The Life of Fingon | Tolkien Explained

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  • Опубліковано 21 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 157

  • @MrBuddyGuy
    @MrBuddyGuy Рік тому +167

    Fingon is a very underrated character imo, only cause his whole family is as epic as it gets xD. RIP to the chad, also he probably one of the most brutal deaths in the LOTR

  • @michelhv
    @michelhv Рік тому +279

    When you can distinguish Fingon from Fingolfin from Finrod from Finarfin from memory, then and only then are you a certified Nerd of the Ring.

    • @theolaa
      @theolaa Рік тому +20

      Throw in Feanor for good measure? Although I suppose most know who he is.

    • @alexiachimciuc3199
      @alexiachimciuc3199 Рік тому +19

      The best is Curufin because in my language the meaning is smooth ass😂

    • @WoodenSwordFighter
      @WoodenSwordFighter Рік тому +5

      Yeah, but i get mixed up with Turin, Hurin, Tuor and Huor.

    • @bozziovai
      @bozziovai Рік тому

      i'm one of them hahahaha

    • @anonymousforagoodreason2479
      @anonymousforagoodreason2479 Рік тому

      Say that five times fast 😂

  • @nickdavidson7841
    @nickdavidson7841 Рік тому +30

    Fingon rescuing Maedhros is one of my favorite episodes of the Silmarillion. Truly valiant and selfless in the midst of all the Noldor drama. And of course Hurin shouting "Day shall come again" 70 times is among the most badass of battle moments.

  • @joestar99
    @joestar99 Рік тому +67

    The tales of the Noldor are my favorite stories of all time. Their journeys were incredible.

  • @jordanbachmann7002
    @jordanbachmann7002 Рік тому +91

    In both of my read-throughs of the Silmarillion, Fingon always captured my attention. Overshadowed by the massive figures and events surrounding him, Fingon the Valiant was steadfast, brave, and loyal. Tolkiens ability to give characters like Fingon such a richness with so little 'screen-time' is straight up magic.

    • @daarom3472
      @daarom3472 Рік тому +7

      I find that Tolkien always gives us "just enough" context to get a basic picture for the sake of the overarching story, but never too much, so that we may use our imagination to create an even richer picture and create our own personal lore.

  • @myriadmediamusings
    @myriadmediamusings Рік тому +174

    The tale of Fingon and Maedhros was epic and I can only imagine what the latter must've felt when his BFF was slain at the Battle of Unumbered Tears.

    • @saeedshahbazian9889
      @saeedshahbazian9889 Рік тому +20

      He must've took it very hard. After that he does horrible stuff

    • @kiruthikpranav5047
      @kiruthikpranav5047 Рік тому +7

      @@saeedshahbazian9889 I think you're thinking of Maeglin, he's the one who does the horrible stuff.

    • @MushroomInky
      @MushroomInky Рік тому +23

      ​@kiruthikpranav5047
      Maedhros leads 3 kinslayings after the battle (Doriath, Sirion and slaying of the elves guarding the silmarils).
      He does enough of bad deeds that the silmaril burns him (as they do to evil)
      That's what they are referring to

    • @dowsingelf77
      @dowsingelf77 Рік тому +16

      I have to agree, Maedhros was noble but very, very flawed, all of Feanor's children were. I wouldn't call him evil, but he's definitely got a lot to answer for and innocent blood on his hands. Maybe if Fingon had lived, Maedhros might have done less horrible deeds, but honestly I doubt it. Even before Fingon's death, he did participate in the First Kinslaying, even if he didn't burn the boats.

    • @chrisgrant7450
      @chrisgrant7450 Рік тому +1

      Lotta bad sheet went down at the Nurnoo Arnaydium

  • @albertlamar5938
    @albertlamar5938 Рік тому +44

    I never get tired of reading the part about Fingon saving Maedhros, and about Fingolfin challenging Morgoth to single combat.
    One thing has always bothered me. Why did so many elves die crossing the Helcaraxe?
    Legolas was described in LOTR as walking on top of the snow, as if he were unaffected by it.

    • @TheMarcHicks
      @TheMarcHicks Рік тому +26

      Its called The Grinding Ice because the ice was in constant movement-shifting & breaking apart frequently. Most Noldor died by being ditched into the icy seas.

  • @letsdashisthebest
    @letsdashisthebest Рік тому +6

    Yessss! The most underrated elf has his position here!

  • @DarkROSkull013
    @DarkROSkull013 Рік тому +31

    Man, those 1st Age Elves were really something. For me, nothing beats High King Fingolfin challenging Morgoth to single combat. Imagine Ringil clashing with Grond.

    • @DarkROSkull013
      @DarkROSkull013 Рік тому +4

      @@juanserra1720 true. It would be better left to imagination, as any attempt at big screen portrayal would probably never live up to any expectations.

    • @edgarulisescespedeschew4279
      @edgarulisescespedeschew4279 Рік тому +7

      Three words: "And Morgoth came"

  • @jonnytaylor9798
    @jonnytaylor9798 Рік тому +6

    In the late 90's early 2000's I role-played Fingon on a MUSH called Beleriand. This brings back some good memories...

  • @Paulafan5
    @Paulafan5 Рік тому +23

    The First Age would've made for a much better series than the Second Age since the events are compressed into 5 centuries (or so). Elves are immortal so you can follow their stories over the centuries. And the Easterlings being part of the "good guys" could have been a theme expanded upon.

  • @imogencory9591
    @imogencory9591 Рік тому +11

    Honestly I was on the verge of tears in the last two minutes of the video, it is such a powerful but sad ending to his life. I love your videos thank you so much for this one.

  • @JAB6322
    @JAB6322 Рік тому +54

    Hate to imagine Fingon's death if the Silmarillion were to be given a film adaptation. To see his corpse being mangled and crushed by the blows of the Balrog's maces would be a heart-wrenching sight thats enough to make men cry 😢

    • @rafaelfarias4359
      @rafaelfarias4359 Рік тому +6

      This in unadaptable. I would really love to see all these characters fleshed out and their victories and tragedies made faithful and even more epic in scale than PJ's movies. But this is a dream. The reality is bastardization of heroes and legends of the past unfortunately.
      Perhaps a few decades from now. One can only hope.

    • @maikilreategui1271
      @maikilreategui1271 8 місяців тому

      ​@@rafaelfarias4359 nothing is unadaptable.

    • @rafaelfarias4359
      @rafaelfarias4359 8 місяців тому +3

      ​@@maikilreategui1271 one can pretty much make Melkor being evil because he is a conservative, and make Fingolfin be played by an old man in pajamas and both Feanor and Maedros being genderfluid and call it an 'adaptation for modern audiences.'
      Or maybe they could make Galadriel a feanorian psychopath and ship her with Sauron, oh wait, that has already been done.
      Doing in a faithful, respectable way that honors the master's legacy is the thing that is hard, if not downright impossible in our cultural context.

    • @maikilreategui1271
      @maikilreategui1271 8 місяців тому

      @rafaelfarias4359 Screw that. You think I like what is happening with the ROP? He'll noo!!!
      What i mean is a faithful adaptation is still possible.
      What we need to do is cancel, cancel and woke culture. And all that other BS. Make sure they get in the right hands. This can happen if the Tolkien community organize.

    • @rafaelfarias4359
      @rafaelfarias4359 8 місяців тому

      ​@@maikilreategui1271 Sorry to break it to you, but it's not gonna happen anytime soon.
      The cultural enviroment is what defines any and all adaptations, If they ever adapt, it's gonna be woke as the ones who currently owns the IP. The Inklings are gone and the ones who controls most of it (Embracer Group who owns Middle Earth Enterprises) have shown more interest in creating more stories such as RoP.
      And i'm also sorry on bringing down your hopes on the fandom, but fans hold no real power over the IP. They are actually part of it as a product, as anyone who invests in it takes them as garanteed consumers of the brand.

  • @Coffee1234....
    @Coffee1234.... Рік тому +6

    That's funny. Just a few hours ago I was searching for your video about Fingon and I couldn't find it. Assumed that you haven't made it yet. And now, et voilà there's a video about Fingon! What a coincidence😂

  • @lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615
    @lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615 Рік тому +21

    Keep up the great work Mellon! I always theorized that Sting belonged to Fingon. Too much too explain..but very interesting

  • @somebody9371
    @somebody9371 Рік тому +7

    Ooh exciting! Hard to remember all this silmarillion stuff 😅

  • @samsonite5747
    @samsonite5747 Рік тому +5

    I am consuming your videos at a sickening pace! They are fantastically entertaining

  • @philipcraig6230
    @philipcraig6230 Рік тому +14

    When Gothmog was done smashing Fingon's body into the ground I hope he quipped "Well that's Fin gone then".

  • @phamductrung749
    @phamductrung749 Рік тому +11

    Elves: know of Glaurung
    Also Elves: do basically nothing about it save for keeping a helm as trophy

    • @TheMarcHicks
      @TheMarcHicks Рік тому +8

      To be fair, the elves had no idea how powerful Glaurung would ultimately become. Its not like they'd ever seen a dragon before.

  • @Voc_spooksauce
    @Voc_spooksauce Рік тому +4

    There's an awesome song by Blind Guardian named "A Dark Passage" that is all about Morgoth, but it also references lines quoted in this video, so now i know where they're specifically from !

  • @TheMarcHicks
    @TheMarcHicks Рік тому +6

    Based on what I remember reading in The Silmarillion, the House of Fingolfin arrived late to Alquolonde, after the Faenorians had already started attacking the Teleri.....but that they believed it was the Teleri who had started the fighting, at the behest of the Valar, & so joined in on Faenor's side.

  • @samuelalejandrogonzaleszev1605

    Thanks for the great video, can you also make videos about Aredhel, Angrod and Aegnor? Please.

  • @kirandeepchakraborty7921
    @kirandeepchakraborty7921 Рік тому +16

    The tales of the First Age always make me emotional. Stories of Honour, Love, and faith are timeless. ❤

  • @midimusicforever
    @midimusicforever Рік тому +8

    Fingon is an allstar!

  • @ryanwielewski5192
    @ryanwielewski5192 Рік тому +12

    Gothmog's axe smashed Fingon in the head so hard his spirit flew out!

  • @TheSilkSatinSultan
    @TheSilkSatinSultan Рік тому +3

    I've been anticipating this breakdown of Fingon, he's one of my favorites for how mysterious he is. He really isn't present much in the Silmarillion, but does some of the most important acts, such as saving Maedhrose and fighting till the bitter end in the Battle of the Unnumbered Tears so his brother Turgon can escape, and overall was High King of the Noldor for a brief time.

  • @pendragon2012
    @pendragon2012 Рік тому +4

    What a badass he was!

  • @Jayjay-qe6um
    @Jayjay-qe6um Рік тому +6

    In the published The Silmarillion, Fingon was the father of Gil-galad, which was a brief idea that Tolkien had, but this inclusion was an editorial decision by Christopher Tolkien who admitted it would have been better had his parentage remained obscure and that Gil-galad being the son of Orodreth was Tolkien's "last word on the subject". Furthermore, before his death Tolkien corrected the last of the genealogical tables, where Fingon's wife and children were struck out, and thus in The Shibboleth of Feanor Fingon was once and for all mentioned as wifeless and childless elf-lord.

  • @IanHeins
    @IanHeins 10 місяців тому +1

    Nice work dude thanks

  • @Xionaga
    @Xionaga Рік тому +13

    Just to put into context wingspan of 30 fathoms is 180 ft. (granted a fathom is a unit of depth so strange on that choice but I'm not Tolkien so)

    • @Paulafan5
      @Paulafan5 Рік тому +1

      But fathom sounds more ancient than using meters or feet as a measurement.

  • @luudest
    @luudest Рік тому +3

    10:02 lol, this villain looks like General Grievous from Star Wars

  • @davepowder4020
    @davepowder4020 Рік тому +7

    The death of Fingon at the hands of Gothmog and others, and then the beating of his body after he was defeated also started a new terrible tradition that commemorates this event: The teabagging of a dead enemy! 😵

  • @SnakeAndTurtleQigong
    @SnakeAndTurtleQigong Рік тому +3

    Thanks so much

  • @aaronkuhlman8092
    @aaronkuhlman8092 Рік тому +2

    Awesome video!!! You have done my favorite character in the world of Middle-Earth!! 👍

  • @shehansenanayaka3046
    @shehansenanayaka3046 Рік тому

    Brilliant video as always. We always appreciate your hard work and time to make these videos. Love from Sri Lankan fan from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿.

  • @leopurpleman
    @leopurpleman Рік тому +2

    He stood alone against Gothmog and was evenly matched. Fingon is quite a formidable fighter.

  • @reedrichardson4308
    @reedrichardson4308 Рік тому +4

    13:43 "This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" - Huor to Turgon

    • @FineSaltGrains
      @FineSaltGrains Рік тому

      one of my absolute favorite lines of foreshadowing in the silmarillion!!!

  • @ghana98
    @ghana98 Рік тому +4

    Could you make a video about elessar the stone? (Unfinished tales chapter: Galadriel and celeborn)

  • @talesoftheeldar8688
    @talesoftheeldar8688 Рік тому +2

    yes I WAS WAITING SO LONG FOR THIS

  • @istari0
    @istari0 Рік тому +6

    I prefer to version where Fingon and Turgon do not join the attack on the Teleri. It seems more in fitting with their natures.

  • @JessWLStuart
    @JessWLStuart Рік тому +2

    Awesome as usual!

  • @valentinkambushev4968
    @valentinkambushev4968 Рік тому +12

    I believe the orcs were watching Fingon's rescue of Maedhros and were drawing bets, whether Fingon would cut his hand or kill him.

    • @johanabigasova6770
      @johanabigasova6770 Рік тому +2

      Orcs didn't have their own will at that time, so they were not drawing bets.

    • @MS-Melas
      @MS-Melas Рік тому +1

      ​@@johanabigasova6770 were is this staited? And why would they be able in the third age to make bets if not in the first?

    • @johanabigasova6770
      @johanabigasova6770 Рік тому

      @@MS-Melas I read it in The Silmarillion.
      Sauron gave them free will, so I read.

  • @ericmathieu7944
    @ericmathieu7944 Рік тому +2

    Beautiful, loved it so much.

  • @Zen-di9pr
    @Zen-di9pr Рік тому +1

    Awesome video ! Any chance Maeglin or Thingol will be the next elf video ?
    I haven't been able to get into the books myself, so I am loving these video explanations !

  • @elendiarelandarelendur8499
    @elendiarelandarelendur8499 Рік тому +2

    Very interesting, thank you.

  • @tonypapas9854
    @tonypapas9854 Рік тому +4

    Epic tale - but just another bitter end to another noble life.

  • @northernpaladin66
    @northernpaladin66 Рік тому +1

    Excellent!

  • @johanabigasova6770
    @johanabigasova6770 Рік тому +6

    Fingon The Valiant - only Fingolfin's child that fought in Alqualondë.

  • @glennhiggins7680
    @glennhiggins7680 Рік тому +2

    `KinSlaying` is an example of our species as well.

  • @sh4rdsofNarzil
    @sh4rdsofNarzil Рік тому +3

    LOVED this

  • @Kubilay31820
    @Kubilay31820 Рік тому +2

    A “What if Fingolfin offlived his fight with Melkor?” Video would be undrasking.

  • @followingtheapocalypsesson4337

    Hail and well done again!

  • @TitusRex
    @TitusRex Рік тому +3

    I miss the old soundtrack.

  • @SpaldingFraser
    @SpaldingFraser Рік тому +2

    It says in the silmarillion that the world appeared as a globe, Before the velar enter it from memory. It was never flat, it’s a mis-reading of someone says that all roads are now bent after searching for the blessed realm. But we all know what sailors stories are like. The proof that it is a globe is in the first book of the silmarillion

    • @davidlundquist1979
      @davidlundquist1979 Рік тому +2

      At first the world was a literal circle. Rounded edges, but a flat interior. It was after the destruction of Numenor that "the world was made round indeed", and it became a true sphere.

    • @ryancruz1876
      @ryancruz1876 Рік тому

      @@davidlundquist1979In Myth Transformed Tolkien wrote how the “flat earth” was a myth invented by Númenorean mythmakers and that the earth was spherical from the beginning of the earth.

  • @valterbennour8451
    @valterbennour8451 Рік тому

    Amazing work as always, may I ask what soundtracks you are using in this video?

  • @mojojojoslyfoxharris
    @mojojojoslyfoxharris Рік тому +2

    If War of Rohirrm succeeds, the people who did that film should strive to make numerous independent LOTR films based on the mini-stories pre Lord of the Rings era:
    1) Beren & Luthien
    2) The Children of Hurin
    3) The Fall of Gondolin
    Following the groundwork from those films, they can do a prequel series focusing primarily on the two siblings Feanor and Fingolfin and then eventually pass it onto their sons from Maedrhos, Fingon, and others.

    • @deutschegeschichte4972
      @deutschegeschichte4972 Рік тому +1

      As long as they don't ruin it like Amazon's Rings of Power I wouldn't be opposed lol.

  • @terranceedwards4750
    @terranceedwards4750 Рік тому +1

    Joyous replica of how JRR spoke the words.

  • @mick19
    @mick19 Рік тому +3

    Wow. This channel is top quality.

  • @rebelpeppers7390
    @rebelpeppers7390 Рік тому

    I like to imagine that it’s Durin’s Bane that sneaks up and uses his whip to hold Fingon while Gothmog delivers his final blow.

  • @JM-tn8xx
    @JM-tn8xx Рік тому +1

    Hey I have a question: What would happen if the fellowship gave the ring to the Eagles?

  • @Rory626
    @Rory626 Рік тому +1

    Are you still doing videos on the Valar?

  • @ΣπυροςΠαπαδοπουλος-λ9χ

    Never watched suck a complete video for Fingon👌

  • @jensetiawan
    @jensetiawan Рік тому +1

    FINALLY YAYYY THANK YOUUU

  • @travisshorey7296
    @travisshorey7296 Рік тому

    Can’t wait for your next video

  • @martingauvain4998
    @martingauvain4998 Рік тому +2

    What about second breakfast ?

  • @Jopeymessmusic
    @Jopeymessmusic Рік тому +1

    Man, Morgoth and the balrogs took names of critical Elves during the first age at a rate.

  • @TheCrazyCanuck420
    @TheCrazyCanuck420 Рік тому +1

    Reading the books right now, can't tell you how many times I've mixed up Finrod and Fingon 😂

  • @trevora.bodily3701
    @trevora.bodily3701 Рік тому +1

    love it

  • @nemanjakrajnovic
    @nemanjakrajnovic Рік тому

    Hey, I'm interested in who you think is the best warrior who left the strongest impression on you out of the elves, of course he's from the royal line?

  • @Auf.DerMaur
    @Auf.DerMaur 7 місяців тому

    The Elves really had it bad haha, dAmn

  • @TheCradM
    @TheCradM Рік тому

    I don’t know why I’ve never chose to do the math until today. Thorondors wing span was over 180 feet guys. That’s WILD.

  • @redtiger676
    @redtiger676 11 місяців тому

    Probably the most gruesome death in the Legendarium.

  • @johnotron604
    @johnotron604 Рік тому +1

    Hold on a moment, Thorondor had a wingspan of 30 fathoms? 1 fathom is 6 feet and 30 is 180 feet (approx 55 meters). It's not night, we are just standing in the shadow of the greatest of the great eagles.

  • @annaroselarsen4218
    @annaroselarsen4218 Рік тому +1

    Yesss!

  • @deniseindoung4514
    @deniseindoung4514 Місяць тому

    I wasn't aware that there was a measurement of Thorondir's wingspan. 30 fathoms is 180 feet! Holy fuckballs! No wonder the Great Eagles were a force to be reckoned with!

  • @massiliasferhani8493
    @massiliasferhani8493 Рік тому +1

    What about Ouallouche the great

  • @markbroton
    @markbroton Рік тому +1

    What is the song name at the 3 minute mark

  • @nwazuemunachi6339
    @nwazuemunachi6339 Рік тому

    I wish I could fly on an eagle's back like he did...😍😍

  • @thundererodinson1668
    @thundererodinson1668 Місяць тому

    *wait....soooo Fingon was holding his own against Gothmaug til he got jumped eom behind by another...GIGACHAD!*

  • @harleesears739
    @harleesears739 Рік тому

    Is that the battle of unnumbered tears

  • @muhmuhmenace
    @muhmuhmenace Рік тому

    Great work on your videos! You should do a video on what if Saruman had accepted Gandalfs advice, when they met at Orthanc and gets expelled from the Istari, to help them in their war against Sauron and to help undo some of the evil he created. I think it’s really interesting to see how the war would’ve gone had Saruman heeded Gandalfs advice.

  • @YavuzSultanSelimHan1470
    @YavuzSultanSelimHan1470 Рік тому

    I have a question If maedhros was the high king of noldor than how would fingolfin becomes High king

  • @kazutokirigaya1455
    @kazutokirigaya1455 Рік тому +1

    Would love to see a series or even movie about the stories of the first age

    • @ryancruz1876
      @ryancruz1876 Рік тому +1

      Not going to happen for a very long time.

  • @DarkROSkull013
    @DarkROSkull013 Рік тому

    I am always saddend by how the Union turned out.

  • @shaunholt
    @shaunholt Місяць тому

    One thing I hate about Tolkien is how often he has eagles show up as a deus ex machina.
    Guy hanging from a cliff? Eagle showed up!
    Massive dragon? .... Eagles showed up!
    Bilbo and Thorin trapped? Eagles showed up!
    Gandalf trapped in Isengard? Eagle shows up!
    Frodo and Sam trapped on Mt Doom? Eagles showed up!
    But they're nowhere to be found until there is no option for the characters surviving any other way. It's such a deus ex machina Tolkien repeatedly goes to when he wrote himself into a corner.
    Also all the damn songs he has characters randomly break out into. Like Frodo and the hobbits are trying to hide from the ringwraiths, so what do they do? Break out into song of course!

  • @bassybgaming3388
    @bassybgaming3388 Рік тому

    I don’t think Fingon took part in the Kinslaying. It’s probably a reason why the ships were burned

  • @spockman4250
    @spockman4250 Рік тому

    If you ever felt like you've made no impact on the world, just remember Argon existed.

  • @spaceminivanwanter
    @spaceminivanwanter Рік тому

    They could have made a Fingon game.

  • @michaszkot4419
    @michaszkot4419 Рік тому +1

    6:18 Maedhros couldn't wave his right - Fingon had just cut it off...

  • @nbeutler1134
    @nbeutler1134 Рік тому

    Imagine sieging the same fortress for 400 years lol (yes I’m aware elves perceive time differently)

  • @davidgombos5357
    @davidgombos5357 Рік тому

    fun fact in hungarian fing is fart fingon means "on a fart".

  • @clanker7890
    @clanker7890 Рік тому +1

    Damm

  • @lauriecla33
    @lauriecla33 11 місяців тому

    And to me he will always be the father of Gil-galad.

  • @cobrajeff96
    @cobrajeff96 11 місяців тому

    I would just love it if the Tolkien estate granted Peter Jackson .limited film making rights to do at least some portion of the Silmarillion. Man, that would be beyond epic.
    And the fact that Narsil is far older than Sauron's reign as the ultimate baddy after Morgoth, it kind of makes me think that Sauron is ultimately just a little b!tch.

  • @fredsafarowic3149
    @fredsafarowic3149 Рік тому

    If Aule cannot give life to the dwarves on his own, how does Morgoth create dragons?

    • @davidlundquist1979
      @davidlundquist1979 Рік тому

      I've often wondered that myself. They may simply be avatars, other bodies Morgoth's will can inhabit. Smaug's conversation with Bilbo in The Desolation of Smaug actually makes me think this is a real possibility. Even though he isn't a ringwraith, Smaug zeroed in on the One Ring VERY quickly.

  • @gandalf4751
    @gandalf4751 Рік тому +1

    😍😍😍👌

  • @francescbonetlluch4971
    @francescbonetlluch4971 Місяць тому

    🍿🍿

  • @yvonnerogers6429
    @yvonnerogers6429 Рік тому

    👍🏻

  • @Gabe-cv4yr
    @Gabe-cv4yr Рік тому

    They need to make a mini series of each epic story in the silmarillion, would be better than what we are getting now. Short epic stories

  • @Jebbtube
    @Jebbtube Рік тому +2

    It's a shame The Silmarillion is off limits of adaptation, because while it's very long winded (like the Bible), it has some of the most fascinating stories wthin.
    Then again, look what they did with Rings of Power...