Why they didn’t take the eagles to Mordor: Distance. Gandalf was rescued from Isengard, but the Eagle could only carry him to Edoras, which is really close to Isengard. The distance from Rivendell to Mount Doom is many times that distance, so they would need to stop a bunch. Weight. When the Eagles carried the Dwarves in the Hobbit, they had no gear because they had just lost it to the goblins. When the Eagle rescued Gandalf, he had no gear, and later when he was resurrected he became very light. When the Eagles rescued Frodo and Sam they had cast aside their gear and were light malnourished Hobbits, and they only carried them to a nearby outpost of Gondor. Because of the distance, a flight from Rivendell to Mount Doom would take a while, so they would need to bring supplies to last them a while. Provisions for nine people over that period of time would not be a small amount, and a full troop of Eagles would be needed. Fighting. Asking why the Fellowship didn’t take Eagles to Mordor is like asking why the Allies didn’t just fly straight to Berlin. The Germans have an Air Force too, and the Nazgul would probably be better in a fight, particularly on their home turf. Notice the Eagles do not enter Mordor until after the Ring is destroyed and thereby the Nazgul. Noticeable. The key factor to the Fellowship’s plan was sneaking in unnoticed, because they were doing what Sauron least expected. We see Sauron has bird spies that would of course report the company. Sauron could orcs after them every night they landed, or send the Winged Terror after them, who would probably win in an airborne battle. And when most of the Fellowship went to Rohan and Gondor, Sauron assumed the Ring was being taken there. But if the whole of the Fellowship went airborne into Mordor (assuming they made it that far), Sauron would figure out what they were doing and send all his forces after them. And Sauron has archers in his ranks, and flying steeds for the Nazgul. They wouldn’t make it, and Mount Doom would be held against them. Willingness. The Eagles are not a taxi service. Gandalf never summons them to help, they just show up where they will and go as they please. They are proud creatures, and may help when asked, and they help the wise who respect them. Contact. They didn’t even have any way of asking the Eagles for help in the first place, they couldn’t call up the Eagles and ask for a ride. They could probably get a message in time, but they didn’t put resources into that idea because it was a dumb idea. You don’t go to the Eagles for help. If they’re helping, they just show up. The Eagles are creatures of Manwe (there’s a story where someone prayed to Manwe and an Eagle showed up to help) who is basically King Angel of the Main Power Angels under God, or Eru. Tolkien is very religious, and so the involvement of the Eagles has a sort of religious aspect. It’s never just luck things work out the way they do in Middle Earth. If the Eagles had taken the Fellowship, the Balrog would never have been destroyed, nor would Saruman, and multiple members of the Fellowship that did important things in Gondor and Rohan wouldn’t have gone, or not in the same way. The Eagles represent the forces in the universe that help us after all we can do (like when the rescued Frodo and Sam) and that sometimes step back and let things happen as they will because sometimes things work out better that way.
@naomisrandomness8223 this was beautiful. Only disagreement I have is that an airborne Nazgul may not take on an Eagle that easily. I think an Eagle could hold it's own, thing is, would they be subject to fear the same as other beings? But now that the Nazgul were all destroyed in the collapse of mount doom will never know...
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Darn it now I want to se the extended cut trilogy again
Why they didn’t take the eagles to Mordor:
Distance. Gandalf was rescued from Isengard, but the Eagle could only carry him to Edoras, which is really close to Isengard. The distance from Rivendell to Mount Doom is many times that distance, so they would need to stop a bunch.
Weight. When the Eagles carried the Dwarves in the Hobbit, they had no gear because they had just lost it to the goblins. When the Eagle rescued Gandalf, he had no gear, and later when he was resurrected he became very light. When the Eagles rescued Frodo and Sam they had cast aside their gear and were light malnourished Hobbits, and they only carried them to a nearby outpost of Gondor. Because of the distance, a flight from Rivendell to Mount Doom would take a while, so they would need to bring supplies to last them a while. Provisions for nine people over that period of time would not be a small amount, and a full troop of Eagles would be needed.
Fighting. Asking why the Fellowship didn’t take Eagles to Mordor is like asking why the Allies didn’t just fly straight to Berlin. The Germans have an Air Force too, and the Nazgul would probably be better in a fight, particularly on their home turf. Notice the Eagles do not enter Mordor until after the Ring is destroyed and thereby the Nazgul.
Noticeable. The key factor to the Fellowship’s plan was sneaking in unnoticed, because they were doing what Sauron least expected. We see Sauron has bird spies that would of course report the company. Sauron could orcs after them every night they landed, or send the Winged Terror after them, who would probably win in an airborne battle. And when most of the Fellowship went to Rohan and Gondor, Sauron assumed the Ring was being taken there. But if the whole of the Fellowship went airborne into Mordor (assuming they made it that far), Sauron would figure out what they were doing and send all his forces after them. And Sauron has archers in his ranks, and flying steeds for the Nazgul. They wouldn’t make it, and Mount Doom would be held against them.
Willingness. The Eagles are not a taxi service. Gandalf never summons them to help, they just show up where they will and go as they please. They are proud creatures, and may help when asked, and they help the wise who respect them.
Contact. They didn’t even have any way of asking the Eagles for help in the first place, they couldn’t call up the Eagles and ask for a ride. They could probably get a message in time, but they didn’t put resources into that idea because it was a dumb idea. You don’t go to the Eagles for help. If they’re helping, they just show up.
The Eagles are creatures of Manwe (there’s a story where someone prayed to Manwe and an Eagle showed up to help) who is basically King Angel of the Main Power Angels under God, or Eru. Tolkien is very religious, and so the involvement of the Eagles has a sort of religious aspect. It’s never just luck things work out the way they do in Middle Earth. If the Eagles had taken the Fellowship, the Balrog would never have been destroyed, nor would Saruman, and multiple members of the Fellowship that did important things in Gondor and Rohan wouldn’t have gone, or not in the same way. The Eagles represent the forces in the universe that help us after all we can do (like when the rescued Frodo and Sam) and that sometimes step back and let things happen as they will because sometimes things work out better that way.
I appreciate the thorough explanation.
@naomisrandomness8223 this was beautiful. Only disagreement I have is that an airborne Nazgul may not take on an Eagle that easily. I think an Eagle could hold it's own, thing is, would they be subject to fear the same as other beings? But now that the Nazgul were all destroyed in the collapse of mount doom will never know...
@@marbellaotaiza801 Good point
Gandalf should have stayed dead? Right like Jon Snow coming back to life didnt ruin GoT.
2:38
Rookie numbers
Who's here because of Matt Fradd?
What does Mr. Fradd have to do with LotR memes? I know him, one of my favorite podcasters but still have no idea how he fits into the context lol
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