Saruman's Ring | Tolkien Explained

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  • Опубликовано: 16 май 2024
  • In the late Third Age, Saruman attempts to forge his own Ring of Power. Having become obsessed with power, this once great wizard aims to mimic Sauron's crowning achievement.
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    sauron army - WETA
    Saruman - Elrodimus Flash
    Gandalf - John Howe
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    Doors of durin - Rafael Damiani
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    The Dwarf Lords - Ralph Damiani
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    the forging - Ralph Damiani
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    Saruman The Many Colored - Ralph Damiani
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    Saruman - John Howe
    Foundations of Barad-dur - John Howe
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Комментарии • 455

  • @valentinkambushev4968
    @valentinkambushev4968 4 месяца назад +750

    If you ever feel forgotten, remember, you are not Saruman's ring.

    • @TheCradM
      @TheCradM 4 месяца назад +15

      Hahahahahhaha I audibly laughed HARD

    • @Hellbane224
      @Hellbane224 4 месяца назад +24

      To be fair, that ring was pretty worthless. He HAD to wear it. Can't very well call himself "Ring-maker" and then not have a ring to show for it. XD

    • @albinoman13bt
      @albinoman13bt 4 месяца назад +12

      @@axm2044 The One Ring seemed to retain it's power even though most of the rings of power are destroyed. That being said the 3 rings owned by the elves and Gandalf lose their power after the One Ring's destruction.

    • @edopronk1303
      @edopronk1303 4 месяца назад +11

      ​@@axm2044how the ring would enhance your own power? That's the secret and magic of ring making. It's not just your own power.
      You do things, cast spells combined with the fire you cast it in, with the craftsmanship and time you put into it, on certain times of year. Indeed a lot is your own power, the 'trick' is that you spare that power, solidify it. And a lot of power is from the fire, which in Middle Earth is power from the gods, and power of the stars (timing of the year etc)

    • @edopronk1303
      @edopronk1303 4 месяца назад +7

      About being forgotten, I really like that the movie makers put it in. Subtle but present.

  • @jacketjack9399
    @jacketjack9399 4 месяца назад +727

    Talking about Saruman's voice makes me appreciate Christopher Lee even more. He really is the perfect Saruman

    • @projectilequestion
      @projectilequestion 4 месяца назад +25

      Yeah, he wanted to play Gandalf originally.

    • @richardmaier28
      @richardmaier28 4 месяца назад +8

      I've seen the videos of the making, especially where Lee said I can't climb these damn stairs but I wonder how they actually got along off set,was there much time they spent together unlike the 4 Hobbits who had probably a year together before everyone else showed up?

    • @projectilequestion
      @projectilequestion 4 месяца назад +15

      @@richardmaier28 I don't know, but I have seen the outtake where he says "look, Peter, I just can't get up these blasted stairs" haha

    • @threepieceberlin
      @threepieceberlin 4 месяца назад +29

      ​@@richardmaier28at lest there is a Video where Lee says LOTR was the best Crew HE'd ever worked with....

    • @trevorn2351
      @trevorn2351 4 месяца назад +30

      It was truly a gift that Christopher Lee gave that performance at his age. He was an incredible man.

  • @thebeastjs
    @thebeastjs 4 месяца назад +391

    Saruman wanting to be Sauron so bad, he even created a friendship ring trying to match. Cute.

  • @joelzaloum9209
    @joelzaloum9209 4 месяца назад +145

    “I liked white better” is such a savage comeback, I’m more of a movie guy but I love the lore, so these videos are much appreciated nerd!

    • @Mereologist
      @Mereologist 3 месяца назад +21

      It's even better than that. Saruman justifies being 'all colours' because when you break up white light it becomes each of the colours. And Gandalf replies that, "He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." Burn!

    • @nathanlamberth7631
      @nathanlamberth7631 Месяц назад

      I love that Gandolf goes on to wear white

  • @dustindustymatthew1961
    @dustindustymatthew1961 4 месяца назад +207

    Gandalf's reaction to seeing Saruman's color-changing robe is probably one of my favorite reactions in the books ever. A shame they didn't add that into the movies

    • @edopronk1303
      @edopronk1303 4 месяца назад +20

      I think they tried and couldn't achieve it in a satisfying, non-funky way.
      Although they also may have tried it digitally, not physically, and rather kept the sfx budget for more prominent things.
      At the same time I agree I am curious how it would look like done well.

    • @SparkvirusXS
      @SparkvirusXS 4 месяца назад +22

      While this was probably considered, it would be confusing to the movie plot in which Saruman becomes a Sauron servant and doesn't have plans of power for his own. Also, take in consideration that the blue wizards and Radagast are not mentioned in the movies, so becoming Saruman of many colors would be less impactful... Also also, leaving him as white does give more power to the reveal of Gandalf the white

    • @informedconsumer5293
      @informedconsumer5293 4 месяца назад +9

      @@axm2044
      Basically Joseph’s coat
      He tried to cause the reverse of the biblical Joseph’s brothers envy with his coat given to him by his father

    • @GeorgeSukFuk
      @GeorgeSukFuk 4 месяца назад

      Basically the same reaction as to that new rings of power show lol

    • @johnisaacfelipe6357
      @johnisaacfelipe6357 3 месяца назад +4

      Pride flag colors

  • @untruelie2640
    @untruelie2640 4 месяца назад +217

    A small little detail that I find fascinating (and quite typical of Tolkien's writing, proving that it is indeed high literature): When Gandalf meets Saruman (for the first time in the story), he describes Saruman's robes as of indeterminate colour, as you quoted, because they have all colours at once. When the protagonists meet Saruman and Wormtongue between Isengard and Rivendell, Saruman's robes are described as little more than rags, of a dirty grey colour so that it is impossible to say which colour they originally had. So their colour is still indetermined, but instead of being of all colours (a sign of power), they they have no colour whatsoever anymore (a sign of powerlessness).

    • @JohnDoe-lx3dt
      @JohnDoe-lx3dt 4 месяца назад +5

      How did he then get back to the shire before the hobbits to mess it up and play as sharky? Mans got some legs on him.

    • @inthefade
      @inthefade 4 месяца назад +4

      @@JohnDoe-lx3dt I would bet they did screen tests and it didn't look good.

    • @jonathanleonard1152
      @jonathanleonard1152 4 месяца назад +14

      @@JohnDoe-lx3dt- In the books Saruman convinced the Ents. Though ancient and wise the Ents did not understand the conniving voice. They believed what Saruman said about being reformed. Thus while the Hobbits were at Minis Tirith (sp), Saruman was off to pillage the Shire.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 4 месяца назад +6

      Let's face it. The Fellowship dallied too long in Rivendell. That allowed Saruman to arrive in the Shire and order the burning of trees throughout the land.

    • @Greendalewitch
      @Greendalewitch 3 месяца назад +9

      @@jonathanleonard1152 It is a pathetic fall from grace isn't it? An angelic being that helped shape the world when it was created ended up becoming a mob boss in perhaps the most peaceful place on earth.

  • @Cerylion
    @Cerylion 4 месяца назад +66

    But they were, as well as Sauron, deceived, for another Ring was made. In the land of Rohan, in the cellars of Isengard, Saruman of Many Colors forged in secret Another Ring, to imitate all others. And into this Ring he poured his envy, his ambition and his will to master all life. "Another Ring to devour them all, and in Many Colors unite them."

    • @Barad_door
      @Barad_door 4 месяца назад +2

      👏👏👏👏

    • @naebhor6931
      @naebhor6931 23 дня назад

      "In the Ring of Isen, where Orthanc lies."

  • @keithbieberly6445
    @keithbieberly6445 4 месяца назад +100

    There are three paragraphs in Two Towers, chapter two, that I always wondered about, where Aragorn says, "There is some will that lends speed to our foes and sets an unseen barrier before us: a weariness that is in the heart more than in the limb."
    I never found any reference elsewhere that addressed this. To me, it sounds similar to the effects that protected Imladris and Lorien.

    • @sandal_thong8631
      @sandal_thong8631 4 месяца назад +8

      That sounds like something a Ring of Power might do.

    • @Spoon80085
      @Spoon80085 3 месяца назад +1

      It could be Melkor, as he was described as having corrupted the whole world with his evil.

    • @Mereologist
      @Mereologist 3 месяца назад +6

      Remember another conversation between Pippin and Aragon in 'Two Towers':
      "Once [Saruman] was as great as his fame made him. His knowledge was deep, his thought was subtle, and his hands marvellously skilled; and he had a power over the minds of others. The wise he could persuade, and the smaller folk he could daunt. That power he certainly still keeps."
      Since Aragorn describes the 'will' as creating a 'weariness that is in the heart', this does sound completely in line with Saruman's magickal powers. And perhaps Aragon is so certain with Pippin that he still keeps that power because it was just used ON him!

    • @MiljaHahto
      @MiljaHahto 3 месяца назад +1

      It is Saruman who is trying to direct them closer to Isengard.

    • @LeaderOfTheRedNinjas
      @LeaderOfTheRedNinjas Месяц назад

      To me, this has been the only explanation that makes sense as to why such an elite company weren't able to catch the orcs. Surprised they didn't make more of this in the film

  • @UncleFester84
    @UncleFester84 4 месяца назад +67

    Something curious:
    Three silmarils, one in the air, one in the ocean, one in the fires at the center of the world.
    Three great rings: Vilya of the air, Nenya of the water, Narya of the fire.

    • @cfgonyea
      @cfgonyea 4 месяца назад +30

      Celebrimbror is Feanors nephew I believe, who created the Silmarils, so it makes sense to honor his work.

    • @psychic_beth
      @psychic_beth 4 месяца назад +32

      @@cfgonyea His grandson actually. Celebrimbor's father is Curufin, one of Feanor's seven sons

    • @cfgonyea
      @cfgonyea 4 месяца назад +8

      @@psychic_beth either way they’re related and Celebrimbror obviously designed the great rings in homage to Feanor lol

    • @eddiehughes929
      @eddiehughes929 4 месяца назад

      @psychic_beth @cfgonyea Damn…. And I thought I was a lord of the rings fan…… #Knowledge 🤣🤣

    • @kermit8173
      @kermit8173 3 месяца назад

      @@eddiehughes929 Yooooo #lotrfan #lore #youtubecommentsection #eddie #clever

  • @DamonNomad82
    @DamonNomad82 4 месяца назад +45

    I'm not sure if the Valar were the type of beings to tease each other, but if they were, I'm sure Aule got a lot of snide comments about how his Maiar were prone to turn evil, as both Sauron and Saruman initially served him...

    • @caos1925
      @caos1925 3 месяца назад +9

      Aule made the dwarves too against Erus wishes although he repented of it, so his maiar took after him really, that drive to create, even that which they should not .They only asked themselves "can I do this?" not "Should we do this?"

    • @nektulosnewbie
      @nektulosnewbie 3 месяца назад +4

      ​@@caos1925The problem is that they're prone to desiring to create while Aule does not. He is in keeping with Tolkien's ethos of "sub-creation", that a creation can only make use of what the Creator provides to them and so isn't a creator themself. You can make a ring out of gold, but God made the gold and the form (form in its philosophical sense) of the ring for you to fashion yours in the pattern of.
      This was crucial to how Tolkien saw the world. He applied it to himself and saw himself as the sub-creator of his own work for the exact same reason.

    • @jipowap
      @jipowap 3 месяца назад +3

      I'm sure the balrogs came from all camps, so not even manwe would have a leg to stand on

  • @grandadmiralzaarin4962
    @grandadmiralzaarin4962 4 месяца назад +65

    He sought to create order through power. First to oppose Sauron, then to rival him but he lacked Sauron's patience and so he moved too swiftly bringing about his ruin.

    • @eddiehughes929
      @eddiehughes929 4 месяца назад +4

      “Bringing about his ruin” 🤣 written like Tolkien himself. Love it 😎

  • @LagunaShirogane
    @LagunaShirogane 4 месяца назад +36

    As Gandolf says to Saruman on top of the Tower of Isengard after his capture: "There can only be one "Lord of the Ring" and he does not share power...."

    • @CrusaderLogan
      @CrusaderLogan Месяц назад +1

      Apparently even Tolkein disagreed with Gandalf, since he said Saruman would be able to control it and enslave Sauron to his will

  • @colinleat8309
    @colinleat8309 4 месяца назад +46

    It seems clear that Sauromon was destined to go dark side. That's why Cirdan gifted his ring to Gandalf, he never sought power for powers sake. Great subject Matt! Thanks so much 👍. 🖖😁🤘🇨🇦🕊️

    • @projectilequestion
      @projectilequestion 4 месяца назад +8

      If you keep spelling his name like that, I suppose he will do

    • @j-mc5201
      @j-mc5201 4 месяца назад +5

      @@projectilequestionlol. A little harsh, but also a little amusing.

    • @mightymasochist
      @mightymasochist 4 месяца назад +7

      @@j-mc5201it’s the digimon of middle earth, sauromon

    • @alexv3357
      @alexv3357 4 месяца назад

      Gandalf, when he sought power, sought to inspire strength and hope in others. This is the truest and greatest power, and why good triumphs over evil in the end.

    • @reneedailey1696
      @reneedailey1696 4 месяца назад +5

      ​@@axm2044Making up scenarios to get outraged at, eh?

  • @jonathankieranwriter
    @jonathankieranwriter 4 месяца назад +40

    From the very little Tolkien revealed about this ring of Saruman’s in the scene of Gandalf’s imprisonment at Orthanc, I always drew the conclusion that the ring-like his newly iridescent cloak-was just another sign of Saruman’s growing desperation to divorce himself from the White Council, the other Istari, and in some way pretend at being an imitator of Sauron (the one he envied most of all) and likely also to brag to Gandalf, displaying that he had a ring, as well. But the context of TLOTR tells us nothing of this, explicitly. And clearly, Saruman’s power was in no way bolstered by this ring, for it is never again mentioned, and when Gandalf ousted Saruman from the Council and Order, he destroyed only Saruman’s staff. Gandalf had no fear of any ring Saruman had in his possession or might continue to bear. All Saruman was left with was a fractional portion of his voice’s persuasive talent. He was utterly ruined, except for scheming. Strange, really, that Tolkien even mentioned Saruman’s ring and then completely abandoned reference to it.

    • @o00nemesis00o
      @o00nemesis00o 4 месяца назад +3

      Well, rather than setup for a payoff all by itself, it's part of what makes up the setup (pride and imitation of Sauron) for his later fall.

    • @thecappeningchannel515
      @thecappeningchannel515 3 месяца назад +4

      Tolkien says Saruman studied saurons lore and could have forged a new master ring if he got to search the ruins of Mordor.

    • @SockieTheSockPuppet
      @SockieTheSockPuppet 3 месяца назад +3

      Ring-making, especially after Sauron, was considered the behavior of Foolishness. It may have only originally served as a descriptor of how far Saruman had fallen.

    • @caos1925
      @caos1925 3 месяца назад +2

      What if because he made it separate from himself, his ring was the only reason he had any power of his Voice left? Then did someone take that one after he physically died?

    • @TheAyanamiRei
      @TheAyanamiRei 3 месяца назад +1

      What if it's power was greatly diminished once it's Power and his Treachery was known? Like how you would take a big penalty to Bluff if telling an Obvious/Absurd Lie in DnD

  • @rollinmetzger7392
    @rollinmetzger7392 4 месяца назад +23

    Yeah Debbie! I absolutely love the credits of patrons ending with Debbie. All the extravagant names plus Debbie.

  • @TypicalidiotGuy
    @TypicalidiotGuy 4 месяца назад +13

    Ive never needed an explanation so much and not realized it .. until now!

  • @RorekOfNull
    @RorekOfNull 4 месяца назад +23

    I have loved everything Tolkien since i was a young child, and I just wanted to leave a comment on one of your videos thanking you for delving into all of the finer details of his works, I listen to these (often times repeatadly) while i do houshold chores or attend to my hobbies and have gathered great joy from every single one of them. thank you so very very much for all the effort you've put into your videos and for the fandom as a whole!

    • @sabinedouble07
      @sabinedouble07 3 месяца назад

      Same here😊 it gives me such joy to listen to The Nerd of the Rings and escape from mundane everyday life.

  • @typacsk
    @typacsk 4 месяца назад +6

    Galadriel: "But they were all of them deceived, for another, *other* ring was made..."

  • @jdzabalad
    @jdzabalad 4 месяца назад +7

    First time hearing Matt do Pippin. It was fantastic!

  • @bash_maxwell
    @bash_maxwell 4 месяца назад +8

    Perfect weekend for orb pondering...

  • @ericleffingwell8617
    @ericleffingwell8617 4 месяца назад +10

    If you haven't heard of The Red Book I can say that he does a great podcast on the tendency of Aule and his servants to create what they believe to be best but it is only Aule that repented after learning that his creative vision did not meet with Eru's full approval.

  • @soccerjockey
    @soccerjockey 4 месяца назад +4

    Another excellent collection of lore! Thanks for making this one

  • @TheSorrel
    @TheSorrel 4 месяца назад +3

    Trained actor here: Your reading of Sarumans Lines was really good!

  • @anthroposophe
    @anthroposophe 4 месяца назад +5

    Perhaps Sam pockets Saruman’s ring after he is killed by Wormtongue, which explains why Sam was voted Mayor over and over again.

  • @Jayjay-qe6um
    @Jayjay-qe6um 4 месяца назад +4

    You know, I can see Saruman's ring to be the main center story for Tolkien's incomplete sequel The New Shadow.

    • @xlerb2286
      @xlerb2286 Месяц назад

      I've always thought too of those "lesser rings", mere essays of the craft but still dangerous to mortals. Seems there are some opportunities there to explore what would happen if one of those rings turned up.

  • @thelightwielder
    @thelightwielder 4 месяца назад +9

    Saruman probably attempted to use his voice on Galadriel at some point, but since she has a ring of power she was probably able to resist it and knowing what his personality is nominated Gandalf to be the head of the council.

  • @Polskmofo
    @Polskmofo 4 месяца назад +6

    Why didn’t Saruman take Gandalfs ring when he imprisoned him

  • @Prepared_Suburbanite
    @Prepared_Suburbanite 4 месяца назад +1

    Excellent as always! I learned quite a bit with this episode, thank you!

  • @sktchwlkr5369
    @sktchwlkr5369 4 месяца назад

    Thank you for sharing real art and where to find the artist. It’s much appreciated.

  • @nikkik1109
    @nikkik1109 4 месяца назад +4

    All the valar must be looking at Aule and saying Damn not another one bro!!! 🤦‍♂️ another great video NOTR

  • @henrikeriksson9234
    @henrikeriksson9234 3 месяца назад

    I’ve never been more mesmerized watching the same images looping over and over again. That’s some skill you got there.

  • @mkk-un9nz
    @mkk-un9nz 4 месяца назад

    thanks man your work is priceless

  • @bhtrimmer
    @bhtrimmer 4 месяца назад +3

    honestly, I like some of the drawings of locations in your video, than what they looked like in the movie

  • @juniperlau
    @juniperlau 4 месяца назад +10

    Can I just mention how flipping good this dude's voice acting is? I would buy an audiobook read by him.

    • @Puschit1
      @Puschit1 3 месяца назад +1

      Permission granted.

  • @ChaoticGoodFTW
    @ChaoticGoodFTW 3 месяца назад

    Your Pippin voice is spot on! Love your videos. They help brighten up my otherwise dark days. Thank you and cheers, mate 🍻

  • @Anacronian
    @Anacronian 4 месяца назад +5

    My head cannon - and yes, I know this might be silly - But I always believed that Saruman got his hands on one of the Dwarven rings, Those rings always gave the Dwarves a lust for gold and I speculate that when Saruman put the ring on he increased his lust for power but also his fear for he knew that if Sauron got the one ring he might fall under his shadow, he is no dwarf after all.

    • @istari0
      @istari0 4 месяца назад +1

      Tolkien wrote that 4 of the 7 were destroyed by Dragons and Sauron recovered the other 3.

    • @ghostdreamer7272
      @ghostdreamer7272 4 месяца назад +2

      Yeah, nice theory but they were accounted for. And the Dwarf Rings were the same as the Nazgûl Rings… it was the nature of Dwarves that made their rings not bend to Sauron and instead to gold, it was the nature of Men that made their rings turn them into Nazgûl.

  • @TheHoneyBadger-yh5vj
    @TheHoneyBadger-yh5vj 4 месяца назад +3

    God bless you and your work sir. 💜💜💜 respect from Croatia-europe 💜💜💜

  • @entwistlefromthewho
    @entwistlefromthewho 4 месяца назад +3

    It seems like something of a plot hole that Saruman didn't take Narya from Gandalf when he imprisoned him in Orthanc.

  • @pattonramming1988
    @pattonramming1988 4 месяца назад +10

    As powerful as the rings of power are they are the product of hundreds of years of experience whether or not Saruman had this level of experience when crafting his ring we can not know

    • @Cerylion
      @Cerylion 4 месяца назад +8

      He might have had experience as Saruman probably practiced with Aule longer than Sauron did, who abandoned Aule in ancient times. But I don't think Saruman is nearly as talented as Sauron is, so he would be lacking there.

    • @richardmaier28
      @richardmaier28 4 месяца назад +5

      as Treebeard said after Sarumans demise"he was always hasty,that was his downfall"

  • @user-sd7ri9fy4i
    @user-sd7ri9fy4i 4 месяца назад

    Nice work dude thanks

  • @Froyop
    @Froyop 4 месяца назад

    Love your vids, what about a video explaining the fellowship before the fellowship

  • @awgates85
    @awgates85 4 месяца назад +7

    Just a little theorizing on my part, but Saruman's ring might be an even more unpolished lesser ring than his skill and knowledge would imply it would be. He is wise and was working with Sauron while wanting to supplant him, so as a contingency he may have deviated enough from the template of the other rings to avoid his falling under the One's dominion. While this is probably unlikely, it could be a possibility.

    • @o00nemesis00o
      @o00nemesis00o 4 месяца назад +1

      I don't think he knew what the template, or recipe, was. His ring was probably of a similar degree of power that pre-Annatar rings would be made with, which is still nothing to be sniffed at, but... I think he was planning to get around to advanced ringmaking in the centuries following his joint victory with Sauron.

    • @awgates85
      @awgates85 4 месяца назад +2

      @@o00nemesis00o You could be right, but if any of the lore from Eregion was recorded somewhere, which is what I based my assumptions on, I figured Saruman would have found it. Who knows, he might have even sabotaged the records some to prevent others from learning more, slowing Gandalf's search later on.

  • @vplj
    @vplj 4 месяца назад

    Please make a video every week. I love Tolkien world and you are the best source for it. I will listen to anything you have to say. And I am sure you will find a lot of things to say. ❤

  • @Firebrand128
    @Firebrand128 4 месяца назад +16

    I do have a question:
    If Saruman coveted the ring of power that Gandalf owned, then why did he not take it from him when he had Gandalf prisoner in Isengard?

    • @Marsmuncher
      @Marsmuncher 4 месяца назад +11

      It's possible that the 3 rings of the elves due to being made without Sauron's direct input couldn't be taken by force (a sign of domination which is the point of the one ring) and could only be freely given. Hence why Cirdin was able to give his ring to Gandalf. Just a theory.
      Another theory which has more support from the book is that Gandalf's ring would of remained invisible to Saruman It was only due to Frodo's possession of the one and his growing strength of will that he was able to see Galadriel's ring. Despite Saruman claiming to be a ring maker the ring Saruman bore wasn't anywhere near the power of the other elven rings or the one and thus it could be Saruman couldn't see the ring in order to take it.

    • @dargron7614
      @dargron7614 4 месяца назад +11

      I'm not so sure Saruman coveted Gandalf's ring, and rather simply took insult that it was offered to Gandalf when he considered himself the more logical and worthy recipient. It was symbolic of the Elves showing more faith, trust and respect to Gandalf and that would eat at Saruman's pride.
      Why not take it? Perhaps, because by that stage The One Ring was in play, and that was the real prize... and perhaps it may have been advantageous for Saruman to let Gandalf keep it, for if Saruman were to gain The One Ring, might he then be able to use it to dominate Gandalf through his ring.

    • @o00nemesis00o
      @o00nemesis00o 4 месяца назад +5

      @@dargron7614 Also, if Saruman knew what the effect of Narya was, then he would dismiss it. The power to inspire courage in others is unimportant, if he already has hypnotic powers of persuasion and if he would prefer people to be afraid of him.

    • @kermit8173
      @kermit8173 3 месяца назад +1

      @@o00nemesis00o It would still have magnified his powers of persuasion. If I had powers of persuasion and you told me that you had a ring that magnified your ability to convince others to be courageous I wouldn't be thinking "Oh lol don't need that, I'm good at that already" I would plot to take it from you and weaponize the combined power. Saruman literally wanted to have a ring of power. Narya would have been perfect for him.

  • @gregorferry3249
    @gregorferry3249 3 месяца назад

    Fantastic! brilliantly presented and researched. Have you ever considered your own audio book adaption? You're voices are worth paying to listen to! Many thanks for your video!

  • @CaesiusX
    @CaesiusX 4 месяца назад

    Loved it, _thank you!_

  • @godmademedoit1
    @godmademedoit1 4 месяца назад +1

    Your accents are really good..... appreciated

  • @luudest
    @luudest 4 месяца назад +2

    4:54 haha nice“ Sauron, the Lord of the Rings himself“

  • @richardmaier28
    @richardmaier28 4 месяца назад +1

    So many allegories to today; call me a pessimist or malcontent but hearing mere essays of the craft reminded me of physicists graduating from mere fission weapons to fission/fusion (teller/ulam)

  • @duncansutherland47
    @duncansutherland47 2 месяца назад

    Great info, thanks

  • @lunarsoulz
    @lunarsoulz 4 месяца назад +1

    Aule sure knows how to pick servants lol. Both Sauron and Saruman both ended up evil tyrants and with a hunger for power.

  • @XX-sp3tt
    @XX-sp3tt Месяц назад

    My brother once described Saruman as not just his verbal guile, but his "presence", the sense of authority he gave off.

  • @thebrowneyesofmandalore6524
    @thebrowneyesofmandalore6524 4 месяца назад +1

    Saruman’s voice: I shed the blood of a Saxon man! I shed the blood of Four Thousand Saxon men!

  • @positivelynegative9149
    @positivelynegative9149 4 месяца назад +1

    Thanks, Nerd. 😃👍

  • @paulstewart1557
    @paulstewart1557 4 месяца назад +2

    What I recall from the original stories, is that the Rings of Power (and the Silmarils too) did not have any power of their own - other than that which was poured into them by their creators. Now in the case of the Elves, I suspect that it was the collective vitality and joy of the Elves in middle-earth, that was poured into the Three. And this "power" was so great, that to dominate the Rings and their Bearers, Sauron was obliged to pour much of his own vitality into the One. Wearing the One Ring did nothing for Sauron other than to allow him to be complete - he was not greater with the One than he was before its crafting, it was just that it provided him the means to dominate the other rings - which is what he sought.
    Now in Saruman's case, although he may have crafted a Ring - if it was powerful, that power would have had to be instilled in it (i.e. sacrificed by) Saruman himself. I think it is likely that his Ring, at best, could have refined his focus and the execution of his power, but it is probably unlikely to have increased his existing power - this is inconsistent with Tolkien's soft magic philosophy.

    • @janpolednik5012
      @janpolednik5012 3 месяца назад

      I would disagree. The foundations of Barad Dur were laid using One ring, and they were indestructible till the ring existed. Also, the power to dominate other ring bearers was just one power, he also could read other ring bearers' minds. He gained a lot of power through the ring

  • @johnglielmi6428
    @johnglielmi6428 4 месяца назад +3

    Taking on the visage of old men, naturally tells anyone that meets them they are wise sages. as wisdom is associated with age. that's why the term "Respect your elders" came about. as the elders of the villages were the ones in charge and were sought out for advice. So if they wanted the people of Middle Earth to take heed of them they took that old wizened sage aspect to get them to listen to their message!

  • @swebilbo
    @swebilbo 4 месяца назад +3

    Tolkien stated that Saruman, would in Mordor, after Saurons fall, in time, find a way to make a true GREAT ring. i Guess he meant if Saruman kept his evil secret till after Saurons ring was destroyed.

  • @samaellibog69
    @samaellibog69 3 месяца назад

    Love this video.

  • @warprifter8772
    @warprifter8772 4 месяца назад +3

    8:50 huh. so thats where they got Calabrimbor's story arc from in shadow of war.

  • @Mortices
    @Mortices 4 месяца назад +14

    You have to wonder whether even a 'lesser ring' like Saruman's would have been subject to the power of the One, and make its wearer vulnerable to Sauron's domination. After all, Sauron could command his Nazgûl even without the One Ring, and the Three were subject to the One even though Sauron had no hand in their making - so might Saruman's possession of a self-made lesser ring have made him more susceptible to Sauron's corrupting overtures?

    • @davidlewis5312
      @davidlewis5312 4 месяца назад +9

      No. Celebrimbor made the Three with the Gift of Saurons knowledge thus they share a link to the One. Saurmon made his with the Gift of Knowledge from his master, the Valar of the Forge. His tier in this is parallel to Sauron.

    • @SuperSoundtracksEX
      @SuperSoundtracksEX 4 месяца назад +6

      ⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@davidlewis5312Both Sauron and Saruman learned this knowledge from
      the same master, Aule. It’s likely the ring was a lesser ring and had a lesser influence over Saruman, which led him to using the Palantir which completed his corruption.

    • @Cerylion
      @Cerylion 4 месяца назад +3

      These other rings were all made with Sauron, and likely had some of himself poured into them. The three elven rings, which were done without him but from the knowledge he taught, were free of his control unless he wore the One Ring
      Saruman's Ring was done without Sauron, so it would be free of him. The Perfected Saruman's Ring would have tried to control the One Ring... well, I don't think anyone could truly defeat Sauron in a battle of wills. Saruman is cunning, but Sauron is much more so. So the perfected ring might spell Saruman's doom.

    • @racernatorde5318
      @racernatorde5318 4 месяца назад +2

      @@davidlewis5312 Did Saurumans knowledge not come from studying the rings and their craft? If so, he would have forged his ring after the same instructions, as the elves of yore.
      Though he must have been be aware of Sauron's plan in the second age and should know that any ring, forged after Sauron's teaching, would be controlled by the one ring

    • @istari0
      @istari0 4 месяца назад +1

      @@racernatorde5318 I think Saruman would have likely been aware of the risk and made enough modifications so his Ring of Power would not be subject to the One Ring.

  • @alexeisenhauer5874
    @alexeisenhauer5874 Месяц назад

    thank you!

  • @NychayVlogs
    @NychayVlogs 4 месяца назад +1

    Were you able to film anything at the shire on your trip. I’d love to see a video of your travels.

  • @alstonlossett8418
    @alstonlossett8418 4 месяца назад

    Hi, long time Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit lover here! I, grew up watching the movies and I still to this day enjoy watching the shows.
    One thing in particular that is not really mentioned in the movies, is the destination of souls. Now I learned from watching your channel a bit on what happens to elves and men when they die, but can you cover this topic concerning hobbits, dwarves, orcs, etc?

  • @kristenrosales2919
    @kristenrosales2919 4 месяца назад +5

    If Saruman made a ring more powerful than The One Ring I dread to think what would happen to Middle Earth.

    • @kristenrosales2919
      @kristenrosales2919 4 месяца назад +2

      I agree with your statement. Still, Curumo/Saruman was once a servant of Aule.

  • @randyroo2
    @randyroo2 Месяц назад

    I like the parallel between the one ring and sarumans greatest ability his voice. Both of them in essence are the same, they seek to dominate the will of other beings.

  • @MC-810
    @MC-810 4 месяца назад +1

    Blame Aulë for everything. It’s his Maiar who Break Bad!

  • @ShawnQuiQui57
    @ShawnQuiQui57 4 месяца назад

    that was a good one man

  • @TheHeartlessFour
    @TheHeartlessFour 3 месяца назад +1

    Saruman really was just predisposed to becoming a villain from day one. His arrogance was only surpassed by Sauron's

  • @Simon-bt3fm
    @Simon-bt3fm 4 месяца назад

    Great video as always! I wonder where the artwork at 8:14 comes from? I faintly remember it from a DnD game like Neverwinter Nights. Is that correct?

  • @isaiahach
    @isaiahach 4 месяца назад +1

    this channel is dope

  • @the_aberration7398
    @the_aberration7398 4 месяца назад +1

    3:20
    “Saruman reveals that he is no longer simply Saruman the White- but something he deems much greater… Radagast the Brown!”

  • @alancoll1987
    @alancoll1987 4 месяца назад +3

    Makes me wander what would of changed if Cirdan gave Narya to Saruman. Would he of stayed good and not have been so jealous of Gandalf or would it of made if worse like empowering his voice or kindling the hearts of his Uruk hai?

    • @Cerylion
      @Cerylion 4 месяца назад +3

      It would have just given a dangerous man a dangerous artifact. IT was only a matter of time before Saruman would have fallen. The man's pride and ambition are simply too grand for his own good.

    • @istari0
      @istari0 4 месяца назад +1

      The story of how the Valar chose who would become the Istari shows that Saruman was already behaving in a petty and jealous fashion towards Gandalf and Radagast.

  • @erfelgamazig
    @erfelgamazig Месяц назад

    I didn't know about Sauroman's and Gandalf's rings. I just assumed they had rings, but didn't see anything about them. (I haven't a lot of Tolkien) Saruman seemed too proud, even from the start (the start that I know of) Thanks for this explanation.

  • @j.r.r.toking
    @j.r.r.toking 2 месяца назад +2

    It would have been nice to see Saruman's chromoflair robes in the movies.

  • @dlxmarks
    @dlxmarks 4 месяца назад +2

    So what you're saying is that Saruman installed the world's first Ring doorbell at Isengard.

  • @MurderMostFowl
    @MurderMostFowl 4 месяца назад

    I love these videos… this is pretty off-topic, but have you ever thought of doing a collaboration with Charlie Hopkinson? He could be on an episode where he does the voices.
    I don’t know if you have purposely portrayed some of the voices here differently than the films in order to keep peoples attention on focus on the textual material, but if you don’t have anything against it… It would be a fun thing to see once!

  • @PaulthePhilosopher2
    @PaulthePhilosopher2 4 месяца назад

    The meme image at 2:39 really broke the mood for me.

  • @mr.jglokta191
    @mr.jglokta191 4 месяца назад +1

    Aulë really drills the need for perfect order into his servants doesn't he
    🤦‍♂😆

    • @spaceanarchist1107
      @spaceanarchist1107 3 месяца назад +1

      He is Earth, the most solid and stable of the elements. Some of his followers took it too far and went fash. Melkor, by contrast, was fire, the most chaotic element, and he wielded order only for the ultimate purpose of destruction. It's interesting that Sauron followed Melkor at first, but when he was left to go on his own, he reverted back to the dark-Aulëan way of totalitarian form and order. Order in excess becomes a type of chaos, since it leads to destruction.

  • @debrickashaw9387
    @debrickashaw9387 Месяц назад

    A fun detail from the movies; after Frodo destroys the one ring, all the other rings crafted lose their power and thus we get to see the ring Narya on Gandalfs hand for the first time when Frodo is about to board the ship to Valinor. This is because the rings (the one ring excluded) have the power to be invisible to everyone except another ring wielder.

  • @marcb3097
    @marcb3097 4 месяца назад

    Thanks!

  • @psevdhome
    @psevdhome Месяц назад

    I don't think it matters at all what power Saruman had imbued in his ring. It's the fact that he had made it that matters. He sought at first knowledge of the rings, their history, so as to deduce their powers, origins and also their location if need be. Later he was corrupted by his desire to lead into a desire to dominate and control. Making the ring is a sign of his ultimate fall into evil. Not only had he gathered enough lore to know much about the making of rings and their origins, but he had, instead of opposing Sauron and the rings, to replicate their power for himself and use that to rule over others. He has gone from wanting to stop the enemy's weapons to wanting to make them better and use them more efficiently for his own purposes.

  • @caesarmedina8489
    @caesarmedina8489 3 месяца назад

    This reminds me of the scene from the movie, where the fellowship is on top of the mountain and he is casting spells at them from the top of Isengard.

  • @inthedeadhours
    @inthedeadhours 4 месяца назад

    That Pippin was on point 😆

  • @ElladanKenet
    @ElladanKenet 4 месяца назад +1

    Here's my question:
    If Saruman knew about Gandalf having Narya, and Saruman defeated and imprisoned Gandalf, why did Saruman never try to take his ring?
    I'm pretty sure Gandalf being imprisoned by the Necromancer is a movie only thing. Gandalf never reveals that he has the ring until after Sauron is defeated in the books.

    • @ElladanKenet
      @ElladanKenet 4 месяца назад

      @@axm2044 Sounds like more of a theory, as for being invisible to touch. I don't recall that in the text at all.

  • @reacaoanimada9455
    @reacaoanimada9455 Месяц назад

    What I always loved about this world, is how the dark lord throne can be ocupied by basically anyone within the powers of creation. Sauron, the second most skillful crafting hands, surpassed only by feanor, created the key piece to rule the entire world, and had to make it using his own self to do so, yet still, anyone that grabs the ring and has power over some aspect of the world can claim the world for thenselves. Galadriel, the lady of light and water, Gandalf, a Maya... It is funny how he made it, he is ti, he wears it, yet looses it and has no control over it, cant sense were it is, who has it, where to begin search, and in the end spends millenia lost without it, and without never getting even close of it again, even while Frodo takes it direct under his nose. Reflects the true meaning of agony, creating a thing so powerful yet so unsafe, seems almost impossible to keep for long really.

  • @dolandarkxgrandayy6953
    @dolandarkxgrandayy6953 4 месяца назад +2

    Saruman of many colors

  • @rikusauske
    @rikusauske 4 месяца назад +2

    I think his ring would preserve his spirit. Thats why he couldnt go to valinor
    He vecane herumor the black wizard. A ghost guiding the orc cults in the 4th age

    • @scoobysnacker1999
      @scoobysnacker1999 4 месяца назад

      Someone mentioned something of Saruman on one of the earlier videos, and it really intrigued me...
      1) Saruman devised his Ring with the benefit of knowing what happened to the earlier Rings (being tied to the One). With this knowledge and the skill he learned in Aule's service, I think he would have made his own Ring to be free of Sauron's. As Sauron's peer, and knowing there was hidden code inside them, he would have determined a way to make his separately (in a way Celebrimbor wouldn't have known about).
      2) Sauron's Ring served as a battery (or a locker) for his spirit. Once created, Sauron could not be permanently destroyed or diminished... he survived the destruction of Numenor, and the Last Alliance, and reformed. *IF Saruman employed THIS craft, and his Ring not destroyed, he would eventually reform too.
      3) It's always been stated that the Red Book of Westmarch (the "original" LOTR book) is actually a real account of history, from the early days of (Middle) Earth. That is to say, we live in the same world, just many Ages later.
      4) IF Saruman reformed, he certainly would have had an influence on civilizations. It was always his intent to control, to shape, to lead (even if from the shadows, such as with Rohan). In the aftermath of what happened in LOTR, he might well "deem it wise" to not reveal himself in power, but instead to pull the strings from afar. This may be an effort to stay under the radar of the Valar, avoid another round of Istari coming etc. The Elves are now gone, the Dwarves on the way out, it will simply be Men with short lifespans and liable to not detect a truly long-game scheme. They (we) could not conceive that something that happened 2000-4000 yrs ago could be connected to current events, even to the same entity. We generally dismiss immortality (other than in spirit and the afterlife).
      5) The rise of civilizations as we know it, in our own actual history, has ALWAYS been tied to advances in military technology. Bronze-> Iron -> Steel, the advent of gunpowder, mechanization, armor, air power, increasing potency all the way to nukes today.
      That is disturbingly close to what we might imagine Saruman doing; picking and choosing who learns what new craft that gives them dominance, possibly using his silver-tongued powers of persuasion to shape and influence (slowly) what path they went down.
      Perhaps Saruman actually "won" the War of the Ring... ?

    • @rikusauske
      @rikusauske 4 месяца назад

      @@scoobysnacker1999 sauruman was motivated by fear. Maybe without sauron around he would be maybe a spirit of invention as a way to redeem himself

  • @cxzact9204
    @cxzact9204 4 месяца назад

    Can we pleeeeease get a video on the Dunlendings. They're mentioned off hand so often but I feel like I have no idea where or when they come from.

  • @weirdfo
    @weirdfo 4 месяца назад

    What music was used in this video? It's great!

  • @JasonD19736
    @JasonD19736 Месяц назад +1

    Cirdan met the Istari in the Grey Havens? This must be after they arrived from Valinor via meteors. 😆

  • @janrudnicki6111
    @janrudnicki6111 4 месяца назад

    Very good

  • @GreatUSTreasureHunt
    @GreatUSTreasureHunt 4 месяца назад

    Fry: "...and also you can't feel the ring."

  • @mondoleon1471
    @mondoleon1471 4 месяца назад

    can you do a video on the red ring galdalf wears ?

  • @ZiggyQ-mp4ju
    @ZiggyQ-mp4ju 4 месяца назад

    around 8:45 you mention a letter by Tolkien, whats the reference for this? id love to read this letter.

  • @EPIC-zf2gq
    @EPIC-zf2gq 4 месяца назад +1

    Saruman created his own ring? I read unfinished tales and dont remember that. What part is it?

  • @MrKurtank
    @MrKurtank 4 месяца назад +1

    That point about what lore Saruman would pick up in Barad-dûr really kicked my imagination into gear...que a new, and never to be played, MERP "what if" campaign outline.

  • @teleportedbreadfor3days
    @teleportedbreadfor3days 4 месяца назад +2

    It is my firm belief that if Saruman had not died when he did, he would have descended as Middle Earth’s third Dark Lord. During the Scourge of the Shire, there was little difference between him and Sauron, for among other things, he was willing to lie in a bid to hurt those he deemed lesser. If Saruman managed to create a true Ring of Power for himself and render Sauron enslaved, I’m sure an uneasy alliance between Sauron and the Free People would be formed in the face of a common enemy, where Sauron would lie and obviously betray Middle Earth’s people after destroying Sauron for his treachery.

    • @istari0
      @istari0 4 месяца назад

      Saruman lacked the power at that point. If he was still that dangerous, Gandalf and the White Council would not have allowed him to run around on his own.

    • @teleportedbreadfor3days
      @teleportedbreadfor3days 4 месяца назад

      @@istari0 There are unnatural means of achieving power. Could Saruman have gained what he lacked?

    • @dracthewanderer6871
      @dracthewanderer6871 4 месяца назад

      I am afraid, while Saruman has all the skillsets to be one, he just doesn´t have personality for that. He failed the very moment he started beelining towards Shire. Sauron would have gone in opposite direction farthest away from good guys sight and sat on a rock for some hundred years for his rivals to crumble into dust due age or ditching Middle--Earth for Valinor. All Saruman had to do was find some distant kingdom, use his voice and knowledge to worm his way into becoming important councilor for king, install himself as future despot or God-king and start slowly annexing the territories surrounding his new power base.

  • @DWRDan
    @DWRDan 4 месяца назад

    Please could you do a video on the South of Middle Earth and the Hitherlands? (In the same style as your Rhun video)

  • @mattjharrisyahoo
    @mattjharrisyahoo 4 месяца назад +1

    Something to keep in mind - Saruman's ring is the only ring other than the One Ring, made solely by a Maia.

  • @insurrbution
    @insurrbution 3 месяца назад

    "and another for the fallen wizard in his tower of stone"