Sauron the Shapeshifter | Tolkien Explained

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  • čas přidán 7. 10. 2022
  • Today, we dive into Sauron's ability to shape-shift! We see multiple forms of Sauron throughout the First and Second Ages and come to find that the destruction of his physical form affects this ability.
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Komentáře • 993

  • @cubablue602
    @cubablue602 Před rokem +245

    A moment for Huan please. The ultimate good boy.

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před rokem +2

      Without Luthien's magical cloak, he would not even had a chance. Huan couldn't even stand against wolf-Sauron at the bridge and fled in fear lol

    • @victorrelmek2889
      @victorrelmek2889 Před rokem +3

      @@_semih_ still a good boy. Lol

    • @nickcozzie6614
      @nickcozzie6614 Před rokem +3

      @@_semih_what are u talking about he fought Sauron

    • @profiscus
      @profiscus Před rokem +1

      Even morgoth would admit he’s a good boy

    • @patrickspalding8045
      @patrickspalding8045 Před 10 měsíci

      Your wrong. Huan almost killed wolf Sauron

  • @MrPiestro
    @MrPiestro Před rokem +662

    Huan may be one of the more underrated characters in Tolkien lore. I love how he protected Luthien and abandoned Celegorm after trying to capture her. It still brings me to tears when dying, Beren’s palm rests on his head.

    • @monodriver001
      @monodriver001 Před rokem +3

      Who is huan ? I have heard of hum, but quite unable to recall the same ...

    • @eastbow6053
      @eastbow6053 Před rokem +34

      @@monodriver001 A great hound of valinor

    • @monodriver001
      @monodriver001 Před rokem +2

      @@eastbow6053 ohhh, yes yessss. Thanks bud. Appreciated !

    • @gnomuka
      @gnomuka Před rokem

      Yes he is, awesome and super

    • @NextToToddliness
      @NextToToddliness Před rokem +6

      Couldn't agree more. Ever since I saw the cover for "Beren and Lúthien" when I was a little kid, I was fascinated by Huan.

  • @carson11100
    @carson11100 Před rokem +397

    I’m gonna say it again: one of the greatest villains ever conceived!

    • @sharongarlinge5895
      @sharongarlinge5895 Před rokem +8

      Just behind Vader

    • @sharongarlinge5895
      @sharongarlinge5895 Před rokem +11

      But jimmy saville is no1

    • @soaringbuddha7249
      @soaringbuddha7249 Před rokem +3

      You mean just behind emperor palpatine

    • @carson11100
      @carson11100 Před rokem +2

      @@soaringbuddha7249 i prefer lord of the rings amigo but as I said ONE of the greatest villains…. Not the greatest villain.

    • @henryhbm990
      @henryhbm990 Před rokem +11

      Nahhh.... that would be the showrunners of GoT and the latest abomination Rings of Power.....

  • @Jayjay-qe6um
    @Jayjay-qe6um Před rokem +507

    The extent, nature, and specifics of Sauron's power are largely left to the imagination.

    • @LoneTiger
      @LoneTiger Před rokem +30

      Yes and no, think of his power something akin to the character "Spawn" from comics, he has many powers and abilities, but the pool of energy available to use such powers is limited, and very, very hard to replenish. 👍

    • @RustyShackleford_
      @RustyShackleford_ Před rokem +16

      @@LoneTiger think of a super-powered alien green lantern that loses his ring and still has basic powers instead of losing everything. He is still terrible and great, just incomplete.

    • @nexus6163
      @nexus6163 Před rokem +18

      think of...Your mom

    • @theadventureofthefellowship
      @theadventureofthefellowship Před rokem +1

      Cool

    • @nicholashandley4456
      @nicholashandley4456 Před rokem +2

      Not entirely, the published works of Tolkien himself never got to flesh out his (and others of his kind) innate power. In posthumous publications we can understand more, and, through notes and appendices further, we get a near full picture (as near as any can be made, funnily enough, considering). He is almost unlimited in his power on Middle Earth itself because of the nature of his being but less than what is left to the imagination.

  • @CommodorePochi
    @CommodorePochi Před rokem +196

    That Gollum impersonation was so spot on I legit thought you got Andy Serkis to voice him in the video. 😂 Nice work, as always!!

    • @theredqueen2283
      @theredqueen2283 Před rokem +3

      The female interpretations are cringy af , great channel other than that tho

    • @hellowell3743
      @hellowell3743 Před rokem +4

      Wish they had hired a female voice actor or just a friend to do the women's roles... Because... Its horrible.
      Other than that great video.

  • @travellerinthedark
    @travellerinthedark Před rokem +220

    Between the werewolves and the vampires, the beginning of this video made for a fun Halloween story.

  • @panther3364
    @panther3364 Před rokem +173

    I don't know what Tolkien ate and drank, but the lore leaves me in AWE like in front of an ancient monument!

    • @eddieroy2418
      @eddieroy2418 Před rokem +8

      He lived in his mind with a great imagination and he also lived through amazing things like world wars

    • @roddo1955
      @roddo1955 Před rokem +13

      I don't know how you do the things you do. I don't even know who you are. But I'm sure there are those in awe of you, simply for being who you are, for doing the things you do.
      Perhaps not on the same grand scale as a succesful author or other type of artist but, no less impactful and not because of what you ate or drank😉By which I mean; you are awesome to somebody because you are.

    • @panther3364
      @panther3364 Před rokem +3

      @@roddo1955 Thank you sir, you're really kind!

    • @nexus6163
      @nexus6163 Před rokem

      @@panther3364 I am in awe of you too

    • @wolgercon
      @wolgercon Před rokem +2

      Weed and salted pork

  • @redpowerranger321
    @redpowerranger321 Před rokem +55

    Huan is still my favorite character, he is one badass hound that only seems win his duals.

  • @entwistlefromthewho
    @entwistlefromthewho Před rokem +51

    Yes, Sauron survives the destruction of the One Ring - Tolkien even wrote in a letter "I wouldn't like to meet Sauron after the destruction of the Ring".

    • @retsaMinnavoiG
      @retsaMinnavoiG Před 7 měsíci +1

      Doesn't he also say something like he's an inert shadow incapable of interacting with the world?

    • @celestialhylos7028
      @celestialhylos7028 Před 2 dny

      ​Yeah...he is as weak and useless as the wandering ghost of a dead man.
      But you still don't wanna meet a ghost. would you?
      ​@@retsaMinnavoiG

  • @glowstickofdestiny1290
    @glowstickofdestiny1290 Před rokem +50

    Sauron thinking he's got what it takes to fulfill the prophecy of Huan's death only to get humbled by the thrashing of the ages is one of my single favorite moments of the entire legendarium

    • @concept5631
      @concept5631 Před rokem +3

      Tbf he did give a really good go at it.

    • @Th0ughtf0rce
      @Th0ughtf0rce Před rokem +4

      And one can't help but wonder just how terrible Carcharoth was.

    • @concept5631
      @concept5631 Před rokem +3

      @@Th0ughtf0rce Pretty damn terrible I'd say.

    • @Ritz1256
      @Ritz1256 Před 7 měsíci +1

      Shows how powerful Morgoth's Valar powers are. Sauron himself couldn't defeat Huan, but Morgoth could create a werewolf so terrible it exceeded Sauron and can actually kill Huan - even though it killed itself in the process

    • @Ritz1256
      @Ritz1256 Před 7 měsíci

      @@Th0ughtf0rce Extremely is probably a very extreme understatement for the malice of Morgoth - the creator of malice in Ea. Sauron has nothing

  • @arjunsengupta9797
    @arjunsengupta9797 Před rokem +73

    Oh man, PJ should really have shown that last enormous shadow lunging forward before being dissipated by the wind. But I guess it would have detracted from the destruction of the great eye.
    Wonderful video as always, Matt. ❤️

    • @aesir1ases64
      @aesir1ases64 Před rokem +20

      Yeah, PJ was wise in knowing where to focus instead of trying to convey everything. And some things work amazing in the books but when you see in the screen it looks weird or underwhelming. I suspect if someone ever tries to adapt Tom Bombadil, they will fall into this problem.

    • @Max-px5ym
      @Max-px5ym Před rokem +8

      @@aesir1ases64 exactly! God I'm tired of purists wanting an exhaustive representation of every detail

  • @gandalfshallnotpass9585
    @gandalfshallnotpass9585 Před rokem +177

    I didn't even know Tolkien had vampires/werewolves in his writings. Makes me love middle earth even more🥰

    • @Snipy55
      @Snipy55 Před rokem +10

      Aint any good werewolfs and vampires in there though, no worrys

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před rokem +3

      Yes but the Werewolves and Wampires of Tolkien, are not the same as the ones in the other fantasies. Basically in Tolkien's world, the werewolf is; The Dreadful spirits imprisoned into the bodies of Morgoth's wolves by Sauron.
      And Wampires are the huge bat-like creatures working as messengers between Sauron and Morgoth. Sauron had a wampire herald/chief messenger called "Thuringwethil" which means "the woman of secret shadow". But it is mentioned that Thuringwethil didn't go to Angband in her Wampire form but her true form which means she had a normal "woman form" too :)

    • @lawrenceiverson1924
      @lawrenceiverson1924 Před rokem

      Yeah , no zombies , tho !!!

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před rokem +1

      @@Jason-rp3jg yea

  • @yenxion6516
    @yenxion6516 Před rokem +6

    The writer of ROP: yeah we just going to throw all of that in the trash 🗑

  • @hazorg16
    @hazorg16 Před rokem +52

    Sauron is such a captivating character. One of the greatest villains ever, if not the best.

    • @dwally4198
      @dwally4198 Před rokem +2

      I would put darth Vader in that conversation too. At least until we got the “I hate sand” villain origin story

    • @avrace2708
      @avrace2708 Před rokem +4

      @@dwally4198 Meh, Vader was never intresting character for me

    • @disturbed157
      @disturbed157 Před rokem

      @@avrace2708 really? A former slave who goes on to still hate slavery yet enslave others. He's the epitome of darkness to most but he still had enough light to become good again.
      As opposed to sauron a villain created to be evil with no real driving force to his ways. He's just evil because. He's more robot than vader really. Just a task compiler at the end of the day

    • @avrace2708
      @avrace2708 Před rokem +1

      @@disturbed157 Anakin was intresting fallen hero, but Vader as villian not very much for me, but i really like his death

    • @jonintrovertedpotato3866
      @jonintrovertedpotato3866 Před rokem

      Satan cries

  • @arnavrajadhyax2580
    @arnavrajadhyax2580 Před rokem +141

    I loved the movies but never got into the books, until I found this channel. Thanks so much.

    • @cshaffer8258
      @cshaffer8258 Před rokem +7

      The books are so much better than the movies! You’ll discover exactly how much Jackson changed. And it’s a shame.

    • @Jabberstax
      @Jabberstax Před rokem +5

      @@cshaffer8258 You must be loving the Rings of Power 🤣

    • @brunofreitas9314
      @brunofreitas9314 Před rokem +9

      @@cshaffer8258 no it's not, besides the Faramir and Denethor that deserve better,, all the rest was justified.

    • @IagobaApellaniz
      @IagobaApellaniz Před rokem +1

      @@Jabberstax 🤣🤣🤣🤣

    • @jennifervan75
      @jennifervan75 Před rokem +2

      Same

  • @raistlinmajere7149
    @raistlinmajere7149 Před rokem +7

    Ar-Pharazôn: ok its time to destroy Sauron
    *Sauron takes his fair form*
    Ar-Pharazôn: oh no he's hot!

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před rokem +1

      Jokes aside, there is no h*mosexuality in Tolkien's works and universe. Its silly that some of the fans really trying to label some characters like that. Lmao

  • @anthonyventura8465
    @anthonyventura8465 Před rokem +3

    Sauron, Oh Sauron, wherefore art my Sauron? Thou art nowhere to be found in the Rings Of Power.

  • @gustavocbr
    @gustavocbr Před rokem +3

    One of the biggest writing mistakes on The Rings of Power is that Halbrand/Sauron doesn't feel like the one from the books at all, not even after his reveal. You don't buy for a second that he could be the same character described in this video. The same goes for middle earth as a place, it doesn't feel great in scale, it doesn't feel populated, it doesn't feel like there is so much that has happened already in that world. It is going to take a long time for the second season and we will have forgotten about it when it airs. I wonder if they can course correct it and if we will still care.

  • @catmanduu66
    @catmanduu66 Před rokem +50

    The prototype or precursor Sauron-figure was a giant monstrous cat, the Prince of Cats. Called Tevildo, Tifil and Tiberth among other names, this character played the role later taken by Sauron in the earliest version of the story of Beren and Tinúviel in The Book of Lost Tales in 1917. I don't know if there's enough here for a video but it might make a cool Halloween thing. I found the story quite interesting when I first read it.

    • @roddo1955
      @roddo1955 Před rokem +2

      Tibbet/Tiberth used to be a common name for pet cats in my country

    • @josephfisher426
      @josephfisher426 Před rokem +3

      @@roddo1955 The original name is Thibault, from a medieval story.

    • @roddo1955
      @roddo1955 Před rokem +1

      @@josephfisher426 that's interesting! I'm going to look that up. Edit: looked it up😄 So funny: it is from a medieval story that we were taught about in the first year of high-school when I was a kid! 'Van Den vos Reynearde'. I still have it somewhere. A little red book. It's a story with a cast of characters made up from animals and 'Tibbert'(Dutch pronunciation of Thibeault)/Tybaut was a cat. I think Roald Dahl's 'the fantastic Mr.Fox' is based on that story, not sure. Thank you for peaking my interest!

    • @josephfisher426
      @josephfisher426 Před rokem +3

      @@roddo1955 Another link to the Tales of Renard is Tybalt from Romeo & Juliet.

    • @hendrickx88
      @hendrickx88 Před rokem +4

      That version of the story reads almost like a joke. The Tevildo/Huan dynamic makes me think that Tolkien was a dog person who didn't care for cats.

  • @tcunero
    @tcunero Před rokem +3

    Cool... a show hitting all these points would have been fun to watch...

  • @hazbojangles2681
    @hazbojangles2681 Před rokem +65

    This video comes in at perfect timing as I gave my father a lengthy explanation about Sauron and his abilities.

  • @stoicgraham1224
    @stoicgraham1224 Před rokem +114

    Everyone always asks who is Sauron
    But nobody asks how is Sauron

    • @samcrorie
      @samcrorie Před rokem +12

      Why is Sauron? 🤔😁

    • @TamajitDas88
      @TamajitDas88 Před rokem +11

      @@samcrorie I will do you one better.. When is Sauron..??

    • @JACKAL98
      @JACKAL98 Před rokem +3

      saurons dead

    • @anatoldenevers237
      @anatoldenevers237 Před rokem +3

      @@JACKAL98 Technically not, he can't really die. But he's powerless.

    • @pedromiret9195
      @pedromiret9195 Před 11 měsíci +1

      @@TamajitDas88 easy. he was

  • @conorwhite8600
    @conorwhite8600 Před rokem +65

    A video on Maeglin Eöl's son would be great!

    • @scathiebaby
      @scathiebaby Před rokem

      Which would include Aredhel, Galadriel's aunt

    • @JACKAL98
      @JACKAL98 Před rokem +3

      Im pretty sure his video on Eol already provides everything about maeglin we need to know

    • @sharijackson3985
      @sharijackson3985 Před rokem +2

      @@scathiebaby Galadriel’s cousin. Fingolfin was her uncle.

    • @concept5631
      @concept5631 Před rokem

      Maeglin, the only beta Elf in the legendarium.

  • @istari0
    @istari0 Před rokem +156

    I believe a contributing factor to Sauron's taking so long to recover in the 3rd Age, was the loss of the One Ring.

  • @Tobertus
    @Tobertus Před rokem +21

    You create awesome Tolkien lore videos, really appreciate it! You've already made plenty of videos about many Tolkien topics in Middle -Earth, so maybe I'll be naming ones you've already done. So, I would like to see more about the ents and their way of living, the Southlands and their story, and perhaps an overview of cultures and their spreading. Can't think of anything else atm, but hope you'll think about it. Cheers!

  • @jpl83061
    @jpl83061 Před rokem +14

    If you haven't already, I'd like to see a video summarizing the hierarchy of beings starting with Eru at the top and going down form there.. without going into tremendous detail. Jus to make it easier to understand who is who in a lot of your other videos.

  • @Eliras24
    @Eliras24 Před rokem +1

    Sauron the shapeshifter imprisonating evil spirits in wolfs: clearly a cool dude

  • @lyannastark3839
    @lyannastark3839 Před rokem +1

    Matt, thank you so much. Even though I know most of the lore behind Sauron it is still awesome to listen and watch such a very well put together episode about him. Artwork used here is also wonderful. Thank you, again.

  • @just_haggis
    @just_haggis Před rokem +7

    Great video as always. I've always loved the Lord of the Rings and this channel has got me hooked on the lore! Thanks for the great content.

  • @mxu_medinx9709
    @mxu_medinx9709 Před rokem +13

    You should make a video on Queen Melian, the Maia! she's such an interesting character, and truthfully, one of the most interesting Ainur in my opinion! Great work, I love your channel!

  • @R2D93
    @R2D93 Před rokem +6

    Great vid as always, it’s always cool to examine a character who has been around for so long in so many forms. Interested to see how they play on this in Rings of Power.
    I’d like to see a vid specifically about the Druedain/ Pukel men if there hasn’t been one already, there are some interesting stories about them in some of Tolkien’s works

  • @Cabin_Pat
    @Cabin_Pat Před rokem

    Such a good video, thanks. The fact that so much of Sauron's form / actions / thoughts are left to the imagination makes him all the more terrifying!!

  • @syronsparrow5081
    @syronsparrow5081 Před rokem +5

    I was just thinking; since I am now an active enjoyer of your videos, and now have watched probably 90% of them all (excluding some long form interviews).
    You have an AMAZING narrating voice and pace, as well as a PRETTY good ability to mimick and change your voice to other voices.
    Have you been thinking about narrating an audiobook on any of Tolkiens works?
    I would just LOVE to listen to them!!

  • @SirSpuddington
    @SirSpuddington Před rokem +71

    Maybe for a video, you could go into more detail about how the new information on time scales from The Nature of Middle-earth affects our perceptions of the stories of the First and Second Ages. For instance, by my calculations (which I don't fully trust :D ), by the time the Fellowship meets her in Lothlorien, Galadriel is tens of thousands of solar years old instead of merely thousands. It would be interesting to try to nail down other various characters' exact ages with the new scale of 1 Valian Year = 144 solar years. You could explore how Tolkien spent a lot of time trying to work out how to make the new time scale and the new description of Elvish life cycles fit with what he had already written, such as the difficulty he had in trying to ensure that Idril was of Elvish marrying life-age when Tuor comes to Gondolin and how the new time scale making Maeglin pretty much still a child at the time helps enhance the story (one of the many reasons Idril disliked Maeglin and his infatuation with her was his very tender age by Elvish standars). It would help give some more contextual info on how long great movements of the world actually took. Food for thought! Anyway, excellent video as always!

    • @leonardofaber5823
      @leonardofaber5823 Před rokem +5

      The matter with the 144-year-thing is that Tolkien never implemented that concept within the Legendarium. It is no easy feat, he would have had to rewrite thousands of pages to fit this idea properly into the timeline of events.
      Since he died before to consider doing it, the full cannonicity of it is debatable

    • @mrs.manrique7411
      @mrs.manrique7411 Před rokem +4

      Cirdan is also still in Middle Earth at the same time as Galadriel and far older than her.

    • @nicholashandley4456
      @nicholashandley4456 Před rokem

      Galadriel's birth date is in the Years of the Trees "1362", before the first sun rise, and I don't believe Tolkien wrote anything in his notes that described how Valian time was measured before the First Age began. All anyone can know of Galadriel's age in the books is that by the third age, outside of the Maiar (Sauron and The Istari) and possibly a select few surviving Orcs from when Melkor discovered the elves and from them made the first Orcs after the Awakening of the Elves (Be it sometime soon or sometime far after the Vala [Goddess, if you will] Varda had finished making the stars) Galadriel is the oldest known living being on Middle Earth before her departure to The West, assuming Celeborn isn't older than she is, which is unlikely.

    • @leonardofaber5823
      @leonardofaber5823 Před rokem +4

      @@nicholashandley4456 Círdan is the oldest known living Elf in Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, not her. And yes, Tolkien wrote a few things about time measurement, but nothing complete

    • @nicholashandley4456
      @nicholashandley4456 Před rokem

      @@leonardofaber5823 Cirdan, that's right, I forgot lol

  • @AndrewCarlisle11B
    @AndrewCarlisle11B Před rokem +2

    Another great video Matt! Love these style of videos.

  • @LeoSong12
    @LeoSong12 Před rokem

    I love this. Straight to the point in short summary but very detailed video. 👌

  • @elizasavage9740
    @elizasavage9740 Před rokem +7

    your timing is always divine

  • @Tadzioreik
    @Tadzioreik Před rokem +45

    I love that you keep posting great content my dude! Keep up the good work! You the man! 🔥👍🏻

  • @matthewprice2626
    @matthewprice2626 Před rokem

    I love all of your videos. I've read all the books but the level you explain them is outstanding.

  • @yasminmalik3749
    @yasminmalik3749 Před rokem +1

    Love the Nerd of Rings videos! Thank you 💙👍

  • @luchosanchez9982
    @luchosanchez9982 Před rokem +16

    Would really like to see more of the years of the trees

  • @jamesclapp6832
    @jamesclapp6832 Před rokem +4

    Wow! RoP could've been so badass.

  • @emperorfloch
    @emperorfloch Před rokem

    Wow amazing video 🙌🏼 highly enjoyed every moment of it

  • @Kynokefalos
    @Kynokefalos Před rokem +1

    I love you so much for talking about Sauron owning the TRUE were wolves.

  • @faevoryn6578
    @faevoryn6578 Před rokem +5

    This was a great video! I love all of the artwork. I'm learning so much lore thanks to you. And knowing more history enhances the experience of watching Rings of Power. Liked the show at first, now really loving it. Thanks!

  • @ramona-sandrinailie7144
    @ramona-sandrinailie7144 Před rokem +7

    I think Sauron's story should be explained in much more depth, since the Peter Jackson movies only gave us the Necromancer period and Sauron's total fall into darkness. However, his story, I think, starts exactly when he was Aule's apprentice, and we know about Aule that he was the closest in nature to Melkor: ambitious, always looking to build something new and ending up giving birth to some new beings: the Dwarves. Fortunately, Aule did not fall prey to evil, but, I think, he thirsted for knowledge and more, Mairon's nature obsessed with order and technology.
    Because Mairon was similar to Aule, he also wanted to "give life", to build, but he was not allowed, and that disappointed him. Like any apprentice, he wanted to express his creativity. From this point of view, he was attracted to "collaboration" with Morgoth, with whom he allied himself not out of a desire to be like him, but to be able to continue his "orderly and perfect" world. And what was once a virtue, later turned out to be an obsession that turned him into darkness. Even so, after losing the battle with Luthien he knew remorse, but his pride stopped him from returning to Valinor. The fact that he was summoned proves that he still had the ability to be rehabilitated. However, he chose to haunt Middle-earth, thinking it might cure him. It was only after this last failure that Sauron turned definitively evil.
    In Tolkien's world, nothing was absolutely bad and everything could be rehabilitated. Even Gollum. Then, how we could to believe that Tolkien not to give a chance to one of the most powerful and perfect Maiar's? Sauron was consumed by his own ambition, pride, and loneliness where he shut himself up like a cage. He hated and loved the light alike!

  • @precepts6097
    @precepts6097 Před rokem

    Love the videos, your voice acting is excellent! I would love to see an over-arching video of all the different beasts of middle earth, both light and dark. Their travels and alliances would make an excellent video I think.

  • @carrionwithout_me
    @carrionwithout_me Před rokem +1

    Wow... I've never delved deep into the books but this channel is a main source of information about the Tolkien Canon. Thank you for all that you do. The last scene of the War of the Ring gave me chills. Imagine thinking you've won the battle for Middle Earth when this huge figure forms. Just then, you think Gandalf is wrong that all hell will rain down in fire and ash as Sauron's form reestablishes. Only to fade. Only to be as if a dream. Yeah, drinks are on me that night.

  • @Mahershalahazbaz
    @Mahershalahazbaz Před rokem +12

    I would love to get your theory on the possible orgin of Beorn and the skin changers.

  • @thomascooke7640
    @thomascooke7640 Před rokem +3

    MAEGLIN!!
    But since you’re so good with maps, some sort of virtual tours where you say “this happened here, this happened there” would be much more engaging than some other attempts at that.
    Really just the history of locations would be awesome.
    Thanks for all you do Matt!
    Feanor did something……. That’s all

  • @lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615

    excellent work Mellon....keep it up! I love all your videos. You passion is second to few. Very few could hols a candle to your Istari like devotion and wisdom. Sauron is the deceiver of all deceivers, some say maybe Sauron even deceived Melkor..I mean "MORGOTH BAUGLIR! I call you craven, and a liar!"
    - Hurin -.
    Saur-Saur knew Morgoths weaknesses and exploited them. Shifting Morgoth's focus. Almost exactly like what Aragorn did to Sauron.
    ECTHELION!

  • @Ezghiel
    @Ezghiel Před rokem

    Awesome vid! Would love to see one all about my favorite of the Valar, Tulkas. 😁

  • @LordOfTheLore123
    @LordOfTheLore123 Před rokem +202

    is it possible for Sauron to shapeshift into Nori ? i’m standing strong with my Nori is Sauron theory

    • @SagePent395
      @SagePent395 Před rokem +9

      Seems legit

    • @Kushagra.j
      @Kushagra.j Před rokem +19

      Dude the writers are dumb AF. There's no way possible nori is Sauron.

    • @TitusRex
      @TitusRex Před rokem +11

      N=S

    • @AgX_28
      @AgX_28 Před rokem +13

      Can be Nori, can be the Mystic, can be Gil Galad, can be Hallbrand... everyone Sauron! being honest hope its not Hallbrand ffs.

    • @anthonyhanks1807
      @anthonyhanks1807 Před rokem +6

      I think its the old man from the southlands that had bizarre interaction with theo

  • @CartoonHero1986
    @CartoonHero1986 Před rokem +12

    I always got the impression from Tolkien's writing and the era that when he referred to the "shadow form" it was more or less anything from a sentient miasma to a greater wraith that could be seen without needing to be dressed in physical garbe like the Nazgul need to be to be seen by people without site to see the wraith world. I think that is also why I never really cared much about the classic fight over if he took physical form in the 3rd age and how the movies used a lot of creative licence making the great eye of Sauron a flaming eye at the top of the tower. Any form is acceptable in my mind as long as the physical and solid form is a "shell" representation and not a flesh and blood being. Black Amour Sauron, fine; the armour COULD be his body and form, or it COULD be his spirit using it as a vessel. Great Eye Sauron, again fine; he could be leaving his armour to sit and watch in a blaspheme to Manwe and Varda atop their mountain.

  • @tristanwinkworth1562
    @tristanwinkworth1562 Před rokem

    Props on your Gollum voice! You do voices well, but I was particularly impressed by your true-to-form Gollum.

  • @UTTS412
    @UTTS412 Před rokem

    Thank you being part in my channel and also Sauron is a wonderful shapeshifter

  • @markagrippa4018
    @markagrippa4018 Před rokem +5

    You should make a video on the power break down of the Maiar, I find the power levels and what they can do fascinating, even after reading the Silmarillion, Children of Hurin, multiple times I cannot put a finger on what exactly is the limits of the powers of Sauron, Melian and even Luthien.

    • @justinphillis9598
      @justinphillis9598 Před rokem

      I agree. A comparison of the various Maiar and what appears to be power and ability differences even though they’re all on the same “level”

  • @tjbmenick7263
    @tjbmenick7263 Před rokem +5

    ’Twas a really good, interesting, helpfull, cool, appropriate (rings of power) and beautiful video (as always). I would like an Ambarkanta kind of video. How the world is shaped during the different ages. Beleriands fall and also numenor. What happend to Valinor after the second age, how to get there (as Frodo did), where the door of night is, where Morgoth is when he is thrust out of what (the atmosphere or what)

    • @Eric-cj8sb
      @Eric-cj8sb Před rokem +1

      He has tours of middle Earth during the first and second ages, still waiting on the third age though.

  • @TreburSteelnervs
    @TreburSteelnervs Před rokem

    Excellent video! :) I've always really enjoyed your theory videos and haven't seen a new one in a while now. I think there is a lot of potential for fun videos, and I'd like to see you flesh the ideas out with what we know.
    Examples: Faramir goes to Rivendell instead of Boromir; Gandalf does not fall in Khazad-dum; Saruman does not ally with Sauron; Smaug is not killed before the War of the Ring; Eorl is not gifted the lands of Rohan; etc.

  • @pietrorotondano
    @pietrorotondano Před rokem

    Great video! We often see you interviewing great people involved somehow to LotR, asking amazing questions but I guess we ourselves dont know much about your preferences around Tolkien's world.
    It would be nice if you make a video telling us more about you. How did you know LotR? What's your favorite book, movie, character? What's your favorite tale? Curiosities about you related to this whole universe.
    Keep up the great work!

  • @drewclark146
    @drewclark146 Před rokem +3

    i'd love to hear your take on the "EU" of middle-earth! it'd be great to get a video on eriol the mariner and the cottage of lost play. like, get into the deep cuts.

  • @mikolajidziaszczyk9063
    @mikolajidziaszczyk9063 Před rokem +4

    great video as always. i love your content. It got me back to tolkien after a long time. A quick question. How is that after many "deaths" Sauron keeps comming back but after Balrog killed it stays dead. Is there any explanation? They are both maya

  • @Gary-tp9dk
    @Gary-tp9dk Před rokem

    THIS IS WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR
    Thanks

  • @amiramz
    @amiramz Před rokem

    awesome vid! would love seeing a vid about the wizards' staffs , especially Gandalf's :) cheers bro!

  • @bbaggins023
    @bbaggins023 Před rokem +4

    A history of Gondor video would be great

  • @midimusicforever
    @midimusicforever Před rokem +11

    Imagine that they had Sauron pinned down and let him go. I wonder what could have been Huan had taken him out there and then.

  • @HappyHermitt
    @HappyHermitt Před rokem

    This was amazing.
    Thank you.

  •  Před rokem

    Great videos man!

  • @angrynerd4178
    @angrynerd4178 Před rokem +7

    One of the best things to come out of the Middle Earth games was Sauron. I didn't like his elf form at first. But watching him lure all the kings with rings was cool. Him shape-shifting really ersn hims the title the Deceiver

  • @TequilaDreams
    @TequilaDreams Před rokem +27

    I would love to see a theory video about what happened to the spirits of the balrogs after they were defeated. They were maiar just like Sauron, Saruman and Gandalf. We see what happens to their spirits when they die (both Sauron and Saruman are blown away by a strong wind), but they never tell us what happens the the balrogs spirits. Were they forgiven and allowed to return to Valinor perhaps? Or tossed into the void like Morgoth. I think it would be interesting to delve into

    • @Melkvalinor
      @Melkvalinor Před rokem +2

      It's said that in end of the times, Melkor would return and all of his minions to fight alongside with him. The balrogs had made their own choices by betraying the Valar. So it's presumably that they wouldn't be forgiven

  • @keegang6045
    @keegang6045 Před rokem

    This was a great video!

  • @MisterEnsayne
    @MisterEnsayne Před rokem +2

    I know you've touched on it in other videos but I'd love a dedicated Kin Strife discussion. Really enjoy Eldacar's story.

  • @carolynmu9334
    @carolynmu9334 Před rokem +9

    Well, ok, since you asked for topic suggestions, I guess I can give a few...#1.WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SAURON USED THE BALROG IN THE WAR OF THE RING!!!!!!!!! #2. Life and travels of Frodo Baggins, greatest hero of the third age #3. Entire Life of Aragorn ELESSAR Telcontar 4. Theory video-origins of the fell beasts of the nazgul 5. What if Sauruman gained the one ring. 6.What would happen if Sauruman survived into the fourth age. 7. The life of Eldarion 8.Theory video about the Entwives 9. The origins of the unamed Nazgul 10. Middle Earth Tour of the third age 11. Dragons after Smaug? 12. The life of Eru Illuvatar 13. The life of Dain Ironfoot and the dwarves of the iron hills 14. The men of Khand 15 The men of Dale and their connection to Rohan 16 the Dunlendings ruffians 17 the birds of erebor 18 the life of elros 19the history of tol-erresea 20 the cottage of lost play and it's nature/inhabitants 21 the symmetry of arda and the counterpart of valinor in the far East 22 what if eonwe became an istari instead of curumo 23 what if feanor survived the dagor nuin giliath 24 the apes of the far south 25 the geography/tour of valinor 26 the meteor that was made into the black sword 27the lands north of angaband 28 what if beren successfully got all three silmarils 29 what if earendil killed Smaug and fought in the war of the ring 30 the life of Durin the 7th 31 the sea of rhun and it's island
    If any subscribers agree write a reply.

  • @Zoruagalaxy
    @Zoruagalaxy Před rokem +4

    I've heard tokein had some lore for beyond the south of Harad that not many people talk about, have you done any videos of their regions settlements? or unheard of elven or dwarf races that dwelled there? or how the terrain for the entire region was?

  • @user-sd7ri9fy4i
    @user-sd7ri9fy4i Před 4 měsíci

    Nice work dude thanks

  • @waynefilkins8394
    @waynefilkins8394 Před rokem

    I really didn't expect this to be a vampire / werewolf video, pretty cool :)

  • @Porto7Inferno
    @Porto7Inferno Před rokem +7

    Matt check the comparison made by Tolkien between Morgoth and Sauron (volume Morgoth's Ring, chapter Transformed Myths). Gives a hell of a video!

  • @jasonneadle2614
    @jasonneadle2614 Před rokem +5

    There’s always this part of me that did not belief it was the end of Sauron or Saruman. Their strongholds struck down but they would still exist, not as physical powers but as voices in the ears of the weak…

    • @jasonneadle2614
      @jasonneadle2614 Před rokem +3

      But as power cannot be created or destroyed, who is to say science does not replace magic in the resurrection of those that would open the door to Morgoth?

    • @ev1677
      @ev1677 Před rokem

      The fact Sarumans spirit looks towards the west and is then blown away suggests he was asking for forgiveness and to return home and was rejected and destroyed by Manue

  • @TheSilentHeel
    @TheSilentHeel Před rokem +2

    I would love to see a video on how many times we think Eru Iluvatar interfered in the world!

  • @briant9251
    @briant9251 Před rokem +1

    Please reduce your bass volume for recording.
    Great info with excelent detail as always.

  • @supervegeta101
    @supervegeta101 Před rokem +3

    I want a power scaling video of Sauron's magical abilities vs the other wizards/maia

  • @365reece
    @365reece Před rokem +3

    Since Saruman and Sauron are both maia it would be interesting to see a story where Saruman doesn’t die and becomes the third dark Lord after Morgoth and Sauron

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před rokem +2

      Tolkien said that Sauron was a far higher order Maia than both Saruman and Gandalf. So they cannot be compared to the dark Lord

  • @ealfaro2861
    @ealfaro2861 Před rokem

    Man great video!

  • @Silver3459
    @Silver3459 Před rokem +1

    I would love to see a timeline of events, creations and important people/main characters.

  • @caramelconundrum9280
    @caramelconundrum9280 Před rokem +4

    The Leviathan from Hellraiser is also an entity obsessed with order.

  • @sammygamgee9224
    @sammygamgee9224 Před rokem +4

    Great video Matt! I have a question. Did Morgoth discover Gondolin because of the treachery of maeglin or because of Hurin screaming towards the echoing mountains?

    • @jyotisrivastava1122
      @jyotisrivastava1122 Před rokem +5

      It was the treachery of maeglin, even when Hurin yelled towards the mountains, Melkor hadn't discovered the location, but when Maeglin had given Gondolin's location, he then, and ONLY then attacked gondolin, though he could've months earlier if my memory serves right.

    • @valentinkambushev4968
      @valentinkambushev4968 Před rokem +3

      @@jyotisrivastava1122 even so Hurin's attempt to find Gondolin did give Morgoth a good idea in which part of the world the city was.

  • @MrScarecrow24
    @MrScarecrow24 Před rokem +1

    I just reread Beren and Luthien the other day. Soooooooo good.

  • @SnakeAndTurtleQigong
    @SnakeAndTurtleQigong Před rokem

    Super fun, thanks!

  • @meteorman6167
    @meteorman6167 Před rokem +3

    Halbrand (Sauron) will ‘die’ from his “injury” in lindon, (after he finds out about the forge and other secrets) then shapeshifter and reappear as annatar

    • @Doubleojai
      @Doubleojai Před 2 měsíci

      That’s what should have happened

  • @dreid1021
    @dreid1021 Před rokem +6

    A burning question: what is the actual population. Like how many actually live in Moria, Numenor, or Minas Tirith at their heights. I feel like that's something Ive never got a clear sense of

  • @ExquisiteKinkyCoils
    @ExquisiteKinkyCoils Před rokem

    Nice work.

  • @horatio50000
    @horatio50000 Před rokem

    Thanks you for the quality content, love your videos.
    I've got 2 video ideas.
    1. Why didn't Saruman take Gandalf's ring Nayra after he defeated him?
    2. What would have happened if Bilbo had killed Gollum in the goblins cave before he escaped.

  • @patricksheperd560
    @patricksheperd560 Před rokem +24

    Was Sauron truly loyal to Morgoth, or did he just see him as a means to gain power for himself? If Sauron was obsessed with order, while Morgoth was a force of chaos, why would Sauron serve him?

    • @KingRick93
      @KingRick93 Před rokem +6

      Great question

    • @atm8733
      @atm8733 Před rokem +12

      It’s because of Morgoth that he was obsessed with order. Morgoth wanted to dominate and have full control over Arda but he was denied so instead he destroyed any and everyone/thing that was not loyal to him. Sauron just took a smarter route than Morgoth. Morgoth ruled with brute force and power Sauron ruled with mind games and being cunning. They had the same goals in all honesty they both wanted full control over Middle Earth they jus took a different approach at doing so.

    • @AfferbeckBeats
      @AfferbeckBeats Před rokem +11

      I do wonder how genuine his loyalty was. Upon discovering Luthien, Sauron's first thought was to capture her and be rewarded by Melkor. But I'm not sure what reward he could be given. He was already the second in command and had a great deal of responsibility and power. Then in Numenor he started the cult sacrificing men to Melkor. Who knows if he genuinely thought he was sacrificing souls to Melkor in the void, or whether the Numenorean's belief in the strength of Melkor and his opposition of the rest of the Valar was a convenient enough method to control them. I suspect the latter, as he had named himself King of the Earth already, he was not acting in his former masters' name.

    • @luans.40
      @luans.40 Před rokem +6

      I believe he was completely loyal. I mean, he started a whole Morgoth-cult in Numenor and he wanted to be Morgoth really bad, he even claimed to be “Morgoth returned”. I think he idolized him as the definitive way to order

  • @TitusRex
    @TitusRex Před rokem +3

    Where can I find this music? It's so beautiful.

  • @treyowen9213
    @treyowen9213 Před rokem +1

    I love watching Sauron go to work.

  • @badgerpatt
    @badgerpatt Před rokem

    Excellent character study! I'd like a vid about Sauron as a "Master of Illusion," as you mentioned. He was a Maia of Many Talents! ;)

  • @greyworld6242
    @greyworld6242 Před rokem +5

    Kickass art!
    How much do you want to bet in the last episode of the rings of power that the writers are going to screw up the shapeshifting effects?
    What if Sauron repented?
    Can you do a video on who is more evil Morgoth or Sauron?

  • @aquantz
    @aquantz Před rokem +3

    I’d really like to see a video about how elf reincarnation works. Why do some elves’ spirits stay in the house of mandos and others come back?

    • @leonardofaber5823
      @leonardofaber5823 Před rokem

      Generally, all elves are supposed to be one (body and soul were never intended, in Eru's plan, to be separated). But, when that happens, their souls go to Mandos and spend some time there, said time to be according to the elf's deeds in life.
      Some, like Finrod and Glorfindel, despite in Exile, died with honor, giving their lives for the sake of others. In Mandos their souls would spend little time, being reincarnated pretty quickly.
      Some, howerver, like Feanáro and his sons, had so many evil deeds in life that their time in Mandos will be longer (Feanáro's will be eternal), having their reincarnation denied by Mandos and the Valar as a sentence.
      And, of course, some elves just do not wish to have physical bodies again. Despite not being natural, they can choose and say "no, thanks, I'd rather stay here for all time".

  • @michealdargue2985
    @michealdargue2985 Před rokem

    Beautiful video. Love the info. Keep this great work going.

  • @royvandegraaf2001
    @royvandegraaf2001 Před rokem

    I would love to see a deep dive into Thingol!