That podcast episode I mention at the end of the video, with Jen (the voice of Aredhel) and Michael, has now been released. You can check it out here: www.podbean.com/ew/pb-g74gc-110ed5a

Honestly, Aredhel is my favorite character in the whole Silmarillion and deserves much more attention than she is given. Most people discard the fact that she crossed Nan- Dungortheb where the children of Ungoliant, who aided Melkor in destroying the two trees and nearly took him down, dwelt. And she did this alone. This implies she is very brave and strong which should not be surprising as she is the daughter of Fingolfin. I searched her up a lot on youtube but didn't see many great videos save a few But you did a great job. Great video!

Just wanted to say these videos were an instrumental part in me actually getting into and fully finishing the Silmarillion this past summer after 20 years of picking it up and putting it down. The first third is the hardest to digest so where you'd gotten to by then was perfect for helping me pick up all the subtle odds and ends. This was probably the first chapter that made me go, "Wow, I wish Tolkien had written a full novel of every chapter in this--these are great stories!" Keep up the great work!

One of my favorite (if very grim) parts of the Silmarillion. Jennifer is great as Aredhel!

i had forgotten that Thingol was called a Dark Elf by Caranthir. imagine 1 of the 3 fathers of Elves that was the FIRST in Aman and FIRST to witness The Trees being called a Dark Elf.

Very interesting. She was a very willful Elf herself and Tolkien's description makes the reader wonder......I feel that she was perhaps captivated by his darkness for a while. I don't think there was violence, but perhaps instead manipulation and gas-lighting....

Wow that was some dark shiiette, dude! Darkest I've ever imagined of Tolkien. Well done for covering it in such a tasteful manner.

Technically LACE was written by Eriol/Elfwine or the hobbits as a frame character (s)- so there would be biases or even coverups in the text if we were to view it from that angle. I do actually find it really interesting that Celegorm, Maeglin and Eol don't quite 'fit' the ideal Elven mould as written. There's a lot of complexity and also explains Maeglin's sinister character development later on. Also, love the voice actress for Aredhel!

You are back, I'm so excited about it that I'm gonna drop this comment with little to say for now! Thanks Dan, you are among my top three loremasters on youtube

Imagine having glorfindel, ecthelion and egalmoth escorting you and still getting lost lmao

Oh wow. I can't believe that this collection of characters almost past out of my memory in favor of others until you started bringing them up. Also , kudos for giving the content warning for some people who might be sensitive to that. Another point against those who claim/don't understand just how dark Tolkien's world is without being graphic. I love how Aredhel is such a good example of how strong willed, for better or worse, some of his women are just like their male counterparts...Thank you so much for your maps once more as even if I recall the names I never have any sense of geography. Yeah, you assume much of my meager brain if you think it even occurred to me who's cousins with whom. Elves do seem to be rather plagued with wanderlust. Oooh. Very good observation about the difference in the use of 'dark'.Did Eol's friendship with the dwarves cleave the wedge a little wider between the peoples? Hyejeon jeon's piece has stolen my heart. I adore that style. I remember that opening sentence after your warning really taking me aback. The creep factor was so real. Thanks again for such a lovely work!

Yet another wonderful video, Dan. Keep up the great work.

Well that was a dark story, great video

I can't help but feel that the lust-like obsession with Light by Eol, Melkor and other is not so much a direct sign of their corrupted state, but more of a indication of that there is some Good still in them, but is twisted and perverted

Thank you Thank you ~ I've been waiting on this. I love this series your doing & always looking forward to the next chapter. Beautiful work my friend!

Hey Dan, this is really cool stuff, looking forward to your next videos! Fernan

Laws and Customs specifies the situation of raping another's spouse. Aredhel was single, so she's outside the technical ruling of that essay. However, between Eol, Celegorm, and Maeglin, Laws and Customs simply does not fit the actual Elves of the story - so I prefer to ignore it.

Thanks dan . Nice thumbnail. Nice use of the word ranges good English.

Let's gooooooooo!

Well that took a dark turn... a dark ELF turn... alright I'll see myself out.

This is such a good story

I believe you'll be releasing the next responding to our voices (10-15) video soon ~ wink, wink :)

🔥🔥🔥

Wow that lady did wonderful voice work ( reading) apologies i don't know her name yet .. ah Jennifer Gallagher. Good to know ( edited)

The Laws and Customs thing is easily explained by the fact that.... how well does the reality of how people actually act match what some one wrote down in "The Big Book of How People Act." You have the idealized version of the rules of society and how things are, and then you have the reality of how things actually work.

The embassy to visit valinor with thingol ect . In my head cannon it seems odd to me , i mean yes the 3 visited but i cant believe they travelled alone i always suspected escorts like cirdan and a few others must have escorted them or to sail the ship . It seems reasonable nothing in text but perhaps ?

Great video on a controversial story.