The Powers of the Istari (Wizards)

The Powers of the Istari (Wizards) | Tolkien Explained

Рет қаралды 1,216,126

Жыл бұрын

We’ll highlight not only how the wizards were bound to their physical bodies, but also the instances where we get glimpses of their power.
Hit subscribe - and the bell!
Nerd of the Rings on PATREON: / nerdoftherings
To purchase artist work, check out these amazing artists!
Tulikoura - www.deviantart.com/tulikoura
Matthew Stewart - www.matthew-stewart.com/
BellaBergolts - www.deviantart.com/bellabergolts
Magdalena Katanska - www.artstation.com/magdalenak... / qualiney
Jerry Vanderstelt - store.vandersteltstudio.com/m...
Anna Podedworna - www.artstation.com/akreon
Jenny Dolfen - goldseven.wordpress.com/
Turner Mohan - turner_mohan
Ted Nasmith - www.tednasmith.com/shop/
Anke Eissmann - anke.edoras-art.de/anke_illust...
Aronja Art - / aronjaart
Ivan Cavini - / ivan_cavini
Sara Morello - www.artstation.com/saramorello
Matěj Čadil - www.etsy.com/people/matejcadil
Tulikoura - www.deviantart.com/tulikoura
Aegeri - www.deviantart.com/aegeri
Noe Leyva - / noeleyvart
Clemence Morisseau - www.artstation.com/kahirie
Edvige Faini - www.edvigefaini.com , edvige.faini , edvige_faini
Wizards - the Istari - Ivan Cavini
radagastm - tolmancotton
Gandalf vs Witch King - Angus McBride
gandalf-returns-to-hobbiton - John Howe
Across_Middle-earth_-_Amon_Hen - Ralph_Damiani
Manwe Sulimo - Christina Kraus
Aule_the_Destroyer - Ted Nasmith
Valar orome - kuliszu
Manwe - nahar
Gandalf - Anke Eissmann
Breath of Arda - Manwe - Christina Kraus
the_blue_wizards - turnermohan
valar yavanna - kuliszu
la-radagast - tom-romain
Wizards - the Istari - Ivan Cavini
Eru and the Gods Singing the First Song of Creation - Kip Rasmussen
The_Arrival_of_Gandalf - Darrell_Sweet
rafael-damiani-
the_blue_wizard - aegeri
ralph-damiani-alatar-and-pallando - ralphdamiani
manwe - felix-englund
Gandalf - JG Jones
Gandalf and Faramir - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Gandalf - aegeri
gandalf_and_theoden - tolmancotton
ralph-damiani-glorfindels-arrival-review - ralphdamiani
Saruman - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Gandalf - skullbastard
Cirdan - alystraea
GandalfTheGrey - John Howe
sketchesSaruman - John Howe
Gandalf and the Balrog - Matthew Stewart
Gandalf Balrog - Felix Englund
Saruman Meets His Fate - Elrodimus Flash
rafael-damiani-bluewizards - ralphdamiani
Gandalf and Faramir - Anke Eissmann
Gandalf the Grey - Elrodimus Flash
Radagast - Ivan Cavini
The_Shores_of_Valinor - Ted Nasmith
Gandalf-and-the-Witch-King - Ted Nasmith
gandalf_the grey - Jerry Vanderstelt
Gandalf - John Howe
Cirdan Lord of the Falathrim - Peet
glorfindel_with_elrond_and_gandalf - alystraea
Gandalf_Rides_to_Minas_Tirith - Ted Nasmith
The_Stranger_in_the_Forest - Ted Nasmith
Radagast - Steve Airola
Gandalf in Archives Minas Tirith - Matthew Stewart
3 wizards - Felix Englund
Gandalf and Gwaihir - Ivan Cavini
Gandalf and Balrog - John Howe
Gandalf - aegeri
ainur-wizard-valier-yavanna - David greset
Gandalf the White - Steve Airola
radagast - rafael-damiani
GwaihirRescuesGandalf - John Howe
Gandalf_Escapes_Upon_Gwaihir - Ted Nasmith
Saruman Palantir - Steve Airola
Weathertop - Alan_Lee
Radagast the Brown - Peet
radagast_aiwendil - aegeri
valar vana - kuliszu
valar mandos - kuliszu
valar este - kuliszu
Eru and the Gods Singing the First Song of Creation - Kip Rasmussen
The_Blue_Wizards_Journeying_East - Ted Nasmith
Radagast - tolmancotton
radagast-a - Soni Weasel
gandalf_the_white - bembiann
Gandalf and the Witch King Ride - Kip Rasmussen
Fire_on_Weathertop - Ted Nasmith
Riders_at_The_Ford - Ted Nasmith
Gandalf book Mazarbul - Matthew Stewart
the_bridge_of_khazad_dum____gandalf_vs_balrog - kuliszu
Gandalf and Balrog - JG Jones
the_fellowship_in_hollin - kuliszu
Fellowship vs Wargs - Catherine Karina Chmiel
IMG_1611
Gandalf and Frodo - Ivan Cavini
the-young-bilbo - sara-morello
Gandalf-A+Light+in+the+Dark - Matthew Stewart
Gandalf2 - Catherine Karina Chmiel
gandalf2 - John Howe
Gandalf and Frodo in Rivendell - Anke Eissmann
GandalfFallsWithTheBalrog - John Howe
Amon Hen - John Howe
Across_Middle-earth Amon_Hen - Ralph_Damiani
Nazgul_at_the_Walls - Ted Nasmith
gandalf-frodo - Soni Weasel
Gandalf Frodo and the Ring - Elrodimus Flash
Gandalf_and_Thorin - Ted Nasmith
saruman_with_the_palantir - kuliszu
saruman_of_many_colours - tolmancotton
Saruman-Beren Key of Orthanc - LOTRO
saruman_in_orthanc - anotherstranger_me
Aule Crafting the Dwarves - Peter Xavier Price
Helms_Deep - John Howe
Orc at Isengard - Elrodimus Flash
The-Uruk-hai - John Howe
Saruman and Palantir - Angus McBride
shadow-of-war-sauron - wardenlight-studio
Saruman - Steve Airola
Pursuit_in_Rohan - Ted Nasmith
Three Hunters - JG Jones
Isengard - Ivan Cavini
The Pyre of Denethor - Anke Eissmann
#lordoftherings #silmarillion #tolkien

Пікірлер: 921

@patrickb1303 Жыл бұрын

Lol Gandalf was played so well in the movies that 95% of his art is drawn as Ian McKellen.

@rickplayzyt6277 Жыл бұрын

Yep, and to be honest. I couldn't see Gandalf any other way

@tayluvofficial Жыл бұрын

I can't even imagine Gandalf without Sir Ian McKellen.🤷😂

@freibier Жыл бұрын

Ian McKellen was PERFECT as Gandalf. Exactly as I imagined him when reading the books in the 80s.

@t3g454 Жыл бұрын

Both Gandalf and Saruman, in my opinion

@Mrdoom26 Жыл бұрын

There is ONLY Gandalf McKellen. Any other iteration of Gandalf is heresy.

@ForFrodoOfficial Жыл бұрын

Tolkien Wizards in one line : " Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks. I am not trying to rob you. I'm trying to help you. "

@valentinkambushev4968 Жыл бұрын

Expect Saruman.

@ForFrodoOfficial Жыл бұрын

@@valentinkambushev4968 He had the same purpose, same destiny...To Help. But went against it and paid the price.

@danilokrdzavac6603 Жыл бұрын

Tolkien's Wizards in one line: "It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.”

@Moldylocks Жыл бұрын

Amazon wizards in one line : "spare some change?"

@jojokintel 3 ай бұрын

It starts by someone saying that, and then slowly their good intentions become oppressive, then onerous, and then diabolical.

@LordOfTheLore123 Жыл бұрын

One is never late to a Nerd of the Rings video.. Nor is he early! He arrives precisely when he needs to!

@larryroberts3598 Жыл бұрын

I have to cross worlds here....50 points to Griffyndor

@thegreatandpowerfulme Жыл бұрын

100th like wooo

@mystictimewarp9831 Жыл бұрын

Yes!!!

@castocobian1976 Жыл бұрын

Exactly... Right on time...

@LuisSierra42 Жыл бұрын

@@larryroberts3598 Isn't Dumbledore a Maiar as well?

@swordmonkey6635 Жыл бұрын

I always enjoy when new or casual fans realize that Gandalf, The Balrog and Sauron are of the same kind: Maiar.

@HigherMid Жыл бұрын

ITS CRAZY! 😂

@martinkerr2721 Жыл бұрын

so glad you did not say random fan , don't why word has crept into near every sentence

@allisonkreutzberg6079 Жыл бұрын

This was my husband. Had to pause the movie while he processed 😂

@swordmonkey6635 Жыл бұрын

@@martinkerr2721 People probably don't appreciate what the word "random" means in a statistical sense and use it as a flippant statement.

@Brianbono21 Жыл бұрын

Nerds will be nerds I guess... Passive aggressive. Condescending. As witnessed by these replies. You're such brilliant Tolkein lore specialists. And apparently Tolkein level linguists as well. Is that random?

@valentinkambushev4968 Жыл бұрын

I love the moments in the movies when Gandalf uses his deep and scary voice. I often refer to it as his "Maiar voice".

@12Monkeysable Жыл бұрын

I use this voice, whenever my students are not listening.

@kristinemilostan7966 Жыл бұрын

I usually call it his "daddy voice" but maybe that's just me

@pault.6653 Жыл бұрын

Yo, the way he says "krimpatul" during The Council of Elrond is buttered toast.

@Ryan79345 Жыл бұрын

@@pault.6653 Ive replayed that part many times

@erikdayne5429 Жыл бұрын

DO NOT TAKE ME FOR A CONJURER OF CHEAP TRICKS!!!

@blinky297 Жыл бұрын

I always loved that Olorin/Gandalf was considered the wisest of the Maiar, and he was the one who didn't want to go. He was afraid of Sauron, and unsure of his abilities. In the end though, it was his wisdom and tempered nature that allowed him to reject the allure of power, and allowed him to guide the forces of Good to victory. He was the one Istari who completed the quest that they were sent forth to perform. I don't think there will ever be another writer quite like Tolkien.

@Chance-cv6wl Жыл бұрын

Nobody knows what the Blue Wizards accomplished in secret. I feel they held a great part in stirring forces from the east.

@TETASARAIVACS Жыл бұрын

@@Fingolfin8888 Glorfindel wasn’t sleeping, he briefly passed through the Halls of Mandos and was then “recasted” again, living first for some time in Valinor and then coming back to Middle Earth.

@TETASARAIVACS Жыл бұрын

@@Chance-cv6wl It is said that the Blue Wizards did achieve important things in the East, probably weakening the Enemy’s forces that came from there. As we know, it was but for some details that the good side managed to defeat Sauron’s armies in the Pellenor, so it seems that the works of the Blue Wizards were decisive indeed.

@TETASARAIVACS Жыл бұрын

@@Fingolfin8888 oh yes, I was just pointing that there would be no problem for Glorfindel to come back to Middle Earth earlier than the Third Age.

@naz-ghul6327 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, exatly. We dont know aloz about theyer work in the east. Imaginr way bigger army coming to palenor fields from there, might be game over. Palenor fields was close victory for gandalf and the crew. Also, i dont see reason why everyone thinks radegast failed his duty. Imo he did what he was suposted to do, so zhe theory "gandalf is the only istari who stays true to his duty" is one i realy dont like

@RubusCalculum Жыл бұрын

one interesting thing Ive always loved is when Saruman is killed it says a mist like a man rises from his body and looks west then a wind from the west blows it away. Which represents Saruman’s spirit being rejected by the valar

@geradkavanagh8240 Жыл бұрын

It finalised the evil for the Shire and gave the hobbits back their own land.

@larrywest42 Жыл бұрын

So that's why Saruman retired to Florida!

@ADthehawk Жыл бұрын

Absolutely didn't notice that! Need to revisit the book again...

@valentinkambushev4968 Жыл бұрын

I think that Valar should forbid Aulë from having servants. The guy is such a poor judge of character that he almost caused the end of Middle Earth.

@toniatchison3678 Жыл бұрын

Or, on the other hand, he brought about what was supposed to happen....

@NerdoftheRings Жыл бұрын

😂😂

@Graywolf335 Жыл бұрын

Oy oy oy, easy, Aulë gave us the Dwarves hahaha

@hardbros2021 Жыл бұрын

And he try to become like Eru himself by creating lifeless golem that eventually become the dwarves.

@andyhasler9464 Жыл бұрын

Dwarves totally gets him ungrounded.

@sethleoric2598 Жыл бұрын

Love how in most fantasy settings, wizards are beings or people who took an interest in magic and stuff, but in Lotr they are straight up basically angels.

@letsomethingshine 11 ай бұрын

Not true, both men and angels/lower-gods/Maiar can get addicted to wisdom. Like a drunkard is addicted to drinking, a wizard is addicted to wisdom. Isn't it Radagast himself mentions that no human wizard can be as special as Mithrandir/Istari are, when they are talking about the rumors of the Necromancer. I think Gandalf the Great even mentions that there are plenty of human and inhuman "conjurors of cheap tricks" out there, not "fakers of cheap tricks" but actual conjurors of weak powers that one must know the trick to doing them.

@jestawell 4 ай бұрын

@@letsomethingshine the witch king, when he was still human was a Sorcerer

@ryanwalker8843 Жыл бұрын

There is and interview with Mckellen and Lee, where they talk about how they played their characters, and what's the approach to playing a character who isn't human. They both show excellent understanding of the differences between Gandalf and Saurman. Ian says he plays Gandalf as mostly human. He accepts his human like form that gets weary and has many of the limitations of a physical body. Lee theorized that Saruman resents his physical form, that such a powerful entity should have to endure mortal limitations and interact with lesser beings. So he decided to play him with a more inhuman air. It was truly perfect casting for Ian to get Gandalf and Christopher (who wanted Gandalf) to be told you'd make a better Saruman. Plus with what we know about the power of the 'Voice of Saruman' I can't think of a better voice for pulling that off.

@iamnopsycho 11 ай бұрын

When it was mentioned that Saruman had special abilities in his voice, I thought, "It was a great choice to cast Christopher Lee in the movies then." Haha

@GreMnMlin 10 ай бұрын

Christopher Lee would've made a great Gandalf, but he absolutely kills it as Saruman. That production must have been blessed because they got the casting so incredibly perfect

@cheezemonkeyeater 8 ай бұрын

A part of the casting choice was because Lee was in or approaching his 80s at that point and couldn't really do as much of the harder stuff Gandalf had to. Hell, there's a behind the scenes clip of him having trouble just climbing a few stairs in what was supposed to be a continuous shot, forcing them to put a cut to Gandalf's face so that they could help him get up the stairs to complete the shot. If the films had been made when he was a younger man, he almost surely would have been Gandalf, since Tolkien personally approved of that as a casting choice.

@breearbor4275 Жыл бұрын

the fire metaphors in the legendarium are so interesting. on the one hand, fire is associated with light, warmth, and creation. on the other it's associated with terror and destruction. it's associated with Eru (the "secret fire") but also with Sauron. the ring is created and destroyed by fire. the balrog and Gandalf use the opposing sides of fire magic against each other. fire lights the beacons between Gondor and Rohan; but fire also nearly kills Faramir. the great eye is wrapped in flame--but the stars Sam sees in the sky that bring him hope are also great balls of flame. fire is power itself, and it can be good or bad based on who wields it and how they treat it.

@erichdegurechaff9515 9 ай бұрын

Yes, because powers dont have moral, power is just a tool

@oguzhanenescetin5702 9 ай бұрын

Feanor: Okay I am a bit of both here I guess

@anotherhuman8173 Жыл бұрын

One of my favorite things about LotR is how when Tolkien reaches his creative limits (wide limits indeed), he blends them so cleanly with the limits of the reader's own knowledge. The Wizards' abilities are a perfect example of this. They're a shadowy mix of conventional "magic" and spell systems, chemistry, technology, and other "secret crafts" that our world just doesn't have parallels for. What I'm saying is, even though Tolkien can't really go into detail on things like that, which are just beyond our real-world understanding, he blends it so well with a tantalizing air of mystery that it's almost satisfying in itself.

@xyhmo Жыл бұрын

Good point. More mundanely, many writers do something similar when characterizing high-end geniuses, like seeing them through the eyes of more ordinary (but still often smart) characters. That way they don't have to go into detail about the inner workings of those people, which is indeed very hard if you're not a high-end genius yourself.

@emailjough Жыл бұрын

I think the real question we're all wondering about is this: Could Gandalf actually have turned Sam into a toad?

@hannibalb8276 Жыл бұрын

The Grey, or the White?

@nobodysToast89 Жыл бұрын

I should think yes him being either grey or white lol

@Christrulesall2 Жыл бұрын

No. He's good.

@jaymzcarter5458 Жыл бұрын

He did, but sam got better

@keithtorgersen9664 Жыл бұрын

I don’t think so. It’s not just about Gandalf’s power but the strength of Sam’s will.

@elessartelcontar147 Жыл бұрын

I imagine that Sauron might have taken a while to realize what the Wizards were, but after the did he probably wondered who they were specifically. When he got ahold of Saruman I imagine he was like "Ah Curumo! It's been a while. You work for me now". He never bothered with Radagast so much, but when Gandalf battled him with his mind, I wonder if he was "OLORIN? REALLY? You dare to face me student of Nienna?" and 10 seconds later he figured out that it was precisely Olorin who had been thwarting his plans all along.

@thomasberg77 5 ай бұрын

Yeah i think the same thing, but probably all of them dont really remember it,,, i think so But yeah

@untruelie2640 2 ай бұрын

Gandalf's later words about not wanting to yet revealing himself to Sauron directly (by using the Palantír) imply that Sauron wasn't aware that it was Gandalf in particular who "battled" him. This is in accordance with what Galadriel tells Frodo: She can perceive (at least partially) Sauron's intentions, while her own thoughts are hidden from him - all while they are constantly fighting in their minds.

@toppolthecat Жыл бұрын

3:54 man I am awed by how respectfully Grima killed Saruman. Brings tears to my eyes.

@Anothernerdyloser314 Жыл бұрын

I'm glad I'm not the only one that caught that.

@xyhmo Жыл бұрын

Two old friends having one last cordial moment together, in love and goodness.

@1212zeek1212 2 ай бұрын

lol

@carmenjohnson1834 Жыл бұрын

I love how Gandolf is written. Clearly he’s powerful, but they don’t go into such extreme detail that you literally know exactly how powerful he is.

@Jimjiss Жыл бұрын

The video on Wizards arrived exactly when it needed to. 🧙

@thegloriouswizard5270 Жыл бұрын

*Precisely.* 🧙‍♂️

@venkelos6996 Жыл бұрын

I do wish there had been more of a showing of a "good" Saruman, to make his eventual fall actually feel more tragic, but then sources tell us he was bitter, and angry, practically from the beginning, when Cirdan gave Gandalf his ring, and Galadriel sought to give Gandalf leadership of the White Council. He might've been bad even in the east, before we knew anything of his actions, and we don't really get scenes odmf his decency, even if marred by pride. It almost makes me wonder if Aule and Yavanna were actually a happy couple? He created Dwarves, and Yavanna, panicking for what these beings might do with axes, to stoke fires of hearth and forge, asked for Eru to create the Ents to protect her forests. Ayle chose Saruman, and even as he was then, Yavanna feared, and begged they take her Radagast with them. Granted, the Smith had a poor track record; he taught Sauron, and Sauron fell. He taught Feanor (alleged), and Feanor created the Silmarils, which then caused several conflicts, and he refused to part with to literally change the world. His knowledge went to Celebimbor, through Sauron, and we get the Rings of Power, which cause more conflicts. Had he not also made chains to bijd Morgoth, I might question everything he had a hand in, though I know he, at least, is not malevolent. I wonder why such a skilled craftsman couldn't see the obvious flaws in his tool (Saruman), while even his own loving wife seemed concerned every time he made another new thing.

@daves5872 6 ай бұрын

@@marshallhaskell4040aulë confirmed as autistic

@Tazkar Жыл бұрын

While I do love the hard rules of magics that other fantasy worlds have. I also really love how magic is in Tolkien's world. It is very flexible and feels like a projection of one's emotional state combined with their intent to an extent. Least that's just my casual reader perspective.

@untruelie2640 2 ай бұрын

I think you are absolutely right. The more powerful beings just perceive and alter the world around them, like lesser beings craft objects out of stone or wood. The Valar control and oversee the entire worlds or aspects of it (like Ulmo who's influence is in all the waters of Arda), while beings like elves and Dúnedain have enhanced abilities and can craft "supernatural" objects. The "softness" even goes so far that Galadriel doesn't understand what Sam means by using the word "magic". Doing what lesser mortal would call "supernatural stuff" is just part of her daily life.

@warpdriveby Жыл бұрын

We are told explicitly in the first two chapters of the Silmarilion, that all the Ainur (no distinction other than "power level" actually sets Valar apart from Maiar) can clothe themselves in forms of their choosing. More importantly to this discussion, they can walk Arda UNCLAD. In this form, even the mightiest of the Noldor can't detect their presence. I think it's likely that Tolkien considered this in creating Radagast, and Iwendil was a master at moving about while remaining almost impossible to detect. Most people infer that Saruman killed Radagast, or had him killed, but I can't find a passage that is even close to definitive on that subject. I think it possible that Radagast decided to do his best to protect his favourite ecosystems and members of them, and he just pieced out and tended to Mirkwood and or Fangorn. He may be visiting Bombadil, they'd probably find it easy to get along, but as fun an image as it is, there isn't a hint of suggestion that he is off with Tom and Goldberry. However, the familiarity that Gandalf, Elrond, and (I think) Glorfindel speak of Bombadil with suggests that Radagast is very likely to know and be known by old Tom.

@chriscuda8686 Жыл бұрын

I think that's what JRR meant by "hue." In one sense (I think) it means appearance as opposed to physical form but I think it also refers to "appearance" (or lack thereof) in the unseen world. Having seen the light of the Trees is what allows the Noldor to perceive the unseen world, but the Einor are native to it and have power over its substance as well as over the material.

@victorw.330 Жыл бұрын

I love watching lord of the rings lore but nothing will ever get me excited to watch another episode of the Rings of Power

@baileymoore7779 Жыл бұрын

Rings of Power is an unforgivable crime.

@thefench1 Жыл бұрын

I REALLY like your Readin Voice, your impression of Gandalf at Orthanc is awesome

@SirWhig-esq. Жыл бұрын

Saruman, Gandalf and Radagast all have amazing actors portraying them. [i do hope that the two blue wizards will eventually get great theatrical performers one day]

@Lodrik18 Жыл бұрын

They fight right in Rings of Power >.

@bobo577 Жыл бұрын

I imagine Patrick Stewart and Mark Hamill as the Blue Wizards.

@rodnabors7364 Жыл бұрын

I was pretty disappointed with Radagasts depiction in the movies.

@Chance-cv6wl Жыл бұрын

@@bobo577 I agree. One stern focused, The other loud yet quiet in his steps unless the other wakes. I could certainly see this cast, Hamill being the loud voice yet not the actor.. not until when his force is used to showcase the powers of the light and through it, Sauron noticing his lack in providing an foresight of it till that point. And by the time he can infiltrate to find the blue wizards again but to only find empty air.

@LPChipi Жыл бұрын

@@bobo577 Unsure about Mark Hamill being a great actor. Love the guy tho

@Jayjay-qe6um Жыл бұрын

In Gnomish, one of Tolkien's early conceptions of an Elven language, the word for "wizard" is curug (and "witch" is curus). An alternative word is thothweg, also translated as "wizard". In The Hobbit, while no mention is made of an Order of Wizards, Gandalf tells Beorn that Radagast is his "cousin". In the Unfinished Tales it is said that the wizards appeared in Middle-earth about 1000, but in The Peoples of Middle-earth a rough note by J.R.R. Tolkien said that the Blue Wizards (Alatar and Pallando, or Morinehtar and Rómestámo) came much earlier in the Second Age. Christopher Tolkien stated that much of the writings about the Istari are rapid jottings and often illegible.

@urmwhynot Жыл бұрын

Having not read the book before watching the film, Gandalf's conversation with Bilbo in Bag End, set my imagination on fire. Having studied systems of magic, Gandalf's magic felt so wildly adept. Such masterful character building by Tolkien.

@AugustusR Жыл бұрын

It is quite curious that for all modern high fantasy and D&D owe to Tolkien and his work, his style of magic is so very different from what we are used to now. Specially with D&D we see magic as a science of sorts, a thing to study, to classify, spells to be researched and then applied through formulas, artifacts developed with the precision of machines, schools of magic not unlike our colleges. And yet Tolkien would have none of that and might have even found the idea of it rather comical or even senseless… his magic is a thing of wonder and mystery, a thing of mind and soul. It would seem that for the Istari and the Eldar, the work of their arts and lore (which they emphatically do not refer to as magic), is as an act of the will upon the world, to manifest the ethereal into the physical through a mastery of the spirit, and knowledge of the world seen and unseen, well beyond the understanding of the younger races (readers included). That is why there can be no hard and clear rules, mechanisms and limitations, for such are the ways of the material plane, while their powers exist in another, and to try to understand it in terms more familiar to us is folly, instead one ought to just marvel at it and bask in the beauty of Tolkien’s work, a magic of its own.

@issyd2366 7 ай бұрын

Well, magic has always been a thing of wonder and mystery, that is what fascinates us about it and that is the version that magic always have had in traditional folklore. Originally in the old religions in which the idea of it originated it was the power of the gods which mortals could summon and bend to their will. That is exactly what is in Tolkiens world as well. Even the latter thing of common humans wielding exists in Middle-Earth as well. The Istari are just the most powerful ones.

@MagicCardboardBox 4 ай бұрын

Hard magic system v soft magic, yo

@jestawell 4 ай бұрын

Tolkien states that men used spells and enchaments to create their fortresses and weapons, many of which we see in Lord of the Rings, it seems the setting used to have magic as a study of men but it has fallen, expect for the evil sorcerers of Sauron

@JDB2552 8 ай бұрын

I’m glad you describe hunger as a human emotion. My wife complains that I won’t tell her what I’m feeling. I tell her that I feel hungry all the time.

@DistendedPerinium Жыл бұрын

A note on telepathy; it's strongly implied that Elrond and Galadriel also have this ability. There are at least two passages I can remember directly referencing this ability. Each has their own talents in this regard, but there is a common thread in their abilities which ties to an interesting coincidence. It is interesting to note that the only references (as far as I recall) of such extensive telepathic abilities are only in regard to Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf, the bearers of The Three. It does stand to reason that, given the nature of the Ring of Power, this is an ability the three rings focus and amplify in these three individuals as opposed to them simply possessing telepathy at this level of proficiency. I personally believe this to be the case. Of course, there are a couple of potential issues with this. One specific mentioned instance comes after the One Ring is destroyed. However, it is mentioned that The Three more faded than lost their power all at once. Plus, when the trio are engaging in their "mind speech" at this point, they are all in close proximity. The other potential issue is with Olorin being mentioned as inspiring the dreams and thoughts of the elves in the early days. While this is a form of telepathy, it's not as refined or focused as what is mentioned the trio possessing. So it is possible that there is some innate ability among them that the rings are able to amplify and focus.

@chrisbudesa9355 11 ай бұрын

Near the end of ROTK the three elven ring bearers were said to glow and it was implied that they were talking without speaking.

@kmallory100 Жыл бұрын

It's worth noting that Gandalf chose to appear as an old man of the shores of middle earth. In Valinor he was younger with beautiful long silver hair.

@toniatchison3678 Жыл бұрын

I'm a new subscriber, and have spent the last couple of weeks catching up on your previous videos. While I've been reading LOTR for most of my life, you've kinda opened new points of view for me. So thanks for that!

@Grancigul Жыл бұрын

Would also recommend In Deep Geek, he has great content on lotr as well as other fantasy stories, he has a beautiful and soothing voice even more so than NoTR

@toniatchison3678 Жыл бұрын

@@Grancigul I have listened to a couple of his uploads and he seems enjoyable. But dang it, I already spend hours on KZfaq, lol.

@richipad5751 Жыл бұрын

11:52 Saruman was also skilled in Pondering his Orb

@reolives Жыл бұрын

We all endeavor to be capable of such feats of orb ponderance.

@zackvin4369 Жыл бұрын

I would really like to see you do one of these on Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth. He was always one of my favorite minor characters of the story and I've always felt Jackson's decision to omit him and his Swan Knights from ROTK was a mistake.

@vey3266 Жыл бұрын

Love your videos man! I used to watch the movies with my grandma before she passed, she loves tolkiens world & watching these videos almost makes me feel closer to her!

@nnmmnmmnmnnm Жыл бұрын

I have not heard the names of the blue wizards Alatar and Pallando since I was a teenager (c35 yrs ago) but I have continually used these two names when describing what the two missing Istari were to friends etc. They would give me that 'wtf are you talking about fool', look and I had started to think this was just something I had read in the many Rolemaster/MERP game modules I played with friends and that it was not original lore but something dreamt up to flesh out the world by ICE (Iron Crown Enterprises wrote/published the rolemaster game modules). Delighted to hear the full detail after so many years - all that is forgotten is not lost.

@haroldfeld Жыл бұрын

You left out one of Gandalf's powers, although it may be more attributable to his ring. The power to give courage and heal the spirit. He not only does this with Theoden, but in Gondor during the siege. As Gandalf passes among the men of Gondor, he is able to counter (at least briefly) the effects of Sauron's cloud of blackness.

@lysander3262 Жыл бұрын

Tolkien is more well known for his linguistics rather than his diction, and many readers find his writing dry. Then you read this. "Saruman, your staff is broken.". That, to me, demonstrates the ability for straightforward prose to inspire and evoke fantasy. In a single line, Tolkien indelibly demarcated the wizard archetype: learned ones in tall towers possessed of secret knowledge, with staves to show both their office and their strength, who speak words of power. How absolutely magnificent of an ending for one of the top chapters of the whole six books.

@entwistlefromthewho Жыл бұрын

Gandalf being able to read Frodo's "mind and memory" clearly means he simply listened to sleep-talking and put the pieces together, no magic needed.

@Lodrik18 Жыл бұрын

Or the others told him about the journey?!?

@entwistlefromthewho Жыл бұрын

@@Lodrik18 Not for Frodo's personal experiences

@rlhicks1 Жыл бұрын

I believe he actually did read Frodo's "mind and memory".

@Maximillian200HP 4 ай бұрын

Learning from this channel that Saruman's greatest power was his voice it just tickles my heart that Christopher Lee (RIP) got to play him. That man could read a Wendy's receipt and send chills down your spine. I had read that he would've much preferred to play Gandalf, but he wasn't physically capable of meeting the physical demands for the role due to his age, but I think they could never have found a better person to play Saruman and I can only imagine how much he contributed on set being such a fan of Tolkien, most notably the stabbing scene that I'm sure everyone watching this video knows about.

@Naurfae Жыл бұрын

I think another ability (that wasn't mentioned I think) that can be safely counted among Gandalf's powers is the ability to inspire hope and courage. Of course that's not necessarily a supernatural ability, but those things are hard to nail down in the diffuse and ambiguous magic of middle earth. Also I really love that you didn't try and force hard rules on Tolkien's magic, I can't stand it when people try to apply some hard framework to a soft magic system.

@AW_DIY_garage Жыл бұрын

i absolutely love that this video have 400k+ views in 9 days. fantastic content and a ton of fellow Tolkien fans out there! keep up the great work.

@LaughingMaRevolution Жыл бұрын

As always, these videos are great not just because of the information Nerd of The Rings gives us, but the art that is used to help convey the Information .

@CantankerousDave Жыл бұрын

Don’t forget their ability to imbibe truly epic quantities of pipeweed. 3:57 - respectively, not respectfully

@Javrixx Жыл бұрын

This video is incredible. Well done, the narration, the art, the music. Every nerd's dream. (wipes tear)

@valentinkambushev4968 Жыл бұрын

My favorites will always be Gandalf and Radagast. One protects the weak, the other one shows the weak their inner strength. I also like the Blue wizards and their quest to help those who had fallen rise again. And Saruman.... the less said the best.

@Josh-B-M Жыл бұрын

Wow 13:00-14:50 in this context about the power of the wizards you can really get a feel for the gravity of that moment and appreciate the skill of Tolkien’s writing. Very very cool. Thank you for producing it 👌🏼

@finessepodcast_za Жыл бұрын

This channel deserves passage to the undying lands. 👑✨

@traviscummings9178 Жыл бұрын

I remember commenting on one of your vids about this, and you certainly didn't disappoint! Glad to see your work!

@VoiceoftheRings Жыл бұрын

That Was such an Amazing Video Matt! I Really enjoyed that! Good to have all the Lore put In a way to Follow it so well and enjoy learning about it! Thanks so much!

@Apulia2001 Жыл бұрын

Excellent. I need to review and think about this more deeply.

@theredqueen2283 Жыл бұрын

The voice of Saruman was one of my favorite chapters in LOTR, you can see how gifted saruman is in speech but uses it to manipulate, its good Gandalf was there to rebuke him

@STMukr Ай бұрын

❤❤❤ I can watch it 3-5 times a year, all your videos. Your content here is precious Nerd. Blessings to you❤❤❤

@CardboardArm Жыл бұрын

Adding to the list: - Lightning spells. In The Hobbit Gandalf is awakened from his sleep by Bilbo and a flash of light and a loud bang later several of them drop dead. Perhaps more lightning magic like he uses against the Nazgul and Balrog? Those battles are described as flashes of lightning and the hobbits find burn marks at the battle side (Weathertop) later. - Fortitude and stamina. Gandalfs battle with the Balrog lasted several days and nights. That includes non-stop fighting and climbing the mountaintop all the way from the lake they fell in (from a great height which would kill a normal person). - Some kind of magic armor? Gandalf never wears armor despite being on several war battlefields. In the Hobbit an arrow gets stuck in his hat, yet he never feels the need to protect his body from stray arrows and is never hit. - Different disarming spells. In addition to Denethor, when Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas mistakenly attack Gandalf in Fangorn, Gimli's axe becomes too heavy, Aragorns sword becomes to hot and Legolas arrow misses and bursts into flame. - Superhuman reflexes. Continuing on the above point, Legolas is capable of drawing his arrow faster than Eomer can blink. Yet Gandalf can protect himself against Legolas. - Whatever that light thing was he did against the Nazgul to rescue Faramir. - Presumabily all Maiar know Counterspell as was done by Durin's Bane. People often talk about how Gandalf uses little magic. However he seems fairly consistent in choice of magic use to me: lightning spells against supernatural enemies (or if startled) and using his will to empower others during war (which we see Saruman and Sauron do as well). Other spells he uses mostly as utility when the needs arrises. PJ cut back on his use of magic which I don't think is necessarily a bad thing (though the magic duel between Gandalf and Saruman definately was).

@masonm87 Жыл бұрын

New listener to your channel, this is good stuff, thanks man! I’m sure it’s come up on this channel before, but the BBC radio drama does a great job of Gandalf and Saruman’s final interaction. You can get the audio book for the entire LOtR BBC radio drama on audible. Ian Holm plays Frodo, Bill Nighy plays Sam, Michael Horderns command presence as Gandalf is incredible.

@fariamichael Жыл бұрын

I am new to the channel, dunno what you do but I can say you are an amazing story teller, and all quotes you read from the books are so well told that gives me goosebumps. very gj

@mookiestix2567 Жыл бұрын

Your videos are an absolute treasure! Thank you for creating this high quality, easy to follow content.

@shokmusic_AC Жыл бұрын

Saraman must have possessed the ability to shape-shift or, more than likely, cast illusions. At the edge of Fangorn Forest, Gimli sees an old bent man leaning on his staff and wrapped in a great cloak. The old man vanished when Gimli roused Legolas & Aragorn. Later, when the three meet Gandalf the White, Gimli asks if the old man was Gandalf. Gandalf denies it was him. Gandalf also tells Gimli that "Saraman could look like me in your eyes, if it suited his purpose with you." Eomer also mentions "phantoms of Saraman" when meeting the three hunters, but this could simply be colorful speech.

@henrydirks8953 Жыл бұрын

3:56 respectfully -> respectively - I wouldn’t say grima’s killing of Saruman was very respectful

@diogosantos4021 Жыл бұрын

Just here to share that this is the best chanel i've come across last few years. Much love from portugal you got some fans here!

@shehansenanayaka3046 9 ай бұрын

Brilliant video. We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. So we love your channel and your videos.

@j-dmachado4349 Жыл бұрын

This was an awesome round up! I love hearing about the Istari collectively. I’m definitely one of those for whom they’re some of Tolkien’s most interesting characters; Gandalf has to be my all time favorite of Tolkien’s figures!! He was always (and is) my goal for what I wanna be as a grandad 😝

@DreamsOfLegend Жыл бұрын

Gandalf's most POWERFUL and ELOQUENT oration that inspired the hearts of the people of Middle Earth: "I AM GOOD!" 😅🤙🏼

@NickCorbinOfficial Жыл бұрын

It's always a good day when there's a new Nerd of the Rings video!

@kirandeepchakraborty7921 Жыл бұрын

The background music was so good.

@maryspencer6484 Жыл бұрын

You were so thoughtful and careful in your development of this. Thank you!

@G33kCulture Жыл бұрын

Ive always been hesitant in watching videos on Tolkien's work. I feel like these kinds of videos are usually opinion based and people tend to interpret his work in all manners of ways. You have changed my mind. Your voice work, the dedication to detail, while actually pulling from the source material, and your disarming tone make these videos easy to digest. Subbed! Time to binge.

@integritymatters5114 Жыл бұрын

I remember reading somewhere Olorin went often among the elves, often inspiring them in their dreams. Seams consistent with knowing frodos dreams.

@raracuzz1358 Жыл бұрын

Nice work. Appreciate your hard work and videos. Thanks 👍

@systemsevenfive Жыл бұрын

The perfect addition to a pleasant Saturday. Thanks for this!

@galreserve2322 Жыл бұрын

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow!"

@TolkienAnswers Жыл бұрын

Another time Gandalf uses his fire magic is in The Hobbit when they are stuck in the trees. He lights pinecones in different colors and throws them on the wargs. I wish they did the different colors in the movie, and I also wonder if each color means anything.

@valentinkambushev4968 Жыл бұрын

He probably just wanted to show off.

@NicholasHEADSHOT Жыл бұрын

@@valentinkambushev4968 "Let me test this cool new trick I've learned"

@mon_moi 2 күн бұрын

@@valentinkambushev4968 reminds me of when in Two Towers film he blasted Legolas' arrow, scorched Aragorn's sword, and just flashed the trio with blinding white light for 20 seconds seemingly just to show off his new Maia powers lol

@martinkerr2721 Жыл бұрын

Really do enjoy your channel watch every morning before work n before bed ,big shout to you from Scotland

@mikefoster6018 8 ай бұрын

I love the gentle ebb and flow of beings' lives and mistakes. Aule creating dwarfs to be incorruptible but also his Maiar being Sauron and Saruman. The gentle way that Radagast is sent to mind Saruman, because people are right to be wary of new things etc.

@ClareBearBunny Жыл бұрын

Could you do a video (or series) on Tolkien's languages?

@Tenraiden Жыл бұрын

After reading all this, about how the Istari were confused at first and so on, the Rings of Power adaptation now feels faithfull and actually makes a lot more sense!

@1212zeek1212 2 ай бұрын

Dang that was so good dude. Thanks for making and sharing.

@FluffyTreereviews Жыл бұрын

I’m so glad you cleared this up bc I was doing my googles and couldn’t understand during that episode when these people were brought up! 😅

@ejulio73 Жыл бұрын

After watching the TV series, it made me want to watch both the cinematic trilogies. From The Hobbit : An unexpected Journey all the way to Lord of the rings : The Return of the King. And tbh at the end of it all I found myself wanting more and not satisfied enough. It just couldn't end there, so I'm glad to say I have decided to engulf myself in the world of Tolkien. And have purchased the Four book set on Amazon. 😁 Can't wait for the 31st of OCTOBER 🎉. Also want to thank channels like this, for making the decision that much easier and exciting. If there's one positive the loyal fans of Tolkien can take away from this Amazon series, it's that it is convincing people like me to read and enjoy the books. To further advance our knowledge of the world of Tolkien.

@HeWh0Exists Жыл бұрын

I recently re-watched the cartoon Lord of the Rings classic and thought it would be fun to see how the War of the Ring played out if the role of Gandalf was swapped with a travelling blue wizard who heard news of one of their kind becoming corrupt (Saruman). Or how Saruman of Many Colours would appear in the live-action movies, haha!

@paulsmith634 Жыл бұрын

Your channel is amazing. Love the fan art, bravo.

@nichtimchor Жыл бұрын

I would love to understand more about the wizards staffs. It seems as they are very important, yet they still are just... there

@phillipsybrandy8475 Жыл бұрын

Anyone else still hoping the stranger is one of the blue wizards?

@eternalsunshineofthespotlessme Жыл бұрын

I'm going to be disappointed if he is Gandalf. I wanted to see a Wizard we haven't seen before and it would make much more sense if he is one of the Blue Wizards Tolkien lore wise.

@1GBS1BoOgStEr Жыл бұрын

I actually don't think it will be Gandalf. I mean sure the hints were strongly suggesting it will be Gandalf,but with their journey leading them to Rhûn in the next season, I hope those hints were just hints that he is one of Gandalfs type, not Gandalf himself✌️

@davideberhardt6150 Жыл бұрын

It's pretty much the one and only canonical answer to this plot-device disguised as a riddle. He arrives during the 2nd age and he travels to the East. Gandalf arrived in the 3rd age and explicitly states that he never traveled to the east, whereas the blue wizards were said to have gone there.

@strider3743 Жыл бұрын

Im just glad He started acting more wizard like and realizing he's good!

@johnhammer8968 Жыл бұрын

Saruman went east to, but im not sure when he arrived in middle earth.

@Fahrenheit1407 Жыл бұрын

I've always wondered were they simply forbidden to use the full powers of the Maiar, or were their powers actually reduced and unavailable to them even if they wanted to use them? And in the same vein, was Gandalf the White simply allowed to use more powers, or was he actually stronger?

@istari0 Жыл бұрын

Their powers were limited and those they had were intended to be used as part of their role in supporting and encouraging the Free Peoples to resist Sauron. But there are always exceptions, such as when Gandalf faced the balrog. It's never made entirely clear but I believe Eru Ilúvatar restored to Gandalf his full abilities as a Maia but still had him retain the form of an elderly man to remind him what his mission was.

@davidandrews2972 Жыл бұрын

They were limited, in part to keep them on mission (to encourage the Free Peoples, rather than to take on Sauron themselves). Gandalf sacrificed himself to mortal death to save the Quest but was sent back with his power and wisdom enhanced by Eru, in part to offset the harm done by Saruman going astray. Tolkien covers it off in Letter 156.

@popularmisconception1 Жыл бұрын

Their powers were limited by their bodily form and they had to use them with caution and wisdom, you can't just waste all of your mana right away. There were other Maiar, such as the Balrogs, whom you could ask the same question about. After all, Sauron's powers were also limited, otherwise he would not need an army of orcs and trolls. In addition, staying in secrecy was important to fulfill their mission so they couldn't just leave too many clues to the enemy.

@johan.ohgren Жыл бұрын

They were forbidden to use their powers so they wouldn't become a new Sauron. They were there to undermine Saurons ambitions, not to take his place.

@joshemynsanchez4054 Жыл бұрын

@@popularmisconception1 i dont know man, i think maiar powers weregreat, but not as great to hold dominion over the whole continent without an army, not even the greatest of the valar was able to hold dominion over a continent without the greatest army of orcs and dragons and werewolves ever known, and even there, he had to resort to underganded techniques to win, besides, there is also melian, her powers were not veiled, and even if she had great power, she was not really strong enough to protect little more than a single country

@MattyPan118 10 ай бұрын

This is a great video for giving feats to the Istari in Verses Debates

@Robint04 11 ай бұрын

I love how token loved using Phoenician Lore in his books. To be honest I named my daughter Astrid from these wizards.

@jameslabbe4119 9 ай бұрын

I remember from reading the books that there're no formalized spells cast by the istari. When gandalf lights the pinecones on fire to throw at the wargs, he does cry out in Sindarin (edit) but translated is 'Fire be for saving us'. The movie depicts gandalf perform some kind of healing similarly on Frodo. In Tolkien's system, magic is more like exertions of will or prayer.

@jestawell 4 ай бұрын

there are a lot of ancient enchanted items, obviously the rings, but also the swords of the wights, sting, and many fortresses that are enchanted in some vague way, it seems like formal magic did exist but it has since been lost

@Amy-bl6rx Жыл бұрын

Did you ever cover the second Ring forged by Celebrimbor in the Shadow of War game? Not canon obviously, but would be interesting to see the implications of that second ring existing.

@longexpectedjourney Жыл бұрын

A great example of taking Tolkiens work, making it non-canon yet still an enjoyable creation. Who'da thunk?!

@dodang_9147 Жыл бұрын

He has nothing to cover because the game is fictionally incorrect for what ring of power is. Sauron by the story is Lich. His ring of power takes a part of his soul and puts into a ring. Lich in fiction are humans that learn magical power and become corrupted by the power that ascend them into higher-level being. After they die, They become undead. Undead Lich are able to take their higher-level magical power and craft items that represent their soul. These items are often cursed. They contain a positive in increasing D&D combat stats but lower luck stat. This is why when Isildur when carrying the ring dies through unnatural causes because humans usually have +0 luck statistic, but when you wield the ring of power, your luck stat becomes negative. So for example, isildur when carrying the ring had +5 strength, +5 agility, +5 knowledge, +5 intelligence but he had -5 luck. -5 luck means that the character will have misfortunes in their life that will cause them to die in their life time. In D&D fictions, Undead units cannot gain luck or lose luck because they're not living. They cannot have misfortune in their life because they are already dead. In the case of Tolkien story, Undead units can have luck but because Sauron & Nazgul/Witch king are spirits, Dying to misfortune has no meaning because they are eternal spirits that cannot truly die. In shadow of war, The ring of power are interpreted as mind-control devices which is incorrect to the story and they have the power to grant immortality which is also incorrect. Mind-controlling is type of soft-magic that Saruman showcases. Ishtar can learn this type of soft magic to mind-control beings. A ring of power not grant this ability. The ring of power just boost stats at drawback of lowering other stats. They also do not grant immortality. Instead, they can corrupt the souls of men and turn men into restless spirits(Undead) that are unable to return in the halls of Mandos. Halls of Mandos in Tolkien work is something like Hades for underworld. This is likely an ability that a magical ability that Sauron learned from Morgoth at some point in the story. Morgoth cannot create life but as Maia, He learned to twist life and past this knowledge to Sauron. This high-level dark art is likely something that Sauron cannot perform in thin air, but Sauron being a Lich means that he can craft an items(Rings) then perform dark magic to manipulate the souls of living beings. In theory, he should be able to manipulate all living beings including Elves and Dwarfs but it takes time for his magic to work. The men have weak souls so it is much easier to corrupt the hearts of men and manipulate their spirit as opposed to the other races. Overall, the game has large misinterpretation for how the rings work.

@calick7208 Жыл бұрын

That New Ring thing is VERY non canon and also diminishes the importance of the One Ring. Hell, even the game itself ignores it for most of its runtime as well so you don’t become overpowered. I seriously doubt NoTR would dedicate a video to it.

@dontworry5909 Жыл бұрын

Looking for some late night content while traveling in Asia, and ofc my guy got the content ready for me!!! Perfect timing man - got the notification and watched it the first minute it came out 👍

@MeanBeanComedy 8 күн бұрын

Amongst the Easterlings*

@tomradcliff6859 Жыл бұрын

There was some exquisite artwork in this video.

@d3vos_the_god Жыл бұрын

So if the blue wizards arrived in 1600 of the second age, that could most definitely mean that “the stranger” is one of the blue wizards whether it is Alatar or Pallando

@Acceptall Жыл бұрын

I've been thinking the same thing. I also think that the sentence he used with the hobbits by the end was used either as an homage to Gandalf and the original trilogy or as a bait&switch to make us believe that it is Gandalf and then show us that it is actually someone else.

@rizzpro Жыл бұрын

if they do make the stranger one of the blue wizards they will have issues because they only bought the rights to LOTR and the appendix, not all of Tolkien's work and he didn't talk much about the 2 anyways

@boblangill6209 Жыл бұрын

Don't strain to make the connection. Rings of Power is Alternate Middle Earth populated by different characters who were assigned the same names.

@EHRodman3942 Жыл бұрын

What I'm curious about is this: do the colors of the wizards have an meaning for their powers/strength. To me it seams that Saruman though becoming "many colored" would enhance his power but backfired and Gandalf becoming " the white" did increase his powers imensly. Along with his line "I am Saurman, rather Saruman as he should have been, to me implies the names they took as Istari were tied to their power as much as their identity and he had the company refer to him as Gandalf for their comprehension not because he was still Gandalf, if that makes sense.

@gelf6303 7 ай бұрын

Strength no but dominion perhaps yes. Each istari presided over a specific station such as Saruman the white:just rulership, gandalf the grey: wisdom/knowledge, Radaghast the brown: nature, and Pallando the blue: magic. Those colors kinda correlate their function rather than their actual strength.

@joshsibley6419 Жыл бұрын

In the DnD campaign my friend set up for us, the 2 blue wizards turned.... Became the black, and the red... Built a massive army, swept across Rohan, and captured Minas Tirith... Their goal with the power they had built up.... To open the Doors of Night, releasing Morgoth upon Middle Earth... It was an amazing campaign, and I'm almost sad we were successful, cuz seeing the results of Morgoth being unleashed sounds pretty insane...

@alwaysask Жыл бұрын

Beautiful video. Movies and series come and go, but Tolkien is forever.

@stephanwatson7902 Жыл бұрын

12:05 Man, imagine how powerful of a ring Saruman could have made if he had Saurons knowledge, or aid. Though obviously if Sauron had a hand in it, it would not be as powerful and would likely not be for Saruman's full benefit

@istari0 Жыл бұрын

I would have liked to have known what the ring Saruman did craft was capable of.

@stephanwatson7902 Жыл бұрын

@@istari0 same here, I've wondered about that a bunch. Like maybe it could sense the power of other magical objects, to help him find the One Ring; because he was secretly searching for that for a long time

@chriscuda8686 Жыл бұрын

I think the main difference is the other rings. The One Ring was created to dominate the others and so make their power part of its own. Also, like his master, Sauron poured the majority of his own power into the ring, thus focusing and increasing it in some ways and limiting it in others. It doesn't seem like Saruman made quite as heavy an investment, but that's just a hunch.

@chriscuda8686 Жыл бұрын

* clarification: Morgoth did not forge a piece of jewelry. His "ring" is Arda, and the fact that he put the bulk of his power into it is both why he becomes weak enough to defeat when he starts out strong enough to face all of the Valar together and why he isn't completely gone even after his spirit is cast out Ea.

@stephanwatson7902 Жыл бұрын

@@chriscuda8686 Saruman's power at Isengard and his military might was described, when compared to the Barad-dur, as being "like a child imitating his father's work". I imagine his Ring was probably on that level, when compared to the One Ring; a imitation of it's power. Of all the things people wrote and asked Tolkien about, I wish someone had asked about Saruman's ring, but he likely would have left most of it to our imaginations

@airprince6053 Жыл бұрын

Aren’t there seven Istari? I read online about two that went south to Harad, Durestel the Black and Carastor the Red. Is this canon?

@rlhicks1 Жыл бұрын

No, that is from fan fiction. The five mentioned in the video are it.

@Alaedious Жыл бұрын

This was superb! Thank you!

@Gutoknust Жыл бұрын

Wow! Great vid. I really enjoyed it. Thanks!

@beezarkdrawings7414 Жыл бұрын

Can we get a video for Radagast? It seems he's quite an interesting character.

@sayrejoseph Жыл бұрын

Pretty sure one already exists

@sayrejoseph Жыл бұрын

Also Men of the West has a video on him I reccomend that one

@rigistroni Жыл бұрын

Already is one

@pongop Жыл бұрын

Very interesting and awesome video! The Istari are amazing! I saw another intriguing video on the subject which describes the powers/magic of the Istari being not about casting spells, but about speaking reality into existence through their connection to Eru. For example, when Gandalf says, "Saruman, your staff is broken," he is not breaking Saruman's staff, but revealing a truth/law of the universe, that the staff is now broken. This is similar to his statement of "you shall not/cannot pass" to the Balrog. The video explains it better, but it's very interesting conception of magic to consider. Ah, I found it: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hZ6TapyrnNqxl2w.html

@Archgeek0 Жыл бұрын

Yup. Magic in Arda is big on authority - Aragorn wrests the palantir from Sauron's control in part because he and his sword were the two last things Sauron wanted to see in that moment, throwing him off his game, _and_ because the palantir was indeed Aragorn's by right, with him having greater claim to control and use it than Sauron did. Likewise as a maia of Manwe, Gandalf had authority to make certain things so with effort and will. And after being promoted to the White, he was literally Saruman's boss, and could compel him to not walk away from him, cast him out of the order, and overwrite the physical condition of his staff.

@pongop Жыл бұрын

@@Archgeek0 Very interesting points! I think you're right that much of the magic is based around authority.

@juliandacosta6841 Жыл бұрын

@@Archgeek0 denethor also had authority over the palantir, but sauron had a long time to mess with him