@@donweatherwax9318 I really was wondering where the story was going, then I hit the end and laughed. I would have been entertained by that scene though. Excellent!!
As an eight year old I read the hobbit and instantly wanted to have long grey hair and a long white beard. Now as an old man I have long grey hair, sadly my beard is bushy enough for a dwarf making me look more like a homeless Santa. However my love for Gandalf has not diminished, this was great stuff. Thanks GNG.
True 😆 he must have been one of the top experts in Wise-ology in the whole north. Which must have been very confusing to, say, illustrious visitors like Boromir. A very small, fussy, elderly person who is apparently on first-name terms with most of the important dignitaries of the region, casually revealing ancient secrets of forbidden lore in between complaining about lunch being late and demanding feedback on his latest poem....
I always just guessed that the lore-masters in Rivendell figured, "Ehh, he's old and he's not going anywhere. What's the harm in telling him the entire history of everything ever?" Whatever the reason for their openness with him, it's a damn good thing! If Bilbo didn't learn all this stuff, we never would've gotten to read/hear about it.
Honestly I think it's because he was there at the right time, they all knew they'd be leaving soon and could feel their middle earth wilting around them, having some remember must have been a kind of melancholy comfort.
He's one of the longest running ring-bearers, of all beings in the whole of middle earth who ever lived. He's given passage to Valinor. The elves know how exceptional of an individual he is, and how utterly central he was to the defeat of Sauron. I don't find it unlikely at all that they would teach him this stuff.
BILBO: Well, I'm off to Rivendell! [SOMEHOW LEARNS 'HIGH-ELVEN', I.E., QUENYA] ERESTOR: My Lord... the _enwina Perian,_ Mr. Baggins, has... been at the Library again. Ten volumes were found in his quarters... and Glorfindel saw him corner some Dwarves in the _Tham Naur._ He was asking them something about, "Daeron's days in Haðodrond"...? ELROND: By Elbereth's quim! He's been at the High-elven stacks ... dammit, I'm gonna _kill_ Lindor for teaching that little jerk how to read Quenya! [TO ERESTOR] Let issue a new directive to the Noldor: "No Elvish around Elvish-speaking _Engwar."_ ERESTOR: You, uh, you really want to ban speaking Elvish? Even Thingol only banned Quenya... ELROND: Good point. When you crib the wording from Thingol's Ban, make sure to change it so it bans both Quenya _and_ Sindarin. AND AS A DIRECT RESULT, A FEW YEARS LATER: FRODO: [completely mangles a polite Quenya greeting] _elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo_ GILDOR INGLORION [TO HIS FELLOW NOLDOR, LAUGHING]: Be careful, friends! Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the Ancient Tongue... *Bilbo was a good master.* NARRATOR: Yes. He was.
Gandalf is quite the double-edged sword, from a writing perspective. He is great for exposition, and you can have him be off somewhere, doing something that will turn out critical. On the other hand, you have to keep him out of the way when things get really hairy - imprisoned by Saruman, battling a balrog, keeping Faramir from getting burned. Because he is also a powerful tension killer; powerful, wise, and supportive.
Agreed - the sense of mystery about just what he might be capable of is another factor. In a world with more explicit rules and costs for magic use, you might get away with it....
I always loved Gandalf as a character, and I think it's because of the warmth he emanates. You get the sense that, among all the istari, he held the deepest love and most respect for mortal beings. He never forgot his mission yet seems to delight most in simply hanging out and befriending the denizens of Middle Earth. I love the detail of why he was chosen because it really reinforces the power of his character; he himself was thrown into this fight by a sens of duty, volunteered by fate as it were. He didn't ask for this, but made the most of the time he existed in.
The band Camel did a three-part song, "Nimrodel/Procession/White Rider", that I highly recommend to all Tolkien fans. The first two parts are instrumental; the third is the best lyrical descriptions of Gandalf I know. music.ua-cam.com/video/8B4cheUUIyo/v-deo.html&feature=share
Puts a new spin on the conversation with Frodo in the shire where Frodo was saying he wished the ring never came to him after identifying it. Gandalf replies something along the lines none who live to see such times do.
Thoughts about Radagast aside, it's telling that Saruman also used walk in Fangorn Forest and have long talks with Treebeard. It's one of the early indicators of his fall that he stops doing this.
I've always wondered about the relationship between Galadriel and the Istari regarding their origins and nature. She'd lived in Valinor, after all, and knew the Valar and Maiar, and had no shadow over her memory. Did she in some ways know more about Gandalf than even he did? When she understood that, would she have been tempted to tell him things? Love your videos. Don't know why it took UA-cam so long to introduce us, but I'm really glad it did.
I feel like when Gandalf said "I too am a steward, did you not know?" was mockery, as in "oh, you didn't know that? Aren't you the guy who knows everthing?
Denethor did kind of walk into it but I can't help but feel like it's a little cheap to make fun of him for not knowing something that Gandalf only really figured out a few weeks ago, and it required him being *reembodied* 😅 but hey, Pippin had just handed Gandalf a big L, so he's gotta save face somehow.
No, but what Gandalf's statement undoubtedly DID do was hold up a mirror by which Denethor might have begun to self-reflect, had he been disposed to do so
I love that Gandalf was drawn to the Shire. He actually would go on vacations there multiple times. Gandalf loved the little things in life: drinking, singing, dancing, chatting, giving gifts. He loved merriment as much as he loved learning and exploring.
A further hilarious wrinkle I love: Saruman starts spying on the Shire believing Gandalf could have no possible motive for spending so much time there unless something REALLY important were going on. It turns out there is indeed something really important going on, but Gandalf is mostly unaware of it and has actually just been enjoying the atmosphere, and the pipeweed, all along.
For some reason pondering Gandalf's errands in the eyes of people of Middle-Earth is giving me a warm feeling - Gandalf's figure grew to be so important for me, even if people may view him as the "archetype" and blueprint old wise mentor in contemporary literature, but there is so much depth in this character. I really like how all the Istari stuff and affairs of wide world or even Valar themselves does not cloud warmth of Olorin's heart and his very natural compassion towards others.
Lexi, as you were known in the real world that is forgotten, thank you for this excellent video concerning Gandalf. Once again, you find new ways to explore even the most familiar of characters. While too many other UA-camrs feed us with regurgitated ideas, you feast your hatchlings (viewers) on the freshest of ideas.
Currently imagining a flock of small harpy-like viewers, half-feathered with beaks agape... can't decide if it's endearing or alarming 🤣 Glad you enjoyed it; I don't know that I would ever have thought to look at Gandalf this way if it hadn't been selected, and it definitely changed and enhanced my appreciation for ol' Olorin!
Gandalf is a good companion for lore, and song, and a good pot, too. Whereas Sauron and Saruman are technologists. Something spirit creatures like the elves (or naturalists like the hobbits) don't really need or want beyond the challenge that craft presents. For that alone Gandalf has a better standing with them from the start. Beautiful video!
Excellent analysis as always Mellon. Gandalf is the OG Storm Crow. Doubtless, he is the most important (sans Aragorn, Throngill, Strider) character in the books. Keep up the great work Mellon! "Ecthelion!"
Mithrandir was _not_ the OG Storm Crow. He was the OG _Lathspell._ Get it right! (Because the Grey Pilgrim is the king of the "bad news bearers". Also, I love how _"lathspell"_ turns out to just be the negative form of _"gospel"._ How cool is that?)
So I suppose the Istari could also have been called the Wise-men. Gives off a bit of a different vibe than Wizards, but not entirely unsuited to the story, I think.
It reminds me of Tolkien's repeated claim that he wished he could have written the whole book in Sindarin or Quenya 😅 he also didn't love having to use Elves and Dwarves.
There's a lot of channels on UA-cam that do interesting content I want to know about. But your channel has great videos on topics I didn't even knew I wanted to know about. Really love your content.
Gandalf's arrival being seen as a bad omen puts me a bit in the mind of Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics--i've read second-hand that the arrival of Strange to a scene where he wasn't previously involved is either a very good or very bad thing, e.g., "Gandalf/Strange is here! We're saved! He'll solve everything lickety-split!" or "Oh, no. Gandalf/Strange is here. Things must be _much_ worse than we thought."
When Frodo had recovered in Rivendell and went to the great hall he saw Gandalf and was very surprised that he (Gandalf) while smaller in height was none the less someone who held a good deal of lordlieness.
It takes Pippin longer, but he has a similar moment in Minas Tirith when he realizes Gandalf must be older than Denethor, and then wonders how much older and realizes he's never thought about it before and quietly has an epiphany about just how far out of his depth he is while Gandalf and Denethor continue their glaring contest.
@@istari0 However, Gandalf concedes that Denethor is a terrible old man, while placing himself in the same category. The only ones not outclassed by either was Faramir, because he was the son of the one and pupil of the other, and Boromir, again the son of Denethor but with will as formidable as his father's.
@@GirlNextGondor Sort of thought that Pippen saw Gandalf differently because he'd looked into the Palantir. It was foolish for him to do but it opened his eyes in a way. Think his prior view of Gandalf was how normal person saw him. He was this old wandering guy, he'd been around forever, your grandfather and great grandfather knew him but it never really struck you as being odd or led you to see him as anything other than an old man. Faramir seemed to see him as a great lore master but that his role as a mover and shaker was some kind of secret and that it took some work on his part to puzzle it out. So it sort of seems like this cloaked nature of his went deeper than just his appearance as far as mortals go.
1:55 - I saw that! I wonder if Denethor's mistrust of Gandalf was fueled by his hard feelings towards Thorongil decades earlier. I also wonder why Gandalf never went to the East. In view of the reference to the Istari in general and Olorin in particular having aided the Elves in Middle-Earth during the 1st Age, I wonder why Melian did not return to Middle-Earth in the 3rd Age. Was she perhaps still grieving the loss of Thingol? IMHO, Gandalf is the principal architect of Sauron's defeat. He's also my favorite character in any work of fiction. I always love a video on Gandalf and this one was excellent! P.S. After hitting the like button that hard, I had to replace my mouse! Also, my finger hurts!
I was waiting to see who'd notice the easter egg 😄 Re: Melian, I wonder how much 'juice' she had left after the death of her spouse and daughter. I almost think of her family as similar to the staffs of the wizards: they're part of the conditions that keep them Incarnate (and not just assuming human/Elven appearance), and without them their *effective* power and ability to wield it physically is hindered. Between that and the Girdle, I don't think Melian had a lot left. If she found some kind of rest or peace, she earned the right to enjoy it. (Imagine being married to Thingol. I love the guy but, well, let's just say I think Melian and Nerdanel should look into forming a support group.) Sorry about the finger 😉 wrap it in kingsfoil and put it on ice!
@@GirlNextGondor Now that's an interesting thought on Melian; I'd not heard anything like that before. I'd think an Elf such as Thingol would be smart enough to listen to his Maia wife but noooooo. My thought is that it was the loss of her sons that grieved Nerdanel terribly. Fëanor's absence was probably welcomed but for all her children going with him. I keep trying to get some kingsfoil but I all I hear is the supply chains to Middle-Earth are still all fouled up.
There are a tonne of reasons why Melian couldn’t stay in Middle Earth but it’s definitely a great topic many have talked about and there were some questions on the internet recently that sparked great conversations! I could share you a story about how and why it had to happen this way… if you like !
Before one judges Melian too harshly, consider that she was almost certainly the most compassionate being in the history of Arda. No other uncorrupted Ainur ever chose to reside in Middle Earth until the coming of the Istari thousands of years after the sinking of Beleriand. At a time when even the Valar, the strongest of the Ainur fled to Aman, she stayed and cared for the remaining Children of Illuvitar who did not make the journey to Valinor. In choosing to dwell in Middle Earth, Melian voluntarily sacrificed paradise for the sake of the Children of Illuvatar. True, her reasons were partially selfish. She loved Elu Thingol and stayed primarily for his sake. But, still, her decision to stay spared thousands of Elven lives the horrors of Morgoth's reign for thousands of years. I have little doubt that had her power rivaled that of Morgoth's she would have attempted to save all the Children of Illuvitar. Furthermore, she is remarkably kind to many individual people. She sees clearly that Beren and Luthien are bound together in love and does nothing to impede their union. She immediately advises her husband to offer refuge to Turin and attempts to offer refuge to his mother and sister. She forgives Hurin and comforts him, even knowing that his actions have unwittingly wrought the destruction of most of the remaining elven realms in Beleriand. She was also immensely powerful. Remember, Morgoth was not the only fallen Ainur with whom she had to contend. It is unknown exactly how many Maiar were in his service, but it seems likely considering his army of Balrogs that they potentially numbered in the thousands. Some like Sauron and Gothmog were clearly very powerful in their own right. She is often described as in conflict with the entities on her edge of her sphere of influence. The fact that she was able to maintain the Girdle of Melian for thousands of years against such incredible opposition stands as one of the most impressive acts of willpower in the history of Arda. Faulting Melian for her decision to leave Middle Earth is a little like faulting a saint who fed thousands of hungry people, because she didn't feed millions. Had she cared only for Thingol, she could easily have hid with him in some distant corner of Middle Earth. Instead, she used her powers to protect as many elves as she could fit within her circle of influence. The question is not whether she was selfish or unwise to leave. It is possible, following the death of Thingol, that she had simply reached her limit. After thousands of years meticulously and ceaselessly fighting a gradually losing battle, then to see it all collapse so suddenly. It must have been devastating. One can hardly blame her for wanting to leave and return to the joyful land of her people.
@@Makkaru112 I'm not faulting Melian for anything. She is one of the critical persons in the history of Arda without whom things would have turned out far worse. I do have to say though that Tolkien greatly revised the number of Balrogs that ever existed down enormously from his earliest writings. If I recall, he said there might have been only 3 and a maximum of 7. I don't think he got this change propagated throughout the Legendarium though so it's still somewhat confusing when we read the various stories but I think we can safely say there were not thousands or even hundreds of them.
Thinking that Olorin got associated a lot with Nienna and Manwe give so much sense to the fantastic journey of the grey and the white on middle earth. The way that the most part of his journey was to listen to all of the different folks gave him the ultimate ability to act strongly and precisely when they needed him the most.
Seeing as the palantiri market had been manipulated to create scarcity, thus pricing regular Middle Earth folk out of the market, I assume they all just used binoculars.
Best of the Istari is that Gandalf. Well done. Excellent video. I really liked how Tolkien put so much effort into writing Gandalf such as his name being from Old Norse Gandalfr, and his appearance based off of the deity Ōðinn from Old Norse literature.
I have *loved* Gandalf since I first read Lord of the Rings in my childhood. Thank you for this video ❤. The elves leaving Middle Earth was sad but Gandalf leaving broke my heart (even though I was happy for him to finally get to go home). Such a sense of loss when he left.
It really contributes to the sense of tragedy over the dis-enchanting of the world - it's not just the loss of personal friends, but the knowledge that a particular kind of "magic," wonder, and adventure is ending. ❤️
I have always thought that Gandalf was a representation for Odin as he is first introduced to everyone on a Wednesday, purely because Tolkien was always inserting little details into his stories. "Odin's Secrets" depicts Odin in his guise as Grimnir, the hooded one, wandering a wintery Midgard in search of his secret knowledge. Odin's two ravens Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory), fly across Middle-Earth each day gathering all the happenings of the world to report to the All-Father.
Thank You GNG for a great meditation on my favorite Legendarium character. I'm always down for an exploration of the mystery of Olorin from the Westside. He's a rolling stone that is hard to pin down. Which of the Valar is his patron? Manwe seems obvious, as he is the Vala that commanded Olorin to join the Istari. His affinity for light and fire points to Varda. He lives in OG Lorien, and is the closest thing to a muse in the Legendarium, so, perhaps he is among the people of Irmo. His compassion and pity for all of the Children that he interacted with are hallmarks of Nienna, with whom Olorin is know to associate. What is he up to? Everyone in Middle Earth wants to know. From Sauron and Saruman, who keep getting irrational quotients when they do the math on Gandalf, to the rest of the North, who must have suspected there was more under that hat and beard than they knew but could not truly fathom. My favorite mystery that we will never get an answer for is: Where were the Wizards when they were really needed in the early Third Age? How long did that initial Istari walkabout last? What was Saruman doing in the East for at least a millennium? Things really start to head downhill at the beginning of the fourteenth century with the Witch-King's invasion of Arnor and destruction of Cardolan and the Kin Strife in Gondor. Doom comes for the North at the end of the twentieth century when Arthedain is finally overcome in the winter of 1973 followed by the waking of Durin's Bane and the destruction and scattering of the Dwarfs of Khazad-Dum in 1980. No Saruman the White to whip up some Balrog blasting rocket launchers? Nope, he's out chasin' the dragon out East. Is Gandalf with Aranarth during the fall of Fornost? What has he been up to while Arnor disintegrates and Gondor plays Game of Thrones? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks for a great video as always. Stellar work.
It is very curious that Gandalf seemed to play the role of Eru Iluvatar in the Northern Kingdom of Arnor. I guess it would have been anticlimactic if Gandalf had already confronted the Witch King before that moment at the entrance to Minas Tirith. It does make me wonder where the heck he was in all that time.
@@Enerdhil Gandalf the Grey seems to work in the shadows at this time. He does not council kings at this point, at least not enough to be mentioned in what little we know about the first two millennia of the Third Age. We know he goes adventuring into Dol Guldor in 2063 and Sauron flees to prevent Gandalf from identifying him. We know he goes back to Amon Lanc in 2845 to get the Key of Erebor from Thrain and confirm for himself that the Necromancer is indeed the Enemy, Sauron. The years 1973 - 2002 TA were perhaps the most devastating in the Third Age for the North. Arthedain finally falls to the Witch King, who, after being chased from the field by Glorfindel and Earnur, regroups with the rest of the Nine and takes Minas Ithil and turns it into the seat of his power, Minas Morgul. The Dwarfs of Khazad-Dum awoke an ancient terror of the First Age that none of those who survived could identify. You know who could identify a Balrog of Morgoth? Any of the Istari. This seems like a job for Saruman. It's his master's people. They also like making stuff. They are the only local source of Mithril. Is the loss of the greatest of the Dwarf kingdoms not worthy of a trip back to the west? If I had a billion dollars for a TV show and only the rights to the LotR material. These are the questions I'd make a show about. The division of Arnor, the Kin-Strife, the cold/hot war with Angmar, the multiple Easterling invasions of East Gondor, are all ripe for a great storyteller.
@@Enerdhil The Witch King, along with the other Nazgûl, did confront him at Weathertop. Perhaps they did cross paths before. The critical difference at Minas Tirith is that the Witch King was for the first time encountering Gandalf the White.
I always learn so much from your videos. Along with The Red Book, yours is the channel that delves deep into the lore and always enlightens. Thank you!
@@louisebrouillette5580 No. Steven is Scottish. I love the accent and tone of his voice. Lexi has a perfect pronunciation of North American English. I am not sure if she is American or Canadian. Both "teach" us the lore like university professors. We always get surprises and learn new stuff. I think Joshua of Tolkien Lore and Rainbow Dave of Tolkien Untangled are also excellent at presenting lore content. Joshua doesn't use art work, music, or clips from the books. He just stands there and gives us very detailed content, which I appreciate. I think Rainbow Dave is the best story teller of them all. Anyway, there are many Tolkien UA-cam content providers out there. Just decide which ones you like and subscribe and watch all their videos.😁👍
@@Enerdhil I do follow Rainbow Dave, and I agree about his storytelling style! Thanks for identifying Steven's accent. We Americans often get them confused. I'm assuming that Lexi is from the US because I can't detect any hint of Canadian pronunciation. I love learning about Tolkien. I read LOTR 50 years ago and first read The Silmarillion in '77 and have since read both of them many times. Lately I've been branching out to other Tolkien books.
@@louisebrouillette5580 Excellent. It's best if we all read HoME books, but they are not easy reads. I find myself highlighting and writing so many notes it takes me forever to finish books like Lost Tales I and II, The Lost Road, and Shaping ME. I still haven't gotten to Morgoth's Ring, Return of the Shadow, Peoples of Middle Earth, and Nature of Middle Earth. I can't afford them, so I watch Steven and Lexi's videos.😅
I'm fascinated by the many facets of Gandalf. Just like how his legend grew in-universe, it also seems to have happened in popular culture. For example, compare Gandalf in the movies when faced with the Doors of Durin, in which he confidently says a spell, then sits thoughtfully and dignified, to the book, where he at one point throws his staff down and sulks after his spells didn't work! It's also interesting to hear from this video how he was explicitly seen as "not proud, and sought neither power nor praise," at least among (I assume) the Valar, while those are exactly the traits that some mortals thought they saw in him, a prideful wizard seeking power or trying to further his own ends (an expression of power). When you look at all the wizards in popular culture who are clearly derived from Gandalf, one way or another, it's interesting to see which aspects of him they emphasis and which ones they ignore. It's hard to imagine a lot of "Gandalf-y wizards" riding up to old friends like the elves and, while the wizard's traveling companions are still uncertain, the wizard has quickly dismounted to talk merrily with them, as in the Hobbit.
I really love all these themes! For me this is one of the most favorite channels. So I wish long life to your channel! Knowing that there are people out there sharing all these passions is so inspiring to me that it transports me to middle earth and every time I open the window of my home the Hobbit homes are what I see before my eyes.
It is very strange that Gandalf did not take part in anything dealing with Arnor. Could he have kept the Kingdom united? Based on what we know about his later accomplishments, yes is the answer to that question. So why was he so passive about Sauron's attacks through the Witch King and his destruction of an entire kingdom that would have been invaluable during the end of the Third Age? I suppose the Elves could have done more, too, but Gandalf came to Middle Earth to stop Sauron from doing what he did to Arnor. Did he fail? Was he negligent?
I like that question! I'd have to speculate here because there's not a lot of information, but a couple of points that strike me are: 1) Gandalf *probably* didn't arrive until after the division of Arnor, which really heralded the start of its decline and was 'merely' due to the innate jealousy and contentiousness of Men (not something the Istari have leave to meddle with) 2) Arnor, particularly Arthedain, only fell to Angmar after 500 years of hard-fought battle (in which the Elves did sometimes get involved); the fact that it took so long and did result in the Witch-king having to abandon Angmar rather than overrunning the North entirely is itself impressive. There's not of definite information about what Gandalf was doing in the 2000s of the 3rd Age, but I think it's plausible that even if he were working his tail off, slowing Arnor's collapse and making it as costly as possible for ol' Witchy-poo might truly have been all he could manage.
Arnor was always weaker than Gondor and my speculation is that after it split into three, the hostilities between the three nations were probably intense for a long time, greatly weakening all of them so they were quite vulnerable to Angmar when it attacked. Lexi's probably right that there just wasn't enough strength left in the north for Gandalf to stitch and keep together an alliance to save and restore Arnor. But I do so very much wish we had gotten more details on his actions before the time of The Hobbit.
@@GirlNextGondor: "Gandalf probably didn't arrive until after the division of Arnor": I think you can make this "almost certainly." According to the year-listings in App B, Arnor was divided in 861. But just before that, the introductory text for "The Third Age" says, "When maybe a thousand years had passed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Isari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth." Add to this that the year-listing for 1050 says "About this time a shadow falls on Greenwood," and it doesn't look at all likely that the Istari were around as early as 861. Great stuff as always.
@@GirlNextGondor Thank you so much for answering this question so thoroughly. Gandalf is the last person I would accuse of skipping out on his responsibilities like a deadbeat dad, but I do think Tolkien could have mentioned him trying. Maybe the Kings of Rhudaur and Cardolan had council from people like Grima Wormtongue and just refused to even listen to him. Or Gandalf was in Southern Gondor working on his tan. Whatever. Anything would have been fine with me. Just frickin' say something, please.
@@larrykuenning5754 That's right. But I think by the sixth King of Arthedain, there was still a chance to at least have the kindred kingdoms not try to kill each other off. Gandalf would have made a perfect liaison to try to keep the three kingdoms united against Sauron and his minions. He could have put Narya to work early.
I'll keep it in mind -- been wanting to look at the alt/extended movie canon of Shadow of Mordor games for a while, that would be a good place to bring in what Celebrimbor is supposed to *be* !
105K views. 27.5K subscribers. I am very disappointed in you tubers. Love your videos and glad I found your channel. The number of times I have read the books is beyond count. I finish ROTK and start FOTR. Been doing it for the last 15 years. Before that read them about 20 times. They are mines that we can never exhaust. Your videos always give me something new to think about. Good job and God bless you!
Great video! what i love the most about Gandalf is that hes loved by all spectrums of fans. From the casuals who may not have even seen the movies or read the books, to the Lore masters who are watch lore videos and reading more at 3 am in bed. Everything is at the surface, yet the deeper you go the better it gets!
🥰 thank you! I do not think I would be a very good Clever Person in the Gandalf model - his strengths are in improvising. Alas I'm probably more of a Radagast, hiding in the woods and getting distracted by birds....
I feel I can sat that Saruman is an officer making war plans, while Gandalf is the NCO whom knows who's who, where's where & whom to move where to make things work
It would make sense that Oloren would be most comfortable among the elves since he was disguised and walked among them for some time rather then being himself as a miar
Forgive the cheap comment comparatively but this was such a good la yout. it's important to remember that as much as we may love Gandalf not everyone did/some were weary. as well as the wizard origins. I wonder if the names others gave him effected the person he was around them. Also curious of how Saruman's presence effected the perception of wizards in general if they had two vastly different figureheads to compare.
Gandalf's true power flows through Nienna. His deep understanding of suffering is his greatest weapon. Eru brought him back as the white because of his pity for Arda, knowing it would give strength to those fighting a seemingly impossible battle
-(notification sound) GandalftheGray1050# entered the chat. *DOOM music intensifies* - SmoketheGreat13#, LastwolfofUtumno1#, Sarumanofmanyflags57#, Bulkogwithnopersonaltrait37# and HeadoftheHeadlessMen9# left the chat Sums up the Third Age basically...
Corruption in the power is a threat to every being in the Arda Marred. Every being whose existential nature and disposition is connected with power, even if it is good in its essence and in the beginning (like Mairon), is destined to degenerate. Since the ways and methods adopted by Gandalf in realizing his mission of being sent to Middle-earth are not related to power, he did not degenerate like Saruman and succeeded in his mission. This is another indication of his wisdom.
The current video covers Gandalf, a member of an order known as the Istari. It was suprising to find that the Blue Wizards (Pallando & his friend) came to Middle Earth in the Second Age to stir resistance to Sauron in the East. In the Third age, these two wizards & 3 others are sent at varying times to Middle Earth. The two Blue Wizards went into the East again, followed by Saruman at an undetermined time.,Gandalf the Grey & Rhadagast the Brown stayed in the West.
"Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere." Elrond J.R.R. Tolkien
When I think of a Wizard in whatever fantasy series it is Gandalf that most comes to mind. Though Raistlin Majere is just a hairsbreath behind. I would love to hear what those two would talk about if they had met.
I know there's not much information about the blue wizards, but now I'm kind of picturing an off-screen tragedy. Because if the Istari were meant to encourage resistance to Sauron, and the blue ones went to the east, but the Easterlings still fought _for_ Sauron - that's a profound failure.
I don't think Tolkien envisioned an *awesome* end for the Blues, but I might be able to modify 'profound failure' to 'possibly partial success;' the other wizards were meant to *fortify* the inveterate resistance of the West, while the East had been largely subject to Morgoth's and Sauron's influence since the First Age. Yet we know there was a degree of dissent among Mordor's human tributaries, and that several groups were open to cooperation with Gondor et al after Barad-dur's fall. In one account, Tolkien says that the Blue Wizards were responsible for encouraging these elements, which must have been quite the challenge from within Mordor's political *and* psychospiritual sphere of influence. Their mission was different, and its results imperfect, but still important.
Gandalf to Saruman "I'm here to smoke pipeweed and kick ass, and I'm all out of pipeweed."
😆
No pipeweed? The real reason Gandalf went to Isengard!
[After a long, tiring fight, GANDALF and CELEBRIMBOR lie on the ground, covered in cuts and bruises. GANDALF stirs. He picks up the dark glasses and staggers over to CELEBRIMBOR]
GANDALF: You fool! Put - them - on! And you will see!!
[GANDALF, having forced the dark glasses on CELEBRIMBOR, drags him to the corner of the courtyard, where they can see ANNATAR in the middle distance, unaware of their presence, holding court for a group of admiring Noldor. GANDALF forces CELEBRIMBOR to look that direction, and hisses through clenched teeth:]
GANDALF: There! Behold thy mentor, and thy _friend!_
CELEBRIMBOR [voice shaking]: By Aulë's beard...! Without these smoked-glass shades before mine eyes... the Gift-lord, my friend... his form is fair! But _with_ them on...
GANDALF: Yes, now my lord can truly see! And now you know your shadowy benefactor's true form...
CELEBRIMBOR: . . . it's Sauron. That's who he is, right?
GANDALF (somewhat surprised): Er, yes. I was going to say "Gorthaur the Cruel" - but yes, "Sauron" is his Quenya name - "the abhorred"!
CELEBRIMBOR: In our private moments he begs me to call him Mairon - "the admired".
[A bewildered pause]
GANDALF: Now wait just a moment. You _knew_ who he was?
CELEBRIMBOR (dreamily): His form was so fair... and he has such wisdom. I thought . . . I _still_ think . . . I can _change_ him.
[GANDALF claps his hand over his eyes]
GANDALF: Fool of a Fëanorian!! What would your grandfather say??
CELEBRIMBOR: Well, I doubt _he_ would approve. On the other hand, for a while after the Bragollach, Sauron and my dad used to meet once a week at the Starbucks in Shadowy Spring. In fact, he was the one who tipped Dad off that Doriath had lost its deflector shield. And it was Dad who first introduced me to Sau-
[GANDALF whacks CELEBRIMBOR with his staff, knocking him out]
GANDALF: OK, screw non-interference - time to kick some Maia ass. But first, a quick bowl...
[GANDALF brings out his pipe, only to discover he is out of weed]
GANDALF: Alas.
[This excerpt from the upcoming Season 2 of LORD OF THE RINGS THE RINGS THE RINGS OF POWER is © Amazon Prime Studios, all rights reserved]
& pot 😕😬😁😃😆😅🤣
@@donweatherwax9318
I really was wondering where the story was going, then I hit the end and laughed. I would have been entertained by that scene though. Excellent!!
As an eight year old I read the hobbit and instantly wanted to have long grey hair and a long white beard. Now as an old man I have long grey hair, sadly my beard is bushy enough for a dwarf making me look more like a homeless Santa. However my love for Gandalf has not diminished, this was great stuff. Thanks GNG.
I do not, I confess, aspire to the beard, but I think the large intimidating stick might be within reach. 😆 Glad you enjoyed it!
"Homeless Santa"
😂😂
Considering how secretive The Wise were about all this stuff, it's incredible just how much lore Bilbo was taught by the elves in Rivendell.
True 😆 he must have been one of the top experts in Wise-ology in the whole north. Which must have been very confusing to, say, illustrious visitors like Boromir. A very small, fussy, elderly person who is apparently on first-name terms with most of the important dignitaries of the region, casually revealing ancient secrets of forbidden lore in between complaining about lunch being late and demanding feedback on his latest poem....
I always just guessed that the lore-masters in Rivendell figured, "Ehh, he's old and he's not going anywhere. What's the harm in telling him the entire history of everything ever?" Whatever the reason for their openness with him, it's a damn good thing! If Bilbo didn't learn all this stuff, we never would've gotten to read/hear about it.
Honestly I think it's because he was there at the right time, they all knew they'd be leaving soon and could feel their middle earth wilting around them, having some remember must have been a kind of melancholy comfort.
He's one of the longest running ring-bearers, of all beings in the whole of middle earth who ever lived.
He's given passage to Valinor.
The elves know how exceptional of an individual he is, and how utterly central he was to the defeat of Sauron.
I don't find it unlikely at all that they would teach him this stuff.
BILBO:
Well, I'm off to Rivendell!
[SOMEHOW LEARNS 'HIGH-ELVEN', I.E., QUENYA]
ERESTOR:
My Lord... the _enwina Perian,_ Mr. Baggins, has... been at the Library again. Ten volumes were found in his quarters... and Glorfindel saw him corner some Dwarves in the _Tham Naur._ He was asking them something about, "Daeron's days in Haðodrond"...?
ELROND:
By Elbereth's quim! He's been at the High-elven stacks ... dammit, I'm gonna _kill_ Lindor for teaching that little jerk how to read Quenya! [TO ERESTOR] Let issue a new directive to the Noldor: "No Elvish around Elvish-speaking _Engwar."_
ERESTOR:
You, uh, you really want to ban speaking Elvish? Even Thingol only banned Quenya...
ELROND:
Good point. When you crib the wording from Thingol's Ban, make sure to change it so it bans both Quenya _and_ Sindarin.
AND AS A DIRECT RESULT, A FEW YEARS LATER:
FRODO:
[completely mangles a polite Quenya greeting] _elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo_
GILDOR INGLORION [TO HIS FELLOW NOLDOR, LAUGHING]:
Be careful, friends! Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the Ancient Tongue... *Bilbo was a good master.*
NARRATOR:
Yes. He was.
Gandalf is quite the double-edged sword, from a writing perspective. He is great for exposition, and you can have him be off somewhere, doing something that will turn out critical. On the other hand, you have to keep him out of the way when things get really hairy - imprisoned by Saruman, battling a balrog, keeping Faramir from getting burned. Because he is also a powerful tension killer; powerful, wise, and supportive.
Agreed - the sense of mystery about just what he might be capable of is another factor. In a world with more explicit rules and costs for magic use, you might get away with it....
Or, in the Hobbit, called to attend a staff meeting. (Pun intended.)
@@TJDious 😆
I prefer that Gandalf, to the Gandalf in the Peter Jackson films. In ROTK film his is severely weaker than the books to make Aragon look better.
In old role-playing circles, a powerful NPC who occasionally shows up to help is called a “Gandalf”.
Until listening to this video, I never thought of Gandalf’s reference to “the West that is forgotten” to be self-referential…very interesting.
I always loved Gandalf as a character, and I think it's because of the warmth he emanates. You get the sense that, among all the istari, he held the deepest love and most respect for mortal beings. He never forgot his mission yet seems to delight most in simply hanging out and befriending the denizens of Middle Earth.
I love the detail of why he was chosen because it really reinforces the power of his character; he himself was thrown into this fight by a sens of duty, volunteered by fate as it were. He didn't ask for this, but made the most of the time he existed in.
Basically, he did his job better than the rest of them in spite of (or because of) the fact that he didn’t want to take the job in the first place.
The band Camel did a three-part song, "Nimrodel/Procession/White Rider", that I highly recommend to all Tolkien fans. The first two parts are instrumental; the third is the best lyrical descriptions of Gandalf I know.
music.ua-cam.com/video/8B4cheUUIyo/v-deo.html&feature=share
Puts a new spin on the conversation with Frodo in the shire where Frodo was saying he wished the ring never came to him after identifying it. Gandalf replies something along the lines none who live to see such times do.
Thoughts about Radagast aside, it's telling that Saruman also used walk in Fangorn Forest and have long talks with Treebeard. It's one of the early indicators of his fall that he stops doing this.
I've always wondered about the relationship between Galadriel and the Istari regarding their origins and nature. She'd lived in Valinor, after all, and knew the Valar and Maiar, and had no shadow over her memory. Did she in some ways know more about Gandalf than even he did? When she understood that, would she have been tempted to tell him things?
Love your videos. Don't know why it took UA-cam so long to introduce us, but I'm really glad it did.
I feel like when Gandalf said "I too am a steward, did you not know?" was mockery, as in "oh, you didn't know that? Aren't you the guy who knows everthing?
Denethor did kind of walk into it but I can't help but feel like it's a little cheap to make fun of him for not knowing something that Gandalf only really figured out a few weeks ago, and it required him being *reembodied* 😅 but hey, Pippin had just handed Gandalf a big L, so he's gotta save face somehow.
I doubt it. I think it's very matter of factly.
I didn't see it as mockery.
@@GirlNextGondortrue, but it’s still makes the point of Denethor’s view is narrow minded at best.
No, but what Gandalf's statement undoubtedly DID do was hold up a mirror by which Denethor might have begun to self-reflect, had he been disposed to do so
I love that Gandalf was drawn to the Shire. He actually would go on vacations there multiple times. Gandalf loved the little things in life: drinking, singing, dancing, chatting, giving gifts. He loved merriment as much as he loved learning and exploring.
A further hilarious wrinkle I love: Saruman starts spying on the Shire believing Gandalf could have no possible motive for spending so much time there unless something REALLY important were going on. It turns out there is indeed something really important going on, but Gandalf is mostly unaware of it and has actually just been enjoying the atmosphere, and the pipeweed, all along.
For some reason pondering Gandalf's errands in the eyes of people of Middle-Earth is giving me a warm feeling - Gandalf's figure grew to be so important for me, even if people may view him as the "archetype" and blueprint old wise mentor in contemporary literature, but there is so much depth in this character. I really like how all the Istari stuff and affairs of wide world or even Valar themselves does not cloud warmth of Olorin's heart and his very natural compassion towards others.
👍
"If Gandalf the Grey is one of your patrons, can we really trust your words?"
-Denethor, probably
😂🤣😆
This one is sure to be popular.
Lexi, as you were known in the real world that is forgotten, thank you for this excellent video concerning Gandalf. Once again, you find new ways to explore even the most familiar of characters. While too many other UA-camrs feed us with regurgitated ideas, you feast your hatchlings (viewers) on the freshest of ideas.
Currently imagining a flock of small harpy-like viewers, half-feathered with beaks agape... can't decide if it's endearing or alarming 🤣
Glad you enjoyed it; I don't know that I would ever have thought to look at Gandalf this way if it hadn't been selected, and it definitely changed and enhanced my appreciation for ol' Olorin!
@@GirlNextGondor lmao I had the same thought
Gandalf is a good companion for lore, and song, and a good pot, too. Whereas Sauron and Saruman are technologists. Something spirit creatures like the elves (or naturalists like the hobbits) don't really need or want beyond the challenge that craft presents. For that alone Gandalf has a better standing with them from the start. Beautiful video!
Thanks so much!
Radagast would have been the wizard I went to pot for!!!
Excellent analysis as always Mellon. Gandalf is the OG Storm Crow. Doubtless, he is the most important (sans Aragorn, Throngill, Strider) character in the books. Keep up the great work Mellon!
"Ecthelion!"
Thank you! I agree, he was a 'great mover of deeds'!
Mithrandir was _not_ the OG Storm Crow.
He was the OG _Lathspell._ Get it right!
(Because the Grey Pilgrim is the king of the "bad news bearers". Also, I love how _"lathspell"_ turns out to just be the negative form of _"gospel"._ How cool is that?)
So I suppose the Istari could also have been called the Wise-men. Gives off a bit of a different vibe than Wizards, but not entirely unsuited to the story, I think.
It reminds me of Tolkien's repeated claim that he wished he could have written the whole book in Sindarin or Quenya 😅 he also didn't love having to use Elves and Dwarves.
There's a lot of channels on UA-cam that do interesting content I want to know about.
But your channel has great videos on topics I didn't even knew I wanted to know about. Really love your content.
Gandalf's arrival being seen as a bad omen puts me a bit in the mind of Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics--i've read second-hand that the arrival of Strange to a scene where he wasn't previously involved is either a very good or very bad thing, e.g., "Gandalf/Strange is here! We're saved! He'll solve everything lickety-split!" or "Oh, no. Gandalf/Strange is here. Things must be _much_ worse than we thought."
When Frodo had recovered in Rivendell and went to the great hall he saw Gandalf and was very surprised that he (Gandalf) while smaller in height was none the less someone who held a good deal of lordlieness.
It takes Pippin longer, but he has a similar moment in Minas Tirith when he realizes Gandalf must be older than Denethor, and then wonders how much older and realizes he's never thought about it before and quietly has an epiphany about just how far out of his depth he is while Gandalf and Denethor continue their glaring contest.
@@GirlNextGondor Denethor never did figure out he was outclassed.
@@istari0
However, Gandalf concedes that Denethor is a terrible old man, while placing himself in the same category. The only ones not outclassed by either was Faramir, because he was the son of the one and pupil of the other, and Boromir, again the son of Denethor but with will as formidable as his father's.
@@GirlNextGondor Sort of thought that Pippen saw Gandalf differently because he'd looked into the Palantir. It was foolish for him to do but it opened his eyes in a way. Think his prior view of Gandalf was how normal person saw him. He was this old wandering guy, he'd been around forever, your grandfather and great grandfather knew him but it never really struck you as being odd or led you to see him as anything other than an old man. Faramir seemed to see him as a great lore master but that his role as a mover and shaker was some kind of secret and that it took some work on his part to puzzle it out. So it sort of seems like this cloaked nature of his went deeper than just his appearance as far as mortals go.
1:55 - I saw that!
I wonder if Denethor's mistrust of Gandalf was fueled by his hard feelings towards Thorongil decades earlier.
I also wonder why Gandalf never went to the East.
In view of the reference to the Istari in general and Olorin in particular having aided the Elves in Middle-Earth during the 1st Age, I wonder why Melian did not return to Middle-Earth in the 3rd Age. Was she perhaps still grieving the loss of Thingol?
IMHO, Gandalf is the principal architect of Sauron's defeat. He's also my favorite character in any work of fiction. I always love a video on Gandalf and this one was excellent!
P.S. After hitting the like button that hard, I had to replace my mouse! Also, my finger hurts!
I was waiting to see who'd notice the easter egg 😄
Re: Melian, I wonder how much 'juice' she had left after the death of her spouse and daughter. I almost think of her family as similar to the staffs of the wizards: they're part of the conditions that keep them Incarnate (and not just assuming human/Elven appearance), and without them their *effective* power and ability to wield it physically is hindered. Between that and the Girdle, I don't think Melian had a lot left. If she found some kind of rest or peace, she earned the right to enjoy it. (Imagine being married to Thingol. I love the guy but, well, let's just say I think Melian and Nerdanel should look into forming a support group.)
Sorry about the finger 😉 wrap it in kingsfoil and put it on ice!
@@GirlNextGondor Now that's an interesting thought on Melian; I'd not heard anything like that before. I'd think an Elf such as Thingol would be smart enough to listen to his Maia wife but noooooo. My thought is that it was the loss of her sons that grieved Nerdanel terribly. Fëanor's absence was probably welcomed but for all her children going with him.
I keep trying to get some kingsfoil but I all I hear is the supply chains to Middle-Earth are still all fouled up.
There are a tonne of reasons why Melian couldn’t stay in Middle Earth but it’s definitely a great topic many have talked about and there were some questions on the internet recently that sparked great conversations! I could share you a story about how and why it had to happen this way… if you like !
Before one judges Melian too harshly, consider that she was almost certainly the most compassionate being in the history of Arda.
No other uncorrupted Ainur ever chose to reside in Middle Earth until the coming of the Istari thousands of years after the sinking of Beleriand. At a time when even the Valar, the strongest of the Ainur fled to Aman, she stayed and cared for the remaining Children of Illuvitar who did not make the journey to Valinor.
In choosing to dwell in Middle Earth, Melian voluntarily sacrificed paradise for the sake of the Children of Illuvatar.
True, her reasons were partially selfish. She loved Elu Thingol and stayed primarily for his sake. But, still, her decision to stay spared thousands of Elven lives the horrors of Morgoth's reign for thousands of years. I have little doubt that had her power rivaled that of Morgoth's she would have attempted to save all the Children of Illuvitar.
Furthermore, she is remarkably kind to many individual people. She sees clearly that Beren and Luthien are bound together in love and does nothing to impede their union. She immediately advises her husband to offer refuge to Turin and attempts to offer refuge to his mother and sister. She forgives Hurin and comforts him, even knowing that his actions have unwittingly wrought the destruction of most of the remaining elven realms in Beleriand.
She was also immensely powerful. Remember, Morgoth was not the only fallen Ainur with whom she had to contend. It is unknown exactly how many Maiar were in his service, but it seems likely considering his army of Balrogs that they potentially numbered in the thousands. Some like Sauron and Gothmog were clearly very powerful in their own right. She is often described as in conflict with the entities on her edge of her sphere of influence.
The fact that she was able to maintain the Girdle of Melian for thousands of years against such incredible opposition stands as one of the most impressive acts of willpower in the history of Arda.
Faulting Melian for her decision to leave Middle Earth is a little like faulting a saint who fed thousands of hungry people, because she didn't feed millions. Had she cared only for Thingol, she could easily have hid with him in some distant corner of Middle Earth. Instead, she used her powers to protect as many elves as she could fit within her circle of influence.
The question is not whether she was selfish or unwise to leave. It is possible, following the death of Thingol, that she had simply reached her limit. After thousands of years meticulously and ceaselessly fighting a gradually losing battle, then to see it all collapse so suddenly. It must have been devastating. One can hardly blame her for wanting to leave and return to the joyful land of her people.
@@Makkaru112 I'm not faulting Melian for anything. She is one of the critical persons in the history of Arda without whom things would have turned out far worse.
I do have to say though that Tolkien greatly revised the number of Balrogs that ever existed down enormously from his earliest writings. If I recall, he said there might have been only 3 and a maximum of 7. I don't think he got this change propagated throughout the Legendarium though so it's still somewhat confusing when we read the various stories but I think we can safely say there were not thousands or even hundreds of them.
Thinking that Olorin got associated a lot with Nienna and Manwe give so much sense to the fantastic journey of the grey and the white on middle earth. The way that the most part of his journey was to listen to all of the different folks gave him the ultimate ability to act strongly and precisely when they needed him the most.
Always learning something about lore I thought I knew!
Me too 😄
Hiya, I have the day off and was thinking about doing some laundry. Good timing on your part :-)
Clean cottons and plenty of pipe-smoke to you 👕🍻
Thank you for this 30 min deep dive on my favorite character. I believe you did them the utmost respect.
I appreciate that
Giving this a thumbs up immediately, and I haven't seen it yet. I just know it's going to be quality..
indeed
Appreciate the vote of confidence! 🥰
Hear, hear!
Same here. I click the video and automatically hit 👍.😁
Even if one does not always understand, one ought always to respect the wise.
Tremendously brilliant video...as always! 😀
Seeing as the palantiri market had been manipulated to create scarcity, thus pricing regular Middle Earth folk out of the market, I assume they all just used binoculars.
Awesome content and delivery! Just subscribed.
Best of the Istari is that Gandalf.
Well done. Excellent video.
I really liked how Tolkien put so much effort into writing Gandalf such as his name being from Old Norse Gandalfr, and his appearance based off of the deity Ōðinn from Old Norse literature.
Great video. Nice clear voice and bgm. Cheers
Thanks, Lexi! Wonderful! I have expanded comments on Patreon for you. 🙂
Very interesting video. I learned quite a bit. Cant wait to check out your other videos 😊
They are all great and well worth watching.😁👍
I have *loved* Gandalf since I first read Lord of the Rings in my childhood. Thank you for this video ❤. The elves leaving Middle Earth was sad but Gandalf leaving broke my heart (even though I was happy for him to finally get to go home). Such a sense of loss when he left.
It really contributes to the sense of tragedy over the dis-enchanting of the world - it's not just the loss of personal friends, but the knowledge that a particular kind of "magic," wonder, and adventure is ending. ❤️
As always, it was truly enjoyable.
I have always thought that Gandalf was a representation for Odin as he is first introduced to everyone on a Wednesday, purely because Tolkien was always inserting little details into his stories.
"Odin's Secrets" depicts Odin in his guise as Grimnir, the hooded one, wandering a wintery Midgard in search of his secret knowledge. Odin's two ravens Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory), fly across Middle-Earth each day gathering all the happenings of the world to report to the All-Father.
Thank You GNG for a great meditation on my favorite Legendarium character. I'm always down for an exploration of the mystery of Olorin from the Westside. He's a rolling stone that is hard to pin down. Which of the Valar is his patron? Manwe seems obvious, as he is the Vala that commanded Olorin to join the Istari. His affinity for light and fire points to Varda. He lives in OG Lorien, and is the closest thing to a muse in the Legendarium, so, perhaps he is among the people of Irmo. His compassion and pity for all of the Children that he interacted with are hallmarks of Nienna, with whom Olorin is know to associate. What is he up to? Everyone in Middle Earth wants to know. From Sauron and Saruman, who keep getting irrational quotients when they do the math on Gandalf, to the rest of the North, who must have suspected there was more under that hat and beard than they knew but could not truly fathom.
My favorite mystery that we will never get an answer for is: Where were the Wizards when they were really needed in the early Third Age? How long did that initial Istari walkabout last? What was Saruman doing in the East for at least a millennium? Things really start to head downhill at the beginning of the fourteenth century with the Witch-King's invasion of Arnor and destruction of Cardolan and the Kin Strife in Gondor. Doom comes for the North at the end of the twentieth century when Arthedain is finally overcome in the winter of 1973 followed by the waking of Durin's Bane and the destruction and scattering of the Dwarfs of Khazad-Dum in 1980. No Saruman the White to whip up some Balrog blasting rocket launchers? Nope, he's out chasin' the dragon out East. Is Gandalf with Aranarth during the fall of Fornost? What has he been up to while Arnor disintegrates and Gondor plays Game of Thrones? Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks for a great video as always. Stellar work.
Wow! Those are great points and questions. I hope Lexi answers these, but it could force her to make another Olorin/Gandalf video.🙏😁
It is very curious that Gandalf seemed to play the role of Eru Iluvatar in the Northern Kingdom of Arnor. I guess it would have been anticlimactic if Gandalf had already confronted the Witch King before that moment at the entrance to Minas Tirith. It does make me wonder where the heck he was in all that time.
@@Enerdhil Gandalf the Grey seems to work in the shadows at this time. He does not council kings at this point, at least not enough to be mentioned in what little we know about the first two millennia of the Third Age. We know he goes adventuring into Dol Guldor in 2063 and Sauron flees to prevent Gandalf from identifying him. We know he goes back to Amon Lanc in 2845 to get the Key of Erebor from Thrain and confirm for himself that the Necromancer is indeed the Enemy, Sauron.
The years 1973 - 2002 TA were perhaps the most devastating in the Third Age for the North. Arthedain finally falls to the Witch King, who, after being chased from the field by Glorfindel and Earnur, regroups with the rest of the Nine and takes Minas Ithil and turns it into the seat of his power, Minas Morgul. The Dwarfs of Khazad-Dum awoke an ancient terror of the First Age that none of those who survived could identify. You know who could identify a Balrog of Morgoth? Any of the Istari. This seems like a job for Saruman. It's his master's people. They also like making stuff. They are the only local source of Mithril. Is the loss of the greatest of the Dwarf kingdoms not worthy of a trip back to the west?
If I had a billion dollars for a TV show and only the rights to the LotR material. These are the questions I'd make a show about. The division of Arnor, the Kin-Strife, the cold/hot war with Angmar, the multiple Easterling invasions of East Gondor, are all ripe for a great storyteller.
@@Enerdhil "but it could force her to make another Olorin/Gandalf video"
We should encourage this!
@@Enerdhil The Witch King, along with the other Nazgûl, did confront him at Weathertop. Perhaps they did cross paths before. The critical difference at Minas Tirith is that the Witch King was for the first time encountering Gandalf the White.
Good work
I will check out more of your videos. Thank you
I've never had one of this channel's videos in my feed before, but I subbed without watching because of the channel's name.
😂 It's still appreciated. In fact, I think people who subbed for the name are a small but significant minority at this point!
@@GirlNextGondor I didn't sub for it but it was enough to get me to watch your first video and then I subbed.
I always learn so much from your videos. Along with The Red Book, yours is the channel that delves deep into the lore and always enlightens. Thank you!
Yes. Lexi and Steven are the best.
@@Enerdhil I didn't know that The Red Book's name was Steven...thanks! Is he Irish?
@@louisebrouillette5580
No. Steven is Scottish. I love the accent and tone of his voice. Lexi has a perfect pronunciation of North American English. I am not sure if she is American or Canadian. Both "teach" us the lore like university professors. We always get surprises and learn new stuff. I think Joshua of Tolkien Lore and Rainbow Dave of Tolkien Untangled are also excellent at presenting lore content. Joshua doesn't use art work, music, or clips from the books. He just stands there and gives us very detailed content, which I appreciate. I think Rainbow Dave is the best story teller of them all. Anyway, there are many Tolkien UA-cam content providers out there. Just decide which ones you like and subscribe and watch all their videos.😁👍
@@Enerdhil I do follow Rainbow Dave, and I agree about his storytelling style! Thanks for identifying Steven's accent. We Americans often get them confused. I'm assuming that Lexi is from the US because I can't detect any hint of Canadian pronunciation. I love learning about Tolkien. I read LOTR 50 years ago and first read The Silmarillion in '77 and have since read both of them many times. Lately I've been branching out to other Tolkien books.
@@louisebrouillette5580
Excellent. It's best if we all read HoME books, but they are not easy reads. I find myself highlighting and writing so many notes it takes me forever to finish books like Lost Tales I and II, The Lost Road, and Shaping ME. I still haven't gotten to Morgoth's Ring, Return of the Shadow, Peoples of Middle Earth, and Nature of Middle Earth. I can't afford them, so I watch Steven and Lexi's videos.😅
I'm fascinated by the many facets of Gandalf. Just like how his legend grew in-universe, it also seems to have happened in popular culture. For example, compare Gandalf in the movies when faced with the Doors of Durin, in which he confidently says a spell, then sits thoughtfully and dignified, to the book, where he at one point throws his staff down and sulks after his spells didn't work! It's also interesting to hear from this video how he was explicitly seen as "not proud, and sought neither power nor praise," at least among (I assume) the Valar, while those are exactly the traits that some mortals thought they saw in him, a prideful wizard seeking power or trying to further his own ends (an expression of power).
When you look at all the wizards in popular culture who are clearly derived from Gandalf, one way or another, it's interesting to see which aspects of him they emphasis and which ones they ignore. It's hard to imagine a lot of "Gandalf-y wizards" riding up to old friends like the elves and, while the wizard's traveling companions are still uncertain, the wizard has quickly dismounted to talk merrily with them, as in the Hobbit.
I really love all these themes!
For me this is one of the most favorite channels. So I wish long life to your channel!
Knowing that there are people out there sharing all these passions is so inspiring to me that it transports me to middle earth and every time I open the window of my home the Hobbit homes are what I see before my eyes.
This was excellent! I loved hearing how Gandalf's acts grew to legendary after he sailed west.
Another outstanding video Lexi. Great stuff. Looking forward to the next one 🧝♂️
Thanks, Lexi! Watching now. 👍
Thanks, lexi . Great subject.
Thank you Shane!
Very interesting, thanks for posting
It is very strange that Gandalf did not take part in anything dealing with Arnor. Could he have kept the Kingdom united? Based on what we know about his later accomplishments, yes is the answer to that question. So why was he so passive about Sauron's attacks through the Witch King and his destruction of an entire kingdom that would have been invaluable during the end of the Third Age? I suppose the Elves could have done more, too, but Gandalf came to Middle Earth to stop Sauron from doing what he did to Arnor. Did he fail? Was he negligent?
I like that question!
I'd have to speculate here because there's not a lot of information, but a couple of points that strike me are:
1) Gandalf *probably* didn't arrive until after the division of Arnor, which really heralded the start of its decline and was 'merely' due to the innate jealousy and contentiousness of Men (not something the Istari have leave to meddle with)
2) Arnor, particularly Arthedain, only fell to Angmar after 500 years of hard-fought battle (in which the Elves did sometimes get involved); the fact that it took so long and did result in the Witch-king having to abandon Angmar rather than overrunning the North entirely is itself impressive. There's not of definite information about what Gandalf was doing in the 2000s of the 3rd Age, but I think it's plausible that even if he were working his tail off, slowing Arnor's collapse and making it as costly as possible for ol' Witchy-poo might truly have been all he could manage.
Arnor was always weaker than Gondor and my speculation is that after it split into three, the hostilities between the three nations were probably intense for a long time, greatly weakening all of them so they were quite vulnerable to Angmar when it attacked. Lexi's probably right that there just wasn't enough strength left in the north for Gandalf to stitch and keep together an alliance to save and restore Arnor. But I do so very much wish we had gotten more details on his actions before the time of The Hobbit.
@@GirlNextGondor: "Gandalf probably didn't arrive until after the division of Arnor": I think you can make this "almost certainly." According to the year-listings in App B, Arnor was divided in 861. But just before that, the introductory text for "The Third Age" says, "When maybe a thousand years had passed, and the first shadow had fallen on Greenwood the Great, the Isari or Wizards appeared in Middle-earth." Add to this that the year-listing for 1050 says "About this time a shadow falls on Greenwood," and it doesn't look at all likely that the Istari were around as early as 861.
Great stuff as always.
@@GirlNextGondor
Thank you so much for answering this question so thoroughly. Gandalf is the last person I would accuse of skipping out on his responsibilities like a deadbeat dad, but I do think Tolkien could have mentioned him trying. Maybe the Kings of Rhudaur and Cardolan had council from people like Grima Wormtongue and just refused to even listen to him. Or Gandalf was in Southern Gondor working on his tan. Whatever. Anything would have been fine with me. Just frickin' say something, please.
@@larrykuenning5754
That's right. But I think by the sixth King of Arthedain, there was still a chance to at least have the kindred kingdoms not try to kill each other off. Gandalf would have made a perfect liaison to try to keep the three kingdoms united against Sauron and his minions. He could have put Narya to work early.
The art in this video is really great! Glad to see some different takes on LotR that's not the classics, even though the classics are really good!
Ah Hello GNG! Looking forward to this video. Can you do a much needed Celebrimbor character rehab?
I'll keep it in mind -- been wanting to look at the alt/extended movie canon of Shadow of Mordor games for a while, that would be a good place to bring in what Celebrimbor is supposed to *be* !
Brilliant. Thanks so much.
I actually liked when Gandalf got really testy with people. Made him more relatable...
Love that I found this channel. I like the insight. Hooked me with the necromancy video.
A very well made video giving an interesting perspective on a beloved and well known character. Kudos.
Wonderful as always! Very good analysis ❤
A troublemaker, who disturbs the peace of Hobbits!
I mean... you're not wrong
He was barely involved.
This video was quite good. Thank you.
Gandalf: Don't you know who I am?
Denethor: Would you tell me?
Gandalf: No.
That's literally the conversation and it's so glorious. Poor Denny.
😂😂😂
Every single one of your videos is so damn good.
I love your videos. Thanks
🥰
105K views. 27.5K subscribers. I am very disappointed in you tubers. Love your videos and glad I found your channel. The number of times I have read the books is beyond count. I finish ROTK and start FOTR. Been doing it for the last 15 years. Before that read them about 20 times. They are mines that we can never exhaust. Your videos always give me something new to think about. Good job and God bless you!
Hun, get in here, new GNG just dropped!
"Babe, wake up!" 😅
Great channel- you got a new sub
What does it mean to be a wizard? It means never to be late, nor early.
To be subtle and quick to anger, and not to be meddled with 😆
Absolutely beautiful art work!
No comments this time other than another great video. :) Here's to many more!
Thank you!
Great video! what i love the most about Gandalf is that hes loved by all spectrums of fans. From the casuals who may not have even seen the movies or read the books, to the Lore masters who are watch lore videos and reading more at 3 am in bed. Everything is at the surface, yet the deeper you go the better it gets!
I too wish to be a Professional Clever Person.
Your videos are my favourite UA-cam notification 😊
🥰 thank you!
I do not think I would be a very good Clever Person in the Gandalf model - his strengths are in improvising. Alas I'm probably more of a Radagast, hiding in the woods and getting distracted by birds....
@@GirlNextGondor You already are a loremaster/ mistress.
@@GirlNextGondor Well, so long as you don't let them build nests in your hair.
Next to Aragorn, Methrandir the white is my favorite Tolken character
Still thinking about "Gandalf as an avatar of Eru." 🤔
I feel I can sat that Saruman is an officer making war plans, while Gandalf is the NCO whom knows who's who, where's where & whom to move where to make things work
Haha and Radagast is the tea boy
You are criminally undersubbed @~11k …fantastic content! Keep it up
It would make sense that Oloren would be most comfortable among the elves since he was disguised and walked among them for some time rather then being himself as a miar
Forgive the cheap comment comparatively but this was such a good la yout. it's important to remember that as much as we may love Gandalf not everyone did/some were weary. as well as the wizard origins. I wonder if the names others gave him effected the person he was around them. Also curious of how Saruman's presence effected the perception of wizards in general if they had two vastly different figureheads to compare.
Nice video, never heard many of the points you made.
Glad it was helpful!
I absolutely love your videos 🥹
Strong work as usual!
Appreciate that! 😊
Gandalf's true power flows through Nienna. His deep understanding of suffering is his greatest weapon. Eru brought him back as the white because of his pity for Arda, knowing it would give strength to those fighting a seemingly impossible battle
Good job. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
This is the second video of yours I’ve watched and I’m really enjoying the content, you’ve earned my sub, keep up the good work 👍🏻
sounds of wisdom are so energizing to the spirit
Your voice and content are beautiful and epic! Keep it up, new sub 😇
Need a full game about this lite, love the way you narrated
If no one else got my back I know Gandalf got my back 🙏
Un très bon vidéo! Merci pour les détails et l’information!😊
_One man to smoke them all, One man to find them, One man to pack them all, and in his pipe bind them._
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Sums up the Third Age basically...
Awesome Video.
Love your voice.
Interesting topic and great and nuanced discussion!
awesome as always.
Thank you! Cheers!
Corruption in the power is a threat to every being in the Arda Marred. Every being whose existential nature and disposition is connected with power, even if it is good in its essence and in the beginning (like Mairon), is destined to degenerate. Since the ways and methods adopted by Gandalf in realizing his mission of being sent to Middle-earth are not related to power, he did not degenerate like Saruman and succeeded in his mission. This is another indication of his wisdom.
"Incanus" is in the real world Latin for "the Grey".
There was a (more-buried-than-usual) note from Christopher on this! Tolkien might have been playing the billingual pun game like he did with Orthanc.
not even manwe or nienna could have done the job that olorin did so well. may his name be counted with no less greatness than those of the valar.
Tight!! Thank you for this!
The current video covers Gandalf, a member of an order known as the Istari. It was suprising to find that the Blue Wizards (Pallando & his friend) came to Middle Earth in the Second Age to stir resistance to Sauron in the East. In the Third age, these two wizards & 3 others are sent at varying times to Middle Earth. The two Blue Wizards went into the East again, followed by Saruman at an undetermined time.,Gandalf the Grey & Rhadagast the Brown stayed in the West.
"Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere."
Elrond
J.R.R. Tolkien
It was hilarious when Theoden called hi. Gandalf Stormctow. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
When I think of a Wizard in whatever fantasy series it is Gandalf that most comes to mind. Though Raistlin Majere is just a hairsbreath behind. I would love to hear what those two would talk about if they had met.
I very much like me a new look at the lore.
I know there's not much information about the blue wizards, but now I'm kind of picturing an off-screen tragedy. Because if the Istari were meant to encourage resistance to Sauron, and the blue ones went to the east, but the Easterlings still fought _for_ Sauron - that's a profound failure.
I don't think Tolkien envisioned an *awesome* end for the Blues, but I might be able to modify 'profound failure' to 'possibly partial success;' the other wizards were meant to *fortify* the inveterate resistance of the West, while the East had been largely subject to Morgoth's and Sauron's influence since the First Age. Yet we know there was a degree of dissent among Mordor's human tributaries, and that several groups were open to cooperation with Gondor et al after Barad-dur's fall. In one account, Tolkien says that the Blue Wizards were responsible for encouraging these elements, which must have been quite the challenge from within Mordor's political *and* psychospiritual sphere of influence. Their mission was different, and its results imperfect, but still important.
@@GirlNextGondor Oh, that's better. More guerilla/resistance movement than hand-wringing.