Sauron in the Third Age | Tolkien Explained

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  • čas přidán 30. 04. 2021
  • Today, we explore all of Sauron's actions and travels during the Third Age! We will cover his multiple trips to the East and Dol Guldur, how his presence brings out evil across the map, his physical form during the War of the Ring, and his strategy during the War of the Ring.
    After his defeat at the hands of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Sauron goes into hiding, growing his strength and using all his cunning to craft a plan for vengeance. Using his magic, his servants, and his newly found palantir, he will attempt to bend all of Middle-earth to his will.
    Sauron in the First Age: • Sauron in the First Ag...
    Sauron in the Second Age: • Sauron in the Second A...
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    Sauron - War of the Last Alliance - Matt DeMino
    Barad-dur and Orodruin - Mike Coombs
    Sauron - Jerry Vanderstelt
    Sauron vs Elendil and Gil-galad on Orodruin - Kip Rasmussen
    Isildur cut the Ring - Denis Gordeev
    The Necromancer - SpartanK42
    Dunedain Tracker - Aleksander Karcz
    Rohirrim - Julia Alex
    Dark Lord Sauron - SpartanK42
    The Gladden Fields - Anke Eissmann
    Black Arrow - Paolo Puggioni
    Attack on Dol Guldur - Angus McBride
    The Gift - Catherine Chmiel
    Minas Ithil - Shadow of War Concept Art
    Minas Morgul - Shadow of War Concept Art
    The Dark Lord and the Palantir - The Baby Dragons
    Blue Palantir - Aitor Fernandez
    Red Palantir - Aitor Fernandez
    Saruman the White - Matt DeMino
    Saruman - Vihrushka
    Gollum's Journey Commences - Frederic Bennett
    Mordor - Ochi Zla
    Sauron - Shockbolt
    Sauron Power - Ben Juniu
    Frodo Meets Sauron - Anastasiya Cemetery
    Boromir arrives to Rivendell - 1oshuart
    The Palantir of Orthanc - Shockbolt
    The Nazgul - Istrandar
    The Palantir - Morgen Bell
    Sauron - Johnnyslowhand
    Sauron - Jean Pascal Leclerc
    Aragorn and the Rohirrim - Magali Villeneuve
    A Sudden Call to Mount Doom - Ted Nasmith
    At the Cracks of Doom - Ted Nasmith
    The Shadow of Sauron - Ted Nasmith
    The Fate of Isildur - Anato Finnstark
    Melkor reaching Arda - Sarka Skoripikova
    #sauron #tolkien #lordoftherings
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Komentáře • 1K

  • @CaptainFSU
    @CaptainFSU Před 2 lety +2099

    No being has ever felt such panic as Sauron when he realizes where the ring is when Frodo puts it on.

    • @NeviusZ
      @NeviusZ Před 2 lety +602

      It was at that moment that Sauron knew, he fucked up.

    • @ramondejesus65
      @ramondejesus65 Před 2 lety +23

      @@NeviusZ 😂

    • @voncinnamon1
      @voncinnamon1 Před 2 lety +178

      im sure some fear was there but the fact that Frodo put the ring on meant Frodo was making the same mistake as the others was a good thing for him. Didnt count on the creature he let go screwing everything up lol

    • @alexbeardsley751
      @alexbeardsley751 Před 2 lety +108

      I can imagine Sauron saying the ultimate, "Oh shit!"

    • @iruga7379
      @iruga7379 Před 2 lety +60

      Like the all powerfull Shogun of Evil AKU FROM Samurai Jack once said:
      ''Oh no....''

  • @hynjus001
    @hynjus001 Před 3 lety +2092

    I love how Manwe blows Sauron's spirit into the void at the end. The Valar are like "Well done, free peoples! We'll take it from here"

    • @stgwgeshdgdgeken2556
      @stgwgeshdgdgeken2556 Před 3 lety +293

      Only took them a couple thousand years

    • @Modulates
      @Modulates Před 3 lety +129

      That or Manwe goes "alright enough of this garbage, you're beneath us and Morgoth."

    • @lachlanf4842
      @lachlanf4842 Před 3 lety +359

      People always say "Where was Gondor" but never "Where the hell was the Valor?!" 😂

    • @carlosalegria4776
      @carlosalegria4776 Před 3 lety +186

      Eru when Frodo puts on the ring and Sauron sends the nazgul after him: 'Yes, yes, well done Sauron, well done Sauron, HOWEVER'
      *Proceeds to trip Gollum and destroy Sauron's physical form for good

    • @splendiforusme
      @splendiforusme Před 3 lety +170

      To be fair, the Valar are ageless. So thousands of years to us is probably just like a couple of weeks to them 😂

  • @TheMarcHicks
    @TheMarcHicks Před 3 lety +1536

    Funnily enough, Sauron's hatred for the Heirs of Isildur is far older than just the cutting off of the One Ring, but almost certainly dates back as far as the First Age when Luthien-the foremother of the future Kings of Numenor and.Lords of Adunie-defeated Sauron on the Isle of Werewolves. Boy does that guy hold a grudge 😆.

  • @earlofdoncaster5018
    @earlofdoncaster5018 Před 3 lety +723

    I love how Sauron is defeated by Isildur by chopping the ring off his finger and then vanquished by Gollum biting a finger off Frodo. Live by The Ring, die by The Ring I guess.

    • @MatthewCaunsfield
      @MatthewCaunsfield Před 3 lety +51

      Only in the film version - in the book Elendil kills Sauron, then Isildur cuts the ring off afterwards.
      But yes, there are a lot of lost fingers! 😀

    • @earlofdoncaster5018
      @earlofdoncaster5018 Před 3 lety +12

      @@MatthewCaunsfield I've read the book many times and I was not aware Elendil killed Sauron. Flipping the bird at Sauron would still be ironic justice!

    • @MatthewCaunsfield
      @MatthewCaunsfield Před 3 lety +13

      @@earlofdoncaster5018 I think it's in the chapter "The Shadow of the Past" although TBH it only sticks in my mind because I listened to the Radio 4 series so often when I was younger! 😂
      Upon checking it turns out I forgot to mention Gil-Galad as well. Oops! 😱
      Here's the text:
      “It was Gil-galad, Elven-king and Elendil of Westernesse who overthrew Sauron, though they themselves perished in the deed; and Isildur Elendil’s son cut the Ring from Sauron’s hand and took it for his own."

    • @HPLOTRGOTfan
      @HPLOTRGOTfan Před 3 lety +8

      Wow, great pick up. Lol, I’m reading this in bed ready to sleep and now I’m going to be up all night analysing and comparing Sauron/Isildur and Frodo/Gollums’ ring and finger conundrum.

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před 3 lety +8

      @@MatthewCaunsfield Actually in the book Elendil couldn't kill him. Tolkien did not write anything about Sauron's spilled blood or wounds. What Tolkien told us is Sauron burnt and destroyed Gil-Galad's body and slayed Elendil. There's no any damage taken by Sauron. He must be just extremly exhausted

  • @JasonSmith-we5ls
    @JasonSmith-we5ls Před 3 lety +621

    Tolkien’s stories are always told on a grand time scale. I love how they all take place over several millennia.

    • @dusty616l
      @dusty616l Před 2 lety +14

      well if the universe is truly infinite.
      then all this probably already happened.

    • @mtrrea1682
      @mtrrea1682 Před 2 lety

      @@dusty616l And still happening ?

    • @BargerClan
      @BargerClan Před 2 lety +4

      The Ages of the LOTR are like The elder scrolls Ages timeline.

    • @mancamiatipoola
      @mancamiatipoola Před rokem +9

      It might surprise you that Tolkien was inspired from real world history. There have been many ages of humanity that each lasts about 3-4000 years and are separated by great cataclysms. Many races and dark entities are inspired by real world mythical creatures and gods. The elves are inspired by the ancient phoenicians who were a very advanced people that came from the west and brought knowledge and navigation to the people of the Mediterranean. The dwarves and hobbits are inspired by real life gnomes that were 3-4 ft tall and lived in northern lands of England and Scandinavia. In fact an entire miniature underground village similar to the Shire was discovered by archaeologists in England in the 80s confirming that these little people existed.
      And finally, in our cycle (age) the people that control the world are the cult of Sauron. Yes indeed, the Eye of Providence symbol was placed on many churches and even on the dollar bill - the pyramid with the eye - which represents the New World Order that really controls our world in secret by using puppet country leaders, corporation magnates and religious leaders. The pyramid with the eye - the eye of Sauron - the cult of demonic worshippers that control our world.

    • @CyberEJ
      @CyberEJ Před rokem +3

      It's totally mental. It's some of the most amazing story telling ever. I've only ever seen the LOTR movies (and the Hobbit ones), only once at that. The difference between the movies and the books seems to be even more than that between the HP books and movies.

  • @williamballard767
    @williamballard767 Před 2 lety +1508

    I have this headcanon that when Sauron enters the Void and sees his master Morgoth chained up, Sauron stands there for awhile and all he says is “hey…” And morgoth turns to him and says “hey.”. And an awkward silence falls for all eternity lol

    • @CygnusTheSilly
      @CygnusTheSilly Před 2 lety +270

      There is also a moment when Sauron bumps into Morgoth so Sauron says "sorry" and Morgoth says "You Too" then the silence becomes even more awkward

    • @stuartemmanuel3735
      @stuartemmanuel3735 Před 2 lety +38

      GOLLUM not Fordo is the true hero of the the third age

    • @totallynotalpharius2283
      @totallynotalpharius2283 Před 2 lety +218

      Morgoth: so is Glorfindel still ducking around up there
      Sauron: yep
      Morgoth: god I hate that guy

    • @PopcornMax179
      @PopcornMax179 Před 2 lety +118

      "Hello."
      "Good, you?"
      *ahh shit why did I say that, he just said hello, not how are you, now I look stupid...

    • @samwise5486
      @samwise5486 Před 2 lety +1

      @@stuartemmanuel3735 fair enough lmao

  • @Haedox
    @Haedox Před 3 lety +600

    can’t get enough of these videos

  • @KeppyKep
    @KeppyKep Před 3 lety +873

    Never quite realised the parallel between Denethor and Saruman, in that Sauron attempted to bend them both to his will through the Palantiri.
    Saruman lost, while Denethor won.
    Denethor gets a lot of crap, especially by movie-onlys, but man he was a bad-ass.
    Yes, the experienced badly damaged him, and he later fell into despair.
    But he succeeded in a battle of wills where Saruman, a Maiar, failed. Damn

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před 3 lety +82

      I think its all about having the Numenorean blood. Because Sauron and Saruman had no right to use the Palantirs with their full power, Maiar or not

    • @victorneistrup7277
      @victorneistrup7277 Před 2 lety +46

      @@davidw7609 The blood of the Numenoreans flows in the people of Gondor, since the Gondorians are direct descendants of Numenor. Their blood has just lessened with the merging of "lesser men", which they had to do after loosing so many of their numbers to the plague and the Rhun invasion. So there is some merit in KeppyKep's comment.

    • @jigthh
      @jigthh Před 2 lety +57

      Movie Denethor and book Denethor are two quite different entities when it comes to their ideals and strength. Movie Denethor is made to be a bit of a shakespeare bad guy, while in the book he is cold but strong and stalwart defender of men.

    • @Phoenix-King-ozai
      @Phoenix-King-ozai Před 2 lety +15

      In addition to his ancestry, I think Original intentions also matter
      Saruman while not evil was already on the path to corruption by the time he was influenced by sauron
      Jealous, proud and power hungry men don't remain pure for long, even if they are lesser gods ( or especially if they are gods)

    • @charliewinter5868
      @charliewinter5868 Před 2 lety +20

      Really interesting I hadn’t considered that. That’s what I love about Tolkien’s works even after reading the books multiple times, every time it’s still thought provoking and you see things in a new light.

  • @nottitan7504
    @nottitan7504 Před 3 lety +235

    Literally thought Andy serkis was the gollum in your video. Good shit

  • @megabowzer100
    @megabowzer100 Před 2 lety +281

    The way this is edited with the maps and picture markers is genius !! Really easy to follow with sharp clear narrative.great work 👍

    • @soulwarrior
      @soulwarrior Před rokem +11

      I only came across this channel due to the new series, but I've watched a lot of videos back to back and I have to agree. Really makes the world feel grander. Appreciate all the hard work that went into the videos!

  • @starkilr101
    @starkilr101 Před 3 lety +1105

    Even though the Eye is only a Peter Jackson development for his form, it looks great and malevolent

    • @AfferbeckBeats
      @AfferbeckBeats Před 3 lety +219

      There is also a zoom in on the fiery eye that shows him standing in it in his physical form, it might only be in the extended version.

    • @starkilr101
      @starkilr101 Před 3 lety +77

      @@AfferbeckBeats true and it just looks awesome

    • @lizzies4964
      @lizzies4964 Před 3 lety +238

      I actually think it was a good call for Sauron not to take on a physical form in the movies. While it would have been cool to see him, I think a lot of people would have questioned why Sauron wasn't more directly involved in battles if he had a physical form. The Eye also looks really cool.

    • @antiseth3964
      @antiseth3964 Před 3 lety +144

      @@lizzies4964 Sauron acts through so many people and mechanisms that he gains this threateningly enigmatic presence in the films. Plus, it’s implied in the films (and the books too) that Sauron was still weakened without the ring-enough to relegate him to the role of a manipulator and puppet master as opposed to coming forth in battle himself. So while he likely had physical form, he probably understood that he could be much more intimidating when his presence was felt-by proxy of his armies and dark works-rather than seen. The Eye atop Barad Dur is a great way to represent that presence, even if directly glimpsed from afar.

    • @AnthonyBerkshire
      @AnthonyBerkshire Před 3 lety +19

      @@AfferbeckBeats only in the Hobbit movies

  • @drwalidosama
    @drwalidosama Před 2 lety +93

    Do you think Tolkein sometimes got confused by the breadth of his own characters and mythology? Like think to himself “what year was the Battle of Pelennor Fields again?”
    Amazing how he wrote so extensive a history that this feels like a documentary!

    • @fehoobar
      @fehoobar Před rokem +34

      Christopher Tolkien is really to thank for a lot of cohesion. Silmarillion was published after JRR Tolkien's death, and Christopher went through all of his father's (haphazard) notes and hammered out a cohesive timeline and probably added on a lot of details and tidbits. Not to mention a lot of information and details come from Tolkien's letters that were biopic'd later on and gathered with great effort.
      It's really sad it's been such a thankless task, everyone in these comments rants and raves about Tolkien's world, but if it wasn't for Christopher we wouldn't have seen very much of it.

    • @9Dunk
      @9Dunk Před rokem +4

      I remember reading something about Glorfindel. Tolkien had forgotten about his 1st Age Glorfindel when telling the story of Frodo going to Rivendell. His son asked if it was the same Glorfindel and pointed out that no two elves have the same name, so Tolkien made 1st Age Glorfindel come back to life after his fight with the Balrog. I think the name Elrond had some similar kind of mix up too.

  • @Arvendui1
    @Arvendui1 Před 3 lety +202

    As always this is a stellar video. The single thing that stood out most for me was just how f***ed the people of Middle Earth would have been without Gandalf. In this video alone there are something like half a dozen occasions where he almost singlehandedly made the difference!

    • @sylvainquainon4379
      @sylvainquainon4379 Před 3 lety +46

      That was his job! People of Middle-Earth were having a hard time because of a Maia, so the Valar sent them another Maia to balance things out. Well they had to send 5 of them to get one doing his job ; not a very reliable bunch, these Maiar. :p

    • @lucaleone4331
      @lucaleone4331 Před 2 lety +6

      I thought the same. I've watched a ton of videos and the movies over and over. But until laid out like this video does. I didn't realize how bad it was just before The Hobbit journey.

  • @nicholasbourcier
    @nicholasbourcier Před 3 lety +220

    What fascinates me about Tolkiens world is how the Valar seemingly can never stop existing both spiritually and physically.

    • @MusMasi
      @MusMasi Před 2 lety +3

      plenty of beings like that in the myths and religions the world over

  • @defrte
    @defrte Před 2 lety +107

    In the film Sauron DID have a physical form, but it was pretty obscure. Sauron has it when Aragon looks into the Palantir to draw Sauron's gaze, Sauron himself is holding the Palantir, but I think that was only the extended edition
    He was also suppose to make an appearance when they were at the Black Gate, but it was deleted/edited despite almost making it into the film. Sauron was replaced with an attack troll instead.
    At the end of the day, it was a good idea to keep and use the flaming eye, as a metaphor, but also as a presence as Sauron himself was not able to directly influence the world outside of his servants. Adding a physical manifestation at the very end of the film would likely take away from the endless feeling of dread due to his unknown yet long grasp of his shadow, but I know that is subjective between viewers

    • @yeetdragon2413
      @yeetdragon2413 Před rokem +1

      In the Hobbit movies, Sauron is the black pupil of the fiery eye

    • @alexg1778
      @alexg1778 Před rokem +1

      I personally love the literal flaming Eye. I think the symbolism and what it represents is more effective than an actual physical form. Not that his physical form isn't cool, just the eye really pushes the thought of an ever present threat.

    • @yeetdragon2413
      @yeetdragon2413 Před rokem

      @@alexg1778 i like the version in the hobbit, because it's still the "fiery all-seeing eye", but with an actual being inside of it. It is also more accurate to the books.

  • @alanjohnsonbmw
    @alanjohnsonbmw Před 3 lety +340

    Her: I bet he's thinking about other women
    Me:

    • @di3486
      @di3486 Před 3 lety +18

      He: Bet she is texting with another man...
      Me:

    • @DSVN23
      @DSVN23 Před 3 lety +4

      😂😂😂

    • @glorfindel4945
      @glorfindel4945 Před 3 lety +2

      @@di3486 I honestly didn't expect that xD

    • @steveblanmag7410
      @steveblanmag7410 Před 3 lety +2

      Hahahaha!
      His eye is burning with lust!

  • @alanthompson2753
    @alanthompson2753 Před 2 lety +46

    The fact that Sauron has to take vengeance on Isildur's line and not him must really salt his wound and motivate his hatred. Even though humans die, if they defeat a Maya that victory is forever baby

  • @chartypeplays2396
    @chartypeplays2396 Před 2 lety +94

    Sauron: My armies will be unstoppable!
    Gandalf: I'm about to end this man's whole career.

  • @mikkelnpetersen
    @mikkelnpetersen Před 2 lety +13

    I personally think it was a nice twist PJ made, that Sauron was "weak" and "formless" and NEEDED the one ring to gain enough power to do anything else, make him look much more desperate to recover the one ring.

    • @gelatinousjoe7979
      @gelatinousjoe7979 Před 8 měsíci +2

      I agree, it makes the threat of him getting the ring easier to grasp and more concrete. He gets the ring, he’ll take physical form at full power

  • @tiagosantos5653
    @tiagosantos5653 Před 3 lety +22

    Awesome Gollum impression!
    And nice to know about the Dale war after the Ring was destroyed.

  • @Noleme
    @Noleme Před 2 lety +51

    Great video. One significant (or at least I consider it so) lore error would be the final fate of Sauron. Sauron did not join his Master in the Void, as even in his reduced state he was not permitted to leave Arda until its final conclusion. Tolkien outlines in HoME v10 that Sauron would continue to exist on Middle-Earth, but in a state where he could never properly focus on growing again (the same fate at Saruman after his rejection by the Powers). Morgoth was able to be thrust from the World through a specific appeal to the Iluvatar, and in part because he was able to be truly 'killed' due to all of his power being poured into his physical form which the Valar destroyed.
    Sauron is still out there, just unable to take shape again on his own. But we also have some evidence that forcefully disembodied Ainur within Arda can reform with the aid of others (e.g., Boldog).
    More curious than anything Nerd of the Rings whether you think this comment is worth addressing. Big lore nerd so hoping for a response. Again, love the videos.

    • @kyleganse4978
      @kyleganse4978 Před rokem +2

      Maybe this idea would be the basis of his 4th age tail that never was completed and we only have scraps of. Could be the humans that turned evil were seeking Sauron in some way.

  • @orrointhewise3913
    @orrointhewise3913 Před 3 lety +33

    Love the Gollum cameo! 😁

  • @redtiger676
    @redtiger676 Před 3 lety +83

    I just wanted to say that I love your videos. The maps help so much in wrapping my mind around everything happening. Your production quality is top-notch, you've quickly become my favorite LoTR content creator!

  • @davidw.smiecinski5260
    @davidw.smiecinski5260 Před 2 lety +76

    I always thought that the eye was a sort of “observation deck” and Sauron was inside it, but could freely leave

  • @moviewolverine89
    @moviewolverine89 Před rokem +13

    Can we just take a minute to appreciate the fact that Denethor had the strength of will to resist Sauron where Saruman ultimately failed? The man was flawed for sure but his commitment to never surrendering to Sauron was unmatched, that's for sure.

  • @southernberean8166
    @southernberean8166 Před 3 lety +67

    Wow the battle of Dale after the ring was destroyed. I’m so glad your channel is on here or I would’ve never known that

    • @mikelarsen5836
      @mikelarsen5836 Před 3 lety +4

      Have you thought about reading all of Tolkien's works? The best way to learn. Good as the movies were, they cannot compare to the source material. Too much left out or completely changed for no good reason!

    • @antiseth3964
      @antiseth3964 Před 3 lety +14

      @@mikelarsen5836 I kinda thought the same at one point, but if you look at the format of films vs books, I understand that Lord of the Rings cannot be exactly the same story in both. I think the films deliver the best dramatic retelling of the events in a reasonable watch time, and that requires making some changes to keep the story accessible to a broad audience. LoTR directly translated to the silver screen would be many hours longer than all but the most devoted fans would be willing to stick through, and it would break all known conventions of good film writing and pacing. Unfortunately, no studio is going to pitch tens to hundreds of millions of dollars to make that.
      The story of Lord of the Rings will always be the books for me, but I can enjoy the films for being very lovingly crafted cinema-some of the best ever made.

    • @viincanity
      @viincanity Před 2 lety +1

      @@mikelarsen5836 I've not read the books, but it's very hard to include all details in movies as it is compared to books.
      Unless you want the series to be split over a few decades ;)
      But I think it would be too slow to watch, losing interest fast.

  • @youplaywell1165
    @youplaywell1165 Před 3 lety +53

    AMAZING it's like watching LOTR from the other perspective

  • @senoadjiaditya1535
    @senoadjiaditya1535 Před 3 lety +127

    Lord of The Rings Trilogy no doubt is the best movie I have ever watch for the last of two decade!!
    Thank you JRR. Tolkien, Thank you Peter Jackson and thank you all fellow fans of Lord of The Rings for such amazing content like this!

    • @jamiegregg9211
      @jamiegregg9211 Před 3 lety +4

      agreed my friend that they are

    • @marionbaggins
      @marionbaggins Před 3 lety +5

      And it is soon the Best Book Trilogy, in the past seven decades...In 3 or 4 Years.

    • @jamiegregg9211
      @jamiegregg9211 Před 3 lety +1

      @@marionbaggins agreed

    • @senoadjiaditya1535
      @senoadjiaditya1535 Před 3 lety +5

      @@marionbaggins It is! Lord of The Rings universe really fascinates me.

    • @marionbaggins
      @marionbaggins Před 3 lety +3

      @@senoadjiaditya1535 Same!!! And we got awesome people who talk about on CZcams!!!

  • @np8252
    @np8252 Před 3 lety +25

    I've been binging these videos for the last 48 hours, absolutely brilliant!

    • @NerdoftheRings
      @NerdoftheRings  Před 3 lety +6

      48hrs well spent! 😁
      Thanks for watching/subscribing!

  • @sylvainquainon4379
    @sylvainquainon4379 Před 3 lety +5

    Yours might be the only CZcams videos I refuse to watch on my phone or even my PC. Always waiting until I sit comfortably in front of my 4K TV to enjoy these properly. Great work, as always.

  • @stephanwatson7902
    @stephanwatson7902 Před 2 lety +68

    The Eye of Sauron comes from the fact that he is constantly atop his tower, with his hand on the Palantir trying to see everything he can of his enemies; as it produces light

    • @joshuastrittmatter4188
      @joshuastrittmatter4188 Před rokem +10

      I don’t know why, but that thought just makes me laugh.
      It gives me the image of a disgruntled Sauron sitting in front of a TV with a PS4 controller, constantly jamming the control sticks in every direction as he relentlessly tries to get a view of everything outside his tower.

    • @stephanwatson7902
      @stephanwatson7902 Před rokem +1

      @@joshuastrittmatter4188 lol

    • @JohnPeacekeeper
      @JohnPeacekeeper Před 2 měsíci

      Ironically, the Palantir can't actually produce its own light

    • @stephanwatson7902
      @stephanwatson7902 Před 2 měsíci

      @@JohnPeacekeeper No because Tokien described when Denethor used the Palantir, people saw a light coming from his tower

  • @EvanzZx
    @EvanzZx Před 3 lety +27

    Sauron is the most interesting character in all of tolkeins works. I love him!!

  • @Monkplaysbass
    @Monkplaysbass Před 3 lety +26

    I picked a good time to have a sudden interest in Sauron.

  • @OLHA15
    @OLHA15 Před 3 lety +32

    The effort that goes into these videos are so obvious. Keep up the good work!

  • @briansabalo
    @briansabalo Před 3 lety +21

    Creative Assembly and Sega, if you're listening, we need a Total War: Middle-Earth asap, with Nerd as loremaster!

    • @Edude117
      @Edude117 Před 2 lety

      I highly doubt that'll happen. They already have a wildly successful fantasy IP at their disposal so it probably wouldn't be worth the trouble for a redundant series like Total War: Middle-Earth, especially when you consider how difficult it supposedly is to get the rights to the Lord of the Rings.

    • @briansabalo
      @briansabalo Před 2 lety +2

      @@Edude117 i agree about how it would be difficult, but it's certainly not redundant? warhammer is no middle-earth! one can dream though!

  • @IndianCODPlayingNerd
    @IndianCODPlayingNerd Před 3 lety +48

    The Music for the whole series is amazing!! I love it. Keep doing what you do man! I am getting more and more eager to read the Silmarillion now and other Tolkien works. Arguably one of the best channels for one of the best story world ever created 🙏🏾🙏🏾

  • @TeacherGalante
    @TeacherGalante Před 3 lety +16

    Just what I needed to listen to while mowing the yard. 🏰

  • @galicredstone
    @galicredstone Před 2 lety +9

    As a 40+ year fan of the Tolkien mythos, I love these videos. I just discovered your channel, hidden in the Gladden (CZcams) Fields, but what a wonderful happenstance it was!
    I look forward to fully exploring your work Sir!

    • @NerdoftheRings
      @NerdoftheRings  Před 2 lety +2

      So glad a big fish (the algorithm) brought you to my part of the river. 😄 Thanks so much for watching/subscribing!

  • @freddiescott2715
    @freddiescott2715 Před 3 lety +5

    That gollum voice was spot on!

  • @afti03
    @afti03 Před 2 lety +9

    it's tough going back to the real world after watching one of these...

  • @ancientofdays1152
    @ancientofdays1152 Před 3 lety +55

    The one dislike is Sauron follower I presume, don’t see the reason for disliking this video

    • @evanripple3230
      @evanripple3230 Před 3 lety +3

      Regardless NotR videos always have an amazing like to dislike ratio, I’d have to guess it was either a LotR hater or a misclick. Nothing to dislike about this quality content.

    • @teamvlcn6820
      @teamvlcn6820 Před 3 lety

      @@TheRatsintheWalls They should notice the misclick, though. Especially if, like me, they watch the video multiple times.

    • @sarxeye
      @sarxeye Před 2 lety +1

      they were probably not prepared for the video to contain spoiling lol. they mad

  • @LiuGondor
    @LiuGondor Před 3 lety +7

    That was a nice Gollum impression.

  • @peterconway6584
    @peterconway6584 Před 3 lety +6

    I haven't read all the Tolkien corpus, so I rely on videos like this to bring out information I don't know. There were crucial pieces here that I either never read or hadn't pieced together. Thank you!

    • @NerdoftheRings
      @NerdoftheRings  Před 3 lety +1

      Glad I could help fill in the gaps! Thanks for watching/subscribing!

  • @DeaNizBack
    @DeaNizBack Před 3 lety +47

    I rly would like to know what Sauron's thougts were upon receiving the news that a Balrog was found in Kazadum.
    "Sir we found a Balrog, a servant from your former master." "Uhm, good Job! But just leave him there, will you?" Is my guess.

    • @AnnaMarianne
      @AnnaMarianne Před 3 lety +28

      Perhaps Sauron did contact the balrog, but it refused to serve Sauron. Remember that Gothmog, the chief of the balrogs, was co-lieutenants of Melkor with Sauron. This balrog might have thought Sauron had no authority over him, that he was equal to Sauron and not his servant.

    • @denisl2760
      @denisl2760 Před 2 lety +4

      @@AnnaMarianne Smaug also

    • @tednielsen2915
      @tednielsen2915 Před 2 lety +5

      @@AnnaMarianne Sauron didn't have enough badges

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před 2 lety +3

      @@AnnaMarianne Nope, That Balrog wasn't equal to Sauron in any case. All the Balrogs including Gothmog(Lord of Balrogs) were lesser Maiar spirits than Sauron:
      "Both outside Arda and in it, before the fall of Utumno. *Melkor had corrupted many spirits -some great, as Sauron, or less so, as Balrogs"*
      [The History of Middle Earth Vol 10: Morgoth’s Ring. Myths Transformed]
      Also in the Silmarillion, Sauron had been described as "the Chief of *all the captains of Morgoth"* so basically Sauron was Gothmog's chief

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před 2 lety

      @@tednielsen2915 He had! Read my comment man

  • @Sara.m.t
    @Sara.m.t Před 3 lety +9

    I am speechless at the quality of this video - you’ve outdone yourself once again, Matt! 🤩🙌🏻✨

    • @NOS2IeX
      @NOS2IeX Před 2 lety

      * is name is Fridolin

  • @storeheier93
    @storeheier93 Před 3 lety +9

    The production and storytelling is so freakin good!

  • @dustinhowell7612
    @dustinhowell7612 Před 2 lety +5

    I like the extended version of Return of the King and the Hobbit where it shows what the eye really is. The black slit is him, the fire just emanates off it that. It just happens to look like an eye. Then, in return of the king, when Aragon looks into the Palantir, the eye is like a gateway to wherever Sauron really is. He's a being not of this world. So cool. This video was well made.

  • @someoneirrelevant6815
    @someoneirrelevant6815 Před 2 lety +6

    I’d like to think that Sauron did have a physical form inside Barad Dur, but used the giant flaming eye to look upon the entire land.

  • @JasperTheFriendlyGoth
    @JasperTheFriendlyGoth Před 3 lety +5

    All of your reading voices are great, but your Gollum took me by surprise! I love your channel! I love the historical documentary style so much. The only bad part is that I have watched everything no less than three times. Its kinda become my video comfort food. Thank you for the content!

  • @thehighguarduk4820
    @thehighguarduk4820 Před 3 lety +11

    Fantastic video, you really tell this story so well and show the great scope and key details with equal importance. Nicely done I really enjoyed this!

  • @emperornapoleon6204
    @emperornapoleon6204 Před 2 lety +8

    Amazing content! I’ve read these stories so many times, in the Silmarillion, Hobbit, LotR, and supplemental readings, and still can’t get enough! It is the richest invented history known to man. The power of Tolkien’s imagination is legendary.
    Lucky Gandalf stopped the alliance of Smaug and Sauron before it could form. The forces of good in the Third Age were not in any way prepared to face off against a Winged Fire Drake, let alone an entire army behind it. Imagine what Smaug’s direct service to Sauron would have caused. With the fall of the north, the Balrog Durin’s Bane no doubt would have joined him openly as well. Then all would have been lost.

  • @shubhammitra4227
    @shubhammitra4227 Před 2 lety +12

    Wow man! I loved this video. I see people saying the third age pales in comparison to the grandeur of first age, but honestly, Sauron is a much better villain than Morgoth, and the stories of third age are better fleshed out. I love your storytelling, you should make movies man!

  • @uborca941
    @uborca941 Před 3 lety +11

    I cant possibly know how long these videos take, for some you need to read a lot of letters and even if you know these by memory, that is just a lot of knowledge.
    Keep up the channel your videos are great!

  • @jaimy_games
    @jaimy_games Před 3 lety +4

    Wauw I was really wondering how you could explain Sauron's actions in just 17 minutes. But you did an amazing job, very clear, very organized, easy to follow. Thank you!

  • @HansHammertime
    @HansHammertime Před rokem +1

    Your voices throughout all your videos are spot on.
    I was really surprised at your great Gollum voice!

  • @Bubviv
    @Bubviv Před 2 lety +1

    Wow. How have i not found you before?? Your maps, narration and chronological precision are second to none. Sometimes it hard wrapping ones head around events and wars when so many things happen at the same time ... but this chessboard overview is great!

  • @lindseygoodwin4389
    @lindseygoodwin4389 Před 3 lety +3

    I drive two hours each way for work, and your videos are making that journey enjoyable! Thanks for the engaging content!

  • @Reck
    @Reck Před 3 lety +11

    Becoming obsessed with your channel. Wonderful.

  • @hazorg16
    @hazorg16 Před 3 lety +2

    Great video loved the whole 'Sauron in each age' series good job and thank you

  • @reecehobson5525
    @reecehobson5525 Před 3 lety +3

    That gollum impression is bang on

  • @MrMarvellousMark
    @MrMarvellousMark Před 3 lety +5

    The final video about Sauron , probably the age where he had the most power but also his downfall.
    Great Video ! KEEP IT UP MELLON

    • @leonardofaber5823
      @leonardofaber5823 Před 3 lety

      The Age where he was weaker, you mean

    • @MrMarvellousMark
      @MrMarvellousMark Před 3 lety

      @@leonardofaber5823 at the start yes but nearing the end , he became stronger

    • @leonardofaber5823
      @leonardofaber5823 Před 3 lety

      @@MrMarvellousMark but neither more nor as stronger as he was during the Second Age.
      Sauron was more powerful before the beginnig of Time, when he was created along with the other Ainur by Eru. As time progressed, he was losing power through corruption and, of course, every time he lost a physical form.
      What might give people the idea he was stronger is because we have more descriptions of his acts in the Third Age than we have from previous Ages.
      But the fact is: he was weaker. Powerful enough to cause all that mess, but weaker than ever.

    • @MrMarvellousMark
      @MrMarvellousMark Před 3 lety

      @@leonardofaber5823 yes his physical middle eqrth form took away some of his powers he had back in Valinor

    • @leonardofaber5823
      @leonardofaber5823 Před 3 lety

      @DoomedGenX I know they did, and I never said he was weaker than Elves and Men.
      I was merely comparing his Third Age's level of power with HIS previous levels of power

  • @carnage4907
    @carnage4907 Před 2 lety +3

    Did this dude just do gollum’s voice perfectly? That was amazing. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @kristianbroberg
    @kristianbroberg Před 2 lety +2

    You tell these stories so well.. I think Tolkien would be proud. Thank you!

  • @jomanclus108
    @jomanclus108 Před 3 lety +3

    Thank you Matt. Another excellent video. Much appreciated. Love your "Gollum" voice!

  • @james9609
    @james9609 Před 3 lety +3

    Always look forward to your uploads!
    You should do an audiobook. You're very easy on the ears! I'd buy it!

  • @istvanfodor9749
    @istvanfodor9749 Před 2 lety +4

    To think the original trilogy and the Hobbit trilogy, with all their lore and amazing story telling, are quite literally a blink of the eye in the world Tolkien crafted. The potential to bring it into the cinema world is just as great as the world itself but I only hope they take care in bringing it to life. I can only hope that Tolkien is living out his greatest adventures in Arda 🗡📜

  • @kemrone
    @kemrone Před 2 lety

    God damnnnnn!!! Wish this story never ended. You the goat for covering all this for us.🔥🙏🏻❤️

  • @evancondon1372
    @evancondon1372 Před 3 lety +4

    I keep learning more and more about Sauron and it’s awesome

  • @jasonbourneistreadstone
    @jasonbourneistreadstone Před 2 lety +6

    "7 years. That's how long you kids have been on my lawn!"
    (Sauron finally comes out and starts brushing them away with his mace)
    One ingrate punk cuts his finger off with a knife and takes his ring.
    Life ain't easy in Southside Mordor..

  • @mojojojoslyfoxharris
    @mojojojoslyfoxharris Před rokem +6

    Although it would have been interesting to see Sauron in physical form during the final battle in Return of the King as teased in some cases. I think it was a good thing for the following reasons:
    1) It made us focus on Saruman more who was played greatly by the late Christopher Lee in the first two films as well as the Nazgul who were well represented too!
    2) It would be hard to develop a villain as a character who's so distant all the time and be able to connect that with the audience.
    3) By the final battle of the Return of the King, Sauron finally appearing would have been a bit too little too late kind of feeling especially after the climatic Battle of Pelennor Fields
    Unless the 3 books are made into a respective series where you have more time to develop characters as compared to the films, I don't see how you could have worked Saruon much better than how Peter Jackson did here!

    • @gelatinousjoe7979
      @gelatinousjoe7979 Před 8 měsíci +2

      I’m also pretty sure in the movies it is stated that Sauron can’t take physical form until he has the ring.

  • @martsilv5303
    @martsilv5303 Před 3 lety

    That was so excellently written and narated. Thank you.

  • @TheMrFishnDucks
    @TheMrFishnDucks Před rokem +2

    Always liked the way it was done in the movie with just the eye tower. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

  • @eacalvert
    @eacalvert Před 3 lety +5

    Yay new video!!!! Ty for all your hard work it really shows 😁

  • @chanonnaluta7958
    @chanonnaluta7958 Před 3 lety +7

    I really like that ominous synth drone that you play to represent the forces of Shadow. It always gives me chills and you use it quite well. It's like a reminder that all is not good especially in this timeline videos. Sure, for millennia there is some peace and happiness but then...(music)

  • @Billy_the-cat
    @Billy_the-cat Před 9 měsíci +1

    Imagine waiting thousands and thousands of years just to get impatient at the end and tricked. And when he realized it he thought "Nazguls! Do something!!"

  • @ShyamalEcon
    @ShyamalEcon Před rokem

    These videos are so useful! Even more so with the Rings of Power show! I’ve learned so much just from videos on Sauron! Thanks

  • @lulululu8045
    @lulululu8045 Před 3 lety +7

    I listening to your videos while falling aswleep. I love them!!

  • @GalacticGod
    @GalacticGod Před 3 lety +103

    Awesome video!

  • @sebastianmatt7707
    @sebastianmatt7707 Před 3 lety

    Fantastic video again, really helps putting all the pieces together

  • @shehansenanayaka3046
    @shehansenanayaka3046 Před 8 měsíci +2

    We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. LOTR ❤️🔥

  • @xergiok2322
    @xergiok2322 Před 2 lety +3

    Thank you for pointing out that Sauron did indeed have physical form. This misconception and the literal interpretation of the eye is the thing that bothered me most about the film trilogy.

  • @browneye010
    @browneye010 Před 2 lety +3

    Man that pic of Gollum falling into mt doom he looks terrifying

  • @rorzag
    @rorzag Před 3 lety +1

    I love your videos! You enrich Tolkien’s legacy - I’m sure his family would be proud

  • @revelensolis-cuyos4616
    @revelensolis-cuyos4616 Před 2 lety +2

    Good day sir, I started watching your videos about 3 days ago. It was recommended by a fellow lotr fan. And watching it through by age/era from years of the lamps now I am on the third age already because your videos are not only informative but very addicting as well. I never got bored for a moment. Thank you for your dedication, it’s because of you that this void I had inside for a long time is now slowly being filled. Thank you.

  • @redtexan7053
    @redtexan7053 Před 2 lety +3

    “Angmar would be destroyed by a combined force of Elves and Gondorians in 1975.”
    *Fortunate Son starts to play*

  • @Jonahch2v9
    @Jonahch2v9 Před 2 lety +3

    Absolutely love the narration mixed with the map and timelines. Makes it so much easier to follow and remember the order. I've never gotten bored with a single video. Wish you had a "Nerd of the Bible" series.

  • @jimiknewstubb
    @jimiknewstubb Před 3 lety +2

    Keep them coming man, this is such a great resource

  • @gandalfthegrey8650
    @gandalfthegrey8650 Před 3 lety

    I had hoped on a three part video about sauron after i had seen the three part video of morgoth, and here he is! GREAT vids, go on with the good work!

  • @arthurkasper523
    @arthurkasper523 Před 3 lety +26

    I never read the books, but from the movies I never had any idea how old Gandalf really was.

    • @teamvlcn6820
      @teamvlcn6820 Před 3 lety +3

      Don't forget Galadriel. Besides two, maybe three, other people, she is the oldest being native to Middle-Earth, at 8,000+ years.

    • @brettlovell8761
      @brettlovell8761 Před 3 lety +3

      Fun fact: Arwen is Aragorn's aunt (many generations removed).

    • @peteg475
      @peteg475 Před 3 lety +2

      @@brettlovell8761 Yeah. Also, Galadriel is Elrond's mother-in-law, and therefore Arwen's grandmother.

    • @EarlSundance
      @EarlSundance Před rokem

      U gotta read the books, starting with the Silmarillion, have fun. an you'll find out about Tom Bombadil, etc.

  • @Modulates
    @Modulates Před 3 lety +4

    I like the idea that the Valar or Eru go "alright enough Sauron." and do exactly what happens to Morgoth and Saruman. Sort of the opposite of what happens with Beren and Luthien which is actually awesome. Though obviously at least one of the two (and probably both) dark lords are meant to return, I believe Sauron would join Morgoth in his return

  • @tarynwahler1614
    @tarynwahler1614 Před 3 lety +1

    Can you do a video on the giants of middle earth? Love the way you speak about the books you’re so knowledgeable and you videos are produced in a way that makes it easy to follow your topic!!! Thank you!!!

  • @Solarnova
    @Solarnova Před 3 lety +2

    Great videos, thanks so much! I'd love to see you make a video regarding the Haradrim and the Corsairs of Umbar, there's so much we don't know about the southern portions of Middle Earth!

  • @jubaman5847
    @jubaman5847 Před 3 lety +11

    Lets goooooooo

  • @kaank5921
    @kaank5921 Před 3 lety +25

    He really became the true Dark Lord in the end, a successor to Morgoth, no more cunning and trickery, no more caring about efficiency that much, and ready to destroy all that was now against him. Just like Morgoth, Sauron was even more like minded like his master.

    • @AfferbeckBeats
      @AfferbeckBeats Před 3 lety +8

      Yeah, you've really got to hand to it Sauron the way he effortlessly took over Numenor and got them all killed and forced god to change the whole damn world. Both times he tried brute force, he was utterly defeated. Not to mention in earlier times, getting beat up by a dog lmao

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před 2 lety +5

      @@AfferbeckBeats There are some misinfos in your comment.
      1) Huan was NOT a "dog"! He was not even a living being! In the Silmarillion it is said Huan doesn't sleep in day and in the night so he was not even an animal nor he was a living being. (He was probably an incarnated Maiar spirit)
      2) Huan Literally sh*t himself when the wolf-Sauron came to beat him but guess what?......Huan fled in fear lol 😂
      Without Luthien's help, Huan could be a prey to wolf-Sauron.

    • @General12th
      @General12th Před 10 měsíci

      @@_semih_ Huan was the greatest puppy.

    • @_semih_
      @_semih_ Před 10 měsíci

      @@General12th
      He wasn't a "puppy" smh

  • @DeeMorrison818
    @DeeMorrison818 Před 3 lety

    Well done and brilliantly told! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

  • @vmmr1909
    @vmmr1909 Před 3 lety

    awesome videos! been loving and binge watching ever since yesterday! keep them coming
    that transition in 16:08 was b-a-d-a-s-s

  • @youplaywell1165
    @youplaywell1165 Před 3 lety +7

    yay new video
    made my day

  • @LieutenantTK
    @LieutenantTK Před 3 lety +19

    Dunno about you guys but that Sauron guy sounds like he was a right pain in the ass for the free folk of middle-earth...

  • @Bushwookie_18
    @Bushwookie_18 Před 3 lety +1

    Love the longer format my dude!

  • @pdxoneway
    @pdxoneway Před rokem

    Great video! You do such a good job on all your videos. Starting to binge them.