Still makes me cry to this day after 20 years. No one would have been able to destroy the ring out of their own Will. It was amazing that Frodo even got it that far. Frodo’s decision to pity Gollum and let him live was the right decision in the end. Rip Theoden.
Well technically it was pity of Bilbo, then Aragorn, then Gandalf, then forest Elf king and then Frodo (in this order). And theoretically of Sauron too - because he did not kileld him when he catch Golum. But in this case it was not pity, but torture - he wants to Golumn suffer for ring rather than simply kill him.
True; which is why Jackson's version of the back story kind of slanders Isildur and, by implication, the 'race of Men'. Sorry, Elrond, but you couldn't have thrown it in the fire either. The idea that 'men are weak' and 'Isildur's weakness flows in my veins' is entirely a Jackson invention.
@@nalim27 And, critically, in the book, Sam, who spared Gollum on the slopes of Mount Doom: It would be just to slay this treacherous, murderous creature, just and many times deserved; and also it seemed the only safe thing to do. But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him: he could not strike this thing lying in the dust, forlorn, ruinous, utterly wretched. He himself, though only for a little while, had borne the Ring, and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum’s shriveled mind and body, enslaved to that Ring, unable to find peace or relief ever in life again. But Sam had no words to express what he felt. “Oh, curse you, you stinking thing!” he said. “Go away! Be off!”
Everyone says you should find a friend like Sam. And that’s a good idea. But imagine how much better life would be if we all tried to *be* a better friend, like Sam.
“That’s for my Old Gaffer” - Sam’s father, Hamfast Gamgee, known in the Shire as the Gaffer. PS - Frodo leaves for a couple of reasons. As you commented, his wound from the Witch King’s evil blade would not fully heal, and carrying the ring gave him PTSD. Going to Valinor gave him the physical and psychological healing that he could never get in the Shire. But he also left for Sam’s sake. He knew that as long as he remained and suffered in the Shire, Sam would always feel obliged to look after him. As he says during his final monologue to Sam. You cannot always be torn between two. Frodo left so Sam could focus on his family. In the books Sam goes on to become a leader within the Shire, and eventually reunites with Frodo by traveling to Valinor himself.
He goes to Tol Eressea. GNG channel explains in necromancy video how Tolkien stated how if mortals stood upon Aman too long their Fëa spirit would outshine their body in a way they’d eventually become inane monsters. The Hröa and Fëa are very different between men and elves…
Sam was a ring bearer too if only for a short time, which is why he was allowed to sail to the west after a long, full and happy life. Legolas was allowed to bring Gimli when he eventually sailed to the west too.
The honor Aragorn, and all of Middle Earth, paid to the Hobbits always makes me weep. It reminds me of when I came home from war. When the 4 Hobbits are sitting at the Pub table at the end, they are looking around at how oblivious the Shirefolk are to what they faced, and how no one would understand them. I know that feeling all too well. My brothers and I have been in that situation ourselves. We know what they felt all too familiarly.
In defense of Eowyn (top three favorite character for me in the books), she doesn't just rebound to Faramir within the span of a short conversation. Their love story in the books is actually quite sweet.
Just to clarify for you, Theoden is the uncle, not father, of Eomer and Eowyn who are siblings. I believe that Eomer was unaware that Eowyn was in the battle and thought that she was dead when he found her.
@@TheOctobersReact oh gosh please don't be sorry, I think that's an easy mistake to make, I watched these long before I read the books and there are still things that I miss. I'm so happy you've enjoyed this journey and shared it with us :)
@@TheOctobersReact there’s a couple of lines spoken by Theoden in The Two Towers where he explains to Aragorn that her parents died and he took her in and tried to treat her as his own daughter, so the dynamic is real. They’re easy to miss though.
@@TheOctobersReact Back with more Rohan backstory: Théoden's favourite sibling was his youngest sister Théodwyn. She was actually closer in age to his son than to him and he was sort of her 'junior dad' as a kid because their dad was so old by then. After her kids were orphaned, Théoden essentially became a single dad with a blended family: his own biological son (whose mother died in childbirth) and his sister's much younger son and daughter. So on paper he's Éowyn's uncle, but he's also been her adoptive dad since she was about five years old, and because of how the age gap affected his relationship with her mom, she's a bit like his granddaughter too. And of course, she's his strongest link to someone he loved a lot (she's apparently a lot like her mother). Éomer's been near the front of the line for the kingship since he was born and he's prepared for his (much older) uncle to die eventually, maybe in battle. He's lost a lot: his parents are dead, his cousin/adoptive brother is dead, his uncle/adopted dad has just died too... Éowyn was the only one he had left. And she was supposed to be acting as regent at home, safe away from the worst of the war. She definitely wasn't supposed to appear out of nowhere as a corpse in the middle of battle.
The 4 hobbits sitting silently looking at one another at the inn in the Shire after they returned is a strong metaphor for the camaraderie of soldiers when they return home, and are forever changed, and can't relate to their old lives. Frodo even more reflects the PTSD, physical and spiritual wounds suffered by a soldier, that Tolkien knew well as a WW1 veteran. Frodo was stabbed by a cursed nazgul blade, injured by a spear in Moria, poisoned by a demon spider, and scarred spiritually and physically by the Ring. The only place he could find peace and healing was in the elven homeland across the sea. By the way--the spot on the ship he took was given to him by Queen Arwen, who knew she was staying in Middle-Earth, so she passed it to him, knowing it would help him.
I've been re-reading it lately, and I see so much more of the Great War than earlier readings (which I first did 45 years ago). Tolkien's own experiences in hospital during the war, the landscape of Mordor, and the Nazgul. . . a shrieking from the sky that terrifies the bravest.
Frodos experience was so intense he could not just go on about his life normally. He didn't tell anyone beforehand, because he knew Sam would never let him go or try to come with, and he wanted him to have a happy life. This is a perfect trilogy, no doubt about it. Love ya'll
From the book: “Are you in pain, Frodo?' said Gandalf quietly as he rode by Frodo's side. 'Well, yes I am,' said Frodo. 'It is my shoulder. The wound aches, and the memory of darkness is heavy on me. It was a year ago today.' 'Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,' said Gandalf. 'I fear it may be so with mine,' said Frodo. 'There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?' Gandalf did not answer. This sums up why Frodo went to the West. It's the elves' homeland and while it's also called the Undying Lands it doesn't bestow immortality on mortal beings, they do find peace and rest there. It's worth mentioning that Sam, when he is very old and after Rosie has passed, hands the book over to his daughter and sails west as the last of the ringbearers. Legolas builds his own ship and takes Gimli west with him when he goes.
And a reflection of the soldiers like Tolkien who returned from the Great War with what we now call PTSD ("Shell shock"). They never talked about their experiences in the War, but some wrote books to get it out of their system. The film portrays this quite well, actually, with only the four friends among all the hobbits able to understand their shared experience of the War of the Ring.
Maybe people should be reminded that this film won 11 Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Director), one of only 3 movies in history to do so. Across all world-wide festivals, it won 215 awards and was nominated for 124 more. It's a masterpiece that still holds up 20 years later.
By the way, a small note: The pirates on the ship were mainly members of the studio crew. The pirate who was hit with the arrow by Legolas was Peter Jackson himself.
Who is loves having cameos in all his films. He's in the 1st as a man in Bree, the one who takes a big bite of carrot as they are walking in in the rain. In the 2nd film he's in the Battle of Helms Deep throwing a rock down on the orcs from the keep. Also, the kid that Aragorn talks to about the sword in before Helm's Deep is his own real life son. Peter Jacksons kids are in all three films as well (1st: Little kids Bilbo is telling stories to at his birthday, 2nd: Kids in the caves at Helm's Deep, 3rd: Pretty sure they are in Gondor as kids). Sam's daughter is the girl he picks up at the very end of the film. It's all just amazing.
Frodo not being able to be healed after his journey is symbolic of PTSD, never being able to be whole again, at the time of it's writing The Lord of the Rings helped explain something that many soldiers couldn't put into words and many of those you know don't and will never quite understand
Yes, remember this book was worked on and written in the 1920s-1950s, they barely had a concept of "Shell Shock" and what it was. And that was almost purely neurological in their eyes, not the more subtle trauma to the core of the person, the emotional toll. Frodo was touched by evil, and Bilbo too. Even though the ring was destroyed they couldn't get away from it and its influence.
@@morgan4574 Yes, just to add. The only way for Frodo to have any peace was to go to Middle Earth's form of heaven. It would never heal him but it would give him peace.
If you read the last paragraph over Frodo's shoulder 52:04, it reads: "Samwise Gamgee was elected Mayor of Hobbiton, and although it took great courage, he finally asked for the hand of fair Rosie Cotton. It was the bravest thing he ever did." Honestly makes me tear up every time I read it. What a wonderful reaction guys, I'm glad you enjoyed the greatest cinematic masterpiece of all time (at least I think so)!
I've watched these movies at LEAST 100 times, no exaggeration. And every time I read through the comments of these reactions, I learn something new. How I never noticed what the book says is insane. Thank you for sharing that lovely tidbit! Now I gotta go watch!
As Gandalf said "I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil" I've watched this movies at least 100 times, probably more and seen countless reactions and I still tear up every single time. Truly a masterpiece.
With everything Frodo experience and went through, there simply was no returning to normal...because normal can't be anymore. What alot of people are also missing which i found amazing that Peter did. You can tell from the very moment the ring gets taken away from Frodo a burden is lifted, but what most people miss is also the shame he feels. You can see it so clear at certain times. You can tell he feels guilt, shame, pain and most of all the feeling of failing his friends who sacrificed and did so much for him to help him get to that point to where he almost failed them all. That failure is translated in his face throughout the ending. When he hangs on the ledge and Sam tells him to not let go, you can see it in both his eyes and domineer that he is shameful of what he did. You can see it when he is on the bed and all the others comes to see him, at the end Sam comes in and you see his face change because only Sam knows of his weakness at the end. For the rest of the movie that he is not happy at all like he used too, because he has to live with that hanging over him. The 3 times after he is happy is: When the fellowship greets him in the bed When Sam gets married When Frodo steps foot on the ship and can finally start a ''new'' life where he will be able to not have the failure, shame and sense of weakness hanging over him because he can start over. Ps! Loved your entire reaction to all films. You both seem like very intellectual people who could put dots together where many others are just asking dumb questions at the simplest of things. Well done both of you and to see you both enjoy the movies this much warmed many people heart as these movies and books means so much to many people!
You see these comments a lot im sure. but Ive read LoTR trilogy once a year for over a decade now. Have 4 fantasy books of my own published AND I watch almost everyone's reactions to LoTR. I can confidently say you guys were some of the most enjoyable. Seeing you guys have the authentic reaction to this trilogy, especially the end, legit made me cry with you. Isn't it all just so meaningful and beautiful? Damn. Life really is beautiful and we should all really look inward and try to live our lives like these heroes.
honestly in the world we live in it’s just wholesome to share a positive and beautiful story with people who also love this. thanks for your kind words ! we appreciate you more than you know for that
@@TheOctobersReact Dude im legit passionate about LoTR and what it stands for. Being a man is compassionate, being a woman is strong. Friendships matter. And above all else, choosing to do good, even when its almost impossible to do, is always the answer.
Aragorn is the only character to ever have me question my sexuality, but finally realized what folks jokingly referred to as a man crush. That dude is a great illustration of masculinity, a killer but kind, talented tracker that can recite poetry, a selfless natural leader, warrior but a talented healer rivaling even the elves. And lastly can be the manliest dude in the realm even when showered in rose petals and singing........smh
Denethor had his own Palantir, and thought he could use it to survey the kingdom in spite of knowing Sauron also had one. But Sauron secretly eavesdropped on him and caused him to see lies in it, convinced him there was no possibility for victory or even survival, and it drove him mad with despair. Also, Aragorn used the same Palantir that Pippin looked into; Sauron had seen Pippin and thought he had the Ring; thus, Sauron now thought that Aragorn had the Palantir (and therefore had the hobbit (and therefore had the Ring)) and was challenging him. *That* is why he took the bait.
The fact that Legolas takes Gimli to the Undying Lands with him as the only dwarf ever to go there is sweet, and the fact that Frodo and Samwise meet in the Undying lands again when they're old is also very bittersweet.
FYI: Arwen yes is mortal, but because of her Elvish blood she lived MANY life times past Aragorns death. Aragorn married her when he was 87 and her like 2000ish, and he died at the age of 210. She then went to Lothlorien (even though Galadriel and all the elves had left and the forest was fading) and laid down on the hill where her and Aragorn had first met, and there she remained, fading the years of her life away with the fading forest.
@@ragmuth7623 nope. If you read the appendices at the end of Return of the King, Tolkien writes it almost exactly how i commented here. It was her choice to choose being mortal but it seems she was the longest lived out of the few people that were "half/part" elven. In Tolkiens lore, the sons of Elwing (Elrond and Elros) were allowed the choice by the Valar to choose whether to take on the life of the elves or become mortal and take the life of men. Elrond chose the elves, but Elros chose man and he became the King of Numenor, he lived to about 500 years old after ruling for 410 years. But because Elrond chose the Elves, his children were also allowed the choice of becoming mortal, but once that choice is made, you cannot back out and choose immortality again. This seems to be why Arwen lived far longer after her mortal choice then others. She made her choice close to when she was 2500 years old already, so the Light of the Eldar had a long time to effect her. Then she chose mortality. The way Tolkien writes it, yes she loses the will for anything on the mortal world.....but that doesn't mean she died. He writes it as though she awaits her death in the one place she felt closest to Aragorn.
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City. The guy could write, ya know?
Exactly! and to have the characters and histories unfolded as the book went on, so you knew exactly what you needed to know to understand, yet know little enough to keep you reading - TLOTR is a masterclass in storytelling.
Hey guys. Just want to remind you that you both wanted Grima Wormtongue and Gollum killed immediately. By allowing them to live one of them killed Saruman and the other actually destroyed the ring. A major point throughout the book was showing pity to others and in the end it paid off.
It was the inclination to recognize the same struggle and evil within himself and thus not put himself in a position of judgement over Gollum that was precisely why Frodo was so able to resist the ring. He recognized the same struggle within himself and so could not judge another for the same. It was this honesty and meekness that was both the reason for his desire for Gollum's redemption and for his resistance to the arrogant pride that says; "I deserve this power. I deserve to be the one in control of others."
We enjoyed this so much ya'll! Thanks for rocking with us! Drop your favorite quote or part so we can share more about this amazing trilogy! Make sure you watch part 1! Thanks for your support and thanks for watching! www.patreon.com/theoctobers
In the books there is beautiful line that I feel encapsulates the trilogy (in The Two Towers) : 'Strange powers have our enemies, and strange weaknessess!' said Théoden. 'But it has long been said: oft evil will shall evil mar.' It was malice that sent the ring into the fire.
Perhaps a bit cheesy, but I love Sam’s “I’m back” at the end. It’s such a simple yet hopeful message. Frodo, like so many soldiers after WW1, could not truly go back to his home and feel at peace (for a better look at how actual veterans of the Great War felt when coming home, I suggest the book All Quiet on the Western Front, or its older movie adaptations); he never really came back. The horrors of war and the influence of the Ring yet lingered too strongly. Sam, however, was able to find peace eventually, free from the darkness Frodo couldn’t escape. Our hero got the happy ending he deserved, made all the more melancholic (both for us and for him) by the fact that it was smg his best friend could never know, not at home in the Shire anyway.
Sam’s whole monologue at the end of Two Towers tops everything, for me, but also Gandalf’s “I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm” to Grima, and Théoden’s rallying speech before they charge into the side of the orcs.
Without a doubt this is one of the best conclusion to any movie series! The action and escalation is amazing, the payoff satisfying, the music beautiful! This is an incredible end to an epic journey!
Tolkien was a ww1 vet so the ending really is all about the experience he had coming home from war and how those wounds never heal and them sitting in the bar just drinking and everyone around has no idea what they've been through and life is normal for everybody else thanks to them humbly, it's really powerful stuff. I'm a marine vet so I connect with that stuff a lot, I cry everytime I watch this trilogy which is often lol.
I have often thought this. . . Tolkien survived the War, then spent the rest of his life creating an imaginary world outside the 20th century. It was a positive response to a horrific experience. Think of the joy he has brought to the millions of us who adore his creation. In contrast, across from him in the opposing trenches was another guy who took his wartime experiences and started another war that was even worse.
This movie is tied for the most Oscars won with Ben-Hur in 1959. It was a clean sweep . It won 11 Oscars out of 11 nominations. So actual movie royalty. The soundtrack was one of the Oscars.
The film also tied with Titanic in how many Oscars it won. Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Return of the King to this date are the only films to win 11 Academy Awards.
@@matthewpulido7912 - Titanic's tacked-on "story" was horrible though; no one *wants* to remember it being placed on the same level as Ben-Hur. (Ok, maaaaybe that's a bit harsh, even for a tongue-in-cheek jab at the movie, but I stand by the sentiment.)
@@rodjacksonxDude no need to act obnoxious, Matthew was pointing out that Titanic was another film that won 11 Oscars including Best Picture tying with _Ben-Hur_ and _Return of the King_
Not covered in the movies, but the Ring Wraths had the ability to render people unconscious with a sickness. In the books, that is what happens to Eowyn. Also, in the book, Shire was well aware of their accomplishments in the end. The movie completely omitted a chapter called The Scouring of the Shire because it didn't flow with the movie they were writing.
Merry, Pippin, and Sam were seen as heroes by the hobbits of the Shire, but they kind of ignored Frodo. They didn't understand all that business with the ring. The book Frodo wrote was in a museum, but it wasn't given any attention.
@@lordmortarius538 In the book it is also stated that any weapon that strikes a nazgul withers and corrodes--thus Frodo's barrow blade withers away after he stabs the Lord of the Nazgul's foot on Weathertop, Merry's barrow blade does the same when he stabs the Lord of the Nazgul in the back of the knee at Minas Tirith, and Eowyn's sword shatters when she stabs him in the face. It also renders the sword-arm numb and lifeless, too, so...Eowyn's shield-arm was broken by the Witch-King's mace, and her sword arm was insensate from her killing blow. She was also suffering from depression over Aragorn's rejection and wanting to die in glory on the battlefield. Aragorn's skill at healing brought her back physically, but it was her choice to become a healer and fall in love with Faramir that totally brought her back mentally and spiritually.
Frodo leaving at the end was even more heartbreaking when you know the context. That ship is taking them to the Undying Lands, basically Elf Heaven, the afterlife. J.R.R. Tolkien was deeply inspired by some of his own experiences in the trenches of World War 1, and this is one of them. Frodo is too traumatized by what he went through, what the Ring put him through. Like many, many war veterans throughout history, he was never able to make peace with that trauma, and he has chosen to go on to the afterlife rather than live with the pain any longer. HIs friends are not just crying because their friend is leaving, but because in a very real way their friend chose to end his own life.
Im going to agree with you here but also disagree with you on some nuance. He ended his 'mortal life'(all things are mortal...some lives just go on for so long its practically not worth talking about). While Valinor is a kind if Elf Heaven or Summerland, its more of a Land of the Gods. Its closer to a kind of Ascension. Frodos consciousness as Frodo did not end, it merely continued in a different kind of way. I say all of this because the Undying Lands isnt a realm of death like the Elysian Fields from Greek Myth would be. It is more like if the Garden of Eden and Purgatory were the same thing, a land of Peace and Plenty, Milk and Honey. The elves reside there until the creator has deemed that the song of the world has come to an end. At that time, the Elves who are intrinsically tied to that incarnation of the world, will end, each of their souls becoming the song notes or stardust that the new world will be made of. They will be the stuff of creation. But Men or Mankind will in a way see a different end - one that is a kind of continuance. I assume this is also the fate of Hobbits. Therefore, I would say that Frodo's life never truly ended at all.
@@thedappermagician6905 He would die faster in the undying lands. "And were you so to voyage that escaping all deceits and snares you came indeed to Aman, the Blessed Realm, little would it profit you. For it is not the land of Manwe that makes its people deathless, but the Deathless that dwell therein have hallowed the land; and there you would but wither and grow weary sooner, as months in a light too strong and steadfast." But mortal men have their souls continue the journey once they die while elves are stuck there.
@@ildarion3367 Depends if youre in the land of Valinor proper (lands surrounding the remains of the great lamps) or in the port city which is how I read it similar to the land of Numenor
Just in case I didn’t say this before yet for you guys: Galadriel intentionally matched Arwen & Aragorn together while they were both visiting in Lothlorien! Arwen & Aragorn met in Rivendell, & that is where Aragorn fell in love with her, although it doesn’t sound like she felt the same at the time. Aragorn’s mother Gilraen warned him that he was aiming too high, and Elrond was not happy about it either, and Aragorn took heed of this and left Rivendell, to learn how to be a Ranger and to oppose Sauron’s forces. Many years later, he came to Lothlorien, seeking rest and shelter, and Galadriel allowed him to enter. We have this line in the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen: ‘But Aragorn was grown to full stature of body and mind, and Galadriel bade him cast aside his wayworn raiment, and she clothed him in silver and white, with a cloak of elven-grey and a bright gem on his brow. Then more than any kind of Men he appeared, and seemed rather an Elf-lord from the Isles of the West. And thus it was that Arwen first beheld him again after their long parting; and as he came walking towards her under the trees of Caras Galadhon laden with flowers of gold, her choice was made and her doom appointed.’ LOTR Appendices. To me, that makes it rather explicit that Galadriel wanted Aragorn to appear at his best. Why? Who could he possibly impress in Lothlorien, except for Galadriel’s grand-daughter? I think it is quite clear that she wanted them matched, and perhaps her foresight told her that they needed to be matched, as it was part of destiny, to begin the Dominion of Men (something Elrond probably also realised, but couldn’t willingly promote, since it would mean Arwen and Elrond would be parted forever). Plus there is the scene in Lorien, where Galadriel gives Aragorn the Elessar, which went from Galadriel to Celebrian to Arwen and then back to Galadriel in order that she give it as a gift to Aragorn. Again it speaks to me as a collaborative act, and part of Galadriel helping bring the two together: And Aragorn answered: “Lady, you know all my desire, and long held in keeping the only treasure that I seek. Yet it is not yours to give me, even if you would; and only through darkness shall I come to it.” “Yet maybe this will lighten your heart,' said Galadriel; for it was left in my care to be given to you, should you pass through this land.” Then she lifted from her lap a great stone of a clear green, set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings; and as she held it up the gem flashed like the sun shining through the leaves of spring. “This stone I gave to Celebrían my daughter, and she to hers; and now it comes to you as a token of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!” From LOTR FOTR BOOK
You forgot the bit about Aragorn and Arwen being related to each other. I don't recall the genealogy tree exactly, but I think Elrond and Aragorn's great, great, great, great, great grandfather were brothers. So Elrond is his great, great, great, great, great uncle.
@@MayLina Yeah, I know. And after posting that I went looking for family tree charts and there seems to be some variation depending on who did the chart, but it looks like it was Elrond's father who was brother to Aragorn's ancestor, hence the Numenorians' longer lifespan. On Aragorn's side, there's several generations of separation from the brothers, on Arwen's side, not so much.
@@Leekle2ManE as far as I know it was Elrond's twin brother Elros who chose mortality and became the first king of Numenor, so you were right the first time, Elrond is Aragorn's great great ... great uncle
@@Leekle2ManE that's why Arwen's decision is so painful to him too, he already lost his twin brother this way thousands years ago, now he has to let go of his daughter the same way
Wow! It was so fun and so moving to watch you guys watch this - thank you so much! A couple of things: There are 3 reasons Frodo went to the Undying Lands 1. He could never fully heal from his wounds in Middle Earth (and he could never really "come home" ) 2 It was a great honor to be allowed to go to the Undying Lands. He was allowed to go because he was a ring bearer, like Bilbo. He tells Sam he also is allowed to go (because Sam was a ring bearer too) but he has so much living to do that he can go later. 3 Frodo says earlier that all he ever wanted to do was go on an adventure with Bilbo, and so now he gets to. :) Gandalf was only in Middle Earth for the task of helping to defeat Sauron, so he left as well. This is that kind of great story that has you thinking about the characters and the details for years. Tolkien was asked why he wrote this - he said because he wanted people to want to be better people. It was touching to hear you talk about that at the end.
The last scene is the hardest to watch and most people don't understand why Frodo had to leave. Remember when Frodo said to Sam "it's been 4 years to the day since Weathertop(where Frodo was stabbed the first time) and the wound has never really healed." In order for Frodo to heal he had to leave the Shire, it was impossible to heal there so he had to go with Gandalf, Bilbo and the elves! Sad yes, but necessary if Frodo was to heal! Now you need to watch The Hobbit trilogy so you can get the backstories of Bilbo, the dwarves and elves relationship before Gimli and Legolas met, Saruman, the Necromancer, Galadrial, Elrond, Gandalf, and Thorin! Please get to these quickly! Thank you for reacting to my favorite trilogy!
Well it’s also because he was a ring bearer. To bear any of the rings of power does inherent damage to one’s soul. All ring bearers are afforded the kindness of sailing to the grey havens. It’s the only way for there soul to heal. Sam is also invited to the grey havens after living a full life
It wasn’t just the wound from weather top it was also because he held the ring. The ring damages your soul and the only way to heal is to leave middle earth. That’s why bilbo left with them and why Sam eventually leaves as well because he held the ring as well. Even in that short time it damaged Sam’s soul
Also! After watching The Hobbit trilogy, please do reactions for the TV show follow-up The Rings of Power! Ya'll will love that one as well. As of right now in October 2023, we're still awaiting the second season to air.
So, for a really cool bit of lord of the rings lore, at 49:12, Aragorn is singing "The Oath of Elendil" Elendil being the king who died fighting Sauron, and Aragorn's 39th-Great Grandfather, and Elendil spoke it when setting foot on Middle Earth after the downfall of Numenor, translated from the Elvish language he spoke it in, it goes as follows "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world"
Really good reaction you two. Frodo was never going to be able to destroy the ring. He was too close to its doom and the ring too powerful. Makes you realise how amazing a feat it is when Bilbo lets it go back in The Shire. Frodo leaves Middle Earth because he is permanently affected by the Witch King’s blade, Shelob’s sting, Gollum’s bite and mostly, the psychological damage done by the ring. He sheds all those burdens when he travels to the Undying Lands. He deserves the honour and Sam comes to accept this 😊
One of only two people to EVER willing give up the ring. Sam being the other, though he possessed it only for a very short time, but even in that short time it was already working on his mind and tempting him.
@@gianni.sacciloto He offered it. That's extremely different than actually letting it go. And my point still stands, Bilbo and Sam are the only two to actually let it go.
54:30 Frodo leaves for Elf-heaven (Aman/Valinor/The undying lands) because he suffered great spiritual damage bearing the ring and saving middle earth. They have advanced elven medicine (and demi-gods) that live in Aman that can ease Frodo's pain. It's a metaphor for PTSD, as Tolkien served in world war 1. As Frodo says, some wounds run too deep. Gandalf is going back there because he is a Maiar (immortal angel-spirit) and they are destined to live in the immortal undying lands with the Valar (demi-gods) and the elves. Middle Earth was never meant for immortal creatures and spirits because things change too fast and it makes them grow weary of the change.
Didn’t Tolkien point out many times he’s not a fan of allegory & most theories ab how he’s using allegory to represent his military service were not correct or intentional? But yeah it certainly effected the way he wrote whether he did it intentionally or not
@@scotthill1600 Tolkien was against allegory, but favored applicability. You see, the concepts of the movie are universal. Yes, it could be applied to WWI and WW2, but also to so many other things that hurt that deep. I also like this way of thinking about stories and their themes, you use your experience to reach the concept, but then you elevate it so that it is so much more. It is a thing missing in many stories today, specially in Hollywood. If the story is about, for example, a social minority that suffers from oppression, it is much better to elevate it so that it applies to any social minority fighting oppression, not the specific one that inspired the story. Those written this way will outlive our specific problem because the underlying problem will outlive us all.
That's such an incredible scene there when Frodo wakes up after he got rescued him from Mount Doom. Gandalf (who he though was dead), the hobbits, the entire Fellowship walking in. Laughing, telling stories, fun & cheering. And then that little moment he shares with Sam: No talking, just looking. Only they know what really happened. Frodo wouldn't have made it without Sam. And yet Sam stays quiet & lets Frodo get all the praise. That is so powerful.
Watching reaction videos for LotR is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. I loved seeing you walk through the whole trilogy. On a more practical note: your editing was fantastic. I know a lot has to get cut out, but it really felt like I watched the whole thing with you guys because it flowed so well. Good job!
I liked seeing Frodo truly smile at the end. It took me back to the Frodo we met when the movie first started and reassured me that he would be able to be happy and at peace where he was going.
41:30 Smeagol swore an oath on the precious (a fundamentally evil and treacherous item), that's partly why it was his undoing. In Tolkien's world, oaths have power (vis-a-vis the dead army that were aothbreakers)
Even if Denethor (Father of Boromir and Faramir) is portrayed very differently in the books, I always loved how Peter Jackson compared him with Théoden. I had the luck to rewatch this masterpiece in cinema again, and after Théoden's death it was a massive crying session for the rest of the movie. This story has been my favourite since I was 6. You'll definetely have to rewatch it someday!
I love the shot of the 4 hobbits toasting after their return to the Shire because it makes me think of war veterans after they return home; everything is just the same as how they left it but they themselves have been changed by their experiences. It is very different from what Tolkien did for the hobbits' return but I think he would appreciate this take on it as well being a WWI veteran himself.
I remember how tremendous the first movie was when it came out. We waited a year between each movie and became so attached to the characters and story. Hard to hold back the tears as the story ties all loose ends and draws to a close after such an epic adventure. I remember leaving the theater after this last movie ended just in awe of what we had experienced. it tugs at the heartstrings and there are so many lessons and wisdom for life in these stories. Thanks for sharing your reaction with us...thoroughly enjoyed re-watching it through your eyes.
Really nice sentiment from you at the end there when you talked about part of it’s appeal being adventure and how people have traded adventure for security. I never really thought of the vicarious nature of these movies like that; it’s an extremely nice thought and makes me wanna have a little adventure of my own.
I thought she was his daughter for many years, but recently I've come to realize that she is actually Theoden's niece. Also Gandalf was resurrected by the God of this world to fulfill a number of tasks. Gandalf completed them and so now his time in the world is over
Every year on the anniversary of when he was stabbed by the Ringwraith and stung by the Spider, the wounds would flare up and cause him pain for days. Add to that the weight of carrying the ring had left a mark on Frodo that would never go away. The only way for him to know peace and finally heal was for him to take the boat to Undying Lands and be healed there. Tolkien (the author of Lord of the Rings) used this own life experiences when he went to War during WW1. He and his friends went and fought and of those who returned, they were never the same. I'm so glad you both enjoyed these movies and your reactions were great. Now like many of us, a part of you will always remain in Middle Earth, the people, places, adventures are now a part of you always. And that's a wonderful thing. Wish you both the very best!
One of my favorite stories of the aftermath is that of Gimli and Legolas. Stories of how, together they helped rebuild Minas Tirith and create new Dwarves colonies show how their adventures helped them surpass years of cultural differences. And then when Legolas sails he takes Gimli with him, making his companion the sole representative of the Dwarfs on Aman.
One of several things from the books is that after living a long life, becoming a father and grandfather, Sam also took a ship to Valinor. The elves sent one back for him when his time came because however briefly, Sam was also a Ringbearer. Another thing I liked in the books is that Legolas and Gimli became such good friends, that when Legolas finally left Middle Earth, Gimli went with him. The only dwarf ever given a place in the Undying Lands. 😊
I was just rewatching your reaction to this awesome movie and scrolling through the comments and I realized you're answering to comments made 40 minutes ago !!! I hope you understand how awesome is that❤ please never change 👍
"we have traded adventure for security" what a line.. im taking it. Loved every munite of watching this reaction,. Im pleased that you took the time to share this with us. You were right, Frodo was too broken to stay in middle earth. DID YOU SEE GANDALF'S RING AT THE END? 😊
Peter Jackson (and gang) absolute genius in adaptation of this story to the screen. How everyrhing came together, almost magical. The music by Howard Shore and how it is used, every actor and all who worked on it. Tolkien's vision still being felt today, we are enriched by.
The reason that Gandalf is overwhelmed by the Witch-Kings magic, is that all the Nazguls strength is increasing dramatically from all the fear that surrounds them in the city. And also their strength is highest at midnight, which in the books is the time where Gandalf confronts him. He has been waiting to confront Gandalf at this very hour. Hoping ofcourse it would be enough to break Gandalf. In the books it ends in kind of a stalemate, before they are interrupted by Gondor, but in the movies, they have chosen to show that the Witch King had the upper hand.
As I always tell you guys. Your work, your editing, your passion for these honest reactions, your attention to detail is so good guys. and I thank you very much for the great effort you give us here on RUclips. Thanks, as always. I hope that your next triology is the prequel to this work of art. The Hobbit Triology. You guys won't regret it. Hugs as always and now on the wait for Marvel Monday! Keep it on ma boas🇵🇷
@@TheOctobersReactThs Hobbit was written first, as a children's book, and is much more light hearted. So the Hobbit Movies are also more light hearted. There are things that appear in the movie of thd The Hobbit that are not in the book, except they are, they're part of the back story of the Hobbit that appear in the book appendices of The Return of the King, and were used in The Hobbit. So you have to approach the Hobbit as being a lighter movie. Except for one point. You're back in Middle Earth when you watch it... And that's worth every moment! So hope you guys watch them!
@@dareiousmiller8179 I am another apparently rare LOTR fan who will also say, yes, do watch The Hobbit! I understand the problems people have with the movies; Jackson himself didn't want to do a trilogy (while I always thought that it needed more than 1 movie to tell; I agree that 2 movies would have been the best approach). But the cast is absolutely first rate, they do a tremendous job making all of the dwarves into vivid individuals (something few other adaptations really accomplish; and even the book doesn't do that much), and I super enjoy Freeman's Bilbo. Also, as you say, the music is still wonderful. I personally can forgive the way the story is expanded, because I enjoyed those performances that much.
another aspect of Frodo leaving that people don’t touch on as much is the shame he feels, because he ultimately failed and succumbed to the Ring. this is in addition to his physical wound that can never heal, and his spiritual wound of bearing the Ring. you nailed it on the head comparing it to drug addiction. he can never be free of his desire for the Ring while he remains in Middle Earth. and likewise, it’s hard for him to return to The Shire and all his friends when he knows he ultimately betrayed them and had every desire to keep the Ring for himself. leaving for Valinor was the answer. there, he can heal physically and spiritually, and not feel ashamed. the Ring’s power does not reach the Undying Lands.
So with Eowyn, they didn't really explain it well what happens. In the books there is a myth or whatever that the hands of the "The King", the true king, are the hands of healing. So he actually spends quite a bit of time in the houses of healing just tending to as many people as possible. He brings Eowyn back from the brink of death and many others. So no man could kill the witch king, but since Eowyn wasn't a man that was a great loop hole to take him down, however that doesn't mean she doesn't suffer the consequences of trying to harm him. The hobbits are crying, you're crying, we're crying re-watching this and watching ya'll cry. This is just peak story telling.
The whole “no man thing” isn’t the full reason. Yes she’s a woman, but merry stabbing him with that specific dagger is what does it. That dagger was made to penetrate the defenses of a Nazgûl. But still technically correct cause merry also not a man but a hobbit
@@marcushankins8171 Man, can you imagine how long and how many films it would take to REALLY do this story? We'd have spent 15 hours just getting to Bree. lol. And I would happily watch the whole damn thing. That whole sequence in the Barrowdowns after Bombadil where he gives them the blades, explanations about Angmar and the battles there. Though you do briefly get a tiny bit of that in The Hobbit trilogy. The amount of depth to this world it's a serious miracle that Peter, Fran and Philippa were able to focus it and remove all the other stuff to just focus on the ring and it's journey to destruction.
The biggest misconception is that the Witch-King died because Eowyn was a woman. Absolutely ridiculous. The "No Man can kill me" clearly refers to the race of Men, humans. The reason he died was because of Merry stabbing him with that dagger (Barrow-blade) which it is not explained in the movies. In the books 4 daggers like this are given to the 4 hobbits by Tom Bombadil and they were made in the third age by the Dunedain smiths for the wars with Angmar and had the power to penetrate the Nazgul's defences (one of the few weapons that could do that)
it wasn't that no man CAN kill the witch king, it's no man WOULD kill the witch king but after so long, the witch king and most others misinterpreted it as no man can kill him. if it wasn't for merry stabbing the witch king with that specific blade he has, the witch king would've won that battle
As someone who fought in war for 4 years, I can say that the PTSD, post-journey stuff is all very accurate. You fight to get back to the life you left behind, but when you finally get back, you discover it isn't there anymore. The people you used to call friends have wives and kids, and they'll never understand what you went through. And you do the things you used to enjoy, but you're just going through the motions. You feel numb and empty. It's not until you accept it and start a new life that you truly heal. And that's what Frodo does. He knows there's nothing left for him in the Shire. And the sight of Sam probably reminds him of what he went through. So he starts a new life. Tolkien understood.
Very epic trilogy! We were all obsessed when it came out, buying all the dvd's finding out every detail about the making. I saw the last two in theaters, the theater was soooo packed for The Two Towers, my in laws had to sit on the floor with many others. Lord of The Rings took us all over for years and still makes me cry at the end. Thanks for the reaction guys.
Like literally a global phenomenon. They did the premier for Return of the King on Wellington New Zealand and they renamed it to Middle Earth by official declaration for the day. The red carpet went for like a mile. The crowds in the streets were insane. They built HUGE models of the Nazgul to hang in the airport and a massive Golumn on the theater facade. New Zealand Airlines repainted their planes with images of the characters. It was nuts. The books are so beloved by so many for decades and decades all over the world.
Sam became Mayor of Hobbbiton for many many years and had many children. When he was a good old age, Rosie passed away and Sam was taken to the Undying Lands as well since he had also been a ringbearer.
With the advancements in cgi, it is unlikely that any movie in the future will be made the way these movies were. They are an epic, once in a lifetime adventure for all who helped make them and everyone who watches them. It was a blessing to watch you both share the experience together...
The description Gandalf gives Pippin about seeing "white shores and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise" is the view Frodo has as the ship approaches the Undying Lands.
In defence of Denethor, he'd had a palanthir (the bowling ball thingy!) for many years, just as Saruman had. Like Saruman, therefore, he'd had Sauron in his head, corrupting his thoughts and driving him mad, persuading him that death and defeat were inevitable. Yeah, that's all I got. He's still an ass!
39:02 That far away "Shire-like" melody gives me the most insane chills. Amidst all this cruelty and darkness, Frodo remembers his home and perseveres... Wow
Wonderful trilogy. Best acting, story, cinematography, music. It had it all. Frodo still had pain from the stab wound. Too much pain for him so I was glad he could go with the elves and be free of the pain that plagued him. We all cried at the end too and we had to wait a year before we could see each movie. Good reactions!
Lord of the Rings funfact, if you find it interesting. In the "For Frodo" scene, as Aragorn starts to run, the choir singing isn't singing randomly to fit the tune. It's actually elvish, and this is the lyrics: Ae na guil nín egor na ngurth nín - If by my life or death Gerin le beriad - I can protect you, Le beriathon - I will Le annon vegil nín - I give you my sword Cyll e-Gorv - Ringbearer, Le annon beth nín - I give you my word Ú-erir aen han risto - It cannot be broken Ú-erir aen han presto - Nor turned aside, Rúvo i rym - Let the horns sound, I aur hen ú bant! - This day is not done! Isto Mordor han - Let Mordor know this: Elessar! Elessar! Tellin i Chîr Gondor! - The Lords of Gondor have come So basicly, the choir is singing the lines Aragorn said to Frodo during the "you have my sword" scene in the first movie
Man, you guys are really great. Y'all approached these reactions with a lot of heart and it does these movies so much justice. Sometimes I think about my top 5 fav movies of all time and this trilogy shares the top spot, because its just that good. The story, the casting, the sets, the acting, the costumes, the makeup - it's such an incredible aligning of the stars and as a movie lover, I'm so happy I got to grow up with it in my life. SUBBED! And sidenote: Mr. October, be proud you have a lady to wipe your tears king! Be strengthened by the knowledge that your lady will take care of you when you need it most!
Peter Jackson made a mistake in not explaining why Merry's dagger was so devastating against the Witch-King: it had been enchanted with spells against him centuries before and was now the most potent weapon on the battlefield. That's why Eowyn was able to finish him off but even so she would have died from the shock without Aragorn's powers of healing.
Frodo ended up leaving for the undying lands because he would still have periods where he would become extremely ill, during which Sam and Rosie would have to take care of him and Frodo didn't want to be a burden to his friend. There were also beings in the undying lands who were able to heal Frodo's long term injuries from bearing the ring.
I like the end when Frodo steps on the boat his complexion clears and wounds heal and he looks happy , and the nod to the boys that he was back to his old self, that’s how I took it anyway and that music! Thanks that was an excellent reaction , enjoyed very much
53:02 The Ring does poison you for life, which is one of the big reasons that Frodo left at the end. He would never have real peace or happiness in Middle Earth anymore.
I cried watching the last two scenes, as I normally do, but seeing your reactions also had a huge part in it this time around. It broke me even more. Honest reactions from the heart and seeing people be genuinely moved is a truly beautiful thing. Thank you!
Eowyn: " I will KILL YOU if you touch him!" Lord of the Nazgul: " Do not come between the Nazgul and his preyyyy" Eowyn: **proceeds to cut head off** "I.👏🏽 SAID. 👏🏽 WHAT. 👏🏽 THE. 👏🏽 F*CK. 👏🏽 I. 👏🏽 SAID. 👏🏽 And the swell of the music as Theoden finishes his speech ALWAYS gives me goosebumps and makes me emotional. I saw this movie in the theater when it came out, I own it on DVD, AND it's in my Google TV AND my MAX on both my phone and IPad; I've watched the entire series, but especially this movie, more times than I can count, and I. STILL. CRY. EVERY. TIME. As others have said, The Hobbit trilogy is okay, but honestly, to me there is nothing is as epic as this masterpiece. Storytelling, world building, languages, cinematography, production, score, character and costume design--- NOTHING touches it. You should watch the Behind the scenes/making of the movies, you would really enjoy them and appreciate the work that went into it. Truly a labor of love by all.❤
Just in case you want to know what happened to the mains afterwards: - After their children are grown and their wives pass, Merry & Pippin go to Gondor before they die and are buried next to Aragorn - Sam goes to the Undying Lands too, being granted passage having been a Ring bearer for a time and we can assume is reunited with Frodo - Faramir & Eowyn marry and are made Prince & Princess of Ithilien (the lands where we first meet Faramir) - Legolas & Gimli stay together and travel middle earth before taking to the sea. Gimli is the only dwarf to ever be granted passage to Valinor
This was such a pleasure to watch with you! Here I am, late for my workout and in tears because I couldn't wait to finish watching your reaction. I remember seeing this in the theater 20 years ago... just an incredible experience.
47:30 It's important to know that no one could willingly destroy the ring, it was created by a Sauron, a Maiar (angel-like spirit) who is a creature of greater power than any man, dwarf or elf. Only through the subtle hand of Eru (God of Tolkien's world) was the ring destroyed :)
Is Sauron more powerful than Gandalf the white? With the ring I feel like he’d have to be, if he had his body without the ring idk who’d be stronger (Ik that’s not how it works but)
@@scotthill1600I'm not much of a lore guy but I assume Gandalf taking a corporal form made him weaker, he's supposed to be an angel of sorts (apparently, I can't confirm).
@@scotthill1600 Ultimately Gandalf is more powerful because he is acting on the side of Eru (God of Tolkien's world) and Eru already has everything planned out so that good may win. But putting that aside: Sauron, Gandalf, the balrog, Saruman are all Maiar so they all have more or less similar power and are comparable to angels. Sauron concentrated some of his spirit (his "Faea") into the one ring, so he gained worldly power in some sense and anchored his essence into the world but lost power in other ways (he used to be able to shapeshift and has known to take a "fair" form, that of a vampire, that of a werewolf). While the one ring exists, Sauron can't really die and is tied to Arda, In the books when Saruman and Sauron die (after the ring is destroyed), they become these huge clouds that look West for a moment, because (as immortals) they would normally reincarnate in the undying lands, but the King of the Valar rejects them and disperses their spirits away with a gust of wind.
@@GoldenLeafsMovies He was on of the 5 Maiar chosen to be the Istari (Wizards). Part of the conditions for their mission was to go as guides, so the free people can defeat evil themselves. They've essentially been told not to use their power, so it's rarely seen. In the overall lore, Maiar can't just use magic /miracles inconsequentially because it takes some of their finite power, the reason Sauron never grew his ring finger back is because he only has finite power and he'd already poured so much of it into the ring, before that he could shapeshift
Time and time again Tolkien proves that certain stories are timeless. And the fact that Jackson managed to mirror that in movies...the greatest movies, timeless and I love seeing new people be witness to it. AMAZING reaction. Glad I found it!
I totally burst out laughing at your Spider reaction! In the parody novel (Bored of the Rings), Galadriel's gift to Sam/Spam is a can of insect repellent 🤣🤣 It does indeed come in handy later!!
It kind of is since it’s the light of Eärendil himself ontop of the fact he wears one of the silmarils upon his brow and Galadriel forged a less perilous version of a silmaril-esque artifact powerful enough to blind and harm the daughter of Ungoliant which is Shelob. Both frick terrors. Not even demons. Far older! !
So, annually my son and I have been watching this trilogy for 11 yrs together and I still love it so much. He's 17 now. Saw all of them in the theater with my brother. I've been watching them since they came out on DVD and Blue Ray. Started the extended version a few Yeats ago and it makes for a very long day. I still love it so much. Even after all that, I'll still watch the end credits too with Anne Lennox singing "Into the West." The greatest trilogy ever and I'm a Star Wars fan but still say this is the best. There is so much to geek out with this story with all of Tolkien's writings.
Tolkien himself said "Samwise Gamgee is the hero of the story." The ring slowly ate away at Frodo/Bilbo over years. Sam was literally the only one the ring had Zero Effect on!
The ring tries to corrupt Sam by showing him a world that is a beautiful garden, with him in charge of it. Sam pretty much says "That's silly" and shakes it off.
@@Herr_Schindler Frodo had the Ring from 33 to 51, so he bore its evil for 18 years--but the closer he brought it to Mount Doom, the more it weighed on his soul, so it had a deeper effect on him.
These movies hold such a special place in so many people's hearts. The Ride of The Rohirrim is honestly i think one of the best scenes in cinema history
Eowyn constantly talks about the importance of sharpening your sword, and then she takes the head off of a Fell-Beast in 2 swings. Don't forget to sharpen your swords, folks.
So glad someone actually picked up on the fact that the ring is physically heavy and it's pulling Frodo down by the neck. I've seen many reactions and you guys are one of the few to actually notice that. Nice.
What you have to remember is Tolkien fought on the western front in the first world, the young men who fought that war never forgot the horrors of war. Frodo crippled by the war
The history of the world is filled with men who were broken by the countless wars that have been waged. Tolkien served in WW1, one of his sons in WW2, but The Lord of the Rings gets across how war can leave scars that never heal.
Aww Mr. October shedding some tears. Don’t worry as LOTR fans we’ve all been there! ❤ Hands down one of the best trilogies of all time. Another favorite is the ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ trilogy. Maybe you’ll check it out if you haven’t already.
"Gandalf saw the fabric of the universe and still cant believe his eyes" ... Ive seen like 150 people react to these movies and that was the best comment ever :D XD
You're exactly right, the wound Frodo took from the Morgul blade could never truly heal & he would have suffered excruciating pain for the rest of his life. By sailing to Valinor (a magic island that is basically Heaven) with the elves he would be able to find some peace. More than that though, anyone who ever bore a ring of power needed to leave Middle Earth, so that the power of the rings could finally, truly be broken. So as an addendum, you might like to know that Samwise would go on to become the Mayor of Hobbiton (re-elected on three occasions) & have a long, happy life. After his wife passed (in her 90s), Samwise left the Red Book to his daughter & reportedly built a ship to sail into the West, as he too had once briefly been a ring bearer. This was also the final fate of Gimli & Legolas. After going on an extended bro's vacation around Middle Earth, Legolas heard "the call of the sea" & sailed west to Valinor but it's known he took Gimli with him #EternalBros
I always understood their return to the shire to be symbolic of literal soldiers returning from war. The other hobbits don't really understand what they've been through.They somberly drink together at the bar, communicating with their eyes in ways only they can. Eventually one of them cant deal with the pain of the past trauma and chooses to "go west", which has for a long time been a euphemism for dying. Tolkein being a world war veteran himself put a lot of his own experiences and emotions into the story and I think that is part of the beauty of it.
I'm new to your channel, but Ive taken the journey with you through this trilogy, and it's been an absolute pleasure. These films have been such an important piece of my life since they were first produced. I'm thanked in the credits of all three films, Ive seen each of them dozens of times, I have all of Tolkien's books, rare signed merchandise, artwork, all manner of things... I've been invested in these books and films for decades, and yet...you managed to help me see them through fresh eyes, with your own views, and for that, I give huge thanks. It's always great to see new people take this story into their hearts, and you both did it with passion, warmth and wit. Brilliant.
The scenes with them all crying was not movie tears. The trilogy was over and they were going their separate ways. It is very emotional and I can see why It won best picture.
I hate to burst you bubble but apparently that ending was actually the first scene Ian filmed with all the hobbits, so it wasn't real tears of sadness haha
@@RichardM1366 It's funny because Sir Ian McKellen once joked: "The first scene I ever did in Lord of the Rings was Gandalf saying goodbye to the hobbits, and I'd never even met them before."
Great reaction guys. I'm so happy that you enjoyed this amazing film. One thing I'll say is that Frodo didn't leave Middle Earth out of a sense of adventure. He was injured, poisoned and haunted by his experiences with the Ring. He could not find peace or even physical well-being in Middle Earth. Travelling across the sea to the "undying lands" of the Elves offered him a chance to truly rest and enjoy his remaining years.
Still makes me cry to this day after 20 years. No one would have been able to destroy the ring out of their own Will. It was amazing that Frodo even got it that far. Frodo’s decision to pity Gollum and let him live was the right decision in the end. Rip Theoden.
yes absolutely it all made sense in the end. gollum was necessary!
Having Aragorn & ewoyn as king & queen, both in happy relationships with strong partners. That’s a powerhouse alliance
Well technically it was pity of Bilbo, then Aragorn, then Gandalf, then forest Elf king and then Frodo (in this order). And theoretically of Sauron too - because he did not kileld him when he catch Golum. But in this case it was not pity, but torture - he wants to Golumn suffer for ring rather than simply kill him.
True; which is why Jackson's version of the back story kind of slanders Isildur and, by implication, the 'race of Men'. Sorry, Elrond, but you couldn't have thrown it in the fire either. The idea that 'men are weak' and 'Isildur's weakness flows in my veins' is entirely a Jackson invention.
@@nalim27 And, critically, in the book, Sam, who spared Gollum on the slopes of Mount Doom:
It would be just to slay this treacherous, murderous creature, just and many times deserved; and also it seemed the only safe thing to do. But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him: he could not strike this thing lying in the dust, forlorn, ruinous, utterly wretched. He himself, though only for a little while, had borne the Ring, and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum’s shriveled mind and body, enslaved to that Ring, unable to find peace or relief ever in life again. But Sam had no words to express what he felt.
“Oh, curse you, you stinking thing!” he said. “Go away! Be off!”
Everyone says you should find a friend like Sam. And that’s a good idea. But imagine how much better life would be if we all tried to *be* a better friend, like Sam.
If the world was full of Sam's, it would be nirvana and that will never exist.
“That’s for my Old Gaffer” - Sam’s father, Hamfast Gamgee, known in the Shire as the Gaffer.
PS - Frodo leaves for a couple of reasons. As you commented, his wound from the Witch King’s evil blade would not fully heal, and carrying the ring gave him PTSD. Going to Valinor gave him the physical and psychological healing that he could never get in the Shire. But he also left for Sam’s sake. He knew that as long as he remained and suffered in the Shire, Sam would always feel obliged to look after him. As he says during his final monologue to Sam. You cannot always be torn between two. Frodo left so Sam could focus on his family. In the books Sam goes on to become a leader within the Shire, and eventually reunites with Frodo by traveling to Valinor himself.
He goes to Tol Eressea. GNG channel explains in necromancy video how Tolkien stated how if mortals stood upon Aman too long their Fëa spirit would outshine their body in a way they’d eventually become inane monsters. The Hröa and Fëa are very different between men and elves…
@@Makkaru112 Tol Eressea is kind of like the Middle Earth version of the Isle of Mann. Right next to Valinor but not Valinor.
BTW Hamfast means something like "homebody", and Samwise means "half wise", I believe in old English.
Having that ring around his neck for all that time tainted his spirit. You can't have that kind of evil around you and not get damaged from it.
Sam was a ring bearer too if only for a short time, which is why he was allowed to sail to the west after a long, full and happy life.
Legolas was allowed to bring Gimli when he eventually sailed to the west too.
That "You bow for noone" is hands down one of the most emotional moments in movie history.
Agree 100%
i double agree with y’all !!
The honor Aragorn, and all of Middle Earth, paid to the Hobbits always makes me weep. It reminds me of when I came home from war.
When the 4 Hobbits are sitting at the Pub table at the end, they are looking around at how oblivious the Shirefolk are to what they faced, and how no one would understand them. I know that feeling all too well. My brothers and I have been in that situation ourselves. We know what they felt all too familiarly.
I may have seen it a thousand times and cannot hold my tears.
Gets me every time
In defense of Eowyn (top three favorite character for me in the books), she doesn't just rebound to Faramir within the span of a short conversation. Their love story in the books is actually quite sweet.
Faramir actually wrote the tale of Aragorn and Aragorn and we can all listen to one of the greatest men read it aloud to us. ❤️
Plus, no one can really blame Eowyn for crushing so hard on Aragorn. He's the complete package any woman would want.
Though I feel she deserves,- especially the book- Faramir. And he desrves her.
@@Makkaru112 so many times I reread the tale it always saddens me in its ending
I know right. There's not a single woman on this planet who doesn't love him. Not to my knowledge anyway :)= @@morgan4574
The army of Rohan chanting "DEATH!" before charging always always gets to me.
Every time I hear it, I look for a brick wall to run through
Just to clarify for you, Theoden is the uncle, not father, of Eomer and Eowyn who are siblings. I believe that Eomer was unaware that Eowyn was in the battle and thought that she was dead when he found her.
sorry their dynamic is very daughter and father so i forgot my bad!
@@TheOctobersReact oh gosh please don't be sorry, I think that's an easy mistake to make, I watched these long before I read the books and there are still things that I miss. I'm so happy you've enjoyed this journey and shared it with us :)
@sagaciouslass3739 thanks so much it was the best experience we have ever had on our channel.
@@TheOctobersReact there’s a couple of lines spoken by Theoden in The Two Towers where he explains to Aragorn that her parents died and he took her in and tried to treat her as his own daughter, so the dynamic is real. They’re easy to miss though.
@@TheOctobersReact Back with more Rohan backstory:
Théoden's favourite sibling was his youngest sister Théodwyn. She was actually closer in age to his son than to him and he was sort of her 'junior dad' as a kid because their dad was so old by then. After her kids were orphaned, Théoden essentially became a single dad with a blended family: his own biological son (whose mother died in childbirth) and his sister's much younger son and daughter. So on paper he's Éowyn's uncle, but he's also been her adoptive dad since she was about five years old, and because of how the age gap affected his relationship with her mom, she's a bit like his granddaughter too. And of course, she's his strongest link to someone he loved a lot (she's apparently a lot like her mother).
Éomer's been near the front of the line for the kingship since he was born and he's prepared for his (much older) uncle to die eventually, maybe in battle. He's lost a lot: his parents are dead, his cousin/adoptive brother is dead, his uncle/adopted dad has just died too... Éowyn was the only one he had left. And she was supposed to be acting as regent at home, safe away from the worst of the war. She definitely wasn't supposed to appear out of nowhere as a corpse in the middle of battle.
The scream of Eomer's when he found his sister Eowyn on the battle field CHILLED MY BLOOD! Epic scene.
The 4 hobbits sitting silently looking at one another at the inn in the Shire after they returned is a strong metaphor for the camaraderie of soldiers when they return home, and are forever changed, and can't relate to their old lives. Frodo even more reflects the PTSD, physical and spiritual wounds suffered by a soldier, that Tolkien knew well as a WW1 veteran. Frodo was stabbed by a cursed nazgul blade, injured by a spear in Moria, poisoned by a demon spider, and scarred spiritually and physically by the Ring. The only place he could find peace and healing was in the elven homeland across the sea. By the way--the spot on the ship he took was given to him by Queen Arwen, who knew she was staying in Middle-Earth, so she passed it to him, knowing it would help him.
Amen
I've been re-reading it lately, and I see so much more of the Great War than earlier readings (which I first did 45 years ago). Tolkien's own experiences in hospital during the war, the landscape of Mordor, and the Nazgul. . . a shrieking from the sky that terrifies the bravest.
Frodos experience was so intense he could not just go on about his life normally. He didn't tell anyone beforehand, because he knew Sam would never let him go or try to come with, and he wanted him to have a happy life. This is a perfect trilogy, no doubt about it. Love ya'll
From the book:
“Are you in pain, Frodo?' said Gandalf quietly as he rode by Frodo's side.
'Well, yes I am,' said Frodo. 'It is my shoulder. The wound aches, and the memory of darkness is heavy on me. It was a year ago today.'
'Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,' said Gandalf.
'I fear it may be so with mine,' said Frodo. 'There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?'
Gandalf did not answer.
This sums up why Frodo went to the West. It's the elves' homeland and while it's also called the Undying Lands it doesn't bestow immortality on mortal beings, they do find peace and rest there. It's worth mentioning that Sam, when he is very old and after Rosie has passed, hands the book over to his daughter and sails west as the last of the ringbearers. Legolas builds his own ship and takes Gimli west with him when he goes.
And a reflection of the soldiers like Tolkien who returned from the Great War with what we now call PTSD ("Shell shock"). They never talked about their experiences in the War, but some wrote books to get it out of their system. The film portrays this quite well, actually, with only the four friends among all the hobbits able to understand their shared experience of the War of the Ring.
Don’t worry, after Sam’s wife and kids pass on, Sam goes to join Frodo in the undying lands.
@@marybeaird6171 Legolas and Gimli are really true freinds as well. Soooo good
@@Shap0o.PlayZzThey also go to the Undying Lands. Gimli is the only Dwarf ever accorded that honor.
Maybe people should be reminded that this film won 11 Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Director), one of only 3 movies in history to do so. Across all world-wide festivals, it won 215 awards and was nominated for 124 more. It's a masterpiece that still holds up 20 years later.
By the way, a small note: The pirates on the ship were mainly members of the studio crew. The pirate who was hit with the arrow by Legolas was Peter Jackson himself.
Who is loves having cameos in all his films. He's in the 1st as a man in Bree, the one who takes a big bite of carrot as they are walking in in the rain. In the 2nd film he's in the Battle of Helms Deep throwing a rock down on the orcs from the keep. Also, the kid that Aragorn talks to about the sword in before Helm's Deep is his own real life son. Peter Jacksons kids are in all three films as well (1st: Little kids Bilbo is telling stories to at his birthday, 2nd: Kids in the caves at Helm's Deep, 3rd: Pretty sure they are in Gondor as kids). Sam's daughter is the girl he picks up at the very end of the film. It's all just amazing.
Frodo not being able to be healed after his journey is symbolic of PTSD, never being able to be whole again, at the time of it's writing The Lord of the Rings helped explain something that many soldiers couldn't put into words and many of those you know don't and will never quite understand
Yes, remember this book was worked on and written in the 1920s-1950s, they barely had a concept of "Shell Shock" and what it was. And that was almost purely neurological in their eyes, not the more subtle trauma to the core of the person, the emotional toll. Frodo was touched by evil, and Bilbo too. Even though the ring was destroyed they couldn't get away from it and its influence.
@@morgan4574 Yes, just to add. The only way for Frodo to have any peace was to go to Middle Earth's form of heaven. It would never heal him but it would give him peace.
If you read the last paragraph over Frodo's shoulder 52:04, it reads:
"Samwise Gamgee was elected Mayor of Hobbiton, and although it took great courage, he finally asked for the hand of fair Rosie Cotton. It was the bravest thing he ever did."
Honestly makes me tear up every time I read it.
What a wonderful reaction guys, I'm glad you enjoyed the greatest cinematic masterpiece of all time (at least I think so)!
They also had 13 children! Damn!
I've watched these movies at LEAST 100 times, no exaggeration. And every time I read through the comments of these reactions, I learn something new. How I never noticed what the book says is insane. Thank you for sharing that lovely tidbit! Now I gotta go watch!
As Gandalf said "I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil"
I've watched this movies at least 100 times, probably more and seen countless reactions and I still tear up every single time. Truly a masterpiece.
With everything Frodo experience and went through, there simply was no returning to normal...because normal can't be anymore. What alot of people are also missing which i found amazing that Peter did. You can tell from the very moment the ring gets taken away from Frodo a burden is lifted, but what most people miss is also the shame he feels. You can see it so clear at certain times.
You can tell he feels guilt, shame, pain and most of all the feeling of failing his friends who sacrificed and did so much for him to help him get to that point to where he almost failed them all. That failure is translated in his face throughout the ending.
When he hangs on the ledge and Sam tells him to not let go, you can see it in both his eyes and domineer that he is shameful of what he did.
You can see it when he is on the bed and all the others comes to see him, at the end Sam comes in and you see his face change because only Sam knows of his weakness at the end.
For the rest of the movie that he is not happy at all like he used too, because he has to live with that hanging over him.
The 3 times after he is happy is:
When the fellowship greets him in the bed
When Sam gets married
When Frodo steps foot on the ship and can finally start a ''new'' life where he will be able to not have the failure, shame and sense of weakness hanging over him because he can start over.
Ps! Loved your entire reaction to all films. You both seem like very intellectual people who could put dots together where many others are just asking dumb questions at the simplest of things. Well done both of you and to see you both enjoy the movies this much warmed many people heart as these movies and books means so much to many people!
You see these comments a lot im sure. but Ive read LoTR trilogy once a year for over a decade now. Have 4 fantasy books of my own published AND I watch almost everyone's reactions to LoTR.
I can confidently say you guys were some of the most enjoyable. Seeing you guys have the authentic reaction to this trilogy, especially the end, legit made me cry with you. Isn't it all just so meaningful and beautiful? Damn. Life really is beautiful and we should all really look inward and try to live our lives like these heroes.
honestly in the world we live in it’s just wholesome to share a positive and beautiful story with people who also love this. thanks for your kind words ! we appreciate you more than you know for that
@@TheOctobersReact Dude im legit passionate about LoTR and what it stands for. Being a man is compassionate, being a woman is strong. Friendships matter. And above all else, choosing to do good, even when its almost impossible to do, is always the answer.
@NerdyBigBrother what a great comment. bc 100% you’re not wrong.
Only one thing that bugs me in this nearly flawless movie, the troll's spear could not pierce Bilbo's Mithril shirt, but Shelob's stinger could???
@@SusanHeaton Good catch. I guess Shelob is descendent of an evil the nearly destroyed Morgth ocne.
“I don’t know what tops this”
Us: Nothing. Nothing will ever top this.
agreed i think we will be waiting for an eternity to see something better
Aragorn is the only character to ever have me question my sexuality, but finally realized what folks jokingly referred to as a man crush. That dude is a great illustration of masculinity, a killer but kind, talented tracker that can recite poetry, a selfless natural leader, warrior but a talented healer rivaling even the elves. And lastly can be the manliest dude in the realm even when showered in rose petals and singing........smh
the ultimate hero
Denethor had his own Palantir, and thought he could use it to survey the kingdom in spite of knowing Sauron also had one. But Sauron secretly eavesdropped on him and caused him to see lies in it, convinced him there was no possibility for victory or even survival, and it drove him mad with despair.
Also, Aragorn used the same Palantir that Pippin looked into; Sauron had seen Pippin and thought he had the Ring; thus, Sauron now thought that Aragorn had the Palantir (and therefore had the hobbit (and therefore had the Ring)) and was challenging him. *That* is why he took the bait.
The fact that Legolas takes Gimli to the Undying Lands with him as the only dwarf ever to go there is sweet, and the fact that Frodo and Samwise meet in the Undying lands again when they're old is also very bittersweet.
Samwise went aswell???
@@obsidious9809 In the future he did, when he was much older.
@@gamertelt9841 omg I'm so happy to hear this. Thank you 😫😭
@@obsidious9809 Yep! Once his children have grown up and his wife passed, he went with :)
FYI: Arwen yes is mortal, but because of her Elvish blood she lived MANY life times past Aragorns death. Aragorn married her when he was 87 and her like 2000ish, and he died at the age of 210. She then went to Lothlorien (even though Galadriel and all the elves had left and the forest was fading) and laid down on the hill where her and Aragorn had first met, and there she remained, fading the years of her life away with the fading forest.
I thought she died a year after Aragorn due to a broken heart?
@@ragmuth7623 nope. If you read the appendices at the end of Return of the King, Tolkien writes it almost exactly how i commented here. It was her choice to choose being mortal but it seems she was the longest lived out of the few people that were "half/part" elven.
In Tolkiens lore, the sons of Elwing (Elrond and Elros) were allowed the choice by the Valar to choose whether to take on the life of the elves or become mortal and take the life of men.
Elrond chose the elves, but Elros chose man and he became the King of Numenor, he lived to about 500 years old after ruling for 410 years.
But because Elrond chose the Elves, his children were also allowed the choice of becoming mortal, but once that choice is made, you cannot back out and choose immortality again.
This seems to be why Arwen lived far longer after her mortal choice then others. She made her choice close to when she was 2500 years old already, so the Light of the Eldar had a long time to effect her. Then she chose mortality.
The way Tolkien writes it, yes she loses the will for anything on the mortal world.....but that doesn't mean she died. He writes it as though she awaits her death in the one place she felt closest to Aragorn.
@@carthos4402ah ok, got it, thank you :D
@@ragmuth7623 you are very welcome 😁 its a amazingly beautiful story, very similar though in sadness to Beren and Luthien.
“My friends, you bow to no one.” is still a powerful line that makes me cry!
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.
The guy could write, ya know?
Exactly! and to have the characters and histories unfolded as the book went on, so you knew exactly what you needed to know to understand, yet know little enough to keep you reading - TLOTR is a masterclass in storytelling.
This right here and when Eowyn faces the Witch King are my favorite parts of the book!
You can find here on RUclips a recording of Tolkien himself reading the Charge of Theoden. Stunning.
@@gmansard641 oh thanks!!! I had no idea!!
Hey guys. Just want to remind you that you both wanted Grima Wormtongue and Gollum killed immediately. By allowing them to live one of them killed Saruman and the other actually destroyed the ring. A major point throughout the book was showing pity to others and in the end it paid off.
It was the inclination to recognize the same struggle and evil within himself and thus not put himself in a position of judgement over Gollum that was precisely why Frodo was so able to resist the ring. He recognized the same struggle within himself and so could not judge another for the same. It was this honesty and meekness that was both the reason for his desire for Gollum's redemption and for his resistance to the arrogant pride that says; "I deserve this power. I deserve to be the one in control of others."
Mithrandir foreshadowed in to Frodo back in Moria (FOTR) when he told him that Gollum had some part to play in destroying the Ring. 😱
We enjoyed this so much ya'll! Thanks for rocking with us! Drop your favorite quote or part so we can share more about this amazing trilogy!
Make sure you watch part 1!
Thanks for your support and thanks for watching!
www.patreon.com/theoctobers
In the books there is beautiful line that I feel encapsulates the trilogy (in The Two Towers) : 'Strange powers have our enemies, and strange weaknessess!' said Théoden. 'But it has long been said: oft evil will shall evil mar.'
It was malice that sent the ring into the fire.
@mojobag01 good quotes i love them! 😊
Perhaps a bit cheesy, but I love Sam’s “I’m back” at the end. It’s such a simple yet hopeful message. Frodo, like so many soldiers after WW1, could not truly go back to his home and feel at peace (for a better look at how actual veterans of the Great War felt when coming home, I suggest the book All Quiet on the Western Front, or its older movie adaptations); he never really came back. The horrors of war and the influence of the Ring yet lingered too strongly. Sam, however, was able to find peace eventually, free from the darkness Frodo couldn’t escape. Our hero got the happy ending he deserved, made all the more melancholic (both for us and for him) by the fact that it was smg his best friend could never know, not at home in the Shire anyway.
@@mojobag01evil always destroys itself in real life too; it’s always down to how much good it takes with it on the way down.
Sam’s whole monologue at the end of Two Towers tops everything, for me, but also Gandalf’s “I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm” to Grima, and Théoden’s rallying speech before they charge into the side of the orcs.
Without a doubt this is one of the best conclusion to any movie series! The action and escalation is amazing, the payoff satisfying, the music beautiful! This is an incredible end to an epic journey!
you are not wrong at all!
Tolkien was a ww1 vet so the ending really is all about the experience he had coming home from war and how those wounds never heal and them sitting in the bar just drinking and everyone around has no idea what they've been through and life is normal for everybody else thanks to them humbly, it's really powerful stuff. I'm a marine vet so I connect with that stuff a lot, I cry everytime I watch this trilogy which is often lol.
❤
I have often thought this. . . Tolkien survived the War, then spent the rest of his life creating an imaginary world outside the 20th century.
It was a positive response to a horrific experience. Think of the joy he has brought to the millions of us who adore his creation.
In contrast, across from him in the opposing trenches was another guy who took his wartime experiences and started another war that was even worse.
This movie is tied for the most Oscars won with Ben-Hur in 1959. It was a clean sweep . It won 11 Oscars out of 11 nominations. So actual movie royalty. The soundtrack was one of the Oscars.
The film also tied with Titanic in how many Oscars it won. Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Return of the King to this date are the only films to win 11 Academy Awards.
@@matthewpulido7912 - Titanic's tacked-on "story" was horrible though; no one *wants* to remember it being placed on the same level as Ben-Hur. (Ok, maaaaybe that's a bit harsh, even for a tongue-in-cheek jab at the movie, but I stand by the sentiment.)
@@rodjacksonxDude no need to act obnoxious, Matthew was pointing out that Titanic was another film that won 11 Oscars including Best Picture tying with _Ben-Hur_ and _Return of the King_
@@EChacon - Sorry, it's been a reflex for years. TDS (Titanic Derangement Syndrome.)
Not covered in the movies, but the Ring Wraths had the ability to render people unconscious with a sickness. In the books, that is what happens to Eowyn. Also, in the book, Shire was well aware of their accomplishments in the end. The movie completely omitted a chapter called The Scouring of the Shire because it didn't flow with the movie they were writing.
Merry, Pippin, and Sam were seen as heroes by the hobbits of the Shire, but they kind of ignored Frodo. They didn't understand all that business with the ring. The book Frodo wrote was in a museum, but it wasn't given any attention.
yeah scouring of the shire is awesome in the books but wouldnt have worked in cinema in any way i think
It's known as the Black Breath, a debilitating and crippling miasma that lashes out at anyone who strikes at a Nazgul.
@@bartsimpson6708agreed.
@@lordmortarius538 In the book it is also stated that any weapon that strikes a nazgul withers and corrodes--thus Frodo's barrow blade withers away after he stabs the Lord of the Nazgul's foot on Weathertop, Merry's barrow blade does the same when he stabs the Lord of the Nazgul in the back of the knee at Minas Tirith, and Eowyn's sword shatters when she stabs him in the face. It also renders the sword-arm numb and lifeless, too, so...Eowyn's shield-arm was broken by the Witch-King's mace, and her sword arm was insensate from her killing blow. She was also suffering from depression over Aragorn's rejection and wanting to die in glory on the battlefield. Aragorn's skill at healing brought her back physically, but it was her choice to become a healer and fall in love with Faramir that totally brought her back mentally and spiritually.
Frodo leaving at the end was even more heartbreaking when you know the context. That ship is taking them to the Undying Lands, basically Elf Heaven, the afterlife. J.R.R. Tolkien was deeply inspired by some of his own experiences in the trenches of World War 1, and this is one of them. Frodo is too traumatized by what he went through, what the Ring put him through. Like many, many war veterans throughout history, he was never able to make peace with that trauma, and he has chosen to go on to the afterlife rather than live with the pain any longer. HIs friends are not just crying because their friend is leaving, but because in a very real way their friend chose to end his own life.
Im going to agree with you here but also disagree with you on some nuance. He ended his 'mortal life'(all things are mortal...some lives just go on for so long its practically not worth talking about).
While Valinor is a kind if Elf Heaven or Summerland, its more of a Land of the Gods. Its closer to a kind of Ascension. Frodos consciousness as Frodo did not end, it merely continued in a different kind of way.
I say all of this because the Undying Lands isnt a realm of death like the Elysian Fields from Greek Myth would be. It is more like if the Garden of Eden and Purgatory were the same thing, a land of Peace and Plenty, Milk and Honey. The elves reside there until the creator has deemed that the song of the world has come to an end. At that time, the Elves who are intrinsically tied to that incarnation of the world, will end, each of their souls becoming the song notes or stardust that the new world will be made of. They will be the stuff of creation.
But Men or Mankind will in a way see a different end - one that is a kind of continuance. I assume this is also the fate of Hobbits.
Therefore, I would say that Frodo's life never truly ended at all.
@@thedappermagician6905 He would die faster in the undying lands.
"And were you so to voyage that escaping all deceits and snares you came indeed to Aman, the Blessed Realm, little would it profit you. For it is not the land of Manwe that makes its people deathless, but the Deathless that dwell therein have hallowed the land; and there you would but wither and grow weary sooner, as months in a light too strong and steadfast."
But mortal men have their souls continue the journey once they die while elves are stuck there.
Frodo lives!
@@josephcampbell2400 And so does Pennywise.
Er...Shelob I mean
@@ildarion3367 Depends if youre in the land of Valinor proper (lands surrounding the remains of the great lamps) or in the port city which is how I read it similar to the land of Numenor
Just in case I didn’t say this before yet for you guys: Galadriel intentionally matched Arwen & Aragorn together while they were both visiting in Lothlorien!
Arwen & Aragorn met in Rivendell, & that is where Aragorn fell in love with her, although it doesn’t sound like she felt the same at the time. Aragorn’s mother Gilraen warned him that he was aiming too high, and Elrond was not happy about it either, and Aragorn took heed of this and left Rivendell, to learn how to be a Ranger and to oppose Sauron’s forces.
Many years later, he came to Lothlorien, seeking rest and shelter, and Galadriel allowed him to enter. We have this line in the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen:
‘But Aragorn was grown to full stature of body and mind, and Galadriel bade him cast aside his wayworn raiment, and she clothed him in silver and white, with a cloak of elven-grey and a bright gem on his brow. Then more than any kind of Men he appeared, and seemed rather an Elf-lord from the Isles of the West. And thus it was that Arwen first beheld him again after their long parting; and as he came walking towards her under the trees of Caras Galadhon laden with flowers of gold, her choice was made and her doom appointed.’ LOTR Appendices.
To me, that makes it rather explicit that Galadriel wanted Aragorn to appear at his best. Why? Who could he possibly impress in Lothlorien, except for Galadriel’s grand-daughter? I think it is quite clear that she wanted them matched, and perhaps her foresight told her that they needed to be matched, as it was part of destiny, to begin the Dominion of Men (something Elrond probably also realised, but couldn’t willingly promote, since it would mean Arwen and Elrond would be parted forever).
Plus there is the scene in Lorien, where Galadriel gives Aragorn the Elessar, which went from Galadriel to Celebrian to Arwen and then back to Galadriel in order that she give it as a gift to Aragorn. Again it speaks to me as a collaborative act, and part of Galadriel helping bring the two together:
And Aragorn answered: “Lady, you know all my desire, and long held in keeping the only treasure that I seek. Yet it is not yours to give me, even if you would; and only through darkness shall I come to it.”
“Yet maybe this will lighten your heart,' said Galadriel; for it was left in my care to be given to you, should you pass through this land.” Then she lifted from her lap a great stone of a clear green, set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings; and as she held it up the gem flashed like the sun shining through the leaves of spring.
“This stone I gave to Celebrían my daughter, and she to hers; and now it comes to you as a token of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!” From LOTR FOTR BOOK
You forgot the bit about Aragorn and Arwen being related to each other. I don't recall the genealogy tree exactly, but I think Elrond and Aragorn's great, great, great, great, great grandfather were brothers. So Elrond is his great, great, great, great, great uncle.
@@Leekle2ManE to be fair there are like 6000 years of "greats" 😂 Any blood they shared can be considered gone for long haha
@@MayLina Yeah, I know. And after posting that I went looking for family tree charts and there seems to be some variation depending on who did the chart, but it looks like it was Elrond's father who was brother to Aragorn's ancestor, hence the Numenorians' longer lifespan. On Aragorn's side, there's several generations of separation from the brothers, on Arwen's side, not so much.
@@Leekle2ManE as far as I know it was Elrond's twin brother Elros who chose mortality and became the first king of Numenor, so you were right the first time, Elrond is Aragorn's great great ... great uncle
@@Leekle2ManE that's why Arwen's decision is so painful to him too, he already lost his twin brother this way thousands years ago, now he has to let go of his daughter the same way
the line when Samwise said to Frodo : I can't carry it for you but I can carry you......always hits me hard. what a true friend Sam is to Frodo
Wow! It was so fun and so moving to watch you guys watch this - thank you so much! A couple of things: There are 3 reasons Frodo went to the Undying Lands 1. He could never fully heal from his wounds in Middle Earth (and he could never really "come home" ) 2 It was a great honor to be allowed to go to the Undying Lands. He was allowed to go because he was a ring bearer, like Bilbo. He tells Sam he also is allowed to go (because Sam was a ring bearer too) but he has so much living to do that he can go later. 3 Frodo says earlier that all he ever wanted to do was go on an adventure with Bilbo, and so now he gets to. :) Gandalf was only in Middle Earth for the task of helping to defeat Sauron, so he left as well. This is that kind of great story that has you thinking about the characters and the details for years. Tolkien was asked why he wrote this - he said because he wanted people to want to be better people. It was touching to hear you talk about that at the end.
we appreciate you so much thank you
The last scene is the hardest to watch and most people don't understand why Frodo had to leave. Remember when Frodo said to Sam "it's been 4 years to the day since Weathertop(where Frodo was stabbed the first time) and the wound has never really healed." In order for Frodo to heal he had to leave the Shire, it was impossible to heal there so he had to go with Gandalf, Bilbo and the elves! Sad yes, but necessary if Frodo was to heal! Now you need to watch The Hobbit trilogy so you can get the backstories of Bilbo, the dwarves and elves relationship before Gimli and Legolas met, Saruman, the Necromancer, Galadrial, Elrond, Gandalf, and Thorin! Please get to these quickly! Thank you for reacting to my favorite trilogy!
Well it’s also because he was a ring bearer. To bear any of the rings of power does inherent damage to one’s soul. All ring bearers are afforded the kindness of sailing to the grey havens. It’s the only way for there soul to heal. Sam is also invited to the grey havens after living a full life
It wasn’t just the wound from weather top it was also because he held the ring. The ring damages your soul and the only way to heal is to leave middle earth. That’s why bilbo left with them and why Sam eventually leaves as well because he held the ring as well. Even in that short time it damaged Sam’s soul
Also! After watching The Hobbit trilogy, please do reactions for the TV show follow-up The Rings of Power! Ya'll will love that one as well.
As of right now in October 2023, we're still awaiting the second season to air.
NO! AVOID Rings of Power it's absolute garbage and Tolkien is probably turning in his grave over this abomination!!
@@graciearchangel3171 I agree on no Rings Of Power!
So, for a really cool bit of lord of the rings lore, at 49:12, Aragorn is singing "The Oath of Elendil" Elendil being the king who died fighting Sauron, and Aragorn's 39th-Great Grandfather, and Elendil spoke it when setting foot on Middle Earth after the downfall of Numenor, translated from the Elvish language he spoke it in, it goes as follows "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world"
Really good reaction you two.
Frodo was never going to be able to destroy the ring. He was too close to its doom and the ring too powerful.
Makes you realise how amazing a feat it is when Bilbo lets it go back in The Shire.
Frodo leaves Middle Earth because he is permanently affected by the Witch King’s blade, Shelob’s sting, Gollum’s bite and mostly, the psychological damage done by the ring.
He sheds all those burdens when he travels to the Undying Lands.
He deserves the honour and Sam comes to accept this 😊
One of only two people to EVER willing give up the ring. Sam being the other, though he possessed it only for a very short time, but even in that short time it was already working on his mind and tempting him.
@@mycroft16 Frodo actually willingly was going to give up the ring. He offered it to Galadriel at the start of the quest.
@@gianni.sacciloto He offered it. That's extremely different than actually letting it go. And my point still stands, Bilbo and Sam are the only two to actually let it go.
54:30
Frodo leaves for Elf-heaven (Aman/Valinor/The undying lands) because he suffered great spiritual damage bearing the ring and saving middle earth. They have advanced elven medicine (and demi-gods) that live in Aman that can ease Frodo's pain. It's a metaphor for PTSD, as Tolkien served in world war 1. As Frodo says, some wounds run too deep. Gandalf is going back there because he is a Maiar (immortal angel-spirit) and they are destined to live in the immortal undying lands with the Valar (demi-gods) and the elves. Middle Earth was never meant for immortal creatures and spirits because things change too fast and it makes them grow weary of the change.
wow that makes perfect sense and makes it that much more beautiful thanks for sharing that!
Didn’t Tolkien point out many times he’s not a fan of allegory & most theories ab how he’s using allegory to represent his military service were not correct or intentional? But yeah it certainly effected the way he wrote whether he did it intentionally or not
@@scotthill1600 Tolkien was against allegory, but favored applicability. You see, the concepts of the movie are universal. Yes, it could be applied to WWI and WW2, but also to so many other things that hurt that deep. I also like this way of thinking about stories and their themes, you use your experience to reach the concept, but then you elevate it so that it is so much more. It is a thing missing in many stories today, specially in Hollywood.
If the story is about, for example, a social minority that suffers from oppression, it is much better to elevate it so that it applies to any social minority fighting oppression, not the specific one that inspired the story. Those written this way will outlive our specific problem because the underlying problem will outlive us all.
@@allan710 thanks for explaining
A Demi god is a child of a god. That’s be Lúthien and her downstream lineage. ❤
That's such an incredible scene there when Frodo wakes up after he got rescued him from Mount Doom. Gandalf (who he though was dead), the hobbits, the entire Fellowship walking in. Laughing, telling stories, fun & cheering. And then that little moment he shares with Sam: No talking, just looking. Only they know what really happened. Frodo wouldn't have made it without Sam. And yet Sam stays quiet & lets Frodo get all the praise. That is so powerful.
Watching reaction videos for LotR is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. I loved seeing you walk through the whole trilogy. On a more practical note: your editing was fantastic. I know a lot has to get cut out, but it really felt like I watched the whole thing with you guys because it flowed so well. Good job!
thanks so much! we really try our best here with that
I liked seeing Frodo truly smile at the end. It took me back to the Frodo we met when the movie first started and reassured me that he would be able to be happy and at peace where he was going.
41:30
Smeagol swore an oath on the precious (a fundamentally evil and treacherous item), that's partly why it was his undoing. In Tolkien's world, oaths have power (vis-a-vis the dead army that were aothbreakers)
Even if Denethor (Father of Boromir and Faramir) is portrayed very differently in the books, I always loved how Peter Jackson compared him with Théoden.
I had the luck to rewatch this masterpiece in cinema again, and after Théoden's death it was a massive crying session for the rest of the movie. This story has been my favourite since I was 6.
You'll definetely have to rewatch it someday!
I love the shot of the 4 hobbits toasting after their return to the Shire because it makes me think of war veterans after they return home; everything is just the same as how they left it but they themselves have been changed by their experiences. It is very different from what Tolkien did for the hobbits' return but I think he would appreciate this take on it as well being a WWI veteran himself.
When you realize Gandalf brought three eagles because one was for Smeagol.
I remember how tremendous the first movie was when it came out. We waited a year between each movie and became so attached to the characters and story. Hard to hold back the tears as the story ties all loose ends and draws to a close after such an epic adventure. I remember leaving the theater after this last movie ended just in awe of what we had experienced. it tugs at the heartstrings and there are so many lessons and wisdom for life in these stories.
Thanks for sharing your reaction with us...thoroughly enjoyed re-watching it through your eyes.
Really nice sentiment from you at the end there when you talked about part of it’s appeal being adventure and how people have traded adventure for security. I never really thought of the vicarious nature of these movies like that; it’s an extremely nice thought and makes me wanna have a little adventure of my own.
I thought she was his daughter for many years, but recently I've come to realize that she is actually Theoden's niece.
Also Gandalf was resurrected by the God of this world to fulfill a number of tasks. Gandalf completed them and so now his time in the world is over
Every year on the anniversary of when he was stabbed by the Ringwraith and stung by the Spider, the wounds would flare up and cause him pain for days. Add to that the weight of carrying the ring had left a mark on Frodo that would never go away. The only way for him to know peace and finally heal was for him to take the boat to Undying Lands and be healed there. Tolkien (the author of Lord of the Rings) used this own life experiences when he went to War during WW1. He and his friends went and fought and of those who returned, they were never the same. I'm so glad you both enjoyed these movies and your reactions were great.
Now like many of us, a part of you will always remain in Middle Earth, the people, places, adventures are now a part of you always. And that's a wonderful thing. Wish you both the very best!
One of my favorite stories of the aftermath is that of Gimli and Legolas. Stories of how, together they helped rebuild Minas Tirith and create new Dwarves colonies show how their adventures helped them surpass years of cultural differences. And then when Legolas sails he takes Gimli with him, making his companion the sole representative of the Dwarfs on Aman.
no matter how many times i've seen this movie the line "you bow to no one" always makes me weep
One of several things from the books is that after living a long life, becoming a father and grandfather, Sam also took a ship to Valinor. The elves sent one back for him when his time came because however briefly, Sam was also a Ringbearer.
Another thing I liked in the books is that Legolas and Gimli became such good friends, that when Legolas finally left Middle Earth, Gimli went with him. The only dwarf ever given a place in the Undying Lands. 😊
I was just rewatching your reaction to this awesome movie and scrolling through the comments and I realized you're answering to comments made 40 minutes ago !!! I hope you understand how awesome is that❤ please never change 👍
"we have traded adventure for security" what a line.. im taking it.
Loved every munite of watching this reaction,. Im pleased that you took the time to share this with us.
You were right, Frodo was too broken to stay in middle earth.
DID YOU SEE GANDALF'S RING AT THE END? 😊
we appreciate that lol 😊
Peter Jackson (and gang) absolute genius in adaptation of this story to the screen. How everyrhing came together, almost magical. The music by Howard Shore and how it is used, every actor and all who worked on it. Tolkien's vision still being felt today, we are enriched by.
The reason that Gandalf is overwhelmed by the Witch-Kings magic, is that all the Nazguls strength is increasing dramatically from all the fear that surrounds them in the city. And also their strength is highest at midnight, which in the books is the time where Gandalf confronts him. He has been waiting to confront Gandalf at this very hour. Hoping ofcourse it would be enough to break Gandalf. In the books it ends in kind of a stalemate, before they are interrupted by Gondor, but in the movies, they have chosen to show that the Witch King had the upper hand.
"My body is broken. I go to my fathers. In whoose mighty company, I shall not now feel ashamed" ...what a line...what a deliver. ❗
As I always tell you guys. Your work, your editing, your passion for these honest reactions, your attention to detail is so good guys. and I thank you very much for the great effort you give us here on RUclips. Thanks, as always.
I hope that your next triology is the prequel to this work of art. The Hobbit Triology. You guys won't regret it. Hugs as always and now on the wait for Marvel Monday! Keep it on ma boas🇵🇷
Unfortunately, it must be said that the Hobbit does not have the class of LOTR...
we will check it out we promise !
@@b4yma I don't know, I've always enjoyed the Hobbit trilogy especially the characters and music but I don't think it's that bad
@@TheOctobersReactThs Hobbit was written first, as a children's book, and is much more light hearted. So the Hobbit Movies are also more light hearted.
There are things that appear in the movie of thd The Hobbit that are not in the book, except they are, they're part of the back story of the Hobbit that appear in the book appendices of The Return of the King, and were used in The Hobbit.
So you have to approach the Hobbit as being a lighter movie.
Except for one point. You're back in Middle Earth when you watch it... And that's worth every moment!
So hope you guys watch them!
@@dareiousmiller8179 I am another apparently rare LOTR fan who will also say, yes, do watch The Hobbit! I understand the problems people have with the movies; Jackson himself didn't want to do a trilogy (while I always thought that it needed more than 1 movie to tell; I agree that 2 movies would have been the best approach). But the cast is absolutely first rate, they do a tremendous job making all of the dwarves into vivid individuals (something few other adaptations really accomplish; and even the book doesn't do that much), and I super enjoy Freeman's Bilbo. Also, as you say, the music is still wonderful. I personally can forgive the way the story is expanded, because I enjoyed those performances that much.
another aspect of Frodo leaving that people don’t touch on as much is the shame he feels, because he ultimately failed and succumbed to the Ring.
this is in addition to his physical wound that can never heal, and his spiritual wound of bearing the Ring. you nailed it on the head comparing it to drug addiction. he can never be free of his desire for the Ring while he remains in Middle Earth. and likewise, it’s hard for him to return to The Shire and all his friends when he knows he ultimately betrayed them and had every desire to keep the Ring for himself.
leaving for Valinor was the answer. there, he can heal physically and spiritually, and not feel ashamed. the Ring’s power does not reach the Undying Lands.
So with Eowyn, they didn't really explain it well what happens. In the books there is a myth or whatever that the hands of the "The King", the true king, are the hands of healing. So he actually spends quite a bit of time in the houses of healing just tending to as many people as possible. He brings Eowyn back from the brink of death and many others. So no man could kill the witch king, but since Eowyn wasn't a man that was a great loop hole to take him down, however that doesn't mean she doesn't suffer the consequences of trying to harm him.
The hobbits are crying, you're crying, we're crying re-watching this and watching ya'll cry. This is just peak story telling.
The whole “no man thing” isn’t the full reason. Yes she’s a woman, but merry stabbing him with that specific dagger is what does it. That dagger was made to penetrate the defenses of a Nazgûl. But still technically correct cause merry also not a man but a hobbit
@@marcushankins8171 Man, can you imagine how long and how many films it would take to REALLY do this story? We'd have spent 15 hours just getting to Bree. lol. And I would happily watch the whole damn thing. That whole sequence in the Barrowdowns after Bombadil where he gives them the blades, explanations about Angmar and the battles there. Though you do briefly get a tiny bit of that in The Hobbit trilogy. The amount of depth to this world it's a serious miracle that Peter, Fran and Philippa were able to focus it and remove all the other stuff to just focus on the ring and it's journey to destruction.
The biggest misconception is that the Witch-King died because Eowyn was a woman. Absolutely ridiculous. The "No Man can kill me" clearly refers to the race of Men, humans. The reason he died was because of Merry stabbing him with that dagger (Barrow-blade) which it is not explained in the movies. In the books 4 daggers like this are given to the 4 hobbits by Tom Bombadil and they were made in the third age by the Dunedain smiths for the wars with Angmar and had the power to penetrate the Nazgul's defences (one of the few weapons that could do that)
it wasn't that no man CAN kill the witch king, it's no man WOULD kill the witch king but after so long, the witch king and most others misinterpreted it as no man can kill him. if it wasn't for merry stabbing the witch king with that specific blade he has, the witch king would've won that battle
As someone who fought in war for 4 years, I can say that the PTSD, post-journey stuff is all very accurate. You fight to get back to the life you left behind, but when you finally get back, you discover it isn't there anymore. The people you used to call friends have wives and kids, and they'll never understand what you went through. And you do the things you used to enjoy, but you're just going through the motions. You feel numb and empty. It's not until you accept it and start a new life that you truly heal. And that's what Frodo does. He knows there's nothing left for him in the Shire. And the sight of Sam probably reminds him of what he went through. So he starts a new life. Tolkien understood.
Very epic trilogy! We were all obsessed when it came out, buying all the dvd's finding out every detail about the making. I saw the last two in theaters, the theater was soooo packed for The Two Towers, my in laws had to sit on the floor with many others. Lord of The Rings took us all over for years and still makes me cry at the end. Thanks for the reaction guys.
Like literally a global phenomenon. They did the premier for Return of the King on Wellington New Zealand and they renamed it to Middle Earth by official declaration for the day. The red carpet went for like a mile. The crowds in the streets were insane. They built HUGE models of the Nazgul to hang in the airport and a massive Golumn on the theater facade. New Zealand Airlines repainted their planes with images of the characters. It was nuts. The books are so beloved by so many for decades and decades all over the world.
Sam became Mayor of Hobbbiton for many many years and had many children. When he was a good old age, Rosie passed away and Sam was taken to the Undying Lands as well since he had also been a ringbearer.
With the advancements in cgi, it is unlikely that any movie in the future will be made the way these movies were. They are an epic, once in a lifetime adventure for all who helped make them and everyone who watches them. It was a blessing to watch you both share the experience together...
The description Gandalf gives Pippin about seeing "white shores and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise" is the view Frodo has as the ship approaches the Undying Lands.
In defence of Denethor, he'd had a palanthir (the bowling ball thingy!) for many years, just as Saruman had. Like Saruman, therefore, he'd had Sauron in his head, corrupting his thoughts and driving him mad, persuading him that death and defeat were inevitable. Yeah, that's all I got. He's still an ass!
39:02 That far away "Shire-like" melody gives me the most insane chills. Amidst all this cruelty and darkness, Frodo remembers his home and perseveres... Wow
Wonderful trilogy. Best acting, story, cinematography, music. It had it all. Frodo still had pain from the stab wound. Too much pain for him so I was glad he could go with the elves and be free of the pain that plagued him. We all cried at the end too and we had to wait a year before we could see each movie. Good reactions!
Lord of the Rings funfact, if you find it interesting.
In the "For Frodo" scene, as Aragorn starts to run, the choir singing isn't singing randomly to fit the tune.
It's actually elvish, and this is the lyrics:
Ae na guil nín egor na ngurth nín - If by my life or death
Gerin le beriad - I can protect you,
Le beriathon - I will
Le annon vegil nín - I give you my sword
Cyll e-Gorv - Ringbearer,
Le annon beth nín - I give you my word
Ú-erir aen han risto - It cannot be broken
Ú-erir aen han presto - Nor turned aside,
Rúvo i rym - Let the horns sound,
I aur hen ú bant! - This day is not done!
Isto Mordor han - Let Mordor know this:
Elessar! Elessar!
Tellin i Chîr Gondor! - The Lords of Gondor have come
So basicly, the choir is singing the lines Aragorn said to Frodo during the "you have my sword" scene in the first movie
Man, you guys are really great. Y'all approached these reactions with a lot of heart and it does these movies so much justice. Sometimes I think about my top 5 fav movies of all time and this trilogy shares the top spot, because its just that good. The story, the casting, the sets, the acting, the costumes, the makeup - it's such an incredible aligning of the stars and as a movie lover, I'm so happy I got to grow up with it in my life. SUBBED!
And sidenote: Mr. October, be proud you have a lady to wipe your tears king! Be strengthened by the knowledge that your lady will take care of you when you need it most!
Thanks for watching. She is the best. She has my back always and she tells me when I’m wrong. But these movies really were special!
Peter Jackson made a mistake in not explaining why Merry's dagger was so devastating against the Witch-King: it had been enchanted with spells against him centuries before and was now the most potent weapon on the battlefield. That's why Eowyn was able to finish him off but even so she would have died from the shock without Aragorn's powers of healing.
Frodo ended up leaving for the undying lands because he would still have periods where he would become extremely ill, during which Sam and Rosie would have to take care of him and Frodo didn't want to be a burden to his friend. There were also beings in the undying lands who were able to heal Frodo's long term injuries from bearing the ring.
I like the end when Frodo steps on the boat his complexion clears and wounds heal and he looks happy , and the nod to the boys that he was back to his old self, that’s how I took it anyway and that music! Thanks that was an excellent reaction , enjoyed very much
53:02 The Ring does poison you for life, which is one of the big reasons that Frodo left at the end. He would never have real peace or happiness in Middle Earth anymore.
I cried watching the last two scenes, as I normally do, but seeing your reactions also had a huge part in it this time around. It broke me even more. Honest reactions from the heart and seeing people be genuinely moved is a truly beautiful thing. Thank you!
we appreciate you so much :)
Eowyn: " I will KILL YOU if you touch him!"
Lord of the Nazgul: " Do not come between the Nazgul and his preyyyy"
Eowyn: **proceeds to cut head off** "I.👏🏽 SAID. 👏🏽 WHAT. 👏🏽 THE. 👏🏽 F*CK. 👏🏽 I. 👏🏽 SAID. 👏🏽
And the swell of the music as Theoden finishes his speech ALWAYS gives me goosebumps and makes me emotional. I saw this movie in the theater when it came out, I own it on DVD, AND it's in my Google TV AND my MAX on both my phone and IPad; I've watched the entire series, but especially this movie, more times than I can count, and I. STILL. CRY. EVERY. TIME. As others have said, The Hobbit trilogy is okay, but honestly, to me there is nothing is as epic as this masterpiece. Storytelling, world building, languages, cinematography, production, score, character and costume design--- NOTHING touches it. You should watch the Behind the scenes/making of the movies, you would really enjoy them and appreciate the work that went into it. Truly a labor of love by all.❤
Just in case you want to know what happened to the mains afterwards:
- After their children are grown and their wives pass, Merry & Pippin go to Gondor before they die and are buried next to Aragorn
- Sam goes to the Undying Lands too, being granted passage having been a Ring bearer for a time and we can assume is reunited with Frodo
- Faramir & Eowyn marry and are made Prince & Princess of Ithilien (the lands where we first meet Faramir)
- Legolas & Gimli stay together and travel middle earth before taking to the sea. Gimli is the only dwarf to ever be granted passage to Valinor
This was such a pleasure to watch with you! Here I am, late for my workout and in tears because I couldn't wait to finish watching your reaction. I remember seeing this in the theater 20 years ago... just an incredible experience.
Thanks for watching with us! What a tear jerker! I bet experiencing this in theater woulda been such an experience!
47:30
It's important to know that no one could willingly destroy the ring, it was created by a Sauron, a Maiar (angel-like spirit) who is a creature of greater power than any man, dwarf or elf.
Only through the subtle hand of Eru (God of Tolkien's world) was the ring destroyed :)
Is Sauron more powerful than Gandalf the white? With the ring I feel like he’d have to be, if he had his body without the ring idk who’d be stronger (Ik that’s not how it works but)
@@scotthill1600I'm not much of a lore guy but I assume Gandalf taking a corporal form made him weaker, he's supposed to be an angel of sorts (apparently, I can't confirm).
@@scotthill1600 Ultimately Gandalf is more powerful because he is acting on the side of Eru (God of Tolkien's world) and Eru already has everything planned out so that good may win. But putting that aside:
Sauron, Gandalf, the balrog, Saruman are all Maiar so they all have more or less similar power and are comparable to angels. Sauron concentrated some of his spirit (his "Faea") into the one ring, so he gained worldly power in some sense and anchored his essence into the world but lost power in other ways (he used to be able to shapeshift and has known to take a "fair" form, that of a vampire, that of a werewolf).
While the one ring exists, Sauron can't really die and is tied to Arda, In the books when Saruman and Sauron die (after the ring is destroyed), they become these huge clouds that look West for a moment, because (as immortals) they would normally reincarnate in the undying lands, but the King of the Valar rejects them and disperses their spirits away with a gust of wind.
@@GoldenLeafsMovies He was on of the 5 Maiar chosen to be the Istari (Wizards). Part of the conditions for their mission was to go as guides, so the free people can defeat evil themselves. They've essentially been told not to use their power, so it's rarely seen.
In the overall lore, Maiar can't just use magic /miracles inconsequentially because it takes some of their finite power, the reason Sauron never grew his ring finger back is because he only has finite power and he'd already poured so much of it into the ring, before that he could shapeshift
@@blazednlovinit thanks for the reply, that makes a lot of sense the way you explained it
Time and time again Tolkien proves that certain stories are timeless. And the fact that Jackson managed to mirror that in movies...the greatest movies, timeless and I love seeing new people be witness to it.
AMAZING reaction. Glad I found it!
I totally burst out laughing at your Spider reaction! In the parody novel (Bored of the Rings), Galadriel's gift to Sam/Spam is a can of insect repellent 🤣🤣 It does indeed come in handy later!!
It kind of is since it’s the light of Eärendil himself ontop of the fact he wears one of the silmarils upon his brow and Galadriel forged a less perilous version of a silmaril-esque artifact powerful enough to blind and harm the daughter of Ungoliant which is Shelob. Both frick terrors. Not even demons. Far older! !
So, annually my son and I have been watching this trilogy for 11 yrs together and I still love it so much. He's 17 now. Saw all of them in the theater with my brother. I've been watching them since they came out on DVD and Blue Ray. Started the extended version a few Yeats ago and it makes for a very long day. I still love it so much. Even after all that, I'll still watch the end credits too with Anne Lennox singing "Into the West." The greatest trilogy ever and I'm a Star Wars fan but still say this is the best. There is so much to geek out with this story with all of Tolkien's writings.
Tolkien himself said "Samwise Gamgee is the hero of the story." The ring slowly ate away at Frodo/Bilbo over years. Sam was literally the only one the ring had Zero Effect on!
The ring tries to corrupt Sam by showing him a world that is a beautiful garden, with him in charge of it. Sam pretty much says "That's silly" and shakes it off.
@@telynns8490 - That makes sense. Kinda hard to tempt someone toward seeking world conquest when their highest ambition is a perfect garden.
Sam had it for a couple of hours. Frodo for seventy years and Bilbo for sixty. Even Sam is not able to destroy the Ring. Not even Sauron himself
@@Herr_Schindler Frodo had the Ring from 33 to 51, so he bore its evil for 18 years--but the closer he brought it to Mount Doom, the more it weighed on his soul, so it had a deeper effect on him.
I love Sam's award at the end of the trilogy. I think there was no better character to deserve it, an example of love, courage and loyalty.
These movies hold such a special place in so many people's hearts.
The Ride of The Rohirrim is honestly i think one of the best scenes in cinema history
Eowyn constantly talks about the importance of sharpening your sword, and then she takes the head off of a Fell-Beast in 2 swings. Don't forget to sharpen your swords, folks.
The reason eowyn was able to kill him was because of merry. merry stabbed him with the elven blade and that weakened him
So glad someone actually picked up on the fact that the ring is physically heavy and it's pulling Frodo down by the neck. I've seen many reactions and you guys are one of the few to actually notice that. Nice.
What you have to remember is Tolkien fought on the western front in the first world, the young men who fought that war never forgot the horrors of war.
Frodo crippled by the war
The history of the world is filled with men who were broken by the countless wars that have been waged. Tolkien served in WW1, one of his sons in WW2, but The Lord of the Rings gets across how war can leave scars that never heal.
The Ride of the Rohirrim is still the greatest thing i've ever seen in my life.
Aww Mr. October shedding some tears. Don’t worry as LOTR fans we’ve all been there! ❤ Hands down one of the best trilogies of all time. Another favorite is the ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ trilogy. Maybe you’ll check it out if you haven’t already.
we will def have to see that one
"Gandalf saw the fabric of the universe and still cant believe his eyes" ... Ive seen like 150 people react to these movies and that was the best comment ever :D XD
absolutely an honor coming from the man bart simpson himself !
@@TheOctobersReact
You're exactly right, the wound Frodo took from the Morgul blade could never truly heal & he would have suffered excruciating pain for the rest of his life. By sailing to Valinor (a magic island that is basically Heaven) with the elves he would be able to find some peace. More than that though, anyone who ever bore a ring of power needed to leave Middle Earth, so that the power of the rings could finally, truly be broken. So as an addendum, you might like to know that Samwise would go on to become the Mayor of Hobbiton (re-elected on three occasions) & have a long, happy life. After his wife passed (in her 90s), Samwise left the Red Book to his daughter & reportedly built a ship to sail into the West, as he too had once briefly been a ring bearer. This was also the final fate of Gimli & Legolas. After going on an extended bro's vacation around Middle Earth, Legolas heard "the call of the sea" & sailed west to Valinor but it's known he took Gimli with him #EternalBros
^Samwise served seven consecutive terms as mayor and Rosie pumped out thirteen children.
I always understood their return to the shire to be symbolic of literal soldiers returning from war. The other hobbits don't really understand what they've been through.They somberly drink together at the bar, communicating with their eyes in ways only they can. Eventually one of them cant deal with the pain of the past trauma and chooses to "go west", which has for a long time been a euphemism for dying. Tolkein being a world war veteran himself put a lot of his own experiences and emotions into the story and I think that is part of the beauty of it.
Frodo sacrificed his mental well-being to save the world. He had to leave because ptsd and melancholy would have dominated his life.
I'm new to your channel, but Ive taken the journey with you through this trilogy, and it's been an absolute pleasure. These films have been such an important piece of my life since they were first produced. I'm thanked in the credits of all three films, Ive seen each of them dozens of times, I have all of Tolkien's books, rare signed merchandise, artwork, all manner of things... I've been invested in these books and films for decades, and yet...you managed to help me see them through fresh eyes, with your own views, and for that, I give huge thanks.
It's always great to see new people take this story into their hearts, and you both did it with passion, warmth and wit. Brilliant.
thanks for that thoughtful comment we appreciate it more than you know. it was so much fun 😊
The scenes with them all crying was not movie tears. The trilogy was over and they were going their separate ways. It is very emotional and I can see why It won best picture.
you can see it when frodo smiles at the end that this was a great experience for them as well it was so emotional
I hate to burst you bubble but apparently that ending was actually the first scene Ian filmed with all the hobbits, so it wasn't real tears of sadness haha
@@EditorStevo That is interesting. I was told it was the last scene.
@EditorStevo aw dang maybe they hit us with the we so happy to be here smiles and tricked me
@@RichardM1366 It's funny because Sir Ian McKellen once joked: "The first scene I ever did in Lord of the Rings was Gandalf saying goodbye to the hobbits, and I'd never even met them before."
Great reaction guys. I'm so happy that you enjoyed this amazing film. One thing I'll say is that Frodo didn't leave Middle Earth out of a sense of adventure. He was injured, poisoned and haunted by his experiences with the Ring. He could not find peace or even physical well-being in Middle Earth. Travelling across the sea to the "undying lands" of the Elves offered him a chance to truly rest and enjoy his remaining years.
Really enjoyed watching your reactions to this trilogy. Thanks for sharing. These movies still make me cry and I've watched them dozens of times.
thanks so much for riding along with us! we had so much fun!
Big credit to you guys for the editing through all three films. Great pacing, key moments, and reactions. Keep it up!
we would watch this everyday if we could!