bonus lore: The reason Eowen's sword was able to harm him was because Merry's sword came from the barrow downs and was crafted to break the protective spells of the Nazgul. When Merry stabbed him his magic was broken so that Eowen's regular steel could do the deed.
In the movie, merry stabs him in the leg just like the book. There is even some VFXto suggest the witchking’s ward is disrupted. The movies did a pretty good job. Keep in mind this wasn’t exactly spelled out in the books either.
My mother and I love Tolkien, so we have been watching a few of your excellent vidoes. She is very hard of hearing, (she's 74!) so thank you so much for providing subtitles! We are looking forward to watching the other content! Keep up the wonderful work!!
*********Hey can you do an episode on the reason you speculate that the Nazgul approached Weathertop under black robes? If they had the ability to be invisible (and cause the people who they passed by to feel uneasy and fear) why would they not confront Frodo and them while being invisible?! You'd think that would be their best opportunity to recover "The One Ring"...**********
I always love how the Witch King was still confident in front of Earnur even after his defeat but immediately fell silent when he thought Glorfindel was about to whoop his ass XD
My personal theory is that the Witchking (weither Numenorean originally or something else), he was the only one of Nine who was not corrupted and enslaved by his ring, but actively allowed it to devour him knowing that is what it would do to him. That might explain why he was so much more powerful than the other Ringwraiths, he was not an enforced slave, but a willing and devout supplicant who was literally an walking embodiment and extension of Sauron's power and mind, having given up everything of himself.
It shouldn't matter whether he went into his servitude willingly....at least mechanically. The ring should take him to the same place. It's more likely that Sauron simply divested power into the Witch King raising him slightly above the others for whatever reason (high test scores? can do spirit? or perhaps your hypothesis) especially since we actually see him do this to the Witch King at one point. (as the video explains) Morgoth would impart the power of his being into his servants, diminishing himself (perhaps permanently) and Sauron does something similar with the ring. There is no reason to believe this wasn't the case. It was also probably the safest example of this phenomenon since the Ring Wraiths were slaves by a craft that could not be undone by any magic existing in the world (save where it was forged, or perhaps Tom Bombadil) and probably not technically capable of treachery. My point is that the ring shouldn't bestow anything special on someone that wants to be a slave, rather that would be something that Sauron would have to do himself. It's unlikely Sauron crafted the ring with the capability of it bestowing special powers (other than making wraiths) on non-Sauron entities. The ring isn't a free energy source, it's a magical technology that leverages Saurons spirit that has been given to the ring towards certain purposes. Sauron isn't likely to create a magical free powers device that is based off whether you want to be slave. Sauron is pretty selfish about his power and likely bestows as little power as he has to for his will to be accomplished, and likely intentionally. Or not.
I don't mean to try to say that you aren't entitled to your own opinion of the mechanics of things that are left somewhat ambiguous in the writing. Only that there isn't any evidence for this theory. It seems to me that just as men are different from each other, that wraiths of men would be different from each other, and that he might impart more power into one to act with more agency. If Putin, Trump, Marcon, and Merkel were made into wraiths........Sauron is going to make Putin the Witch King for obvious reasons. Merkel will spend a thousand years trying to threaten Gondor into more open orc immigration policies, Trump is going to try to open Orc hotels, but Putin could be sent out into the wilderness and told to build an army to destroy Arnor and in a few hundred years it will burn to the ground. It doesn't require any other explanation involving the internal workings of a mind where if someone is more willing then the others to become a slave they automatically gain special powers. This sort of thing gives too much credence to Sauron giving a shit about the wherefores and whyfores of his slaves motivations. Slaves are just tools and it matters not why they are slaves since the power of the ring over the Wraiths is unbreakable by any magic of any creature not greater than Sauron of which there are none remaining in the world. They are all equally loyal, all equally beholden to his will. There cannot be a traitor ring wraith or one that is more loyal than another.
@@JoaquimParisLotRO. One of the last places I went to before I quit playing was Weathertop. Also there were some still from the recent Shadow of Mordor games.
There is a strategy game called Middle Earth the Rise of the Witch King, and it solely focuses on the Witch Kings campaign of Arnor. You should give it a try
forget LOTR in these times, its too racist. The only monster we would get would be a woke shitbag. Be glad the peter jackson movies came out when they did cos there is no way they would be allowed nowadays. At the very least sauron would suddenly grow orange hair
Hey guys hope you enjoy the video! I know its been a few weeks since I've uploaded but the video took a lot of work and I'm not one to rush it, I'd rather take my time till I'm 100% happy with the finished product! I'll try my best to have a video done at least once a week in the future!
Your work is outstanding! Do not worry about time taken. This is theater quality and that does not happen over night. Thank you for this beautiful work.
I like the Witch-King as a villain, he is my favourite villain from LotR because of his mystique and dread. I didn't know about three of the Nazgûl being Black Numanorans though, I knew of Kuhmal the Easterling but that was it. A video on the Nazgûl's history would be cool.
Ye, I think he's one of the coolest villians in Middle-Earth, I like the mystery surrounding him and his powers! I was considering making a video speculating on the other Nazgul and their possible origins, will see if I can dig anything up!
The thing is he doesn't have a knee or a face, he's just pair of glowing eyes so it's a bit stupid he could be killed in any way in standard battle. Always thought it was lame to kill such a cool and powerful character that way.
@@iarawae9griefingchannel45 The Witch King was something more than a spirit trapped in the physical world (like an Elf Fea that chooses not to return to the Halls of Mandos) but a spirit weaponized by the power of the one ring (which was a weapon that contained elements of Sauron's spirit) The souls of men are not given the choice to remain in the world after death but beyond that their fate is unknown. Thus the only thing binding the Nazgul to the physical world was the power of the one ring. Although the Witch King's spirit may have endured after the blows of Eowyn and Merry his soul was surely unbound to the world with the breaking of the one ring. If by spirit world you mean the inbetween place in which Wraiths seems to exist, the world that Frodo seems to be able to observe while wearing the one-ring (in the movie) then that is probably incorrect. If by spirit world you mean wherever the doom of men leads....then yes. It may be an assumption that the spirits of evil men actually go somewhere rather than cease to exist, it's not unlikely that they are stored somewhere since they may be brought back to the physical world during the Dagor Dagorlath. There is some uncertainty about this however. The Nazgul were servants of Sauron and not Morgoth, and I don't remember the Dagor Dagorlath prophecy involving bringing all the minions of all the higher servants of Morgoth. Rather it may just be the servants of Morgoth that were around during the First Age. Additionally since not even the Vallar know where the souls of men go, it may be that Morgoth has no capability to resurrect them; unless he learns of this during his stay in the void. This is more complicated than I imagined when I first started writing this 10 minutes ago.' But almost certainly where they go, no one but Illuvatar has knowledge of (prior to the Dagor Dagorlath). If the Nazgul were able to persist after the destruction of the Ring then Tolkien might have had something to to write his Lord of the Rings sequel about. Alas he got 16 pages into it and decided there was nothing to write about except for various cults that might arise and that's pretty boring compared to Wizards and gods and returning Kings. That he had nothing interesting to right about is pretty much proof that the Nazgul didn't survive.
@@Dadecorban If I remember correctly, after the destruction of the one ring Sauron became just a "shadow" because he lost his power, if the ringwraiths are linked to him they should've become "powerless shadows" as well.
@@iarawae9griefingchannel45 It does not logically follow that what happens to Sauron, happens to the Wraiths. They are different creatures with different fates. Sauron was a Maiar spirit who even after the destruction of the ring will endure as far as we are concerned, forever (though now impotently) The power of the 9 rings given to the wraiths and held in repository by Sauron was the power to preserve (Tolkien Letter 131) and the power of the one ring to enslave the users of all the rings of power. The 9 men enslaved by the one ring, were preserved by their 9 rings and further preserved by the power of the one ring. Their lives were preserved in form that is indicative of both Morgoth and Sauron and the limitation of their power; mockery and counterfeit (Letter 153) . Just as a Hobbit will fade into a wraith, a form life preserved from true death, (LOTR) for at least a time (a long time), when possessed of the one ring, and then almost immediately loses that preserving affect when dispossessed of the ring, resuming the Doom of Men (or Hobbits), Wraiths will lose the preserving affect of the rings when the one ring is destroyed, and dispossessed of the other rings of power, and their fate, if not immediately, will necessarily be that of all other spirits of men; a doom beyond the world of time (Letter 153) of which only Illuvatar is aware. (please forgive by irreverent use of comma and use of semi colon) Suffice it to say that Sauron has no power to give immortality to the spirits of men, to linger within Arda forver (Akalabeth), anymore than Morgoth did, or Manwe does, or any of the deities and demigods. This power rests only with Eru Ilavatar. (even if the ring had fallen to the bottom of the ocean and persisted until the ending of the world, the Nazgul would have long since died and faced their doom as preservation, or specifically resistance to fading is not forever, it is merely a delay)
Certainly, would've been nice to have seen the witch king cast his "spell of ruin" when Grond was at the gates of Minas Tirith. It would've added to how Grond the wolf's head of Mordor was able to smash down the gate within only 4 strikes.
Omg! That theory about the 3 Black Numenoreans being more in control of water and that being so they were the only ones to step into Bruinen is kickass!
Great video! It would've been cool if Tolkien had lived long enough to have fleshed out the 2nd Age and the stories of the Nazgul before they became Nazgul.
Cheer Joe! To be honest I think retaining an element of mystery helps keep a plot alive, as people keep speculating and trying to piece things together rather than having everything established already! :)
Did you actually confront him at minas tirith or was that scene just added into the film because it seemed cool? The book doesnt really have the two of you mixing it up there
Sauron breaks Gandalfs staff at Dol Guldur; Saruman takes Gandalfs (Radegasts) staff at Orthanc; Gandalf the White breaks Sarumans staff at Orthanc; Witch King breaks Gandalf the White's staff at Minas Tirith. Merry and Eowyn break Witchking of Angmar at Pelenor Fields! Eowyn & Merry are OP.
I've been on a Homer jag for about a year. Achilles bothered the hell out of me and I ended up at a literature site where the Professor gave me this analysis that cleared me up. Achilles' meeting with Hector's father, when King Priam comes alone and unarmed to beg Achilles for his son's body ... is the center and whole point of the Illiad. Power at war, of which Achilles is the epitome, is meaningless against the power of love and humility and the courage it takes for both. Achilles wrath faded. He treated King Priam as an honored guest, had the body cleansed and honorably prepared and allowed the King to return with his son to Troy; the Greeks also held off any further attacks until all the most reverent rituals had been conducted by the Trojans for their beloved Prince Hector's body.
That was him giving Frodo the chance to surrender the ring willingly. But when he pulled away is when it pissed off the Witch King and he stabbed him. lol
Good to have you back Geek! Anyway, I am so glad you finally did a video on The Witch King. He is so awesome, and he is one of my most favorite fantasy villains ever! I quite like the vagueness surrounding him tbh. It gives him a sense of mystery and makes him even more of an opposing villain imo, and I really love how you give your awesome explanation on his back story! :)
Perfect video, truly a masterpiece, well done! Incredible visuals and amazing music, wonderful narration. Giants, skeletons, fiery swords, elven warriors, heros and hobbits, the darkest villian, the Witch King!
Masterful recounting of the mighty Witch King's history Tolkein knew how to create characters with a detailed and fascinating back story - giving them a heft and realism that resonates Excellent stuff
The guy who killed King Théoden. What a pillock. Théoden was my favourite character by far, so much depth and such a beautiful character arc. Rest in Valinor, King.
Hi! Great video! For the next entry, I'd love to see a video or series of videos that detail the origins and nature of the various other non Gondorian men of middle earth. The Easterlings, Hardrim, and the men from the Corsars of Umbar. Would love to see that! Keep up the great work my friend! :)
GeekZone That be awesome! I look forward to seeing it! Keep it up. This channel is awesome, it is helping expand my knowledge of Tolkien's universe tenfold!
I really liked the part about the attack from the Witch-King to Rhudaur. The way you explained it completely makes sense when you have played the computer game The Rise of the Witch-King, credits to you. please continue with this channel
I often wonder... so great are the spans of time in between the witch king’s appearances over the ages.. what on middle earth did he do in his spare time?? (Insert comical ideas below)
GeekZone Hahaha. You are probably at least in part not wrong. That... and maybe he was secretly into crocheting or knitting when the other evil beings weren’t looking. Maybe that is how it all started for him. He was a prince who liked to make beautiful sweaters. Then he got made fun of by everyone in the king’s court, and Sauron walked up to him and said: “naw, dude. Those sweaters are cool. Don’t listen to them. Here. Have this ring. It goes with your sweater.” XD
Wonderful review and great summary of the history of the Witch King! Would be great to hear your analysis and thoughts on Ancalagon the greatest of all the dragons. Love the channel! You are doing an amazing job with your videos! Take your time and release them when you are satisfied with the end result. Your work is worth the wait!
This is a fantastic series of videos. I love the topics you choose to cover. You really get them spot on, and shine a light on all the murkier, less clear areas of the story. Incidentally, I consider the moment when Aragorn manages to drive off the wraiths at Weathertop to be the single biggest weak point in the whole story. The Witch King of Angmar was 2 feet away from The One Ring and he allowed himself to be deterred by a burning branch being waved by someone who couldn't kill him?! But never let detail get in the way of a good story! Keep up the great work, Carl.
Good shit man. Loving your channel, glad to have found you. Once I get home I am going to look...BUT.....Have you read The Wheel Of Time at all? You have endless content to go over there as a break from lord of the rings or if you somehow cover everything here lol. Take care man.
I love this channel, it answers as well as raises question about Middle Earth lore. Thank you for your time and research. A like and subscribing is the very least I can do.
An idea for a video could be to explain magic in middle-earth. I'm interested in these magic cults that the Haradrim have, since it's rare to see magic users in middle earth that are humans. Is magic something you can just learn? I always thought you had to be a maiar or a wraith or something. Also this is my favorite of your videos! Since the Witch-king is one of my favorite characters
My daughter’s name is Eowyn. I showed her the clip of Eowyn slaying the Witch King when she was a toddler, and she would go around saying “I am no man!”. I know it’s not what she says in the book, but it still made my nerd heart happy. She’s almost 7 now, and I think I’m going to try to introduce her to the movies. I think she’s finally old enough to actually sit through them. Fingers crossed that she likes them 🤞. My oldest son’s name is Jude, and he’s decided that he hates the song he was named after, so I’m worried she’ll do them same 😂. She does insist on being called Eowyn and not her nickname, Winnie, at school, so at least I know she likes her name lol
I loved the movies and video games but never really dwelled any deeper I did not know that there’s a whole complete back story to every character I’ve been binge watching your videos for a couple days now 😂
Very well portrayed. I believe this video made me fear even the illustrations of the witch king and nazgul. Very empowering to the lore, and his person, as though his spell were real! Great job
I never thought thas this viedei surpass all my theories about this villain (but one thing kicks me of hiw such powerfull being is killed by such weaklings) such irony .. love yout videoa keep up the wonderful job
I think it's also worth bringing up that while in conversation with one of the hobbits in the Shire (possibly farmer Maggot), the Nazgul says "I come from yonder, over _my_ fields, if you please," pointing west as he says this. The only things of note west of the Shire are the Grey Havens and the last remnants of Beleriand - Lindon. I suspect this means that he was once lord of the lands 'now' known as the Shire (since the Elves controlled all the lands farther west). I don't know of what greater relevance this might hint at, since we're not given any clue as to when he might have claimed lordship over those lands; whether it was during his life as a man, or whether it was during his reign as a Nazgul.
great wideo geek. What did the balrog do in the darknes of moria and why did he let orcs dwell in his home? i would really appriciate if i could get a ansver as always great work and keep it upp.
Cheers mate! I'd think that the balrog merely roamed through the halls of Moria or slept there unless disturbed (can't see it doing much else). Regarding the orcs, I'd feel it saw them as a slight nuisance but not enough to eradicate them. After all balrogs were used to being around orcs during the First Age of Middle-Earth, and unless they annoyed him or came in his way, I think he'd let them be
yes thank you for the answer, details like this is hard to come across in the movies and in the books. That is why i ask a expert like you on the matter. Thanks alot
The Balrog was still Hiding from the Valar in Old Caverns deep under Moria, but the Dwarves, in there Greed, digged that deep and awakend him. When Gandalf and the Balrog fell from the Bridge of Khazad dum they fell in a Sea under it that led into those Tunnels where Gandalf followed the Balrog who was running from him. But it is nowwhere mentioned why this Balrog still was hiding, since the War against Melkor was long over. It seems the Balrog was just sleeping there, and after he drove the Dwarves away he was likely doing the same. Since Orks are Servants of Melkor like the Balrogs there is no Reason he should have anger against them.
The orcs of Moira also worshipped the balrog in a way. A lot of their armor, weapons and shields where made in the balrog image. The orcs feared and loved the balrog, and would do their best to stay out of its way, so it didn't see them as a problem
@@nuadasilverlance1289 it was never written if the Valar knew this last hold out Balroq even existed and even if they did, they did nothing about it which raises a very curious question: what if it got loose out into eregion or worse lothlorien? Would the power of the elves been enough to stop it? Would Sauron have tried to somehow control it? The balroq was not lowly like the witch king, it was a maia and by far more deadly than all the ring wraiths combined.
Awesome video as always! What about a series of videos dedicated to the first age? This is probably the most unknown to the average viewer but IMO is by far the most heroic and interesting.
When you say the witch king chose to “live there”. What exactly would that consist of? Would be sleep, relax or even do anything close to how one would usually “live” somewhere?
I recognize that spider-man music! You fool, no nerdy thing can escape my wisdom and attention. Would of said instant like but i've already liked it, subscribed as well, so, oh well.
![The History of Sauron [COMPILATION] | Tolkien Explained](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8IqAN1Of70k/mqdefault.jpg)
![The History of Sauron [COMPILATION] | Tolkien Explained](/img/tr.png)
bonus lore: The reason Eowen's sword was able to harm him was because Merry's sword came from the barrow downs and was crafted to break the protective spells of the Nazgul. When Merry stabbed him his magic was broken so that Eowen's regular steel could do the deed.
Kinda funny how the Witch King created the means for his own downfall by sending the spirits to possess the corpses.
@@mattnar3865 his own magic was the cause of his defeat
oh rly i thought it was just wamon power ;(
@@onetwothreefourfive12345 In the movie sure but the books have so much more detail
In the movie, merry stabs him in the leg just like the book. There is even some VFXto suggest the witchking’s ward is disrupted. The movies did a pretty good job. Keep in mind this wasn’t exactly spelled out in the books either.
I love that weather top is where Aragon fought the wraiths, he himself knowing the history of where he stood
I can't deny, the witchking has an impressive character design
My mother and I love Tolkien, so we have been watching a few of your excellent vidoes. She is very hard of hearing, (she's 74!) so thank you so much for providing subtitles! We are looking forward to watching the other content! Keep up the wonderful work!!
Thanks Bacinta, I'm really glad to hear it, it means a lot to me! =)
Aww
*********Hey can you do an episode on the reason you speculate that the Nazgul approached Weathertop under black robes? If they had the ability to be invisible (and cause the people who they passed by to feel uneasy and fear) why would they not confront Frodo and them while being invisible?! You'd think that would be their best opportunity to recover "The One Ring"...**********
Play shadow of war and shadow of mordor
I always love how the Witch King was still confident in front of Earnur even after his defeat but immediately fell silent when he thought Glorfindel was about to whoop his ass XD
My personal theory is that the Witchking (weither Numenorean originally or something else), he was the only one of Nine who was not corrupted and enslaved by his ring, but actively allowed it to devour him knowing that is what it would do to him. That might explain why he was so much more powerful than the other Ringwraiths, he was not an enforced slave, but a willing and devout supplicant who was literally an walking embodiment and extension of Sauron's power and mind, having given up everything of himself.
It shouldn't matter whether he went into his servitude willingly....at least mechanically. The ring should take him to the same place. It's more likely that Sauron simply divested power into the Witch King raising him slightly above the others for whatever reason (high test scores? can do spirit? or perhaps your hypothesis) especially since we actually see him do this to the Witch King at one point. (as the video explains) Morgoth would impart the power of his being into his servants, diminishing himself (perhaps permanently) and Sauron does something similar with the ring. There is no reason to believe this wasn't the case. It was also probably the safest example of this phenomenon since the Ring Wraiths were slaves by a craft that could not be undone by any magic existing in the world (save where it was forged, or perhaps Tom Bombadil) and probably not technically capable of treachery. My point is that the ring shouldn't bestow anything special on someone that wants to be a slave, rather that would be something that Sauron would have to do himself. It's unlikely Sauron crafted the ring with the capability of it bestowing special powers (other than making wraiths) on non-Sauron entities. The ring isn't a free energy source, it's a magical technology that leverages Saurons spirit that has been given to the ring towards certain purposes. Sauron isn't likely to create a magical free powers device that is based off whether you want to be slave. Sauron is pretty selfish about his power and likely bestows as little power as he has to for his will to be accomplished, and likely intentionally. Or not.
I don't mean to try to say that you aren't entitled to your own opinion of the mechanics of things that are left somewhat ambiguous in the writing. Only that there isn't any evidence for this theory. It seems to me that just as men are different from each other, that wraiths of men would be different from each other, and that he might impart more power into one to act with more agency. If Putin, Trump, Marcon, and Merkel were made into wraiths........Sauron is going to make Putin the Witch King for obvious reasons. Merkel will spend a thousand years trying to threaten Gondor into more open orc immigration policies, Trump is going to try to open Orc hotels, but Putin could be sent out into the wilderness and told to build an army to destroy Arnor and in a few hundred years it will burn to the ground. It doesn't require any other explanation involving the internal workings of a mind where if someone is more willing then the others to become a slave they automatically gain special powers. This sort of thing gives too much credence to Sauron giving a shit about the wherefores and whyfores of his slaves motivations. Slaves are just tools and it matters not why they are slaves since the power of the ring over the Wraiths is unbreakable by any magic of any creature not greater than Sauron of which there are none remaining in the world. They are all equally loyal, all equally beholden to his will. There cannot be a traitor ring wraith or one that is more loyal than another.
What game is the one showed in several moments?
@@JoaquimParis I believe it is "Shadow of Mordor" or "Lord of the Rings Online"
@@JoaquimParisLotRO. One of the last places I went to before I quit playing was Weathertop. Also there were some still from the recent Shadow of Mordor games.
would be awesome to get a new trilogy about the war of arnor.
Possibly the subject of the Amazon series, said to be spanning multiple seasons
That would be sick, bit like the story of the game rise of the witch king
As difficult to make as it would be, I’d like the see a movie adaptation of the silmarillion
@@alberthogg49 that's not difficult. It's impossible
There is a strategy game called Middle Earth the Rise of the Witch King, and it solely focuses on the Witch Kings campaign of Arnor. You should give it a try
This channel is going to blow up next year when Amazon comes out with their LOTR TV show
Well its been a year and no explosion yet.
@@3ksomejerk the show hasn't released
When the fuck are they releasing the show! I can’t wait!
You predicted?
forget LOTR in these times, its too racist. The only monster we would get would be a woke shitbag. Be glad the peter jackson movies came out when they did cos there is no way they would be allowed nowadays. At the very least sauron would suddenly grow orange hair
Hey guys hope you enjoy the video! I know its been a few weeks since I've uploaded but the video took a lot of work and I'm not one to rush it, I'd rather take my time till I'm 100% happy with the finished product! I'll try my best to have a video done at least once a week in the future!
Dude, just keep making these quality videos. You rock.
Your work is outstanding! Do not worry about time taken. This is theater quality and that does not happen over night. Thank you for this beautiful work.
Great video! The timeline was very helpful, as was the map. Well put together and worth the wait.
Cheers Alex! :)
Thanks I van, I appreciate it!
Man his death is so embarrassing thinking how many wars he had fought in. A hobbit killed him. Man the dark lords would be disappointed..
Pride and arrogance made him ignore the hobbit
In the end the strong were defeated by the women, the small, the wounded, and the humble 🙏
I like the Witch-King as a villain, he is my favourite villain from LotR because of his mystique and dread. I didn't know about three of the Nazgûl being Black Numanorans though, I knew of Kuhmal the Easterling but that was it. A video on the Nazgûl's history would be cool.
Ye, I think he's one of the coolest villians in Middle-Earth, I like the mystery surrounding him and his powers! I was considering making a video speculating on the other Nazgul and their possible origins, will see if I can dig anything up!
Moregasm the Powerful maybe look up the men of the wests vid on it he does a great vid on the subject and on many many many other lotr subjects.
GeekZone would also be great to see a colab between you and the "men of the west" that would be so amazing...
I've always wonder why Kuhmal The Easterling was The Only Nazgul ever named? Considering he was The Lieutenant of The Witch King of Angmar
Khamûl not Kuhmal.
I used to be a demonic wraith wizard king like you .... till i took a sword to the knee
Haha love it. The Old memes are always the dankist that's for sure.
Lol ikr
More like 'Till i took a sword to the face'.
The thing is he doesn't have a knee or a face, he's just pair of glowing eyes so it's a bit stupid he could be killed in any way in standard battle. Always thought it was lame to kill such a cool and powerful character that way.
Razer hope Merry toke his sword in the witch Kings knee and his sword was a magical sword so Eowyl could kill the witch king
poor guy. he fought so many strong enemies only to be killed by a merry and eowyn.
He's not dead, he still exist in spiritual world
@@hossenfeffer based on nothing.
@@iarawae9griefingchannel45 The Witch King was something more than a spirit trapped in the physical world (like an Elf Fea that chooses not to return to the Halls of Mandos) but a spirit weaponized by the power of the one ring (which was a weapon that contained elements of Sauron's spirit) The souls of men are not given the choice to remain in the world after death but beyond that their fate is unknown. Thus the only thing binding the Nazgul to the physical world was the power of the one ring. Although the Witch King's spirit may have endured after the blows of Eowyn and Merry his soul was surely unbound to the world with the breaking of the one ring. If by spirit world you mean the inbetween place in which Wraiths seems to exist, the world that Frodo seems to be able to observe while wearing the one-ring (in the movie) then that is probably incorrect. If by spirit world you mean wherever the doom of men leads....then yes. It may be an assumption that the spirits of evil men actually go somewhere rather than cease to exist, it's not unlikely that they are stored somewhere since they may be brought back to the physical world during the Dagor Dagorlath. There is some uncertainty about this however. The Nazgul were servants of Sauron and not Morgoth, and I don't remember the Dagor Dagorlath prophecy involving bringing all the minions of all the higher servants of Morgoth. Rather it may just be the servants of Morgoth that were around during the First Age. Additionally since not even the Vallar know where the souls of men go, it may be that Morgoth has no capability to resurrect them; unless he learns of this during his stay in the void. This is more complicated than I imagined when I first started writing this 10 minutes ago.'
But almost certainly where they go, no one but Illuvatar has knowledge of (prior to the Dagor Dagorlath). If the Nazgul were able to persist after the destruction of the Ring then Tolkien might have had something to to write his Lord of the Rings sequel about. Alas he got 16 pages into it and decided there was nothing to write about except for various cults that might arise and that's pretty boring compared to Wizards and gods and returning Kings. That he had nothing interesting to right about is pretty much proof that the Nazgul didn't survive.
@@Dadecorban If I remember correctly, after the destruction of the one ring Sauron became just a "shadow" because he lost his power, if the ringwraiths are linked to him they should've become "powerless shadows" as well.
@@iarawae9griefingchannel45 It does not logically follow that what happens to Sauron, happens to the Wraiths. They are different creatures with different fates. Sauron was a Maiar spirit who even after the destruction of the ring will endure as far as we are concerned, forever (though now impotently) The power of the 9 rings given to the wraiths and held in repository by Sauron was the power to preserve (Tolkien Letter 131) and the power of the one ring to enslave the users of all the rings of power. The 9 men enslaved by the one ring, were preserved by their 9 rings and further preserved by the power of the one ring. Their lives were preserved in form that is indicative of both Morgoth and Sauron and the limitation of their power; mockery and counterfeit (Letter 153) . Just as a Hobbit will fade into a wraith, a form life preserved from true death, (LOTR) for at least a time (a long time), when possessed of the one ring, and then almost immediately loses that preserving affect when dispossessed of the ring, resuming the Doom of Men (or Hobbits), Wraiths will lose the preserving affect of the rings when the one ring is destroyed, and dispossessed of the other rings of power, and their fate, if not immediately, will necessarily be that of all other spirits of men; a doom beyond the world of time (Letter 153) of which only Illuvatar is aware. (please forgive by irreverent use of comma and use of semi colon)
Suffice it to say that Sauron has no power to give immortality to the spirits of men, to linger within Arda forver (Akalabeth), anymore than Morgoth did, or Manwe does, or any of the deities and demigods. This power rests only with Eru Ilavatar. (even if the ring had fallen to the bottom of the ocean and persisted until the ending of the world, the Nazgul would have long since died and faced their doom as preservation, or specifically resistance to fading is not forever, it is merely a delay)
I wish they had shown more of his sorcery in the 3 films! It would have made him even MORE intimidating!
Certainly, would've been nice to have seen the witch king cast his "spell of ruin" when Grond was at the gates of Minas Tirith. It would've added to how Grond the wolf's head of Mordor was able to smash down the gate within only 4 strikes.
Mildly disagree. The power of evil in JRR worlds comes not from what is explicitly shown but from the horror that is hinted.
@@josemanuelcaballero1162 This is true. I live in Australia and think the same about our Spiders!
What can I say , every video gets me in the zone + it gets me speechless , incredible work really
Cheers Pedro, I appreciate it buddy! :)
Omg! That theory about the 3 Black Numenoreans being more in control of water and that being so they were the only ones to step into Bruinen is kickass!
Great video as always! Btw your videos can never be too long!
Cheers Stern, I'll keep that in mind! :)
Agreed! More = Better so far as I am concerned :)
Great video! It would've been cool if Tolkien had lived long enough to have fleshed out the 2nd Age and the stories of the Nazgul before they became Nazgul.
Joe Jessup
Cheer Joe! To be honest I think retaining an element of mystery helps keep a plot alive, as people keep speculating and trying to piece things together rather than having everything established already! :)
I'm still mad at him because he broke my staff >:(
Did you actually confront him at minas tirith or was that scene just added into the film because it seemed cool? The book doesnt really have the two of you mixing it up there
Ahh cmon Teh White, worst thing would be if he dirted your white clothes. Staff........well I hope elves can make new one.
@@dynjarren5454 yeah, i don't think that scene was in the books. It was still cool though.
@@MrCouchmen well, they got dirty anyway though.
Sauron breaks Gandalfs staff at Dol Guldur; Saruman takes Gandalfs (Radegasts) staff at Orthanc; Gandalf the White breaks Sarumans staff at Orthanc; Witch King breaks Gandalf the White's staff at Minas Tirith. Merry and Eowyn break Witchking of Angmar at Pelenor Fields! Eowyn & Merry are OP.
interesting how such a formidable foe was slain by a blow to the lower extremity, like Achilles.
I've been on a Homer jag for about a year. Achilles bothered the hell out of me and I ended up at a literature site where the Professor gave me this analysis that cleared me up. Achilles' meeting with Hector's father, when King Priam comes alone and unarmed to beg Achilles for his son's body ... is the center and whole point of the Illiad. Power at war, of which Achilles is the epitome, is meaningless against the power of love and humility and the courage it takes for both.
Achilles wrath faded.
He treated King Priam as an honored guest, had the body cleansed and honorably prepared and allowed the King to return with his son to Troy; the Greeks also held off any further attacks until all the most reverent rituals had been conducted by the Trojans for their beloved Prince Hector's body.
I remember in the movie, the witch king made a gesture to Frodo before he ganked him with the morgul blade.
That was him giving Frodo the chance to surrender the ring willingly. But when he pulled away is when it pissed off the Witch King and he stabbed him. lol
Well of course. Their whole job was to get the ring. the blade was supposed to turn him.
Good to have you back Geek! Anyway, I am so glad you finally did a video on The Witch King. He is so awesome, and he is one of my most favorite fantasy villains ever! I quite like the vagueness surrounding him tbh. It gives him a sense of mystery and makes him even more of an opposing villain imo, and I really love how you give your awesome explanation on his back story! :)
Cheers Luke! It has been a long time coming, he's such an awesome character I should have covered him sooner! :)
GeekZone Ikr! But it is good that you took your time with this awesome topic! :)
Good video as usual. Feels good to watch after a long day of work! Keep it up man! :)
You're welcome Szumy, hope it was relaxing! ;)
Great video. I absolutely LOVE your channel!!!
Listening to these is very cool. You're a great narrator.
A video is never too long. I really looked forward seeing anything nazgul related and I'm glad you did. Thank you.
Perfect video, truly a masterpiece, well done! Incredible visuals and amazing music, wonderful narration. Giants, skeletons, fiery swords, elven warriors, heros and hobbits, the darkest villian, the Witch King!
Thanks AJ, I appreciate it mate, quite a compliment! :)
Masterful recounting of the mighty Witch King's history
Tolkein knew how to create characters with a detailed and fascinating back story - giving them a heft and realism that resonates
Excellent stuff
Thanks Paul!
One of the coolest ever designs for an enemy in my mind
My brother owns the witch king's helmet along with Sauron's. Coolest stuff
Neat...does the witch kings helmet still have a hole in the back of it from Eowyns sword? Lol
The guy who killed King Théoden. What a pillock. Théoden was my favourite character by far, so much depth and such a beautiful character arc. Rest in Valinor, King.
I've been watching a ton of your videos since yesterday I love them! Keep up the great work man
Id love to see a video on a few of the more notable elves during the first age like Fingolfin and the house of Feanor.
I'm working on it! :)
I got no clue how I ended up here but I fell in love with this channel before I knew it.
just got off from reading about the Nazgul hunting the ring in UNFINISHED TALES. this video just put the cherry on top! great work
Hi! Great video! For the next entry, I'd love to see a video or series of videos that detail the origins and nature of the various other non Gondorian men of middle earth. The Easterlings, Hardrim, and the men from the Corsars of Umbar. Would love to see that! Keep up the great work my friend! :)
Cheers Kiwi, sounds likes an awesome idea! I was actually considering covering the Beornings soon!
GeekZone That be awesome! I look forward to seeing it! Keep it up. This channel is awesome, it is helping expand my knowledge of Tolkien's universe tenfold!
Awesome video!!! Thank you so much.. he’s one of my favorite characters. Looking forward to seeing your others now. Definitely subscribed!
That last part of being heard again in this age, almost makes it sound like he will return in another age.
I really liked the part about the attack from the Witch-King to Rhudaur. The way you explained it completely makes sense when you have played the computer game The Rise of the Witch-King,
credits to you. please continue with this channel
Very well done. The reasoning you use to back up your speculations is very well thought out.
I often wonder... so great are the spans of time in between the witch king’s appearances over the ages.. what on middle earth did he do in his spare time?? (Insert comical ideas below)
Interior design in Minas Morgul, making sure the place looks badass
GeekZone Hahaha. You are probably at least in part not wrong. That... and maybe he was secretly into crocheting or knitting when the other evil beings weren’t looking. Maybe that is how it all started for him. He was a prince who liked to make beautiful sweaters. Then he got made fun of by everyone in the king’s court, and Sauron walked up to him and said: “naw, dude. Those sweaters are cool. Don’t listen to them. Here. Have this ring. It goes with your sweater.” XD
Ping-pong he played a lot of ping-pong .
(just picture that in your head , the witch king playing ping-pong ! :)
He was the lead singer in a band called the Shriekers, with Khamul on guitar and Dwar on drums.
He collects maces, they get a tiny bit bigger every time
The character of Glorfindel has always baffled me. Can you please make a video documentary about him?
Wonderful review and great summary of the history of the Witch King! Would be great to hear your analysis and thoughts on Ancalagon the greatest of all the dragons. Love the channel! You are doing an amazing job with your videos! Take your time and release them when you are satisfied with the end result. Your work is worth the wait!
Thanks Scott! I might actually be covering some of the great dragons of Middle-Earth in my next few videos, it sounds like an awesome idea!
This is a fantastic series of videos. I love the topics you choose to cover. You really get them spot on, and shine a light on all the murkier, less clear areas of the story. Incidentally, I consider the moment when Aragorn manages to drive off the wraiths at Weathertop to be the single biggest weak point in the whole story. The Witch King of Angmar was 2 feet away from The One Ring and he allowed himself to be deterred by a burning branch being waved by someone who couldn't kill him?! But never let detail get in the way of a good story! Keep up the great work, Carl.
Good shit man. Loving your channel, glad to have found you. Once I get home I am going to look...BUT.....Have you read The Wheel Of Time at all? You have endless content to go over there as a break from lord of the rings or if you somehow cover everything here lol. Take care man.
I love this channel, it answers as well as raises question about Middle Earth lore. Thank you for your time and research. A like and subscribing is the very least I can do.
Great video mate!Though,I was fairly happy to hear the theme of Divinity at the end of it :)
My favorite villain.. He's so scary! And COOL!
Your videos keep getting better
Thank you! :)
@@GeekZoneMT be fun to me
M he
Best lore channel I’ve found. Love your videos
An idea for a video could be to explain magic in middle-earth. I'm interested in these magic cults that the Haradrim have, since it's rare to see magic users in middle earth that are humans. Is magic something you can just learn? I always thought you had to be a maiar or a wraith or something.
Also this is my favorite of your videos! Since the Witch-king is one of my favorite characters
My daughter’s name is Eowyn. I showed her the clip of Eowyn slaying the Witch King when she was a toddler, and she would go around saying “I am no man!”. I know it’s not what she says in the book, but it still made my nerd heart happy. She’s almost 7 now, and I think I’m going to try to introduce her to the movies. I think she’s finally old enough to actually sit through them. Fingers crossed that she likes them 🤞. My oldest son’s name is Jude, and he’s decided that he hates the song he was named after, so I’m worried she’ll do them same 😂. She does insist on being called Eowyn and not her nickname, Winnie, at school, so at least I know she likes her name lol
really nice channel, really good videos, keep up the great work ! ;D
Cheers mate! :)
Your video wasn't long enough! Some of us have more than a 15 minute attention span. Great video!
Absolutely spectacular! Thank you!
Cheers! :)
I loved the movies and video games but never really dwelled any deeper I did not know that there’s a whole complete back story to every character I’ve been binge watching your videos for a couple days now 😂
This dude was even more active than Sauron in evil doings!
Well done. Great summaries of the various topics. Keep up the good work!
Very well portrayed. I believe this video made me fear even the illustrations of the witch king and nazgul. Very empowering to the lore, and his person, as though his spell were real! Great job
14:55 That's the Forlorn from Dark Souls 2
I'm so pleased to see this new video. Fascinating, as your videos always are.
"Hope it wasnt too long" ....mate i could listen to HOURS of these vids! and admittedly i have! haha. These are great.
Outstanding video. Superb!
Your research is amazing. These are the best lotr lore videos.
I never thought thas this viedei surpass all my theories about this villain (but one thing kicks me of hiw such powerfull being is killed by such weaklings) such irony .. love yout videoa keep up the wonderful job
Hooray. You have returned! Fantastic video as I have come to expect. Keep up the great work :D
Cheers Brim, glad you enjoyed it buddy! =)
Any chance you could do a video on the House of Fëanor?
For sure, I'll add it to my next video's poll!
GeekZone That's great! I didn't know you had polls, where can I find it? :)
Stur I'll post it on our facebook group sometime this week :)
GeekZone Oh okay, a suggestion is putting it on UA-cam as well so more people can see it!
Do you by chance watch Arachir's lore videos? He goes into depth in that subject.
I think it's also worth bringing up that while in conversation with one of the hobbits in the Shire (possibly farmer Maggot), the Nazgul says "I come from yonder, over _my_ fields, if you please," pointing west as he says this. The only things of note west of the Shire are the Grey Havens and the last remnants of Beleriand - Lindon. I suspect this means that he was once lord of the lands 'now' known as the Shire (since the Elves controlled all the lands farther west). I don't know of what greater relevance this might hint at, since we're not given any clue as to when he might have claimed lordship over those lands; whether it was during his life as a man, or whether it was during his reign as a Nazgul.
Just thank you..your videos are great!!
You're welcome buddy! :)
Just never stop making videos
Fantastic Video, Totally Enjoyed! :)👍👍
Cheers Jacen! :)
GeekZone Cheers :)
Thanks for all of the videos! Great work!
Nice video, glad you used Divinity 2 theme towards the end of it.
Awesome video💯🙌
PLEASE MAKE A 'SAM WEARING THE ONE RING IN MORDOR' ID LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THE TOWER :))
Your depth of knowledge pertaining to this franchise is unrivaled by none, not likely even Tolkien himself...
Cheers Adam, though I'm sure Tolkien knew his world better! :)
Your explanation and animation are top notch.
That lore is fucking incredible, damn!
I tried to do it justice!
I think its so cool you are so into this stuff! love it
what's the bgm that plays at the beginning of the video?
My question is...Where did he get the army in Angmar?? Who lives up there?
Orcs.
Mount Gundabad, Mount Gram, Goblin Town, they're all up there.
2 years late but I have to say outstanding!
When ganalf enters the cave of the high fells would be a good video.
Finally reading the trilogy as an adult .. And very in to it.
great wideo geek. What did the balrog do in the darknes of moria and why did he let orcs dwell in his home? i would really appriciate if i could get a ansver as always great work and keep it upp.
Cheers mate! I'd think that the balrog merely roamed through the halls of Moria or slept there unless disturbed (can't see it doing much else). Regarding the orcs, I'd feel it saw them as a slight nuisance but not enough to eradicate them. After all balrogs were used to being around orcs during the First Age of Middle-Earth, and unless they annoyed him or came in his way, I think he'd let them be
yes thank you for the answer, details like this is hard to come across in the movies and in the books. That is why i ask a expert like you on the matter. Thanks alot
The Balrog was still Hiding from the Valar in Old Caverns deep under Moria, but the Dwarves, in there Greed, digged that deep and awakend him. When Gandalf and the Balrog fell from the Bridge of Khazad dum they fell in a Sea under it that led into those Tunnels where Gandalf followed the Balrog who was running from him. But it is nowwhere mentioned why this Balrog still was hiding, since the War against Melkor was long over. It seems the Balrog was just sleeping there, and after he drove the Dwarves away he was likely doing the same. Since Orks are Servants of Melkor like the Balrogs there is no Reason he should have anger against them.
The orcs of Moira also worshipped the balrog in a way. A lot of their armor, weapons and shields where made in the balrog image. The orcs feared and loved the balrog, and would do their best to stay out of its way, so it didn't see them as a problem
@@nuadasilverlance1289 it was never written if the Valar knew this last hold out Balroq even existed and even if they did, they did nothing about it which raises a very curious question: what if it got loose out into eregion or worse lothlorien? Would the power of the elves been enough to stop it? Would Sauron have tried to somehow control it? The balroq was not lowly like the witch king, it was a maia and by far more deadly than all the ring wraiths combined.
Awesome video as always! What about a series of videos dedicated to the first age? This is probably the most unknown to the average viewer but IMO is by far the most heroic and interesting.
When you say the witch king chose to “live there”. What exactly would that consist of? Would be sleep, relax or even do anything close to how one would usually “live” somewhere?
This was brilliant. well done !
Absolutely the best canal I ever See! !!!!!!
Your vids are top notch. Best lotr lore on the net.
I recognize that spider-man music! You fool, no nerdy thing can escape my wisdom and attention. Would of said instant like but i've already liked it, subscribed as well, so, oh well.
I am forever learning from
your channel
Nice video!
Can you make some videos about Galadriel?
Or have you made some about her?
Because i would love to hear something of her history!!
Tbh I'm more terrified of Angmar than I am Mordor 😂😂😂😅
This might sound like a stupid question but did the witch king need to eat? And do other stuff like take a dump?
One does not simply make a LOTR Lore video with a Harry Potter soundtrack..
GeekZone: *adds Harry Potter soundtrack*
Such a rich lore to Lord of the Rings. Amazing
Great video and thanks for sharing this story about the wich king.
Is that the Spiderman 3 sandman theme song in the background lol?
Yes.
I imagine that in the absence of Sauron, the Witch King would have easily taken up the mantle of Dark Lord.
Great work as always! :D