Why Aragorn Didn't Take the Army of the Dead to Mordor

[@Pub2k4]

In the movies, Aragorn wasn’t originally planning to go to Mordor. Going to Mordor was an afterthought designed for the sole purpose of creating a diversion so Frodo and Sam could get to Mount Doom.

[@FairlyFictional]

That’s true. In the books the idea came about after they successfully defended Minas Tirith and they were debating what to do next. Your comment did remind me also that in the books Aragorn wasn’t even planning on going with the fellowship all the way. He was only joining them on his way to Minas Tirith with Boromir.

[@Theomite]

Right. In the movies, it wasn't until Gandalf said that Frodo & Sam had passed beyond his sight that they started thinking about doing anything else. Gimli even said to let him rot behind the Black Gate. It was Gandalf who pointed out that Sauron shoring up behind his gate would put Frodo & Sam at the greatest risk of failure and they had to do something about it.

[@Pub2k4]

@@Theomite Exactly. I’m not a huge fan of changing the material from book to film, but this was one change that made sense. In the movie, Aragorn is much harder on the King of the Dead, but he also has a much more compassionate and forgiving tone when he grants them absolution for breaking their oaths.

[@Adam-dv2je]

I'm listening to Andy Serkis' literary performance now while out working. Aragorn clearly is Kingly and knows what his duty is. We see him use his commanding behavior sparsely, but when necessary, for he is both Strider and Aragorn Elessar. Seemingly, he *prefers* Strider, yet does so knowing full well he is to be King. The movies show Aragorn's valor and strength of leadership, but Viggo brings no Kingly leadership, just dedication. I would have loved to see Viggo and Karl fighting at Helm's Deep instead of Haldir.

[@FairlyFictional]

@@Adam-dv2je yeh he is more kingly in the book. He even carries the shards and Anduril a lot sooner, rather than leaving them in Rivendell like the responsibility intimidates him. Yeh I liked the Eomer and Aragorn fight together at Helms Deep. Or even if we saw them together at Pelennor it would have been cool. They barely interacted in the movies and would have been nice as they go on to be King Bros after the books 😃.

[@ARFirstRaptor2011]

1. Aragon gave his word thinking to get these traitors to fight one last time 2. What If Sauron controlled the dead when they are near the black gate 3. Traitors cannot be trusted who can turn against them anytime 4. Aragon saw these traitors suffered long enough and being a compassionate man, he let them find their peace, which brought satisfaction to Aragon

[@ainiel7602]

​​@@hadisancarMaybe 2 but 3 is very possible. They don't have to obey someone else to turn against them. Just Aragorn not releasing them when he promised, could have driven them mad believing he will never set them free.

[@theyux1]

​@hadisancar sauron was the most powerful necromancer in the world. Isilidur might have cursed them, but very good odds Sauron could have broken or even more likely twisted the curse.

[@darylwilliams7883]

In the movie it looked like the army of the dead could do physical damage, but in the book their only real weapon was fear. Useless in Mordor against the power of Sauron. Aragorn knew this from the get-go.

[@Theomite]

Yeah, if the only power they had was intimidation, then taking them to battle would've been pointless.

[@gosonegr]

@@TheomiteI’m not sure, they can’t harm physically but, besides terror they’re described as harmful

[@utredmaethor769]

​@@gosonegr well Brego, or Baldor ? Don't rememeber exactly, was a Rohirrim prince who swore to pass the path of the dead while he was drunk during a feast in Meduseld. The rohirrim never saw him again. When Aragorn traveled in the path of the deads, he saw a skeleton with a chain mail and a helmet, seeming trying desperatly to open a door made of a black stone, his legs broken. (And his sword broken i think). This body is shurely the one of the rohirrim prince. And I think that the deads killed him not only with dread and fear, but also with physical injuries, maybe undirectly, not sure, but I doubt that the prince would have broke his legs himself.

[@isaiahprettypaint8877]

Reqching

[@Ebolachicken]

lies they could have been use as a distraction

[@richarddeese1087]

Aragorn didn't have the right to ask more of them than that they redress their original sin. tavi.

[@calebowen2006]

I mean, one battle doesn't really equate to a 7 year long seige so I don't think that's exactly accurate. I think the better description is that in the video of it possibly not being beneficial

[@sethburro6031]

But over time they still owed interest haha

[@MarsellusWallace2024]

@@sethburro6031I was going to say the exact same thing. “With interest”

[@sethburro6031]

@@MarsellusWallace2024 it's funny because it's true

[@truenorthtarot8670]

​@@sethburro6031yes they did pity huh

[@andrewhaman3329]

Mostly thought it was honor based. Oath was fulfilled thus they deserved there rest. Also not wise to fight someone who knows necromancy with the dead.

[@FairlyFictional]

It would not have been wise at all 👍🏼

[@Theomite]

If they could've done physical harm like in the movies, the benefit wouldn't have been fighting Sauron, just wiping out his Orcs at the Black Gate so they could lead a successful invasion.

[@andrewhaman3329]

You do realize in mordor is where his power is at its highest point. All the land is under his dominion. Him having the art of necromancy under his belt can cause untold damage to there forces. Reason one no one on there side had even practiced the art of necromancy thus giving him no challenge when he basically sways them to his banner. No matter if you go by the book or movie your setting your army up for a slaughter. There weapons won't cut them but they'll butcher your army. Bring the dead into a fight against a necromancer when you don't know the art is pure suicide. All your doing is giving him another army to command and worse you can't counter well.

[@andrewhaman3329]

@@Theomite don't matter if you go by the books or the movie. in mordor his power is at its greatest. also they didn't have anyone that's even practice necromancy. thus he'd go unchallenge in swaying them to his side. your basically giving him another army to command and one you cant even counter all to well. its setting your army up for slaughter. its knowing when and not to use something, in this one he made the most of there service.

[@Supercheeseburger666]

I would have to agree with this presentation. The risks far outweighed the benefits.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you. I also agree with Aragorn’s decision 🙂

[@midnightflyer7510]

This compels me to read the books again cause I didn’t remember this at all and I’ve watched the movies more times than I can remember only reenforcing Hollywood fallacies! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@FairlyFictional]

Ah you’re welcome. And thanks for the comment. There’s so much good stuff in the books that were left out of the movies. Even the extended editions. Some of my favourite characters too. Fingers crossed for an extended extended 25th anniversary edition 😂.

[@Pub2k4]

I wouldn’t call it a fallacy. There are some things that just don’t translate well to the screen, and have to be changed for the sake of good story telling. They weren’t perfect movies, but they are 100% peak cinema. We will be lucky to ever see movies of this caliber hit theaters again. But I will say, Dune Part Two is close.

[@FairlyFictional]

Not had a chance to see Dune 2 yet. Was it better than the first?

[@Pub2k4]

@@FairlyFictional I don’t really think we can call it “better” or “worse” than the first one. It picks up within like 10 minutes of where the first one left off, and it just feels like a continuation of that. And the entirety of the second movie takes place within just a few months of the first movie. If you remember, Paul’s mother was pregnant at the end of the first movie. By the end of the second movie, she’s still pregnant. So they aren’t rushing through the timeline. it’s really satisfying. Denis Villeneuve is a master storyteller.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks. I’ll see it eventually 👍🏼

[@gregwilson7818]

The Army of the Dead never went to Minis Tirith - they helped free the southern fiefdoms who were controlled by the Easterlings and Southrons - then Aragorn took their ships and with the added recruits from the southern cities, released the dead from their oath, and then went to battle on the Pellenor Fields.

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

The southern fiefdoms, as you call them were not controlled by the easterlings and southrons... well, South Gondor was a wasteland, or hundreds or thousands of years under southern control. Umbar WAS the capital of southern Gondor, and the pirates were numenorean, many of purer line than the gondorians, though evil. What Aragorn freed was ships and the slaves on the ships sailing up the Anduin. Anduin was the river going middle of the country, but the southside was either Umbar or abandoned. So Anduin was the border river. Some lands near the river might have been abandoned or raided, but the pirates "corsairs" did not control them. Remember, in the book the most powerful Gondorian city is not Minas Tirith, nor it was the Osgiliath that was the largest, but it was Dol Amroth, which was one of the most southern. And they were not "recruits", and neither were they under control of the Steward, OR Aragorn. Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth arrived with "Swan Knights" and though nothing is said of them in the book, and that is a nod towards non-Tolkien source and far too long to explain here, there is a reason to expect them to be one of the strongest units apart from Elronds household guards and units of wartrolls. Of course, the movies just ignore whole Dol Amroth thing, but one thing is certain: If Aragorn came down from Erech, and ended up in mouth of Anduin, he would have gone through Dol Amroth. So he would have not only known if Imrahil was coming, but called him by himself, and thus known that there were other forces coming too.

[@steverogers5956]

@@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681 have you ever read the books? You've got this all wrong.

[@bullgravy6906]

In the movies, the sudden rush of fear that takes hold of the orcs in the face of the Rohirrim is the single greatest cinematic scene and liberty ever done. Also, at least to my understanding, the horses of Rohan were indirect descendants of Shadowfax while Theoden’s horse was a direct descendent and were much sturdier than the average horse of middle earth. I may have made all of that up though

[@FairlyFictional]

Yes, the charge of the Rohirrim was one of the best moments of the trilogy. And yes, Rohan did have the best horses. But I don’t think that they descended from Shadowfax specifically. Shadowfax was a descendent of the Mearas and could understand human speech and lived longer than normal horses.

[@Iluvantir]

Shadowfax himself (in the book) was only a descendent of the Meras, the original horses of old, and not the "father of horses" as the film portrayed - but that change is very forgivable as explaining all that in a film... no-one like long expositions unless done masterfully, and it slows things down. But the Horses of the Rohirrim were amazing, true. They would have panicked at the Army of the Dead, just as Arod, the horse from Rohan, did. It was only an ELF talking to him that stopped him from fleeing. The Rohirrim, as masterful as horsemen as they were, had not a chance compared to an elf doing so.

[@Adam-dv2je]

I like this idea of Sauron potentially turning and using the Army of The Dead. That's cool.

[@Srb89in]

"None, but the King of Gondor can command Me", said King of the deaths to Aragorn.

[@bestlaidplans4511]

​@Srb89in Ok. But I'm not sure the leader of a bunch of dead Dunharrow traitors would be the most reliable source of information. If they were in Sauron's presence and he magically told them to do something, I highly doubt they'd be like, "nah", and then Sauron would just give up. He's pretty persistent.

[@griver007able]

He can. I do not see the the difference between the nazgul and the oathbreakers.

[@jeffreytaylor4464]

So the undead army was not physically dangerous. That’s way different from the movies interpretation of them actually having swords and no fear of death. If Aragorn did require them to face Mordor it would have sucked the suspense out of the final chapter of the film. That’s what I believed the reason was for years. Thank you for enlightening me on the proper reason. 🇨🇦👍

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks. I’m glad I could shed more light on the issue. The movies have definitely clouded people’s memories of the books. 👍🏼

[@jeffreytaylor4464]

Full disclosure: I read the 1st book and maybe half of the next one, then my life got complicated, I never actually read the entirety of the books 😅. I enjoyed the movies though. Anyway have a nice day and take good care of yourself! 🍻

[@FairlyFictional]

I will try and do more videos covering parts missed from the movies then to fill in the gaps 😉. Good day 👍🏼

[@gerardmonsen1267]

@@jeffreytaylor4464I extremely highly encourage you to listen to the audiobooks of the Lord of the Rings as read by Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the movies. It is a masterpiece reading of a masterpiece.

[@daviddrew3372]

Fun fact : “ The army of the dead” were not actually dead. They could not die until they fulfilled their oath. They became quite insubstantial due to their long deathless state and very much wanted the peace of death which could only come when they could fulfill their oath to a true king of Gondor .

[@rachelskit]

They’re basically Nazgul, shadows of the living

[@J040PL7]

Physically they were dead, but their spirits weren't allowed to enter the halls of the dead and thus denied rest.

[@sowhodecidedthat3924]

From what I could tell, the Army of the Dead were scaredy cats and would not go to Mordor. They were quaking in their boots. So Aragorn just sighed and said 'Go to sleep'.

[@DEVUNK88]

the artwork included in this video is stunning

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@havoc1230]

@@FairlyFictional where did it come from?

[@baptistic]

Most likely AI-generated

[@FairlyFictional]

@@havoc1230 I created them all with a mix of AI and manual intervention.

[@andrejpecko9324]

@@FairlyFictional Is it possible that you somehow share them with us?

[@steveg2251]

they fulfilled their oath and Sauron could control the dead.

[@gayprepperz6862]

Interesting, but if he could control the dead why didn't he do something when they attacked the Corsairs and (as in the movie) Minas Tirith?

[@steveg2251]

@@gayprepperz6862 Too busy with Saruman and the palantir.

[@ainiel7602]

I agree with the ones saying Aragorn gave his word and couldn't change his decision. And that was for both his honour as a King and what bad consequences that would lead to.The dead fought that battle with the promise they would be set free. If he had taken that promise back and they believed they would never be set free and the one thing they were hoping for was lost forever, they could have turned against him as revenge. That promise was all that was holding their allegiance.

[@FairlyFictional]

True he gave his word but more of a question is why a fight in Mordor was not part of his initial deal. That is where they were supposed to go when they bailed during the Last Alliance after pledging to him. He would not have had to go back on anything if that was the deal to begin with 🤔. All they actually did was scare some men off boats in the end.

[@MrPhilbautista]

@@FairlyFictional As mentioned in discussions above, going to Mordor was merely an after thought. The plan was to defend Minas Tirith. Mission accomplished. Dead are set free. When planning what to do next, it is suggested that they go to Mordor, not to get rid of Sauron, but to distract him, so as to help Frodo accomplish his mission.

[@justrusty]

Yes, I would have brought them to Mordor, and realized my mistake after it was too late. (There was no youtube in Middle Earth to point out the mistake to me.)

[@FairlyFictional]

😂

[@rustyswolio]

Very interesting. I always wondered this so thank you for sharing.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you for watching 😁

[@jimjoyce4423]

Aragon gave his word

[@TTTTTIIAAGGOO]

I thinked that was just because Sauron was once a necromancer in Dol Guldur and he is able to control a bunch of undeads like all necromancers probably would in fantasy rpg necromancer class

[@erichbrough6097]

I still get the full body chills whenever I read Aragorn's address to the Dead. I can hear his voice ringing out across the hill country.

[@angharadhafod]

You've answered a question I've long pondered, ever since I first read the books (way before I saw the film). I can well see why he didn't take the oathbreakers to Mordor; that was a mission of a different nature. But to Minas Tirith, that made sense to me. It was one of very few changes I approved of in the films. Now you've explained it, you're clearly right.

[@michaelkiese7794]

Basically if the eagles just flew the hobbits to mount doom, and the army of the dead marched on Mordor, the books would have been really short.

[@1ZZFE]

Precisely!

[@rabbitholeinc.3689]

Ehhh yes and no lol Oaths in Middle Earth could be seen a really powerful form of magic Aragorn couldn't ask the undead army to do more than what their oath dictates them to which is defend Gondor which they did, they were never charged to march on Mordor. As for the Eagles, these beings are children of Manwe the leader of the Valer. The times they actually did help was because they owed Gandalf for saving one of them. They're observers, much like Gandalf and the other Istari they weren't ment to meddle in the affairs of Middle Earth, only combat foes beyond their means and help guide them in the war with Suaron.

[@lockyer0061]

Hindsight is 20/20

[@MrPhilbautista]

Actually, if they listened to Gandalf when he was fighting the Balrog, things would have been so much easier. Didn't he tell them to "Fly, fools!"

[@kingdani760]

No, the eagles wouldn’t be able to fly into Mordor because do you remember what Boromir said in the first movie, “The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume…” plus the Eye of Sauron would spot them immediately & sent the Nazgûl after them & sent his orcs to fortify Mount Doom & the movie would end with Sauron reclaiming the One Ring! 🤔

[@tjjordan4207]

I always assumed that Sauron would have been able to take control of them or even tempt them to join his side. The real question I've always wondered about was why the Eagles weren't used to fly in and throw the ring into Mount Doom?

[@boothy918]

The worst part of the film was when the army of the dead just effortlessly swathed over everything and killed it in 2 minutes. It was very unsatisfying.

[@guiltycross]

Exactly. Having read the books before watching, that scene took the glory away from the South Gondorians, Imrahil and the Knights of the Silver Swan, and of course- Theoden and the Rohirrim.

[@heartbreak25]

@@guiltycross They were basically a cheat code.

[@SwayNoir]

I don't remember much from reading the books, I was very young haha. But I have rewatched the movies a million times and that bringing the dead/ghosts there could have a negative effect on the men/horses is something that never crossed my mind. I feel like my mind is blown haha. Thankyou for this video, was definitely a great insight and I completely agree with what you say.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks for the comment. I am glad I could be of service 😊

[@Gothmaugh]

Aragorn has honor. There.... saved you 8 minutes

[@FairlyFictional]

Good effort. 🤣

[@gayprepperz6862]

Great video. I've always wondered that very question, and many interesting opinions in the comment section.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you. I'm glad you thought it was an interesting topic.

[@J040PL7]

The contract is to help gondor in it's time of need. Not wipe out mordor 😂

[@Mythicalniceguy]

Sauron was a god tier necromancer. I don’t know how effective the army of the dead would have been.

[@kakonoteouji4876]

Plus this is just what I think but could have been corrupted by the Eye or could be harmed by those in Mordor as well.

[@kotum.y7878]

Because they weren't a glowing green shift+delete button in books. In the movie they were extremely OP version of nazguls.

[@jeffedwards8708]

Thankfully, Tolkien, not Hollywood, wrote the books.

[@Tluangtea]

The movie should have depicted them as a zombie army instead of ghosts.

[@edthompson2099]

Because the Necronomicon was in the library of Minas Tirith and thats what they are supposed to guard and Ash was moonlighting as a captain in the army of Mordor after falling thru another time hole.and he might get the words right this time.

[@FairlyFictional]

🤣

[@col06007]

Wow, really well thought out explanation.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you so much 🙏🏼.

[@AYoungTo]

This is a talent. Finding a way to not answer the question for 8 minutes

[@michaelnorman4476]

Thank you for explaining this. I’ve always wondered about that.

[@jamesguest4873]

Excellent! The artwork is simply stunning. Wonderful voices that I could stand to listen to all night and likely have amazing dreams. Stumbling onto this channel was easily the highlight of my week. Thank you kindly.

[@FairlyFictional]

And thank you kindly for this comment. I wish you amazing dreams. But hope the video didn’t bore you to sleep 😅.

[@oscarthomasglimskog249]

I wonder how the Rohan Royalty Baldor Died then? If they couldn't harm the living? In the Third Age, Dunharrow became the territory of the newly formed kingdom of Rohan. Baldor, son of the second King of Rohan, entered the tunnels of the White Mountains while exploring the borders of his kingdom and never returned. The Rohirrim believed that the wrathful ghosts of the Oathbreakers killed him. After Baldor's disappearance, the Rohirrim refused to enter the tunnels, which they renamed the Paths of the Dead. According to legend, shadowy figures lurked near the entrance to the Paths of the Dead at night, guarding it against all living things.

[@FairlyFictional]

Yeh that’s an excellent question. I don’t think there’s a definitive answer. Perhaps he fell to his death. Or got lost in the tunnels and never find his way out. Or saw a ghost and had a heart attack.. Or maybe he found his way out the other side and lived out his life in the South away from his responsibilities 😅. Who can say 👍🏼

[@plymouth5714]

I think the most probable is that he was simply scared to death - alone in a cave with an entire zombie army reaching for you - I know I would have!

[@oscarthomasglimskog249]

The heart attack scenario seems plausible, because Aragorn and company find the remains of him in there sadly.

[@Selmerpilot]

Aragorn knew that ability had a 1000 year cooldown. Couldn’t pop it again until after he’s dead so he let em go

[@FairlyFictional]

Ahh that makes sense 😄

[@jet305]

Very interesting perspective. I've never thought of the point that there was a risk that they could've been corrupted by Sauron further and be turned. Tolkien's works are exactly as Gandalf described the hobbits. You can learn all there is to know of them and yet they still surprise you

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks. Well they did worship Sauron after all.

[@jet305]

@@FairlyFictional really insightful.

[@LCTesla]

Aragorn: oh ok cool, you took care of those Uruks for us, yeah... hey would you mind... like taking on the rest of... Mordor..? AotD: are you f*cking serious...

[@FairlyFictional]

😂

[@davidmaloney3587]

Yes! I wondered this when I was younger watching the movies. Great video!

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@Anduresu]

7:15 is such a dope image and probably the main reason Aragorn did not want to king of the dead to interact with the lord of darkeness

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks. I’m glad you like it. And yeh, that would have been a bad move 😅

[@Anduresu]

@@FairlyFictional 😂😂

[@toonstyle1]

thx for the clarification :3 always wondered...

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks. I’m glad I cleared it up ☺️

[@jkm6060]

The 2 pictures of the green orc in the end, is world of warcraft art, i think. The first one an orc warlock or deathknight and the second one looks like saurfang with an nightelf kid on his back walking through felwood or it pictures a quest after freeing saurfang from stockades and walk through the swamp of sorrows.

[@FairlyFictional]

I’m not familiar with Warcraft but I had a google and Krug does look similar. But Krug is much more intelligent and better looking 😝. I did create the images myself though so no actual link to Warcraft.

[@jkm6060]

@@FairlyFictional oh very cool :). You can put your image in google picture search and you will find a lot of orcs from world of warcraft looking like yours :). Very nice work!

[@gregoryferko138]

The artwork is fantastic. Some of these scenes would make for a great Calander.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks a lot. Some of them take a while to create. I’ve never thought of making a calendar out of them before 😊

[@davidbiddle3257]

Good points I had not thought of.

[@Batman-gn9yh]

Agreed very well thought out 💀

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you ☺️

[@simonmorris4226]

Well thought out and well presented!

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you for saying so 😊. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@debapratimbhattacharjee1569]

How come you have such an angelic.....elven voice? I could hear your voice to sleep ❤

[@FairlyFictional]

Indeed, I used to read bedtime stories to young elves in a previous life 😜. Thank you.

[@debapratimbhattacharjee1569]

@@FairlyFictional I bet you really did. As you do even now. For you transport us to the land of the elven lores through your beautiful storytelling ❤️❤️ Much love. 🙌

[@paologat]

Jackson’s choice of bringing the Dead to Minas Tirith was one of his worst arbitrary departures from source material. Apart from the impact on the story and on character development, the Dead ridding the city of invaders looked like toilet cleaning gel (unusually flowing upwards).

[@nickcunningham6344]

I understand that it must be frustrating if you've read the books and feel that Tolkien did it better, but as someone who has only seen the movies, these critiques are so silly. The movies were damn good, even with all the "flaws" you book readers like to keep pointing out.

[@sephiroth1277]

I agree, it's deeper even than just the army of the dead looking cool, Aragorn came with more men of Gondor to save Minas Tirith. It makes the arrival of Theoden and and the alliance of Rohan and Gondor all the more powerful. Theodon never needs to come at all in the movies if the army of the dead can just clean up shop.

[@offroader9965]

@@sephiroth1277Aragorn came with “The Grey Company” yes.. but it was a small company of only 30

[@ghyslainabel]

@@offroader9965 Aragorn came with the grey Company, and with as much men he could cram in the fleet. He then ordered the other many thousands men to come to Minas Tirith on feet. Aragorn had a full army in the ships, and another one on the march that arrived 2 to 4 days after the ships.

[@ghyslainabel]

It was a necessary decision. To keep the army of the dead on the south shore of Gondor would require to develop the land, the cities, the people and some characters, plus another battle at Pelargir. Worst decisions can easily be found: - Expanding the one-chapter battle of Helm Deep to way longer battle. - Editing the battle at Helm Deep, the battle at Isengard and the battle at Osgiliath all together in the exact same desaturated colours. - That battle at Osgiliath had no business in the movie, and it creates the problem of how Faramir, Frodo and the others crossed the Anduin river the first time.

[@locker1325]

Very excellent research. I never would have thought of those facts .

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@Power_Prawnstar]

He didnt know they were going at that stage

[@sectureverothoughtcriminal7734]

He had told them to fullfil their oath. And who knows how it would go in direct conflict with Sauron.

[@InterGalacticEnglishMan]

Thank you so much:- the books really are the master piece! The movies smudged the whole story. I’ve read them all and the Hobbit years ago. Now I need to re-buy them and reread as you’ve made my mind up 😂😂😂 I love the movies, absolutely, but it’s smudged my mind too 😅

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks I’m glad you liked it and get to enjoy the books again 😁

[@cambuxton6835]

For one thing, Sauron cursed them through Isildur. For another they had finally fulfilled their promise and were ready to depart the Earthly realm for their eternal rest. They had finally earned that and Aragon knew it. Which is why Aragon released them from their promise. You saw in the film how happy the leader of the cursed souls was when Aragon released them. They were ready to go to their eternal rest.

[@MichaelMedici61W2]

Thank you for this.

[@FairlyFictional]

And thank you for this 😊🙏🏼

[@newtabable]

For the same reason the giant eagles didn’t carry Bilbo, Ghandallf and the Dwarfs to Eribor.

[@TheFriendlyAnarchist]

Pro-Writer here. I would NEVER have taken the armor of the dead to Mordor. However, it was a *HUGE* mistake not to use something so objectively cool, with such a dramatic gravitas behind them in defense of the actual city of Gondor. Dispensing with an undead army “offscreen” is one of Tolkien’s biggest mistakes and is one of the prime examples of how superior his world building is to his instincts are a storyteller.

[@steverogers5956]

The Army of the Dead never went to the Pelennor Fields. They were dismissed after the defeat of the Corsairs. The troops Aragorrn brought to Minas Tirith were the forces of South Gondor that had been fighting the Corsairs. It would not do for the heir to the throne to arrive at Minas Tirith at the head of an army of wraiths! The movies got this one wrong, it is not the way Tolkien wrote it.

[@mikestanley9176]

I still wonder why Gandalf could not also make explosives like Saruman.

[@FairlyFictional]

He could. He just preferred fireworks to bombs. 🎆

[@rabbitholeinc.3689]

They were never suppose to march on Mordor their orders were to defend Gondor, they abandoned their post and refused their king so it was the king that cursed them and only the king could release them. Even if the opportunity was presented to do so, Aragorn wouldn't have pursued it since he gave his word once they fulfilled their duty they could finally rest. A king's word is a heavy weight it isn't something to be taken likely, as you seen with Isildur's curse, had he broke his word his power over the undead army would likely cease and then Aragorn would be fighting two fronts and a reluctant ally turned into a devastating foe. Treachery cannot be overcome with more treachery an oath to an oath breaker must still be kept.

[@OSOJOSHO]

Forget about the death…. The slide show of this video is awesome and frightful 👻👻👻☠️☠️☠️💀💀💀

[@FairlyFictional]

Haha thanks 😊. 👻👻👻

[@OSOJOSHO]

@@FairlyFictional btw the narrator is so good.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you for saying so. I will do more then. But Krug will still be around lurking somewhere 😝.

[@angelcap4371]

more intriguing to me, is how the orcs had multiplied in such numbers..theyre like more than men, elves, hobbits and dwarves combined..after the defeat in the Batle of Gondor, I thought they were diminished, then you see thousands more in Mordor 🤣

[@FairlyFictional]

That’s what you get when Mordor is just one massive hedonistic orgy for hundreds of years perhaps 😅

[@Commodore22345]

"more intriguing to me, is how the orcs had multiplied in such numbers" Tolkien is pretty clear on why there are so many orcs. They are essentially mass-produced in spawning pits. How these pits work is never really explained, but it is stated that the pits of Mordor alone can spawn hundreds of fully-grown battle ready orcs every single day. Even if we go with an extremely conservative estimate of when Sauron started preparing for the War of the Ring, he would have an overwhelming army of orcs. Let's do a little math: Sauron returns to Mordor in TA 2941 after he is driven out of Dol Guldur by the White Council. The War of the Ring begins in earnest in TA 3018. That gives Sauron 77 years of uninterrupted preparation time. 365 days in a year means Sauron's orc pits were working for 28,105 days before the war starts. If we go with a conservative estimate of only 100 orcs per day coming out of Mordor's pits (conservative because the description of those pits claims "hundreds" are spawned every day), that still gives Sauron a fighting force of approximately 2,810,500 orcs. And that's just Mordor's orc pits. Consider that there are also orc strongholds in the Misty Mountains, Dol Guldur and Gundabad that also have orc pits that are pumping out orcs as well. When you consider all of that, it's actually a wonder that the Free Peoples hadn't already been completely conquered by the orcs by the time the War of the Ring starts.

[@89technical]

"Fear was the main weapon of the dead" - okay not true bc we know they killed those who entered the paths of the dead, one in particular by breaking his legs after sneaking up behind him when he reached a door he could not pass.

[@ozzymadnius]

Woah! Chicks voice! Sorry, I’ve suddenly been recommended a lot of LoTR channels this week for some reason… This is like the 6th one, but the first one with a woman’s voice! Took me by surprise 😂😂

[@FairlyFictional]

🤣 Thanks. I hope you didn’t fall off your chair 😅.

[@residientresident6478]

its ai voice lol

[@theobserver3753]

Thank you I wondered the same thing for a while.

[@FairlyFictional]

You are welcome 🙏🏼

[@vortexgen1]

I think that was a correct and astute observation.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you very much 😊

[@JamesWhite-lj3jm]

Hell, the Army of the Dead didn't even go to Minas Tirith.

[@butchgreene]

The #1 reason to NOT take them to Mordor is because they were bound by the power of the One Ring, Sauron's essence. Bring them close to the being whose very ESSENCE was used by Isildur to bind them...and they become wraiths beholden to Sauron, the same as Frodo is drawn to him by it's power.

[@Klyis]

I don't think they could be trusted in the long term. Lets not forget that the reason they are ghosts in the first place is because they didn't adhere to their oath of loyalty. If they weren't released soon they might also start to think Aragorn was trying to keep them in his service indefinitely. Maybe they wouldn't ally with Sauron but I could definitely see a scenario where they just decide to leave during the middle of a battle.

[@FairlyFictional]

Yeh not exactly a trustworthy crew…

[@the_dead_man]

They wouldn't have fought again, as that would break Aragorn's word to free them after saving Gondor, and they would no longer have alliegance to him. In the film it always bothered me that they didn't explain that, as it seemed a bit illogical for Aragorn to release an army of immortal god-like soldiers who could have easily defeated Sauron's army.

[@fromthecheapseats7126]

In the movie, the Witch King should have temporarily seized control of the Army of the Dead before Eowyn & Merry killed him. That would show why marching on Mordor with them was a bad idea, would make his death seem like more of a big deal, and make them less of a Deus Ex Machina.

[@FairlyFictional]

Would have been interesting

[@anirudhaapatharee]

Very good presentation...and like,number 1000....🙂

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you. And congrats on being my first 1k like on the channel 😁

[@anirudhaapatharee]

@@FairlyFictional its my pleasure..and keep it up...👍👍👍👍

[@t.474]

What AI image generation or style is used for these pictures? Anybody have an idea?

[@nightshade4186]

One of the biggest changes between movies and books, in the movies they are way too overpowered.

[@dalore02]

Great video. Thank you.

[@FairlyFictional]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@gregoryferko138]

I really hope they come out how Sauron came into power and him creating the rings. We need more Lord of the Rings movies that are close to the source material. Away from politics and garbage that is infecting the movie industry today.

[@FairlyFictional]

Yeh that would be good. As long as they’re better than the Star Wars spin off movies 😅

[@JoeyJoejoe-sq9io]

I love the Peter Jackson LOTR but if I had my druthers he would never have made the movies. Here's another example of where my knowledge of the books was somehow subverted by the movies. I forgot all about the true army of the dead. So now the two big plot flaws are solved. Frodo couldn't take a giant eagle to morder because Throndir was Maiar. (Dark Lord Eagle! ) And the army of the dead wouldn't have worked against Sauron's wraith commanded army. Yay. Only thing left is Tom Bombadil. Why didn't his first age bear ass go kick Sauron into lower loserdom? I mean, you either love the song of Eru Iluvater or you don't love the song of Eru Iluvater, right? Make that one right for me too, please. Excellent vid.

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks for the comment. There is a lot in the books that was subverted by the movies. My next video covers some more of those too. However I need to do an eagles video soon too. I don’t believe Thorondor is still around the 3rd age as Gwaihir is their Lord. And whether they are Maiar or not is a bit more complicated. But there are other reasons why they didn’t fly to Mordor too. It’s on my list to do, so stay tuned 😉. Thanks

[@JoeyJoejoe-sq9io]

@@FairlyFictional Thorondor...oopsies. See what Peter Jackson did to me. My point was that you don't want magical beings near the ring or you'll get a dark lord eagle. Please don't mention that. Amazon might think it's a good idea.

[@FairlyFictional]

@@JoeyJoejoe-sq9io hahaha. If you saw my Rings of Power video they already have enough ideas 🤣

[@Madhatter77288]

I agree with the video have wondered why Aragon never sent the oathbrakers to Moria.?

[@FairlyFictional]

Moria was a lot further away. I’m not sure they would have gone that far.

[@jayrenteria605]

If All they could do was cause fear then yes, taking them to Mordo would've done more harm to their allies then enemies. Plus Sauron is a Maiar.! A being like him would've had NO problem with Lowly spirit's.

[@Reprodestruxion]

Also, Necromancer, titles to run away from

[@trentarmstrong5000]

Good explanation and true to the books. The Army of the Dead fighting and killing the orcs in the battle of Pelennor Fields was easily the WORST scene of the entire trilogy. First time I watched I said WTF? out loud. Definitely not in the books nor true to the lore. Why were any other warriors even needed if the Green Goblin army was invincible? Other than that, Jackson's adaptations and even fudging of the lore in other places was believable, compelling, and to this day the best movies I've ever seen.

[@olafschluter706]

Well argued.

[@Chronoic]

In the book they cant harm the living, they can only scare them.

[@Plantedbetta]

The Will of the one Ring would ensnare them, and they just become an army of darkness. Saron is the master of the unseen

[@marca9955]

What was that Krug bit at the end???

[@KerronMcNab21]

Warcraft enters the room at the end 😂

[@FairlyFictional]

😂

[@Keffinated]

Ghosts versus the Necromancer? Guess who wins!

[@nicholai40]

No Aragorn could not have brought them to Mordor, as they were already cursed by Isidor. Thye would have just aided Sauron instead and wreaked havoc upon middle earth.

[@bobotheclown88]

What power actually cursed the Oath-breakers? I've only seen the movies and it always seemed weird that one guy that I don't think knew magic was able to curse a whole population of people to live forever and his descendent that definitely didn't know magic was able to free them. Seems like you need a lot of juice to pull something like that off, more on the level of a god than a man.

[@FairlyFictional]

It’s probably a topic for a separate video but oaths were more legally binding in Middle Earth it seems. And the Numenoreans were not regular men. They were given special extra powers like long life, healing, Foresight etc.

[@prestonbacchus4204]

Aragon freed them, per his promise to do so, so they were no longer an army of the dead.

[@dweeds]

Bring an army of the dead to fight a necromancer, good plan

[@peyerfare5185]

Enjoyed this

[@FairlyFictional]

Thank you for saying 😊

[@thomasohanlon1060]

It is easy Aragorn released them from his service , to keep his word.

[@notcherbane3218]

My question is if he had the power to curse an entire army to make them undead warriors then why didn't he use that kind of power against sauron it makes no sense !

[@jamesjameson2244]

What great artwork, who drew these scenes I wonder?

[@FairlyFictional]

Thanks 🙏🏼. I made them all myself. A mixture of AI and manual intervention.

[@jamesjameson2244]

Omg you made these yourself? You have real talent. You could easily be a concept art artist or the like for the movie industry. These are blockbuster film quality poster art. The stuff they make for Marvel and Star Wars movie posters type of artwork. You would also kill it making graphic novel/comic book art. Or just Tolkien themed/personal art. Your artwork is fantastic. Great work 👌. Im gonna watch this again just to look at the artwork 🎨

[@FairlyFictional]

@@jamesjameson2244 thanks. which image is your favourite 🤔?

[@jamesjameson2244]

@FairlyFictional i don't know that I could pick. There's so many lol. But my favorites are the ones with heavy color contrast of the undeadly green of the ghosts. And the ones showing the finer detail of the faces, armor, and sometimes robes of the characters. The dunedain in the snow, the elves depicted throughout. And the close-up wraith portrait are good examples. And almost all the representations of the undead ghosts. The only other time I've seen such detail in Lotr artwork is in the movies. None of the animated ones or images in books do it justice. Other youtubers just cut in clips of the movies its really cool that you made your own. Great work mahman 😊 👏 Theres about a thousand ways you could market your artwork. Have you thought of making shirts and hoodies and other clothing with them? Because you make your own art. Most of your artwork wouldn't fall under copyright. And even those that do... if you paid for the necessary licensing, you'd make a fortune. You could market them directly on your channel and on places like etsy. Or even sell them at cosplay conventions. Godspeed mahman 👍 👌

[@FairlyFictional]

@@jamesjameson2244 thanks for taking the time to reply. I do try to make sure all the art is good enough before being happy with it. I will take that all into consideration and see if I can do anything else with the art 👍🏼. Do you think clothes are good for this style or art? Or something else? Thanks again

[@LoveLetter_01]

Why didn't Sauron take control of the dead long before Aragorn?