We look at sections of The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's letters to answer the question - what would happen if Sauron reclaimed The One Ring? We'll pick up from Frodo's failure at Mount Doom to determine Sauron's strategy, how the elves would seek to combat him, and who would be left standing!
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Sauron - Jerry Vanderstelt
Sauron at Barad-dur - Shadow of War
Sauron - Anna Podedworna (thumbnail)
Sauron - WETA
Sauron - Shadow of War
At the Cracks of Doom - Ted Nasmith
Frodo and Sam in Mordor - Andrea Piparo
Sauron - WETA
Sauron - Guardians of Middle-earth
Battle of the Black Gate - Ted Nasmith
The Eagle's Song - Anke Eissmann
Nazgul Charge - Felix Englund
Battle of Dale - WETA
Eye of Sauron - John Howe
Battle of Dale - WETA
Dol Guldur - WETA
Sauron - Guardians of Middle-earth
Angband - Skullb*st*rd
Battle of Pelennor Fields - Aegeri
Sauron - Shadow of War
Sauron - WETA
Galadriel - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Elrond Halfelven - Donato Giancola
Morgoth - CK Goksoy
Minas Tirith - Ralph Damiani
Lothlorien - Ralph Damiani
Rivendell - Ralph Damiani
Grey Havens - Ralph Damiani
Sauron - Alan Lee
Carn Dum - Skullb*st*rd
Orthanc - Ralph Damiani
Fortress - Felix Englund
The Mouth of Sauron - John Howe
The Mouth of Sauron - John Howe
Mouth of Sauron - Guardians of Middle-earth
Nazgul Bowing Before Sauron - Kip Rasmussen
Sauron - Janka Lateckova
Barad-dur - Shadow of War
Saruman - John Howe
The Voice of Isengard - Matthew Stewart
Sauron - Tom Romain (for Lore of the Rings KZhead channel)
Luthien in the Court of Morgoth - Pete Amachree
Sauron the Deceiver - Skullb*st*rd
Spirit of Sauron - Skullb*st*rd
The Shadow of Sauron - Ted Nasmith
Morgoth - CK Goksoy
Morgoth the Vala - Skullb*st*rd
The Shores of Valinor - Ted Nasmith
Eru Iluvatar - Janka Lateckova
Music of the Gods - Kip Rasmussen
Wanderer - CK Goksoy
Radagast the Brown - Ralph Damiani
Alatar and Pallando - Ralph Damiani
Alatar and Pallando 2 - Ralph Damiani
Sam and Frodo in Emyn Muil - Ted Nasmith
Mount Doom - Alan Lee
Samwise Gamgee - Matthew Stewart
#sauron #lordoftherings #tolkien
Let me hear your theories! What would you change about mine? I love theorizing with fellow fans!
Nerd of the Rings thank you for this video. I always kind of wanted an alternate ending to Lord of the Rings Return of the King. I’m a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings. Keep up the amazing content.
I think the Valar would have intervened to save the second children of Iluvatar from falling into utter darkness. The elves ofcourse would have informed the Valar of the events occurred in the recent past in Middle Earth. The Valar might have cast out also Sauron into the void just like they did to Morgoth!
I liked the mention of Radagast at the end. If he makes it to the Blue Wizards and they get organized, they might be able to plan something.
Your channel is one of the best but pls make more what if videos. Perhaps once a month?
@@TerenceGrimstone It has been a terribly long time since I did a "What if" video. I'm definitely planning to do more in the months to come. They're really fun to do, but in some ways require more research than a regular lore video! lol.
then the shire would be back on the menu boys!
Big upgrade from maggoty old bread
@@J0Ecorreia For 3 stinkin’ dayyys.
😂😂😂
@@sir_couglet8533 😂😂😂
😂
Having Radagast and the Blue wizards as the last remaining leaders of the free peoples, with rebels from all the peoples of Middle Earth , sounds like the most awesome thing. Yes, it's extremely sad, but also very hopeful.
Rádagast was very busy trying to marihualize legajuana in Middle Earth...
@@julioalbertoherrera1339 like Gandalf wasn't.....
Very fitting for Tolkien’s themes, that no matter how much evil grows and how dark it seems, there’s always hope to be had
Inspired choice
I guess, We are not sure yet what are the blue wizards are they similar to Gandalf or corrupted like Saruman?
Sauron: “finally middle-earth is mine” Morgoth who just escaped the timeless void: “ours”
Morgoth returning to Arda, meeting Sauron: "Nice toy you got there, little buddy! Lemme hold on to it for you." (Sauron starts to weep)
I like your comment man but with Morgoth there is no “ours”…. Morgoth would want his throne back and I doubt Sauron would want to surrender his new empire that he spent thousands of years trying to obtain to his former master and therefore would betray and challenge Morgoth….. in response Morgoth would eventually destroy his former servant and take over what Sauron built…. I do not see Morgoth as one who shares power….. when he was in charge Sauron was merely his greatest servant! Sauron even after winning would still be the lesser of the two…. he has the one ring, Morgoth’s ring is middle earth itself!
Eru Illuvatar steps in "alright, yall screwed this up. There was supposed to be this whole thing where a little cretin trips into the fires with the ring but you ruined it. Happy? Happy Morgoth? You ruined it. Congratulations you got whay you always wanted. Now cease to exist entirely" and just poofs them out of existence lol.
@@higglybiggly1174or Creat a nightmere like realm to lock them inside as a punishment Said realm would later be known by mankind as *Hell*
or teleports behind him: "Nothing personal kid" and cuts him down.
I love that he always specifies that "Sauron is not a flaming eye, but very much in physical form"
It’s part of my calling to rectify this misconception. 😂
@@NerdoftheRings When i saw the movies for the first time in the theater, I had not read the books. I never assumed the eye was Sauron himself, rather I thought it was some spell he was casting. I thought some crippled version of the Sauron we see in the begining of the film was holed up inside the tower.
@@chemicalburn glad to know that I wasn't the only one who thought that
I've read the trilogy twice, and somehow I missed that detail.
@Morgan Allen Also the impenetrable darkness of the Cracks of Doom is so much more compelling than the "epic" volcano fight in the films.
Sauron getting the One Ring doesn't means that it's game over, it simply means that the people of Middle Earth need to get gud and beat Sauron on hardest difficulty
Be a bit difficult without the elves who would have long since diminished, only by their grace do the heirs of Elros prevail so i think they would have to like you say get real gud! & lucky once sauron had the Ring?
Sauron: "GG EZ"
Gotta learn the timing of Sauron's attacks and roll through them perfectly for the backstabs and then critical attack his fingers again!
Thanks for this, been searching on the internet for hours. -west_anduin_free_folk69
gil galad and elendil did it.
Sauron: “For my first act, I will place a registry of motor vehicles in every kingdom.”
accursed demonic bureaucracy!!
That's sick and evil man
@@icykid Sauron: "for my second act, I am creating Spectrum and Verizon."
"And for all my loyal soldiers, here's this thing I've been working on called The VA."
I always figured that the Valar would intervene should Sauron actually win. They just didn't want to meddle unless it was absolutely neccesary. The Valar sent the wizards to Middle-Earth after all, so isn't like they cut all ties with the realms. Ulmo himself even graced the shores of Middle-Earth long after their departure. I think there would be hope, even if the people of the land didn't realize it. Tolkein didn't like to deal in absolutes.
If that was a serious prospect, then Sauron wouldn't have tried to take over in the first place.
Valar would just blow up the continent ngl
@@daddy_1453 it was 100% a possibility
@@daddy_1453 He definitely would have, that’s his nature. He only wants to dominate and rule over all others. So he’d do that regardless of consequences.
@@daddy_1453 Sauron assumed that it wasn't a possibility, based on the fact that they didn't want to intervene after the destruction of his master. But if the worst came to the worst, his assumption would likely be false. Kind of like our nuclear strategy--we 100 % don't want to use them, but under certain circumstances there would be no alternatives.
It was kinda comforting to know that by the time the forces of Sauron reached Lothlórien and Rivendell, they were long gone and in Valinor. Must be nice to be an Elf in this worse case scenario… or to be Gandalf.
Now I picture Gandalf being infinitely sent back to fight Sauron. "Sauron, I've come to bargain!"
@@runtergerutscht4401 whiter each time he resurrects !
Not Gandalf, but Tulkas gets send... Single handedly beats up Sauron with the ring so we have peace until Dagor Dagorath...
@@-timothe- the eagles will fly to Mordor and Gandalf will clap at the landing.
@@jaronvangolverdingeschut8987 "beats up Sauron with the ring" the way i imagine your comment is Tulkas snatching the ring from sauron's fingers and then proceding to repeatedly toss the ring at sauron with great strenght. With enough force, even a ring can hurt a lot
Then Sauron would have to put the Ring on his remaining ring finger. As someone who craves order, this would annoy him greatly.
he would just learn how to make the other hand his dominant hand...
😂😂😂
He'd make the dwarves craft him a new finger.
Anyone watched the anime Soul Eater? That reminded me of Death The Kid lol
Well, he did make nine rings of power, he has nine fingers now... it kinda works?
We all know sauron would inevitably meet his end at the hands of tom bombadil
"Wake now my merry lads! Wake and hear me calling! Warm now be heart and limb! The Sauron is fallen;" ~ probably Tom Bombadil after utterly destroying Sauron
No tom would die in this scenario but the valar would end sauron
Would he though? Bombadil seems to have a strict non involvment policy when it comes to large scale conflicts
Tom would have fallen.
Sauron is no match for the bombadil blast.
Just imagining the moment when Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel sense that Sauron has the ring gave me chills. Just knowing and having to savor the despair in that moment of knowing that all hope is truly lost and you haven’t even had the luxury of dying yet. Damn
And for Gandalf it would be even worse than that. He would realize well before it happened that he was about to watch everyone at the black gate die.
The thought of Radagast wandering alone across the desolated lands of Middle-earth actually made my heart pang. He's such a wholesome character and it genuinely hurts me to imagime him so hopeless.
It's so poignant and sad. Although if the world fell to darkness, one could do a lot worse than Radagast as a hero.
I reckon he'd use the ring to create a conglomerate that offered unbeatable prices and next day delivery. Undoubtedly, his reach would grow long, covering all in shadow. I then think he'd rewrite history to fit his corporate narrative, making himself seem fair but feel foul.
But the hearts of Men would endure for they will dislike his claims. They will speak of his works as vile for they are not his, but only corrupt versions of what was once fair. For a wise man once said "It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."
COUGH*amazon*COUGH
Bezos just sounds like a dark lord name
He would use this to make hobbits exist where they didn’t. Then he’d make Galadriel OP for some reason
and he would once again style himself as Annatar of Bezos, the Lord of Gifts.
I'm not sure what I would fear more. Sauron reclaiming the One Ring or Amazon getting the right to the Silmarillion and Unfinished tales
The latter. Defenitely the latter.
@@DudemeisterNL Remember, evil can never create; only warp and corrupt what is already there.
Quick, let’s buy the Silmarilian before Shinra has the chance!
Yeah Amazon would Comixologyize everything in a heartbeat. 😭
Let's be honest, Sauron is the lesser of the two evils.
On the one hand, this is a great piece of hypothetical writing. The idea that Sauron could have won, and what would have happened if he had, is fun to contemplate. It's clear that Tolkien did it too. The thing to remember though is that while, from a practical point of view, Sauron could easily have won the War of the Ring, in reality he never had a chance. The reason Eru intervened and had Gollum fall was precisely so that at the exact moment the will of any being in Middle Earth failed, he would step in. The reward for faithfulness was success. Much as Gandalf's willingness to do the right thing at the Bridge of Khazad Dum had resulted in his elevation, Frodo's determination and will to bring the ring to the Cracks of Doom meant that Eru would provide the missing glue, the last piece. The heroism and faith of Frodo and Sam saved Middle Earth. Eru just picked up the slack at a critical moment.
When did the books say that god made golem fall?
@@klidthelid8361 the books don’t. But Tolkien went on record later as stating the Gollum’s fall was part of Eru’s design
@@mattbixby6676 sweet cuz that’s one of the most unsatisfying way to end the series so glad it’s not cannon.
@@klidthelid8361 i mean its how the Bible ended and that has a few million fanboys
@@jpalz a shrinking fanbase, not what it used to be
I really like the idea of Radagast and the Blue Wizards starting a resistance against Sauron in the East. I always liked the Easterlings and want to see more of them.
I said the same thing to Men of the West, and I just wanted to let you know, thank you. The re-kindling of my love for tolkien lore (spear-headed by both your pages) has dragged me out of a deep dark depression. I've re read the hobbit and LoTR twice now, binge-watched all your videos lol and I am no longer living in a land of shadow. Thank you for all you do!
Thanks so much! Yoystan is a wonderful friend. So glad our channels have helped you re-kindle your love of Tolkien!
@@NerdoftheRings you just made my day my responding! Have a wonderful weekend!
Wow!!! This is so beautiful! Be encouraged! And keep reading!
Keep fighting the good fight, my friend
May Tolkein's world continue to be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.
I like this scenario, however there is one thing worth mentioning. When the Witch-King was overthrown he wasn't necessarily dead, he was only greatly diminished. Tolkien himself stated that the Witch-King would have returned had it not been for the One Ring's destruction, for the Nazgul slain or banished are still tied to the Nine Rings regardless, only the One Ring's destruction allowed true death. Its a unique approach however to leave out the Witch-King in this alternate timeline letting Khamul play a bigger role but still I believe the Witch-King would have eventually returned. I also believe that the Witch-King would not have heeded Eru's call to the afterlife, for it is said that he was evil in his beginning and Sauron needed not to coerce him, he [The Witch-King] was even speculated to return to life at Dagor Dagorath to fight for Sauron and therefore Morgoth. Another point, I don't think Gandalf the White would have died at the Morannon without taking Sauron's armies with him. Gandalf would have made a last ditch effort to deplete Sauron's army if possible to allow for more time for the Free Peoples to resist.
It's true. The Nazgul, just like Sauron himself, could truly be vanquished only when the One Ring is destroyed.
The idea of Sauron winning, yet there still being a glimmer of hope actually sounds great. Rhadagast going east to find help and Samwise Gamgee having to be even greater for a tougher road sounds amazing. Gandalf can still return. It's not over.
The Liberation of Middle-Earth would be insanely epic and would probably involve the Valar themselves. Sauron would have to use all this cunning to stand a chance vs the Valar armies, The Ring(s) would not be enough at all. He might try to get a stronger army unit like more red dragon squads and might attempt to bring back his Master Morgoth from the void or those things under Moria. Lets be honest, some orcs and trolls would not be able to stop the Valar, Sauron would be the underling in this situation, we have seen what happened to Morgoth and he had far more powerful armies than sauron in the 1st age.
Only the Valar would be able to save Middle Earth is Sauron obtained the ring
Gandalf? Yes that’s what they used to call me Gandalf the White! I am Gandalf the Ultra White and i come to you now at the turning of the tide… again
@@zeusapollo6504Sauron loves technology and education. You don't think it's a coincidence technology only advances in LOTR when "evil" is back. The problem is life expectancy increasing is going to piss the Valar off that they invade before Sauron can fully unlock gunpowder.
@@jameswhite3415gundpowder was already a thing. remember gandalf did fireworks
I was pleasantly surprised with how plausible this take is, based really on a true understanding of Tolkien's own view of his world! Was equally delighted by your take on Gandalf getting the ring, and hitherto I have despised all fanfics of all stripes!!! Bravo sir!!
"All is lost! The free peoples are subjugated by evil" Eru: "So anyway, I started blasting"
🤣🤣🤣
Eru took that personally.
"So I threw another wave but this time at Middle Earth."
@@LordVerdo Literally Sauron: And I took that personally.
As per Tolkien's Letters (246, if I recall), the Nazgul would not have killed Frodo at Mount Doom. They would have lured him outside, walled off the Crack, and delayed him until Sauron himself turned up and squashed Frodo like a bug.
But would they have been able to stave off the eagles if they delayed in any way?
@@jacobp249 I’m pretty sure the eagles wouldn’t have been enough to save them if the Nazgûl reached them.
Why did they leave a crack to begin with if they were capable of sealing it
@@hotwasabi8312 I think Tolkien mentioned that Sauron still needed access to the Crack for various projects here and there. It'd be like walling off your toolshed when you live in a property with a tall stone fence and a bunch of rabid guard dogs in a gated community. You're going to be pretty confident that no one's getting past your security system.
Honest question. While having the ring why couldn't Frodo take control of the Nazgul? If they are bound to the ring and not Sauron why couldn't Frodo take control of them?
A far more likely alternate unfolding of events would be that in the moment when sauron is reunited with his ring and regains physical form, Manwe will finally recognize the threat and decide that the reckoning of sauron has been long overdue. The entire military capabilities of the Valar would be deployed against him and he whould simply be deleted from the story.. as he should've been during the razing of Utumno (and Angband, only partially destroyed), back in the first age.
yeah, but that would also kinda delete middle-earth. the war of wrath destroyed a enormous landmass.
I always felt that if Sauron regained the Ring, the Valar would have sent an army against him almost immediately, and his rule would have been ended within a few years. They had sent the Istari to Middle Earth to inspire the free folk because they were afraid to recreate the destruction associated with the fall of Morgoth, but would never have tolerated Sauron ruling as a second Dark Lord. Much of the western lands would have been devastated by this and the Elves of Lothlorien and Imladris would have departed as you say. Also, Sauron didn't necessarily have 9 fingers; he had created a new physical form for himself and there is no reason to assume his loss of a finger at the Battle of the Last Alliance was permanent
The reason it’s claimed that he had 9 fingers is because that’s how Gollum describes him, after he was captured and tortured by Sauron. He wouldn’t have known about how Sauron fell the first time, so that detail can only come from his own first hand experience proving that Sauron still was missing a finger even after he regenerated himself.
That was well done. I think remembering Sauron wants to rule and dominate, not destroy , perhaps gets lost a little in the movies.
So depressing but very interesting. Would love a Part 2 to this about your theories regarding Radagast and what finding the Blue Wizards could accomplish in somehow defeating Sauron.
YES. Need a part 2 on this.
I agree
There is no hope of defeating Sauron with 2 blue Wizards. Part 2 is Eru flooding the whole Middle Earth and killing Sauron for a second time just like what he did in Numeror island.
There is one thing I would change: Sauron's control of the Soul. Different from Morgoth, and fundamentally different from any Valar or Maia, Sauron managed to mess directly with the character of the Soul. Although his full plans were not fully shown as the Dwarves kept digging and the Elves took the rings off, we can see the full implications of the rings he created as we look at the 9 and at Sauron himself. Sauron managed to create a new state of being, different from all the designs of Illuvatar, far more distorted than anything Morgoth accomplished. Morgoth was deeply hated by the Valar and Elves for corrupting the creation of Middle Earth and creating Orcs, Goblins, Dragons, Balrogs, and much more. But none of these creations were as detestable and different in their essence as the Nazgul and Sauron became. They are neither living nor dead, they are outside the eye of the Valar and Maia, and Mandos holds no more a claim on them. Sauron managed to change the essence of the soul in a fundamental level that escapes the reach of anything, save the power of Illuvatar himself. The corruption, manipulation, and dominion Sauron brings if he regained the ring are catastrophic on biblical levels, an unheard and unprecedented change would turn the spirit of Middle Earth itself to Sauron. Im not sure of what the end result would look like yet, but I imagine Sauron not stopping there, but I expect the gaining of the elven rings and his power restored, he would go ahead to unlock the very soul binding secrets of Middle Earth itself. I can see Sauron's power and dominion to grow far beyond any Maia, Valar, or any other being that stepped into the world. If left unchecked, and at this point, there is hardly anything or anyone in the world that could challenge Sauron, Sauron would contest Illuvatar. THAT would be an epic battle, a transcendental and far menacing offence that only a being that has once experienced existence outside the bounds of this world can claim. Sauron is definetely on his god-becoming path, and the only powers to oppose him would be those Valar that never entered the world, and Illuvatar himself. Good luck.
This is scary and interesting at the same time and would open up a portal and path even Tolkien didn’t venture. However, unfortunately for Sauron, his ultimate source of power is his bane. If he succeeds in taking over Middle Earth and covering it with his shadow, then that is where Eru would step in fully which means that Sauron will be vanquished by force. The thing is, No matter how powerful Sauron becomes, he is still a being created by Eru and can be undone if Eru chooses.
Power not of flesh, but over flesh...
the power he possesses over the very soul could lead him to create his own 'second music,' one not of the magic of illuvatar, but of the power of life. Sauron would be able to not only warp the world around him but turn it to him entirely, being able to use the unwaning power of the soul to change the world as he sees fit and to even create things illuvatar would have no control over. with such power behind him he could grow his strength and power immensely, drawing the power of the soul into his own being and making himself untouchable. the only way to stop him would be to end creation itself, and even that might not work.
@@aidenaune7008 cool theory. But Tolkien explicitly states in a few letters that Sauron was weaker after his work with the Rings than he was before. Each being was given a finite amount of power, and beings like he and Melkor expended much of it in controlling and dominating people and material things. That is why after the Ring was destroyed and the power he put into it annihilated, he had nothing left.
@@CT-pi2gl but it has also been made clear that there is magic past the individual gods. the elves for example all possess magic of their own. it was also true that the rings enhanced magical power, it was their original intention, even the lesser rings made without Sauron's interference did so. while an individual's magic might have been limited, that does not mean there werent sources to enhance or replenish it. if Sauron were to have gained the one ring and the three elven rings then he would have had greater power than he would have before their creation. he could have used this power to dominate and control others, as he had done with the nazgul, giving him power over their very souls, which held the same form of magic the rings did while also having a different magic derived from the souls themselves.
I realized I had seen this already about 5 minutes in but as I have often times before, with videos on your channel, I continued to watch because your recounting of anything LOTR is just that entertaining and well done. Thanks for years of great content. You can truly feel the love for the franchise and it is so very appreciated. 🙌
I think something that gets overlooked in your videos is your use of absolutely incredible artwork. Props to the creators and thank you for sharing it with us. My last three phone lock screens have all been art pieces that I've seen here!
I love it!
There was a game called The Lord of the Rings: Conquest that had an evil campaign that followed a what if scenario like this video. The game was buggy and had terrible controls (In my opinion), but it was quite the story that kinda stayed with you after you completed it.
It is a great feeling when you resurrect the b*tch-king of Angmar & kill Frodo, summon the Balrog & killed Gimli, the rush of life when you kill Aragorn the last king at Wethertop & finally feel of giddiness when you slaughter each hobbit & slay Gandalf 😂
@@NostalGamation Don't forget the Hobbit bonfire. That's good eatin'.
ah yes, battlefront: lotr edition
I am embarrassed by how many hours I sunk into that game
Haha what a classic! "Rest in pieces stupid dwarf"
I would love to read or watch more of this alternate history starting from that great cliffhanger. I'd most likely become a patreon if you continued this. Great stuff.
That was amazing! Truly worthy of a retelling along different lines. Wow
Id love to see a continuation of this theory with the last 3 istari and the rise of the shire. I love seeing theories like this and wanna see more
I would as well, but to be fair, as I recall it wasn't certain that Allatar & Pallando (can't recall their alternate names at the moment) didn't themselves turn to evil or whatever else their fates may have been. There are intriguing possibilities with this theories branching off point. I do hope to see a continuation, I have always liked Radagast, Allatar & Pallando even with what little we know of the 3
Here here!
As well I am imagining what would happen with good ol Tom Bombadil and whether or not Sauron would attempt to exert his dominion over his woods.
Thing is, Sauron never actually needed the ring to win, that was always certain as his military might vastly outclassed that of the free peoples. Getting the One would have hasten his conquest of the Middle Earth, but that was always going meant to be unless the One was destroyed.
The one ring would have just given him the ability to redo his full terrible form.
@@stunner9005 He already had a physical form, and it was said that Gandalf with the one ring was the only one who’d have been able to personally defeat ringless Sauron.
@@a_n1441 This is possible, but knowing the corruption of the One, Gandalf would have simply taken the Dark Lord's place, only more powerful and dreadful. This is mentioned many times when a powerful Character would use the Ring, in fact, This almost happened in the noncanon(but canon in my head) games; Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War where Celebrimbor stole the Ring, almost killing Sauron but would have just taken his place as the one to lead Mordor into conquering Middle Earth and ruling it under an iron fist painted silver
Yeah under the one celebrimbor was changing being more hateful more vengeful more wanting of dominance and power Even after his death it still shows it get worse in shadow of war he basically doesn’t care for vengance anymore only domination in a way he was becoming his grandfather Faenor
I would love a sequel about this story! Your story telling is very much on point
I like how there’s still a glimmer of hope in the most unsuspecting person given his spent most of his life dealing with birds and beasts.
I think Sauron would have eventually fallen into complete nihilism like Morgoth.
This is the way.
not only that but the powers of the west (aman) would not let Sauron's domination of men last. they would not stand for it.
@@cr90captain89 Well knowing that Sauron almost managed to make the Valar abandon Arda with his shenanigans in Numenor, he might be able to do so again once more through deception or even perhaps through power if he eventually gathered all of the rings (which in my opinion are actually underrated). Tho then again, Eru would intervene again and fix things. I always considered this subject to be the only somewhat crippling plothole in the legendarium. Basically evil is f-ed in the long run. No matter how strong Morgoth or Sauron get, they still have 14 Valar and most of the Maiar against them + the free races, who sooner or later all enter the fray united and would probably always win. If Sauron (or Morgoth) actually manages to effectively turn the races against the Valar and compel them to leave, and thus essentially win, big pappy Iluvatar just strolls in and bends the world until everything is fine again.
Its a decoder ring to figure out puzzles on back of cereal boxes
It is only natural that the world held little meaning to them, since they were not born from it. For Morgoth the world was pretty much like the toys of other children whom he disliked.
This is why Tolkien is undefeated. Even in defeat and loss there’s always hope !
@@bubbamaster3116 with narnia? lmao ok. boi
Again, a big thank you for the video!! Also, some of this artwork is just breathtaking
Could listen to you talk all day mate. Great video thank you for it 🙏
Nope... there is a part in return of the king where Tolkein states the forces sent by Sauron against Minas Tirith were but a small portion of his overall might... equated to constituting just the finger of one hand. So there would be no need for some years of reconsolidation.
yup he already had built his forces up, that was the whole reason the ring had to be destroyed. with or without it sauron could take middle earth
Finally someone mentioned that fact. Lol
also the force sent at minas tirith was his WEAKEST army im pretty sure....its logical to NOT send the big boys first for a dark lord
that means this whole video needs to be redone
@@howdareyouexist this comment doesn't make sense, why does it need to be destroyed if he can do without it??
Video idea: what if Melkor returned after the war of the ring?
Dagor Dagorath
He will return!
He'd need a few lessons off houdini to pull that one off, i believe he once escaped & aided & nearly eaten by ungoliant,scuse spelling
Sauron sits at his throne at the highest point in the wold in his tower, contemplating all of it. After ages of attempts and planning, finally it is his. *Beam of light violently impacts in front of him* then a can be heard from it Eru: Hello my son, congratulations on your victory. Sauron: I am in trouble, am I not? Eru: Oh yes.
the greatest parental beating in history is committed as Mordor is torn from this plane of existence
I think Eru would be reluctant to intervene like that right after Sauron's/Morgoth's total victory. He would think it would just prove their point that all the free races and even apperantly his Valar are impotent and powerless to effectively counteract these couple of rogue Ainur. The way he made Gollum fall is the kind of intervention he prefers, so that no one knows and thinks they have won against evil all by themselves.
@@vlad_47 yes but he would just let everything be controlled by the rogue ainurs? That doesn't seem too fair. Maybe not that directly but at least something.
@@franacha He orchestrate something like let "evil betray itself" (over several ages lol).. Time is nothing to him, all cares about is proving his point that he made to Melkor after the first music. But he cant make that point by some omnipotent intervention right after all his children have been defeated and corrupted in a total victory by Melkor/Sauron. He proves the point by orchestrating the events in order for his children to win in the end.
Wow! You gave me goosebumps. Beautifully done.
I don't think Sauron would be crazy enough to attack Valinor. He tricked Ar-Pharazon into invading the West, and I think you know what happened.
I don’t know can you explain why he wouldn’t attack valinor
@@masterchief2402 The Valar are practically gods, and Sauron knows that. He used to be a servant to Aulë, the god of smithing, and he later served Morgoth, who was also a Vala. He tricked King Ar-Pharazon of Numenor into invading Valinor so that he and his army would be slaughtered.
@@galacticknight55544 ahh. Wait so would the one ring not work on valar? Also would Eru get involved in middle earth if Sauron got the one ring
@@masterchief2402 The Valar are more powerful than Sauron, even with the ring. He's a Maia, which is like an angel, but the Valar are like gods. And Eru really doesn't like to intervene in Middle Earth.
@@masterchief2402no one would dare to wage war on the west, Phazaron is an example.
I just don't see the Valar permitting such a defeat to take place. Seeing their plans to defeat Sauron indirectly fail, I believe they would take direct action against him just as they did against Morgoth. Sauron is a lesser being to them- empowered by his ring or not. Neither the Valar, nor even Eru himself, would suffer such evil to endure by the hand of a weaker upstart such as Sauron.
Very unlikely, since the Valar relinquished their authority over Middle-earth during the Akallabeth. And even before, they did nothing during the Dark Years, when Sauron was basically the ruler of Middle-earth
The Valar basically destroyed Beleriand in their war against Morgoth. You can expect a similar fate to befall the remainder of Middle-Earth if they were to invade to defeat Sauron in his prime.
@@ArawnOfAnnwn True. The Valar, as well, grew more detached in time from the affairs of Elves and Men, even coming to regret bringing the Elves to Aman, since they felt this interfered with their free will. But even then, after the Fall of Numenor they officially gave up their place as viceregents of the world, which makes it very unlikely that they would have intervened even if Sauron took over. They would not have even destroyed the Ring if the Elves took it West
I mean Valar were always reluctant to directly intervene in such things, which's why Istari were sent in first place.
It could not have happened because they were greatly diminished. Somewhere Tolkien wrote that as the world becomes more stable they wane and are bound to it. And that they are only "useful" as counselors. Sure, they could send Eonwe and drown Middle Earth. Then, what is there to protect? Sauron already reigned Middle Earth and the Valar did nothing
I doubt Eru would allow his secondborn to be wiped out or permanently enslaved - Considering what he did to Numenor, he is not afraid to intervene.
That thing at the end about Radagast heading east to find the Blue Wizards and rally a new resistance gave me goosebumps
This was so well done! It really makes you think and realize how important the end of the story was in the lord of the Rings. Thanks Nerd of the Rings! keep em coming! =D
This is an instant classic, and a very well thought out theory! I can already tell I'll be re-watching this a few times 👌
This one in particular was 🔥 dude, great stuff!
I like the idea that after retrieving the one ring during the final minutes of the battle at the Black Gate Aragorn is slain by the Nazgul via a Morgal Blade. Aragorn becomes king of Gondor but he does so as the new Witch King as when he returns to Minas Tirith as a wraith he "crowns" himself by taking back the Witch Kings ring.
That's actually a very good idea Instead of being a wraith die to a ring, it's via Morgul Blade, like what almost happened to Frodo
All these theories just prove how perfect Tolkien's stories are.
How? I personally think that it would make his story greater if in Age 3 Sauron would have won. This guy failed in two ages in a row! Blargh... Let him get the ring in Age 3 and write another story of his defeat in Age 4. That would have been the better story... But Tolkien is a good Christian and in his world Good guys ALWAYS win of Evil ones... G.R.R. Martins world is far more "realistic" in that there are no real good guys or bad guys. I prefer that world over Tolkiens...
@@TheLazzanova61 Sauron is just an alteration of Satan; nothing new or original there.
@@TheLazzanova61 what a gay opinion 😂
@@quigglyz lol
@@TheLazzanova61 urm no ? martins world are just boring like him, nothing great and symbolic either, just him taking inspiration from real life event and only add dragon
Please continue this theory! I know it would at this point be merely fan fiction but you've given me an itch for the story to be finished!
Man that epilogue gave me goosebumps. Brilliant video! Convinced me to become a patron :)
Now I want to see "What ifs "*insert character* got the one ring" with Boromir, Saruman and Gollum to make this a complete series. I'd be glad to hear more characters suggestions, but I think these three are a must be, specially Boromir.
Agreed. Id also throw galadriel's name into that suggestion
Boromir would probably end up like Isildur(the ring would betray him). Saruman would use the ring to openly challenge Sauron for rulership over Middle Earth. Gollum would probably go back to hiding in caves and would be an annoyance to Sauron. Galadriel would probably try to be the new ruler of Middle Earth or maybe be Sauron’s Queen(because why not).
Treebeard. Do Treebeard.
@@timh2356 treebeard(assuming he could use it) would try to find the entwives(if they are still out there). And eventually would become corrupt enough that he would try to destroy civilizations in the name of “taking back nature”. He would probably leave the Shire alone though since they don’t use industry.
@Stunner 900 Cool. Now go make a video on it.
As always, fantastic content. Very informative and highly entertaining. Thank you sir 🙏
Your videos are really well done! Like, not just for LOTR but for any subject
It is wonderful how one mind in the world can come up with something that will give a topic for millions of people for several decades
Amazing video! 🖤🔥I'm genuinely sorry that he did not managed to do that and reclaim his Ring. I'd really like to see stories from a world where he utterly rules. I can remember how sad I was as a child when the One Ring got destroyed.
As for your analysis of how events would transpire, I think it makes perfect sense.
It's great seeing TomDaBombadil19 grow across videos, from Wizard, then Elf and now Dragon
For me it's a very satisfying content. Thank you for sharing!
I love this channel l learn so much about tolkien world even understanding the characters and the storys
Having played Battle for middle earth 2. I always wanted to see how the world turned out if Sauron won. The final battle for the evil side was great! attacking Rivendell was a challenge when I played years ago. And then LOTR conquest evil ending in the shire was like a early birthday 😈
I like it how you leave it open to some extent at the end
I was rereading some of Tolkien's thoughts at the beginning of the version of Fellowship that I have, and it looks like Tolkien sees a future where Sarumon eventually figures out how to make a ring of power that would rival the dark lord's. And then a great war between them. Even he wasn't sure who would win. Not a great time either way, but maybe men might be able to take advantage of the chaos and rebel.
I cried just by thinking this could've have happened, if things didn't turn out to be the way they did 😢
You will cry more when you see the second epilogue......
@@valentinkambushev4968 Thank you for mentioning this, because I would've missed it.
You can thank Sam for the way things turned out.
Not to burst your bubble, but nothing actually happened. A brilliant guy wrote the story and the history, and the outcome of this story was was already known in a rough first draft
Awesome!! The theory you present is bleak but there is hope. It's interesting to think of Sauron's ambitions to be a ruler and not a destroyer. 👏👏👏
Basically a fascist
Great work! I really enjoy your theory videos! Do a video on what if Durin's Bane survived/Was not killed by Gandalf?
ASTONISHING!!! The way art is used and the background music, is so worthy to be called a sequel Is it possible to know all background music? Especially one with duduk, that sounded so familiar. If it’s possible, would be so thankful.
I really liked the end where Radagast believes there is still hope
Great video! Very well thought out. It does seem certain that Eru would have ushered in the end times much quicker had the quest failed, but then again, even with all that was lost, there may still have been hope in some distant corner of the darkened world. Maybe even Tom Bombadil would have sang a song as Sauron's forces march west across Eriador.
I envision a world of complete darkness during Sauron's reign, then in some remote corner of Middle Earth, a random hobbit or man gets visions from Eru to gather a band of unlikely companions and embark on an impossible quest to steal the Ring from Sauron's hand and destroy it once again...
Eru wouldn't let his vision come to an end in Sauran's eternal rule. If there was no hope, he would have instructed the Valar to go kick some ass and they would have made short work of Sauran. I don't think he'd let things stand, unless, of course, that was his intended end game.
Warhammer reference?!?!?!
Very late to point this out, but the starting scenario (nazgul kill Hobbits on Mt.Doom) was expressly covered by Tolkien himself in a letter. The nazgul serve *the ring* and thus cannot attack or kill anyone who has claimed it and is in possession of it. They'd circle around him but couldn't hurt Frodo. Sauron himself has to come and take the ring from Frodo. Tolkien's message
Didn't the Nazgûl stab Frodo on Weathertop? Sure it was more a means to end, but this seems fairly attack like, and turning Frodo into a wraith etc. is pretty close on the being killed scale. One could argue that at this point Frodo hasn't claimed the ring fully, but he is certainly in possession of it.
Didn’t they attack Frodo on weathertop and nearly “kill” him? What would be different on Mount doom?
@@allyourpiesarebelongtous I think you can ignore the possession part because claiming it is the main thing and they said 'posses AND claim'. Also, I don't think merely saying it is 'mine' necessary means you have claimed it. I think it's likely that you have must have some strength of character or will or innate strength to truly claim it. By the the time Frodo is at Mount Doom his power has grown considerably and he has the power to truly claim it. Basically if the ring claims you, like it did Gollum, I don't think the Nazgûl would be incapable of taking it from you. I should note that claiming it is not the same as dominating it, more that you can begin to use some of its true power.
Seems to me there’s a difference between one who bears this ring and one who claims it.
Love the video! Great explanations :)
I feel like Sauron would have conquered middle earth and had a brief rule over it before hosts from the west would come and free middle earth like before. Gandalf and the elves would have been making their case to the Valar to spare the men of middle earth from the fate of Sauron and eventually they would agree, knowing that Sauron would move against them eventually
Maybe Galadriel et al would be like Earandil and plead their case to the Valar, and they would free Ar-Pharazon's fleet and sail East with them to make war upon Sauron for the sake of the free peoples of Middle Earth. Then they would put the three rings in the sky as additional stars or something just like with Earandil.
@@shastasilverchairsg I don’t know if they would free the numenorians but an army from the west of Noldor elves, maiar, and tulkas would probably be enough to decimate Sauron and his forces
The last time that happened the Valar had to flood ME to defeat Morgoth. If the Valar attacked again there would be nothing left, that wouldn't happen. Galadriel, said by Tolkien to be the wisest elf in ME, says Sauron would have dominion over ME until the end of time.
I feel like that plea would fail as these great events from the noble and powerful are often a one-time thing. If they did answer the plea, like everything else in Middle Earth, it would be but a shadow of past events. In light of this, there is no guarantee of success against Sauron in his Unsailable land of Mordor, and even if they do win, it may leave the land barren and as good as sunk, just like Beleriand. And then, after Sauron is cast through the doors of night, one of his deadly servants may escape judgment and flee into the further East to become the next - albeit diminished - Dark Lord of yet another diminished world of Arda. And then the entire struggle between good and evil starts all over again, and so on and so forth until all creation is ground to dust... ...as Melkor's essence was want to do. *Melkor laughing in the void endlessly*
@@corneliusmaze-eye2459 all that just because his brother stole his crush
“It is the greatest fear of the Free Folk of Middle Earth.” This opening line made me wonder. Did the Haradrim or the Easterlings or others not fear Sauron reclaiming the Ring? Certainly, the are fully enthralled by Sauron and do his bidding. However, would they not, deep in their hearts, also be fearful of what may happen after Sauron regains the might he poured into the Ring?
I think that Haradrim and Easterlings didn't have a clue about the One ring. They just knew that their master wanted them to fight his war against his (and theirs, by the way) greatest enemies. I can imagine that their hate for Free Folk would be their greatest driving force - maybe even greater than their fear of Sauron.
Those arent the guys that worshiped Morgoth himself?I dont think they would be bothered .if anything they would be pleased since it would be exactly like the old Numenor.
No... That's not what would happen. After killing the Ring Barer The Eight bring the ring to Sauron and there Sauron beholds it for a second in wonder before placing it on his finger. As his wretched claw slips past the event horizon along the edge of the ring, the ring disappears. With shock Sauron looks around to see Tom Bombadil with the ring, twirling it around his little finger. With a smile he says, "Sorry, this isn't how the story is suppose to go."
Lololol
I wish the videos would load faster because I really enjoy the videos when they aren't buffering. I'm obsessed with all things lord of the rings.
Your two epilogues… just brilliant. I can see now the next story of Samwise in this sorrowful epic. Thanks for putting so much time into your videos!
The birth of a newer, grittier hero for a fallen world. The vengeful birth, of Samwise the Strong.
@@Archgeek0 well put
Can you do an episode explaining what would happen if Morgoth escaped his chains. I’ve read about the prophesied final battle. What would it look like up to and including that battle?
very interesting video and conclusion, beautiful picture I might add of the two Blue Wizards.
This was really very entertaining and enjoyable. Also, many moons ago I watched two extended Lord of the Rings in a day.
Again, an amazing video. Love the epilogue. :D One small tidbit: Treebeard only let Saruman and Gríma go after he had heard of Sauron's defeat. I think it's quite likely that he would've kept them as prisoners in Orthanc until the Ents were overrun by the forces of Mordor. We can imagine that Saruman's subsequent "vacation" in Barad-Dûr wouldn't have been very pleasant - or short...
Great video and great theory. I dont think he would go and atack "the west" Morgoth never did that so i dont think Sauron would do that. He just wants to rule the world of men. My theory on that.
@@railroadbluesy2169 You're spot on. Sauron himself knew that any attack on the West was doomed to fail which is why he manipulated Ar-Pharazôn into doing exactly that. Of course it backfired on him when Numenor was destroyed along with the fleet.
What would the Valar do if Sauron won? They wouldn't really have an excuse NOT to take him out. Unlike Morgoth, Sauron does not seem to have the personal or military power to cause possible global destruction so they couldn't hide behind the excuse of being afraid to go to war because it would be too devastating.
You have to keep in mind as well sauron when he did have his ring and when it was cut off his finger wasn't stronger than what was shown in the movies. It was fairly easy to cut the ring from his hand where was all the power then.
One can always have hope to drive inspiration to quell evil. Having Radagast, Alatar and Pallando to be the last bastions against Melkor prior to the end of Arda would be a good plot for the future...and will someone try convincing Tom Bombadill to join the fun by rapping while all hell breaks loose?
Great video Matt! Definitely got part what my thoughts were that after the defeat of the Men of the West at the battle of the Morannon that at some point both Elrond and Galadriel as well as all the Elves had fled ME to go back to Valinor. And pretty much the rest of ME would be decimated and ruled harshly with its peoples most likely becoming enslaved by those who rule them. I wonder though with Sauron conquering Middle Earth with time would he have tried to rage war on Valinor as well?
Seize your chatter, WORMtongue!!
Nicely done!
Omg I always wondered this question thanks so much!
We need an epilogue to the epilogue...you teased us terribly with Radagast and the blue wizards...what happens after he finds them? What do they plot? Do they get reinforcements from Valinor?
Even worse was the last 15 seconds with Sam being alive and returning to the now destroyed Shire. I want him to go full Rambo in Middle-earth!
@@Omnilatent Rambo is not Tolkienesque
Do blue wizards live in Eastern Asia? South East? But the focus is on the north west of the old world.
@@scoobydicky9459 Asia doesn't exist in Middle Earth.
It’s doubtful that the Valar would simply abandon Middle Earth to Sauron - they chose to send the Istari to avoid a direct confrontation like that of the War of the Wrath that wrecked Beleriand. But if that fails, they would have to take more direct action.
Can you do a part two... pleeaaaaasssseeee? You are awesome storyteller.
Good stuff.. I think if you explored 'how' the one ring would facilitate these circumstances, the analysis would be more compelling.
Great video as always! Though I for one don't think the Dark Lord Sauron would leave the double treachery of his feigned servant, the Wizard Saruman, unpunished after dealing with his main adversaries, for he had been as much of a valuable vassal in the war as of a hinderance in the hunt for the One Ring. Saruman would have probably been hauled before Sauron, not to be slain, but to forcefully stand by him and in time become a sniveling wretch whom the latter could abuse (something akin to Grima's treatment).
Amazing theory and I was not expecting the cloaked fellow to be radagast I was guessing that was Aragorn, but still great theory and I like how you added radagast going to find the blue wizards! Would you like to hear of theory of how I think he’d rebel and try to defeat Sauron?
Totally! Let’s hear it!
@Nerd of the rings ok. I feel like maybe radagast and the blue wizards try first assembly a rebel army of easterlings and captured me. And dwarves imprisoned by Sauron but in secret he tells the blue wizards alatar and pallando to travel to valinor and plead to the valar for help in defeating Sauron just like elronds parents did in the second age. What do you think?
An amazing video, mate. Loved it
I find the enchantment of this series to be almost impossible to turn off, I suppose it is not as powerful as the one ring, but it sure seems that way sometimes. Thank you so much for allowing me to visit middle earth again.