form the Fellowship), all of the leaders agree that it's only a matter of time before Sauron takes over the whole land if unchecked. And Sauron goes on to do exactly that: he may have lost the first battle of Minas Tirith, but Aragorn knows he'll come back in a month or so and the town's out of tricks to pull and undead armies to summon. That's why he goes with the last vestiges of his armies to the Black Gate, as nothing more than a distraction where he's outnumbered something like 50 to 1. Whether Sauron is powerful or not is immaterial: his armies are doing a pretty bang-up job with him just being an eye.

[@MegaMiner83]

@@danielgehring7437 You are correct, but he wasnt a physical large flaming eye. With the exception of Peter Jackson's movies, of course. Yes I was incorrect, it is more about strategy and numbers than physical power in war.

[@sirgalahad1376]

Yes but was he burninating them?

[@timothycarey3883]

Aragorn should have had the undead army kill all of mordor. They agreed to fight, he never said just for 1 battle.​@@danielgehring7437

[@dirtbird7415]

Tom in my opinion is an example of what is possible for everyone. He has faith , and in that is seemingly an individual with no weakness. Nothing stops any other character from having that , other than one thing....themselves.

[@VoiceoftheRings]

Awesome Video Nerd of the Rings! Loved it. Glad you covered this ! :D

[@curtisgoldthorpe6656]

You have not understood the quote. "last as he was first" as in, by giving the ring to him, Sauron would be stopped for the present but eventually he would still spread and conquer all of middle earth. then once all else had falling bombadil would become open to attack. he is the beginning and ending. he IS the end of the story of middle earth and thus if at the conclusion Sauron wins an absolute victory, immortal and eternal the story can only end there.

[@railroadbluesy2169]

I can't really imagine Tom being up for mass warfare with orcs anyway. He would probably just leave as soon as he became unable to keep his domain as he likes, not fight against all odds for a greater world he has no interest in. He might just leave for another continent or area, maybe he would leave Arda, maybe taking the ring, maybe not. The ainur who entered Arda became bound to it, not sure if Tom plays by the same rules though.

[@Enerdhil]

Or he might join Treebeard in FangornbForest

[@railroadbluesy2169]

@@Enerdhil I had the same thought, it would have had the same end though, just at Fanghorn instead of his own woods. If Sauron really wanted all of Middle Earth he would have just had to eventually leave it.

[@Enerdhil]

@@railroadbluesy2169 True, in fact, if Tom and Goldberry could escape to Fangorn Forest, they would probably find out that Sauron burnt that to the ground first.

[@061romell]

With all his ability he’s unwilling to help or at least ringerbear? (the ring has no influence on him) Im not sure I would be cool with tom after he that 🙎‍♂️

[@Enerdhil]

@@061romell Tom Bombadil is a pacifist. He will never purposely engage in any kind of conflict. He has power, as we see in his encounters with Old Man Willow and the Barrow Wights. The One Ring has no effect on him whatsoever, so he should be the perfect person to carry the Ring to Mount Doom. However, his pacifism would never allow him to get involved. Plus, he would never leave Goldberry. He has responsibilities to her that he must meet.

[@SpectreOfChar]

We need a what if old man Willow gets the ring now lol, "one root to rule them all, one root to find them, one root to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them" 🌳+💍

[@jeffk7881]

Absolutely love your “What if?” videos!!!

[@purefoldnz3070]

he would probably just write a song about it. (Chorus) Hey, ho! The One Ring's song, It whispers in the dark, but it don't last long. For Tom's the master, in his land so fair, No Ring can bind him, no Ring can snare.

[@Menemen98]

He’d probably just look at it😂😂😂

[@jonathona.2222]

I think of the two Immortal beings, Goldberry would probably be the better caretaker of the Ring. She would have greater understanding of what that task meant and Tom would absolutely go to war to protect her. But ultimately, I think the only alternative to destroying the ring would have been to send it to Manwe.

[@MrClockw3rk]

Tom sounds like a borderline fourth wall break in the sense that he reflects the absurdity of human concerns back at the reader, by simply not giving them power.

[@DieLuftwaffel]

Question: Any signs Sauron or even Morgoth actually had any affection for the orcs or liked them? Were they perhaps disgusted, but just using them as pawns? Evidence either way? Morgoth wanted the power to create life, but could only corrupt; was he happy with the result of his work? Sauron loved order, but orcs are wild, dirty, and hard to control. Maybe the plan was to win, and then eventually kill the pawns?

[@MegaMiner83]

Morgoth corrupted elves into orcs in the first place, my guess would be that he would be hateful of them yet. I do not know of any evidence to indicate that they had any affection or appreciation for them.

[@albertlamar5938]

Alternate Universe: After rescuing the Hobbits from the undead, they confide their story to him about the ring, and ask him to help. Goldberry says he should do it, and be home in time for dinner. Tom asks a giant eagle for a ride to Mount Doom. Tom drops it in from a bombing altitude, and makes it home for dinner. The eagle brings the Hobbits back to the Shire after dessert. Tom composes an 8,000 stanza melody about the flight. The next day he forgets all about it.

[@andrewhiller1098]

Next video : what if Goldberry gets the ring.

[@Enerdhil]

Yes. That is a great question. That is the what-if question on which Matt should have made his video.

[@sureshyadav9317]

I was on the page on which you made this video when the notification came and i was like what a fuckin coincidece

[@YWeeJun]

Why does Tom's picture look like Jack Black

[@Gabriel-uq6iq]

And Goldberry looks like Kyle Gass.

[@michaelward3428]

I love your "what if" vids!

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

Easy fix. All the free peoples of Middle-Earth convince Tom to take the Ring, but if he insists on throwing it away, to throw it away into Orodruin. Lol. 😂

[@systemicthinking]

Two points: if sending the ring would allow the Dark Lord to conquer all the rest of Middle Earth then actually capturing the ring would be unimportant. Secondly, even if Sauron could not defeat Tom directly, he could do so indirectly fairly easily, by for example diverting an upstream river, or attacking all the things Tom holds dear.

[@priyodits]

Tom is Eru. He has everything that ever existed or will exist. He is everything. There is no question of him possessing something which is just a small part of the whole. The ring is just like a dust particle.

[@neilreinecke3243]

Great video! I believe Tom would forget about it. Also at this time in the story the Balrog had not been defeated yet. If Sauron sent word to the Balrog to help retrieve the ring in the name of Melkor. Then that will be to much evil for even Tom to ignore!

[@tonypapas9854]

The only way to eliminate the threat of Sauron was destroying the Ring. Even without it, he outlasts the Elves and Men over hundreds/thousands of years, and eventually controls all of Middle-Earth.

[@gregrohsful]

It held no sway over him and as Gandalf said he would lose it. But one theory is Tom is the embodiment of Eru so he in fact held the power of the earth to defeat enemies.

[@NancyDLaw]

I don't have to watch this again you have said countless times what will happen ❤❤😂😂😂

[@IanHeins]

Nice work dude thanks

[@1112viggo]

Imagine Tom taking the ring to Mordor on a giant eagle chucking it into the volcano top? The most epic and lengthy quest of all literature would be turned into a quick 20 minute in and out adventure.

[@LCTesla]

I think on some level Tom, having survived through countless aeons, knew that the world would deal with the ring on its own and leave a lush and cheerful place for him to wander like it had so many times before. That is why he would discard it and why giving it to him is like a detour, leading the ring back for the rest of the world to deal with.

[@erikbender1967]

Remember don't forget Debbie!!! Always enjoy the ending.

[@martindorigny2977]

All i see is a perfect role for Jack Black

[@Enerdhil]

About Goldberry, Is it possible that the Withywindle gave birth to Goldberry only because Tom was wondering all the way down to the Brandywine and he was lonely, or the spurit in the river sensed it? Maybe the Withywindle was hallowed by Ulmo, and maybe in some way Eru allowed for the creation of Goldberry as he allowed for the creation of the Dwarves and Ents. I think in the Old Forest, Goldberry is like Eve, while Tom is like Adam.

[@Eowyn3Pride]

That's a beautiful thought. Adam and Eve unmarred in Eden.

[@Enerdhil]

​@@Eowyn3Pride Yes, exactly. I also believe that the Elves were meant to be a "sinless" race. Of course, we have the Fëanorians and Eöl and Maeglin, but Elves generally don't commit "sins" in lore.

[@plaguedoctor415]

Sticking it where the sun doesn't shine is a valid suggestion.

[@cptairwolf]

I'd love to see a new trilogy that would be created to explain Tom's character and the reasoning for his existence.

[@luq.9905]

You know how Dorothy just dances and skips down the yellow brick road…. That’s Tom just all across middle earth. You can’t give this guy the ring 😂😂

[@MarcThomasJuanGomez]

I'm pretty sure that even holding all the power in arda, Sauron would not make Tom even a tad nervous, but the reason they don't put him in charge is because they suspect that by the time he act on it it'll be late for the rest.

[@Banefane]

I have always identified Tom as hope. So if everything turned to darkness, he would basically be the only thing that could make a difference for people who want the darkness to go away, but as long as life isn't on the edge of darkness, there's no reason for Tom to act. So, in my opinion, Tom is basically invincible, but also not a being who can rule over everything.

[@EricCalhoun]

A fun what-if video would be what if Saruman took the ring... not the one ring, but if he took Narya from Gandalf while he had him prisoner.

[@rabbitholeinc.3689]

I saw the thumbnail and was like is that Jack Black as Tom Bombadil? I'm totally all for it especially because Tom actually sings which just makes having Jables play the role even sweeter lol

[@ImagineMySurprise510]

I wonder just how effective Bombadil's power is, for while he showed power over the Barrow weight, nothing had stopped the Witch king from previously waking them up. If the Witch king was able to easily enter Tom's territory, maybe Sauron could do the same.

[@Enerdhil]

The Barrow Downs is actually outside of Tom's "territory."

[@lomiification]

Sauron probably could just walk in, ask for the ring, and Tom would give it as a gift

[@Enerdhil]

@@lomiification Sauron can no longer take on a fair Fana, so his Annatar days are gone. He now looks like something out of a horror flick. I doubt Tom would willingly give him the Ring.

[@MannyBrum]

I thought that was Jack Black in the thumbnail. Come to think of it, I want to see an adaptation with Jack Black as Bombadil now. Maybe we can get an Adventures of Tom Bombadil movie.

[@DragonsChosen]

Something I would love to see is, what if Aragorn or Faramir took the ring or maybe... maybe Smaug would be really cool as well?

[@glennchartrand5411]

The are are two reasons Bombadil is in LOTR: 1. Because Tolkien was releasing a book of his earlier short stories and poems shortly after LOTR titled "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" and he wanted a tie-in as a marketing move. The book bombed so badly that a lot of Tolkien fans never heard of it. 2. Bombadil is actually Tolkein's first character It's the name of a wooden doll he and his children played with as he made up stories with them...stories that eventually became "Middle Earth". Tolkein subtly references this a couple of times in Fellowship of the Ring.

[@durkadurka4557]

Tolkien would be laughing hysterically at all the Bombadil hysteria about a character he purposefully wrote as an enigma.

[@flavho]

I thinks you forget that Tom is friends with Master Chief and The Jedi, who will come to his aid at his time of need .

[@DISTurbedwaffle918]

Sly Marbo would no doubt come to his aid

[@motetotee]

I had no idea Jack Black was actually Tom Bombadil

[@ItoHiyori]

I’ve never thought about old man willow in this theory. That would be a good “what if” cause Tom wouldn’t care about it, but the ring wants to be found.

[@RealBarryFox]

Your voice is awesome. You sound like young Kenobi :)

[@Gaalification]

I interpreted Glorfindel reasoning as "Sauron would pause the chase for the Ring, conquer and destroy everything and everyone and then Bombadil would probably leave or something because of how much the scenery out of his window sucks"

[@MarkCMG]

Thanks for the video! Tom was a great character that represented the uncaring presence of nature. No matter what we little parasites do on a rock in space, the rock will remain, adapt, and survive our incursion.

[@Magic_beans_]

Related to what Glorfindel said, even if they could hide the ring forever, that wouldn’t stop Sauron from overrunning the rest of the world.

[@johnrodgers4773]

The depiction of Tom around 1:26 made me think of Jack Black. This led me to imaginie Tom's songs interpreted by Tenacious D. Rock!

[@russelllaviolette7515]

Came here for this comment.

[@FFTT]

And the one at 6:30 is Peter Jackson !

[@passingtime7203]

saw this after i posted the same thing😁

[@roqjin5402]

@@passingtime7203 lol, exactly what I think Tom Bombadil would be like. xD Posted it before I read the comments as well. ;)

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

Just from a cursory reading of LoTR....it's quite clear Bombadil is not normal within that world. To wear the ring and he not go invisible or Frodo wearing it and Bombadil seeing Frodo still, clearly indicates he is the earthly avatar of the creator. Only something above them all would have that power because even other Maiar can be consumed by it..

[@ArcDragoon]

The concern of Tom with the One Ring in his possession wouldn't be that he would just lose it. It is that Tom would easily give it away as it was given to him. Just like how Frodo gave him the Ring, Tom looked at it and just handed it back. If you could even convince of him to take the Ring, you could make the same assumption that you could convince him to give it to whoever asked of him. Sauron wouldn't need to burn down the old forest. He would simply walk to the front door and ask for it. Remember that Sauron does not resort to violence immediately, he always does things the nice way first. There is no need to get your hands dirty if they're willing to comply.

[@Jakblade]

I thought this was about be a what if Tom claimed the one ring video 😂😂 now that’s all I can think about.

[@herbsuperb6034]

They should've told Tom that Sauron made a disparaging remark about his Momma! Tom would've been like ".....oh, YEAH! I'll show HIM!!!....."

[@Matilias2]

What if the Fellowship stayed with Fordo ? After Boromirs death and the capture of Merry and Pippin. Aragorn decides that protecting the ring bearer is more important then anything else. So Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas decide to follow Fordo and find him walking circles in the Dead Marshes.

[@Kaminkaese]

"Wanna give the Ring to old Tom?" Gandalf:"naaah he's a moron"

[@CarlWheatley-wi2cl]

The mind boggles at the possibilities if Tom did decide to take the Ring for safe keeping. Would he have allies and powers undisclosed in the literature? Goldberry herself appears to be some sort of Maia for a start. We'll have to concede the theories to fanfic and just accept Tom as a fascinating enigma and oddity.

[@mjdaniel8710]

"Dance and sing, Dance and sing, ol' Tom has got a ring........Oh Dance and sing"

[@bradwalls8656]

I have x2 things I'd like to bring up, x1 is a potential "LOTR~What If" & the other is just a question. 1) What if Shelob, greatest offspring of Ungoliant - the primordial spider, got the One Ring of Power? This could have happened if not for Samwise's intervention. 2) As proposed by the G1~DeathBattle blog, who would win in a fight = Morgoth (first of the dark lords) vs Sinestro (first of the bright lords of the Yellow Lanterns).

[@minotaurblood4066]

Feel like I saw this one already but I love rewatching these anyways

[@DaTux91]

You know, Tom's jolly and childlike demeanor, innocence, playfulness and absolute disregard/ignorance of gravitas sometimes make me wonder if he isn't an author's children's insert. Or the concept of childlike innocence personified. A beautiful thing, as an idea older than old, but evergreen and unaffected by the grave matters of more serious folk. The last thing to stand and perhaps fall when all should come to darkness. I'm not nearly knowledgeable enough in Tolkien's works to gauge the validity of this thought but I do think it's a beautiful one.

[@lomiification]

He's one of the kids' dolls/toys As far as the stories are written down versions of giving bed time stories and the like, tom is an inclusion of a toy in the story, and he was clearly present enough in those stories to make it into the written one. His personality was probably defined by one of the kids or by how they played with the toy

[@mikecronis]

I think Tom's immediate realm would hold-out against the armies with nature itself stopping the hordes in uncanny fashion. Sauron would simply have to wait for Tom to misplace it without care and forget it, and the Ring would find its way to someone else, perhaps back to Gollum in time as it washed down a riverway forgotten.

[@Jamiedoh789]

It was. He looked at it. Flipped it around. Gave it back.

[@EmperorCaligula_EC]

Tom Bombadil is sort of the perfect Daoist sage like Zhuangzi, who decides to live just outside of all things in the world. Zhunagzi had a similar funny side.

[@Findus_]

That thumbnail got me for a moment. Nice cameo by Jack Black.