In deep geek has been on a crazy run of great content lately especially LOTR stuff

@ThommyofThenn

28 күн бұрын

It's a great channel my friend

@ThommyofThenn

28 күн бұрын

I used to think i basically knew LOTR but watching this channel and it's analysis of the expanded/unfinished works, add tons of depth and understanding. I've gained a much deeper respect for his work since

@codehaunta9878

28 күн бұрын

Agreed!

@JojenReed

28 күн бұрын

Agreed but just to be that guy, I've seen a couple reuploads mixed in as well, pipeweed for example

@sulimanreis

28 күн бұрын

​@JojenReed I think he mentioned that some of the older videos are getting reworked along with the travelers' guides.

i like the idea of Cirdan seeing Gandalf arrive in middle Earth and thinking to himself "Olorin my old friend, i will honour you as you have honoured us in the past" and then giving his ring of power to Gandalf. No great foresight just an elf remembering his friensd.

@andrewthomas891

26 күн бұрын

very cool take in it

@user-yn6eu7xc5i

7 күн бұрын

Old friends, very likely, although I think there was a whole lot more to it than merely that... Especially with Cirdan the Shipwright being renown for his long foresight and wisdom as well, and also residing in the Grey Havens no doubt having a more direct and closer connection with the Eldar and Ainur still dwelling back in Valinor and thus being privy to a shared degree of their additional wisdom, especially that of Mandos, by virtue of his location at the very western-most docks with ships travelling to (and maybe sometimes fro) the Blessed Realm. How much folly could potentially arise from a friend merely giving another friend such an incredibly powerful gift out only personal fealty, but how much good could it bring about by knowing it was being given to someone truly worthy to wield it, and who most certainly would come to need it, and gifted by someone not careless but incredibly pensive and prescient as Cirdan, who, it bears to also keep in mind, had ALREADY been wearing Narya for an entire age, no doubt having enhanced his powers of true-sight and foretelling as well as his tenuous but no-doubt present "psychic-link" (so to speak) to the Valar residing across the Sea of Belagaer.

@krain.8245

6 күн бұрын

Wasn't Cirdan not from Valinor? I believe he had never reached Aman and settled in the middle earth as among the Sindar.

@mon_moi

5 күн бұрын

@@krain.8245 Based on what was stated in this video, it's possible that a young Cirdan met Olorin when the Maiar first visited Middle Earth with Orome. Many millenia later, Cirdan is one of the few remaining elves who remembered their first interaction with the Maiar, and so he saw past Gandalf's human form and recognized him as Olorin, despite never having been to Valinor

This is the obscure lore im here for

@bluesbest1

28 күн бұрын

The more obscure, the better. The deeper we get into Tolkien's lore, the more we're impressed by Tolkien's mind.

@werpseudonymouswerlegume3153

4 күн бұрын

It's not obscure, you are just a filthy movie casual!

I like the idea I've seen elsewhere that the Istari returned to Valinor after their first task but it went so unbelievably awfully that they were like, "Just wipe our memories, Manwë, that absolutely sucked"

@StarkRG

28 күн бұрын

Manwë puts down his rule book and looks up, scowling. "Fine, you can try again," he says, "but I'm nerfing you all this time. You don't remember anything and almost all your power is locked away and can only be accessed through a stick. No, not any stick, it has to be a special stick. You know what, for that quip I'm gonna make you all old men. Also, you get new names."

@addictedfoolgamer1970

22 күн бұрын

@@StarkRGI look forward to your comedy parody series 😂

@mnomadvfx

8 күн бұрын

@@StarkRG Looool ye. Even Ged from Earthsea could just make a staff from a blade of grass. Poor Gandalf has that one specific staff for each version of himself (Grey/White) and that's it.

It’s interesting, you see glimpses of immense power from Gandalf, but he seldom really does anything more than talk to the right people at the right time. And seeing the potential for dominance with Saruman when he got off the leash. Placing the emissaries under strict rules of engagement makes a lot of sense.

@dandiehm8414

28 күн бұрын

I think you are underselling Gandalf's personal achievements. He personally opened the hidden doors of Moria, killed a Balrog (!), healed the king of Rohan from Saruman's spells, contested the might of the Nazgul on Weathertop, repelled the Nazgul on the Pelennor in rescuing Faramir and his troops, added to the destructive power of the flood of Bruinen, and broke the power of Saruman. That is a lot of things he did, other than talking.

@Bobs113

22 күн бұрын

@@dandiehm8414 Yes but I’m not sure he was that confident that he could do it. We see it. I’m not sure that he did. Or that Frodo would be able to succeed.

@Lennis01

21 күн бұрын

@@dandiehm8414 All of these are indeed great things, but Gandalf of all people understood that nothing else would matter if the One Ring was not destroyed and Sauron emerged victorious.

@dandiehm8414

21 күн бұрын

@@Lennis01 That was not the point I was making. I was responding to the Original poster who said " but he seldom really does anything more than talk to the right people at the right time" He did MUCH more than just talk.

@user-yn6eu7xc5i

7 күн бұрын

@@dandiehm8414 Technically, Frodo solved and thus opened the hidden doors of Moria, Gandalf was merely the translator who answered Frodo's question of what "Friend" means in Elvish ("Mellon") which is actually chalking up another point to precisely what @Belligerent_Herald was trying to say, "talk to the right people at the right time" ;)

I think this also leans into the idea that Gandalf was initially hesitant and afraid of returning. Perhaps he didn't want to project a show of force as they had before. It could also be that, without that direct power, he felt like he would be weaker than Sauron. Interesting stuff!

@Raz.C

23 күн бұрын

Weaker than Sauron? Allow me to direct your thoughts to a passage often overlooked. Upon the return of Gandalf, there's a brief interaction between (I think) Aragorn and Gandalf, which ends with the acknowledgement "I am Gandalf the white, but black is mightier still..." He says this, I believe, because he's acknowledging that Sauron is indeed much more mighty than he, Olorin is. And while Gandalf might be wiser, he knows that Sauron is mightier. Much in the same way as Melkor was the mightiest of the Valar...

Robert, you can't upload a video with such a compelling title and not expect me to drop everything to click it

@ThommyofThenn

28 күн бұрын

And how about those gorgeous thumbnails? This channel's are so tasteful and compelling

@lookingforarlandria

28 күн бұрын

@@ThommyofThenn I've been a fan for a long time. Absolutely my favorite KZread channel

@ThommyofThenn

28 күн бұрын

@@lookingforarlandria nice. I've been watching maybe a year or two now. One of those very special channels that basically post nothing but incredibly high quality stuff.

@thing_under_the_stairs

28 күн бұрын

@@lookingforarlandria My favourite fantasy channel for a good number of years now too! John never disappoints with both substance and style.

@Sange4499

27 күн бұрын

The audacity

I always interpreted that line about past mistakes being about how they destroyed the continent by getting involved in the 1st Age.

Saruman's compulsion to leave is so strong and is true form that it lasted through generations.

Dude this blew my mind. I mean I read the nature of middle earth, but I never connected the dots like this.

Beautiful take on Círdan remembering Gandalf. Fantastic video, thank you!

11:49 this line with Sir Ians/Gandalfs face beaming from the screen gave me serious warm fuzzies.

@neil999ish

28 күн бұрын

'Yeek, Yeek' said Little Fuzzy! From H.Beam Piper's 'Fuzzy book's.

Oh thank you, Robert-I appreciate your elucidation of The Guardians, and I too like the idea that Melian already knew Thingol before enchanting him, and that Cirdan knew Gandalf from before. It is a lovely thought.

Excellent video, how cool to see the art we commissioned for the Lord of the ring game that we podcast about displayed so prominently in your thumbnail!! Ralph is a wonderful artist

If I see your tag line, I always watch and listen. Thank you so much for being true to Tolkien.

Wow. For me this answers every lingering question I've had about LOTR since I was a kid, some 30 years ago. Crazy we can still learn more. Thanks for that IDG.

So you’re saying Gandalf awoke with no memory, facing a reflection in the mirror that was not his own, sent back to put right what once went wrong, and hoping his next leap would be the leap home?

@rhaedas9085

28 күн бұрын

Oh boy...

@cmelton6796

28 күн бұрын

@@rhaedas9085 Samwise Beckett?

@realBiGO

28 күн бұрын

Wut

@susandunlap7754

27 күн бұрын

He did have pipe weed so yah

@DrumToTheBassWoop

23 күн бұрын

A quantum leap?😂

Woah, this blew my mind! Melian was the 6th member of the Istari and possibly their original leader? Amazing!

These videos have been an absolute godsend since I started listening to the Silmarillion. Helping me make sense of what has to be one of the deepest rabbit holes I’ve ever stumbled into. Thank you!

Great story. Like you said, it fills in a lot of gaps. I always feel sorry for Radagst the Brown though. He did help Gandalf in his mission, but is seldom labeled a "success" when it comes to the mission of the Istari. Whatever happened to him after the fall of Sauron? I suspect he stayed in Middle Earth with his beloved animals. Maybe that can be one of your next episodes. 🤔

@bluesbest1

28 күн бұрын

I'm pretty sure Robert said in another video that, after calling on the Eagles, Radagast leaves the narrative entirely. The last we ever hear of him was "Our Elven hunters found his home, but could not track him." I think Radagast essentially lost sight of his Greater Purpose, devoting himself to the plants and animals of Middle Earth, losing the yearning for Aman, and just...faded, the same way the Elves who remained in Middle Earth did, "Doomed to forget and be forgotten," in Galadriel's words.

@thomashauguel6811

27 күн бұрын

@@bluesbest1 Most likely, but I wonder if there was any further mention of him in Tolkien's letters. 🤔

@bluesbest1

27 күн бұрын

@@thomashauguel6811 All I'm aware of is that Tolkien said at one point that Gandalf was the only Wizard who completed his mission and returned home. I'm pretty sure Robert also remarked on that. Can't remember what he said about it, though.

Every video is a masterclass in content and presentation ... best Tolkien channel on YT!

The lore of Middle-Earth can be so beautiful. Though I have not read the various books and engaged with the world in so long I am always drawn back to it's lore and am reminded why it entranced me so many years ago. Thank you for the video.

Wow! This would explain so many elements in the lore. Thank you, Robert!

Amazing for it to be over a century since Tolkien started writing this stuff down and we are still getting new lore!

@jmjones7897

25 күн бұрын

As that same Old Enemy has risen yet again from the East

The two Blue Wizards were sent to Middle Earth in the Second Age, to the East to stir up rebellion against Sauron. Saruman, Gandalf & Rhadagast came to Middle Earth in the Third Age! The two Blue Wizards also went again to Middle Earth, the East again, but earlier again than the other 3! During the War of the Valar against Morgoth to protect the Elves, yes, those Maia who became the Istari went as part of the host of the Valar. In their full splendor!

@thecollector6746

28 күн бұрын

The Blue Wizard arrived at the same time as did the other 3. There is no evidence that the Istari existed in Middle Earth before 1000 of The Third Age.

@bluesbest1

28 күн бұрын

Perhaps the earlier mission of the Blue Wizards was a trial run of sorts? The Valar dipping their toe in to see if success was even possible with such diminished forms, or something?

@thecollector6746

28 күн бұрын

@@bluesbest1 Man, who knows at this point ? You have the canon...but then is the canon actually the canon when every note Tolkien ever wrote that didn't make it into canon is being published in different ominbus are maybe or maybe not conscidered canon ?

@bluesbest1

28 күн бұрын

@@thecollector6746 You'd think that Death of the Author would apply to an author that's literally dead, and yet we're still getting changes to canon by the author's hand 50 years later. Of course, because it's Tolkien, a lot of us accept it anyway because he's just that good an author.

@maximus3160

28 күн бұрын

@@thecollector6746 except for Tolkien changing his mind and detailing that?

This may be the first Middle-Earth video I’ve listened from you and I really appreciate all the nuance that’s picked up here, there’s no singular meaning or outcome in Tolkien’s work and it’s all explained in full. I normally listen to the Game of Thrones videos but I will plunge into the Middle-Earth videos as well!

A fascinating bit that lends much to what were otherwise a few niggling doubts I had had (Cirdan's choice to give Narya to Gandalf/Olorin, for example). Thank you for digging this up!

Oh fascinating. So Melian was the original leader of the Istari.

Thanks again for your insightful content - I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge of this beautiful world and all it's characters!

Beautifully done! Thank you! A Tolkien fan for over half a century, and you showed me something new and true!

Manwe: So guys we need volunteers to go stop Sauron Melian: I'll go! Manwe: ... anyone ... else?

@StuartistStudio1964

28 күн бұрын

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

@dandiehm8414

28 күн бұрын

I'm confused by this. Melian never went to stop Sauron.

@dw1419

28 күн бұрын

@dandiehm8414 I read OP’s comment as joking that they didn’t let Melian go because they didn’t want her seducing another hot piece of elf

Could you argue that gandalf the white was a change in tactic also. His return as a more General and combat focused figure was a harkening to the first mission.

@bluesbest1

28 күн бұрын

Gandalf went home, drank 3 liters of coffee, returned to Middle Earth more buzzed than a forest of angry bees, and finished the mission in 3 weeks with more energy than he had for the entire 2,000 years or so that he'd been in Middle Earth already.

That is something I actually didn't know. Thank you!

love the artwork at 5:40 ... it is now my head canon that one of the blue wizards was Willie Nelson

You have this great story telling voice (a big reason I love your channel). So you can imagine how much I LOLed when you so casually explained how all the wizards just simply forgot about their first mission.

This video has naturally set-up the next; “How powerful were the Maiar in their true form?”

I knew about their earlier mission from The Nature of Middle-earth but hadn't thought about the implications of it - Melian and Thingol becoming smitten with each other, why Gandalf had a love for the Elves, the reason Cirdan recognized Gandalf when he arrived in the Third Age. Great insights!

Great video and well researched! Fascinating to ponder!

I have the Nature Of Middle Earth book. Wow is it detailed! The various accounts of time according to the Valar, Elves and Mortal Men. How many years an Elf has lived in comparison to their age etc. This book was quite an undertaking for sure.

Great video! As always, I appreciate you for making these videos. Cheers!

A completely new story to me. Amazing! Loved it!

Absolutely beautifully assembled and delivered. Thank you for your work. I thoroughly enjoy it.

Its mindboogling to me, that after such a long time you stilm produce such relevant and good designed content regarding LOTR, i absolutely love it!

This is absolutely fantastic! Thank you.

That was a great video! You keep bringing up surprising topic!

Wow. This was great, thank you Robert

In Deep Geek is really cranking out fantastic content. Love your stuff, so happy with how much you produce

One of your most beautiful videos yet. Bravo!

Well done as ever.

Great videos, absolutely love your explanations of LOTR.

Unbelievable! I didn't know any of this! Amazing content as always!

Thank you for showing me this.

This is among the best synopses of the Tolkien Legendarium I have ever seen or heard. Thank you so much for your content.

Absolutely amazing commentary! As deep as it gets.

This video truly had me in deep geek!

Brilliant - that makes so much sense.

Very well put together, amazing job.

Very good info. First time I’d heard details about the earlier mission, but it fits so nicely

Love this channel, best explanations and interpretations

Always phenomenal content

I feel like there are some parallels here to Q in Star Trek TNG. When Q appears and forces his power on the crew, he is met with largely resistance and opposition. However, his most important intervention - introducing the Federation to the Borg - is mainly hands off. Aside from transporting the Enterprise in the first place, Q is absent most of the encounter. It’s only when Picard accepts his hubristic notion, of being able to meet any challenge when it comes, that he sends the ship back. Even the act of pushing and pulling the Enterprise could be analogous to Gandalf’s manipulation of the Dwarves to deal with Smaug; he pushes the Dwarves (& Bilbo) into an adventure driven a lot by their own choices. Only once at the Lonely Mountain do the Dwarves seriously start to consider the question of how to deal with the dragon. Bard’s lethal arrow shot comes from covert information first gathered by Bilbo - this echoes Worf’s observation that where blunt strength cannot succeed, one must use guile. I doubt there is a direct link between the acts of Gandalf and the Q/Borg storyline, but it was one of the first things that came to mind.

Awesome video Robert, thank you.

Another LOTR upload !! We thank you Robert !! Your videos on this and world of ice and fire are phenomenal!’n

I love hearing you break down the stories and facts and non-facts. In fact you could write fanfiction and even if you didn't tell it was yours I'd keep listening and probably wouldn't notice. These videos calm me down and put perspective into play to my thoughts.

This has revolutionized my understanding of LOTR. Thank you! I had a faint memory of Olorin visiting middle earth really early on but forgot the context and source, and Melian hanging with the Eldar at Cuiviennan blew my mind. This also brought a new perspective on the controversy over ROP bringing in all the Istari to ME earlier than expected, even if it’s different than as written.

Great video bro!! Big fan of ur channel u and nerd of the rings are the best out

Long story short, the first Maiar expedition acted like pushy, intimidating jerks and it pissed off the elves causing problems. The Valar took notes and told them to return but "Be nice this time!" 🧙‍♂️

Thank you! 🙂

Excellent video. I wasn't aware of this.

Amazing video, in every respect. Well done!

The artwork is beautiful.

Great episode. One small nit pic. My interpretation is that fate (aka eru) brought Thingol and Melian together, not her machinations. She was "trapped" as well as he.

I had gathered from things mentioned in the LOTR, the appendices of the LOTR, and somethings said in “The Silmarillion” that the Istari had been there before. There's something Gandalf said that made it sound as though he had been in Middle Earth since the Second Age. The timeline in the appendices I thought indicated that Sauron’s first attempt to conquer Middle Earth ended the Second Age and that the Third Age began with Sauron’s first defeat. Maybe I misinterpreted things.

Great video, I am quite familiar with all these topics but you weave a good tale out of the legendarium.

Amazing

Absolutely epic.

Never knew this stuff! Guess we’re always discovering new parts of the legendarium, huh?

@PatrickLongblkwhtrbbt

28 күн бұрын

Not really. Much if this was in the Silmarillion which has been out for a couple decades. Unfinished Tales was recent, but still a few years old.

@dandiehm8414

28 күн бұрын

@@PatrickLongblkwhtrbbt The Silmarillion came out in 1977 - almost 50 years ago. Unfinished Tales came out in 1980, so, not really recent.

What a beautifull painting!

Ça là, c’était une capsule très intéressante 😮😊 Merci pour cet information…. Je m’attendais pas à savoir/apprendre tout ça là, mais … merci!😊

@charleswidmore5458

22 күн бұрын

Allons-Y Alonzo! Nous allons à la montagne. nous n'oublierons pas, nous ne vous pardonnerons pas. Vous êtes sans nom, sans visage et sans forme ! Retourne dans le vide d'où tu es sorti! Flottez sur une rivière pour toujours et à jamais jusqu'à ce que vous soyez dissous dans les ténèbres pour l'éternité.

The sad thing is that according to The Tale of Adanel, either Morgoth (or Sauron) came to Men while the Valar Oromë and the 6 Guardians only came to the Elves. Presumably, Aulë didn't fear for the Dwarves, being they were apart from the First and Secondborn in mind and body.

@neil999ish

28 күн бұрын

Plus, Aule when he created them instilled a 'stuberness' against them being dominated by other's. I think that is why when the rings.were given to them by Sauron later, it didn't have the 'effect' on dwarves he wanted.

@dandiehm8414

28 күн бұрын

Melkor was aware of the Elves before any other of the Valar. Their earliest tales tells of "the hunter" who would take those who strayed away from Cuivienen.

@neil999ish

28 күн бұрын

@@dandiehm8414 This when he probably transformed those he took into Orc's.

@dandiehm8414

28 күн бұрын

@@neil999ish Yep, by slow arts and torture. Alas for these early Elves.

@BrooklynRedLeg

28 күн бұрын

@@neil999ish - Except we know Tolkien changed his mind on that concept. Its doubtful the Quendi could have that done to them, whereas its more likely that Orks were those Men who were Melkor's greatest worshipers (and maybe among them the Drúedain). At least if you accept The Tale of Adanel (which to me makes much more sense). Its also possible some of the greatest Orks (like The Great Goblin) were in fact lesser Maia in Melkor's service.

I love me some Carl Hostetter. He's so kind to those with questions and full of good humility. Very smart. Very thorough. Plus, he works at NASA. Unless he's retired. That's as close to Varda, Elentari, as one gets these days.

Respected Mr In Deep Geek. There are other great fantastic realms beyond LoTR and ASOIAF that await to be explored and made known. Please shine some light on them as well. Thankyou.

@347Jimmy

28 күн бұрын

Would be amazing to hear Robert cover the Riftwar Trilogy

@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886

28 күн бұрын

@@347Jimmy Yes, cover new things. It seems that almost every other lore channel is covering Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. No one touches anything else. It's quite stagnant.

@347Jimmy

28 күн бұрын

@@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886 I don't mind the endless LotR content, but variety would be great!

@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886

27 күн бұрын

@@347Jimmy Yes, we need variety. LOTR inspired a lot of fantasy. It would be nice to see some lore about those worlds too.

@347Jimmy

27 күн бұрын

@@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886 I'd be thrilled to see Rob cover some sci-fi as well, I think he'd do a great job of it.

Is it possible that the maiar also went to Middle Earth together with the valar at the end of the first age, when they fought against Morgoth? They definitely came in their full power, and while they achieved their goal, the collateral damage was pretty devastating.

Wow! Thank you

Most Excellent 😎

Great video as usual.

Totally new to me. Many thanks!

wait the idea that Cirdan remembered Gandalf when he returned but Gandalf doesn't is such a bittersweet idea I want to cry

Please consider doing longer form lore videos! I'd love a good 45 min video to fall asleep to 🙏

@bluesbest1

28 күн бұрын

In Deep Geek Audio Book of Lord of the Rings.

@pawbard

28 күн бұрын

Tolkien sleep videos YES

I appreciate this deeper lore.

The main insight behind the Question of Rand in the Wheel of Time.... Why this existence if it is so full of suffering? Beautiful insight that can provide Hope and Keep Faith alive. Very much like Tolkien the Professor 😊

i love the deep lore

Great stuff. I'd love to see one of these on Angmar.

Well done.

I love your videos!

I first learned of Olórin when I started researching if The Stranger was Gandalf or not.

I'm sure you hear this often, but you're a Superb Storyteller. Great video.

Wow, this was one story I didn't know about... But it takes a bit from the choice to send orolin as Gandalf because he has the highest capacity for wisdom and pity by manwe. Remember, orolin didn't want to go originally, but was convinced.

Big fan of your Lord of the Ring videos. Well done.

In the Council of Elrond it was said that a scouting party had visited Rasgobal (Radagast's residance) and found it abandoned. Gandalf also recounted what Saruman said about Radagast when imprisoned by him. Perhaps Saruman 'killed' the 'mortal' body of Radagast, thus forcing him to return to Valinor and the Valar didn't 'reincarnate' him back as they did for Gandalf after the fight with the Balrog.

@dandiehm8414

28 күн бұрын

If I recall correctly, they said Rhosgobel was his "former" residence. I always took it that he just didn't live there anymore when Elrond's scouting party showed up.

@neil999ish

28 күн бұрын

@@dandiehm8414 If you die then people also use 'former residance of ?'. I am just putting a hypothesis to that part of the book. This is fun of book reading, we can 'visualise' in our mind's the what if's of a scenario.