Totally. One of the things that brings me back to this channel again and again is how anti-clickbait it is: you will always get a thorough and satisfying answer to the question posed by the title, without any fannying about.
People scream so loudly that LOTR makes no sense. The memes are so confident. Then you ask people about details, and they reveal they didn't even pay attention during the movies, let alone do even a baseline of research. It's nice to get a proper explanation, voiced and explained so well. It's a wonderful counter to the sarcastic and stupidly confident hot takes. Thank you!
If I remember right, Tolkien mentioned in a letter that his intention was that no living thing could willingly throw the Ring into the fire, so Sauron was actually right that no one would actually get into Mount Doom and destroy it, he just never considered Gollum slipping and falling off the edge by accident.
Was it an accident or did subtle forces factor in? Frodo and Sam just "happened" to have the Phial of Galadriel and Sting when they encountered Shelob. Sometimes, there are forces at work in the world that we write off as "accident" simply because we can't explain or account for them.
Something I have never seen discussed: right before entering the Cracks of Doom, Gollum assaults Frodo. In response, Frodo casts him off, and clutching the Ring to his chest, Frodo _curses_ Gollum, telling him that if Gollum ever touches him (Frodo) again, he (Gollum) himself will be cast into the Fire of Doom. This is _exactly_ what transpires: Gollum attacks Frodo again, and subsequently falls, holding the Ring as he descends into the Fire of Doom. I think Frodo's spirit had grown by that point that a curse, pronounced by him upon the Ring, was utterly binding. From then on, Gollum's fate was sealed.
That was always one of my favorite parts of the book, that Frodo did start to gain some Ringlore just by holding onto it. It's something that Galadriel mentions to him regarding the potential powers of the Ring, "Have you tried to?" I also have to wonder if his far-sighted dreams were because of the Ring, and this final act of Ring Magic is what ends up saving the day as, it could be argued, that Frodo's will had overcome the Ring's desire for self-preservation, allowing for the fulfillment of the curse.
@@IxionAC If @InDeepGeek did indeed cover this particular event, then I haven't seen that video yet. Here's the excerpt from The Return of the King that I am referring to: "Frodo flung [Gollum] off and rose up quivering. " 'Down, down!' he gasped, clutching his hand to his breast, so that beneath the cover of his leather shirt he clasped the Ring. 'Down, you creeping thing, and out of my path! Your time is at an end. You cannot betray me or slay me now.' "Then suddenly, as before under the eaves of the Emyn Muil, Sam saw these two rivals with other vision. A crouching shape, scarcely more than the shadow of a living thing, a creature now wholly ruined and defeated, yet filled with hideous lust and rage; and before it stood stern, untouchable now by pity, a figure robed in white, but at its breast it held a wheel of fire. _Out of the fire spoke a commanding voice._ " *'Begone and trouble me no more! If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom.'* "
He clearly went to Galactic Empire Technical -- Reardon Extension Kinetics, Thaumaturgy for his engineering degree. Those GET-REKT guys are all about the aesthetics and the lulz.
For that is evil's great flaw: it cannot comprehend the value of basic health & safety measures to protect workers. Thus does it bring about its own demise.
21 วันที่ผ่านมา +91
If I recall correctly, in the book version, Gollum FELL off the ledge as he was dancing about with delight at reclaiming his Precious. Frodo did not shove him as he was still writhing about in pain. I had always wondered if there was still a small part of Sméagol left within, just enough to make them fall in to put a final end to it all.
In the books, Gollum's fall is attributed to an intervention by Éru, along the lines of the returning of Gandalf. I must say, I find myself preferring the movie interpretation where Frodo's struggle causes Gollum to fall. It gives a bit more emphasis to free will, I think, while still being open to giving Éru credit for how fate came to pass.
About Mount Doom it should also be mentioned that the mountain of fire is basically perpetually erupting, and had been for a while once Sauron had rebuilt Barad-dur and ruled Mordor again. Tolkien mentioned that the way up to the crack of doom was crumbling and broken in places and occasionally encased in fresh lava flows that had to be cleared by orcs routinely and the road repaired in order to make it up there. The way up was extremely arduous and dangerous if not downright impossible at times if you didn't have a small army with you to help clear the way up there. The land of Mordor and Orodruin itself were some of the greatest parts in Sauron's defenses.
In addition to Shelob and Cirith Ungol, the pass was ALSO guarded by Minas Morgul which was crawling with Orcs led by the Witch King. In fact, his pull is so strong that Frodo nearly walks out to him with the Ring on. Again (or, rather, for the first time), the Hobbits are saved by a stroke of luck because that fortress empties out as they're climbing the black stair. If they'd been a little bit later, they'd have been caught on the road by the column and, if they'd been a little bit earlier, Frodo might have succumbed to the pull of the Ring and marched up to the fortress and been captured. On the topic of a locked door, I think it is mentioned that Mt. Doom is constantly changing. In the movie there is a stone doorway, but I don't remember if such a doorway exists in the book. The Hobbits certainly never get all the way into the center of the mountain. They reach a spot with a chasm that blocks the way (that just so happens to lead down into the lava). So, it's entirely possible that a door would have just fallen apart as the mountain shifted.
Excellent analysis. I was enjoying it so much I unconsciously said out loud “very good” after the summary at the end about Sauron not understanding goodness 😂 Well done!
Even if and obviously when someone did take the ring to Mordor intending to destroy it, it was literally impossible for someone even Sauron himself to actually willingly do it. The literal intervention of God aside, extra security wasn’t exactly needed.
It was defended well against the sort of attack Sauron was anticipating. That two (well, actually three) little hobbits would sneak in was a strategy Sauron could not anticipate. It is natural to anticipate an opponent's actions in terms of what we would do were the situation reversed, and Sauron wouldn't DREAM of trying that sort of strategem.
I really love these Tolkien videos, and you have such a soothing voice. Keep up the good work, and do go on making videos where you dig in to more obscure Tolkien stuff.
I’ve been waiting for a new video and was not disappointed. Also, I always loved the “weighs all things to a nicety on his scales of malice.” Explanation by Gandalf, it shows Sauron’s underlying nature of evil and how it and he had blind spots which could be used to advantage! Thanks again for another wonderful episode.
This is an excellent video. In fact all of In Deep Geek videos about Tolkien are really superb. Thank you Geek. As I listened to this video a thought occurred to me that would help answer the question "why not just put up a locked door on the entrance tunnel into Mount Doom?" Remember that the tunnel is in direct line of sight from the top of the Dark Lord's tower into the mountain. A door would have blocked his line of vision. Why he would want to see into the very heart of the volcano is anyone's guess but it feels like the kind of a thing that Sauron would want to be able to do.
Good to see the "link to the playlist" now operational. 🙂 Sure it was guarded - except for Sauron's hubris of "nobody could ever choose to refuse power".
Actually, Sauron was correct. No one in Middle Earth could willingly destroy the One Ring (maybe Tom Bombadil could). Frodo fails at the end. At the last moment he cannot bring himself to throw the One Ring into the Cracks of Doom. It was just happenstance that saw the One Ring destroyed. Indeed, Gandalf foreshadows this at the very beginning before Frodo even starts his quest when he tells Frodo to cast the ring into the fireplace and, Frodo meaning to, instead puts the ring in his pocket. Gandalf says, "'You see? Already you too, Frodo, cannot easily let it go, nor will to damage it. And I could not “make” you - except by force, which would break your mind. But as for breaking the Ring, force is useless. Even if you took it and struck it with a heavy sledge-hammer, it would make no dint in it. It cannot be unmade by your hands, or by mine." And that was long before the One Ring had a good hold over Frodo (both through time holding it on his journey and proximity to Sauron).
Technically, Sauron was correct in that no mortal would willingly throw the ring. Frodo failed at the very end. But Gollum falling with the ring (as per the book) was the ultimate stroke of luck.
You got this one exactly as it was. The argument actually could be made that just by being where it was, Mount Doom was indirectly more guarded than most of Middle-Earth. The act of just getting to it without permission was incredibly hard by itself and likely would have failed if not the exact combination of factors that enabled it happening. Getting past Minas Morgul by itself was an achievement barely done and almost personally detected by the Witch King, while the statues there would have been enough to stop most people. Surviving Shelob's tunnels without the special equipment they had would be rather unlikely, and in the case of her noticing anyone as she did, she'd probably be dangerous enough to handle a dozen normal men, especially with the advantage of her webs, the lack of lighting, and her sheer size. Passing her was a combination of luck, Sam's good thinking, and that magic weapon they had with them which was previously used to kill one of the world's most dangerous dragons. Beyond the first two barely-possible checks, the guarded tower itself feels like an afterthought because anyone dangerous enough to attempt forcing their way to it wouldn't be likely to be hindered much by just some orcs. The way the hobbits actually got in was probably harder than just travelling all the way around to eastern Mordor to bypass the mountains, where I expect Sauron probably had other forts and guard posts built to protect his only naturally unshielded border. Hard to say what defenses may have been there since I've never even heard of a story where it would be relevant.
If Gollum somehow survived the story (maybe he bit the finger off and it just fell in and he just didn't see until too late, or Frodo slipped in ring and all, or whatever), would he have been allowed to board a boat to the west? He indeed was a ring bearer. The longest holder of the ring, longer even than Sauron. And I'm not certain how evil Gollum is per say. Corrupted, of course, but does that make him evil? Boromir I don't ever hear referred to as evil despite his fall from grace, simply overpowered by an artifact far stronger than any mortal.
I think part of the difference for Gollum was how he took the ring in the first place-by murdering his relative, who was the one that actually found it. The ring probably amplified his dark thoughts, but he did still act on them and seize the ring for himself by way of kinslaying. Setting aside if Gollum would have been allowed to go West, I don't think he'd even want to anyways if given the chance-he hated the light and all things good, and had actively rejected redemption when he had the chance for it (may or may not be a movie only thing where he actually seems to go back to being Smeagol for a time, before rejecting "Smeagol" and going back to "Gollum", but I think a similar thing happened in the books) Did gollum have the ring for longer than Sauron? I'm unclear as to the exact timeline of the war of the ring in the second age, but wasn't it quite a lengthy war? In addition to the build up to the war and such
I don't think Gollem could have made the trip to the boats if any wanted to send him. His life was bound to the ring. Much like Bilbo he would rapidly age (the movie had it happen before the ring was destroyed but that was incorrect) and Gollem had it si much longer he might have days, weeks or just maybe months before being reduced to dust. At the longest he might last to see the Shire. He would probably need to be carried most of the way.
He would probably turn to dust. Bilbo began to rapidly age to match his current age, and all that was built with the One Ring's influence was crumbling. The tides of time would not be gentle to a +500 year old Hobbit.
"We must send the Ring to the Fire." Elrond "Inconceivable!" Sauron "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Inigo Montoya
LOTR lore aside, it also doesn't make much strategical sense from a military point of view to keep a large force in the center of your territory just hanging out. You can keep some of your reserves, and your training, medical and logistics near some strategic points, but you generally want your army guarding your border or attacking the enemy.
Thats one of my favorite things about Lotr, Sauron isnt like Thanos or some such, he does have eyes and ears everwhere but they are just that, no more. They can have the counsel of Elrond and Not have Sauron instantly find out about it Even tho he is super human he has very clear sensory limitations He is very powerful but far from all knowing
1:49 the two watchers guard the entrance to cirith ungol, not the path which runs alongside it. Had Frodo not been captured, he and Sam need not have passed them; they could have simply walked past down the path.
Interesting question, but there was Ringlore to study, and Saruman was the master of it, and good for some time in Middle Earth. It wouldn't surprise me if part of the known Ringlore was that *any* Ring of Power can only be destroyed in the fire in which it was made, or in a more strongly magical fire such as dragon-fire. Three of the dwarves' Rings were "eaten by dragons", but Gandolf doubted that even Ancalagon the Black, greatest of all dragons, could destroy the One Ring.
" . . . [Sauron] thought it inconceivable that anyone would be able to bring themselves to destroy [the Ring]." And he was right. Frodo failed to cast the One into the Cracks of Doom.
I'm not sure I would say the idea never occurred to him so much as he disregarded it as impossible. And as you pointed out he was right, *nobody* had the will to destroy the ring. It, literally, took an act of GOD. Eru had to trip him, and this was after sending Gandolf back. This is why I laugh at "if Sauron had won" theories. He was never going to. The fix was in. Eru had their back. He had pissed off GOD. How do you defend against.... God?????
Eru isn't going to do everything, he normally doesn't do much at all to interfere with the music playing out (unless the humans storm the gates of heaven) - some of the Valar do a little more. So yeah Sauron could have won this war; if Frodo had said "nah, I'm good", or Sam had gone back to the Shire after looking in the mirror, or someone slightly more corruptible had gotten it, or the rest of the Fellowship failed to distract him. A ring-bearer (or 3) had to make the sacrifice to get it there, and many more had to help him.
@@MagusMarquillin yeah but Eru engineered everything so that the right hobbit got the ring, etc. Sauron was beyond tilting at windmills thinking he could pull one over on the supreme being of all of all existence.
@@chrisbarnett5303 OK, good point. Certain people were chosen to be offered the choice to fight - it then gets very theological on how much God knows about peoples "free will" choices in advance. Like did he know Faramir wouldn't be allowed go to Rivendell when he was summoned via dream? It's more then I know for sure. And I'm not certain what's being done by Eru as opposed to Manwe, Ulmo or Varda, who are all less then omniscient.
@@MagusMarquillin that's something that's always bugged me about Christianity- like okay we have free will but god made us knowing every choice we'd make, so how can he condemn us when he made us that way?!
There's a brief moment during the Host of the West's march to the Gates of Mordor that I find interesting. They loudly proclaimed far and wide that they were marching on Mordor, sending heralds to proclaim that the "Lords of the West" had come. But Gandalf convinced them to change that - and despite Aragorn's objections, they began to proclaim that "The King of Gondor" had come.
I feel like it's not fair to Sauron to say he couldn't conceive of anyone actually trying to destroy The One Ring, he was right in the sense that no one could ever purposefully destroy it (or at least not any elf, man, or even Maiar, maybe a Valar could, though, and Tom Bombadil probably had the ability if he wanted to, he just didn't give AF). The only reason The One Ring got destroyed was because a series of events that allowed the One Ring to fall in on accident. Putting guards up there or even locking the door would be like preparing for a meteorite hitting you, it's so unlikely that you'd be wasting your time
It took lots of mini divine interventions from Eru Illuvatar for the One Ring to be destroyed. How can you possible plan for literal Deus Ex Machina (or Eru Ex Machina?)?
Exactly, and you can make a very good argument that even Gandalf knew from the very beginning that Frodo would not be able to intentionally destroy the ring. Sneaking into Mt. Doom wasn't even a "so crazy it might just work" kind of plan, by all accounts it should just *not* have worked at all. I feel there is a very subtle implication that in the same way Gandalf could tell that Gollum had a future role to play, there was also something that hinted to him to go through with this plan anyway, no matter how stupid it might look from a purely rational point of view.
@@CMDKeenCZ With Gandalf, he has great wisdom and intuition of Eru's path to follow but I don't think he has clear, explicit ideas what will happen. He knows how to let go and let God (Eru). He may have known Fordo probably wouldn't be able to resist but that's still where their fate lay and who knows maybe if anyone can do it, Frodo could?
My favorite passage in lotr is when Sauron's gaze is drawn to the cracks of doom as Frodo put on the ring, to the door "he had made" When his folly is laid bare, and the panic he felt. To Sauron, the idea that anyone or anything could bring the ring to the cracks of doom was as nonsensical to him as the idea of killing yourself to get rich is to us. But when he realized what was going on, he saw that it was through his own hand that doom was now at hand. I just love that.
I think that at the council of Elrond in the books they mention, that dragon fire might destroy it as well. Some of the dwarven rings were destroyed that way. But that wasn't an option because there were no dragons any more with hot enough fire to do it (and you couldn't go and ask them nicely for it anyway).
Easy answer is that it never occurred to Sauron that anyone would want to take it to Mordor to destroy it. He could not conceive that anyone would do anything other than try to use it themselves for power.
Likewise, the defeat of evil won't come from some powerful hero come to save us (Gandalf, Galadriel, someone like that), but from the little people who simply refused to accept evil.
We read this passage, when, in his final moments, Sauron realizes how badly he's been fooled: And far away, as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own, even in Sammath Naur the very heart of his realm, the Power in Barad-dûr was shaken, and the Tower trembled from its foundations to its proud and bitter crown. The Dark Lord was suddenly aware of him, and his Eye piercing all shadows looked across the plain to the door that he had made; and the magnitude of his own folly was revealed to him in a blinding flash, and all the devices of his enemies were at last laid bare. Then his wrath blazed in consuming flame, but his fear rose like a vast black smoke to choke him. For he knew his deadly peril and the thread upon which his doom now hung.
I like to imagine that Sam, after initial recovery in Minas Tirith, would have eaten a weeks worth of food for several Hobbits in a single sitting, anything but Lembas!
I've only recently found this channel, and I love it. Devouring all of the LOTR episodes. Question: Does anyone have a good suggestion for this type of treatment of the WoT series?
I think one needs to add that actually the destruction of the ring could only be possible without the concept of destiny. Gollum fall into the crack of doom as it was destined by the music of ainur and the will of Eru. This is an additional argument why destroying the ring was an almost impossible quest
Thats good writing man no wonder this is so beloved. Lesser writer wouldve for sure had Frodo just overcome any greed and throw it in, but the twist of even he couldn’t stop himself in the end and what saves him is the pity for gollum he showed is a great lesson. Basically means karma, keep doing good things even when theres no calculable value to you and you will have a reserve of good deeds that may or may not come full circle instead of a pile of scorned people who may or may not come back to bite you.
The simple answer is this: Sauron NEVER IMAGINED that anybody would even ATTEMPT to destroy the Ring. It was inconceivable to Sauron that someone would have the most power object in the world in the palm of their hand, and then just give it up.
Related question: Obviously, Elrond was able to deduce that the One Ring would be able to be unmade in the fires of Mount Doom, but did Sauron himself ever actually realise this? Given he never seems to have contemplated anyone destroying it, did he even think through that that would be possible? At the end of the story when he senses that the ring is at the crack of doom and he panics, assuming that isn't because the ringbearer is right near him and he thinks they're going to attack him directly, is that the first time that he actually realises that this could even happen?
You have a great voice for audio books. It would be awesome to hear you cover lord of the rings, a song of ice and fire and one of my favorite series, the dark tower.
Sauron: Ah, there we go! My forge is complete! Hmmm... this is the only place my ring could be destroyed. Better put a locked gate here just to be safe! *Thousands of years later* Sam: Look Mr. Frodo! We're almost there! I can see... oh no. Frodo: What is it, Sam? Sam: The doorway, Mr. Frodo! It's locked! We can't get in! Frodo: *horrified pikachu face*
Thank you Robert, for never failing to show me yet another piece of Tolkien’s genius. At this point, I don’t think there was anything he put in which wasn’t serving more than two purposes, whether moving the plot forward, expanding the ever deep lore which lead to this point, or showing us the kind of the characters and the themes of this world
OOH, interesting point. Gollum was spared 3 times, by Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam. That allowed the "eucatastrophe" - the small part Gollum would play before the end. I had been noticing a pattern of 3's in Tolkien's work - probably inspired by the Christian trinity - but this is an example that I had not noticed.
Let's not forget that first you have to get into Mordor in the first place. And the plains around the volcano were crawling with Orcs. Also Mt Doom was in walking distance from Barad Dur and the path there was kept clear and guarded by Orcs as apparently Sauron himself liked to occasionally stroll out there personally.
I wonder if the power of the ring helped the Hobbits survive the journey. Yes the lembas helped, but Gollum didn't eat lembas, and he survived the journey.
Two questions maybe worth exploring: (1) What do you think would have happened to Frodo, long term, after he succumbed to the Morgul blade; would he become some Barrow Wight-like wraith, or some kind of assassin-spy for Sauron, etc.? (2) What do you think would specifically happen if Gollum never showed up at Mt. Doom; what would have happened to Sam, Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn? What do you think would be the story/narrative from there?
The Lego set for Barad-Dûr raises an interesting question. What was inside that tower? There’s a library among other things inside their interpretation of Barad-Dûr, did Sauron have such normal accommodations in his tower? It’s funny to me to imagine what he did all day.
Two reasons. First, Hubris. Gandalf remarked that wanting to have no one in his place was not a thought that entered his mind. Second, there was no need as Sauron did not believe the ring was headed there. He was pretty sure Aragorn had it and planned accordingly.
I'll add in addition, Sauron probably new of other, easier ways to destroy the ring making the choice entirely vexatious to him. In addition, without the ring, the forces against him were too weak to win, so he'd easily dismiss the destruction of the ring. It was a simultaneous destruction of the ring and eruption of mt doom that is the destruction of sauron. It may have weakened him to a near mortal but not won if the ring were destroyed another way. Plus the ring being unguaded in an infiltration team would be beyond the pale for him. Delivering the ring to him effectively. There's no real angle to consider the possibility for him. Why purposefully chose such a risky plan? Sauron overstimates his enemies naturally as a strategic thinker. He knows his military weaknesses and expects to be exploited there. He's been defeated on the battlefield before so naturally is avoiding that outcome most of all, hence his extremely defensive behaviour at this point. I think personal assassination would be his worry at the time, hence holing up. Reforging the sword that cut him down would convince him of this plan.
I love as well how well this answers why they couldn't just fly the eagles into Mordor and toss the ring in. I think if Frodo and Sam's quest ever did properly reach the ears of Sauron, were it not for the armies of the west and the deceptions of Gandalf, Aragorn, and Pippin I think Sauron would have been forced to consider that their plan, and thus make moves against. Also, I've heard some people ask why they were able to just make their way through "the back door" into Mordor is they had a guide, and a guide loyal to the same beast that then tried to kill them, Shelob. Not to mention that if Sauron was to have such a back entrance there would be no better guard then Shelob, and at the price of a few soldiers lives it was another path that Sauron just didn't have to consider.
At least in the movie, Extended Version of Fellowship Of the Ring, Gandalf speaks to Elrond about the hope of the quest (because Elrond has little hope). Gandalf essentially asserts that the fellowship can succeed because they have the element of surprise, because "our Enemy has not even in his darkest dreams contemplated that we should attempt to destroy The One Ring" or something along those lines. I cannot recall if these lines are in the book, or a similar line, but I do think it sums it up quite well. Sauron was a creature of Domination and Lawful Evil. He could not truly understand why someone would resist power and willingly toss it out for the greater good, and, I guess, for the love of your next/your neighbor ;-).
Now, why he didn't just cover the entrance in brickwall , I Do not know. Perhaps he still used/intended to use the heat of mount Doom as a forge for further magical artefacts? IMO, that he did not contemplate that anyone would destroy the ring seems the most complete answer; He could not imagine anyone trying to do so. IMO, I think it's unlikely that he knew about Elrond/Isildur contemplating it back then (That is, just how close he was to demise 3000 years ago).
Sauron didn't just discount goodness, he forgot about hope. Hope is one of the strongest motivators among mortals, who have lived just short enough to still believe in it.
I can’t quite describe how much joy I get from your style of narration saying ‘most memed scene..’
I love the way you ask yourself a question in the title and then answer your own question in full detail. Keep up the good work.
I like the way you like. Stay classy.
Totally. One of the things that brings me back to this channel again and again is how anti-clickbait it is: you will always get a thorough and satisfying answer to the question posed by the title, without any fannying about.
It's an academic approach rather than the hot-take style that has become so overused. I'm glad to see people appreciate it😊
Yeah, that's kinda how these videos work.
Title key words to insnare our sense of adventure.
People scream so loudly that LOTR makes no sense. The memes are so confident. Then you ask people about details, and they reveal they didn't even pay attention during the movies, let alone do even a baseline of research.
It's nice to get a proper explanation, voiced and explained so well. It's a wonderful counter to the sarcastic and stupidly confident hot takes. Thank you!
If I remember right, Tolkien mentioned in a letter that his intention was that no living thing could willingly throw the Ring into the fire, so Sauron was actually right that no one would actually get into Mount Doom and destroy it, he just never considered Gollum slipping and falling off the edge by accident.
Exactly, it literally had to happen by accident.
Accidents are the most dangerous foes in all existence
Was it an accident or did subtle forces factor in?
Frodo and Sam just "happened" to have the Phial of Galadriel and Sting when they encountered Shelob.
Sometimes, there are forces at work in the world that we write off as "accident" simply because we can't explain or account for them.
It was not just accident
@@IreneWY I know it wasn't but without Eru's intervention it wouldn't have been possible.
There was going to be a Magic Ring Detector installed at the Mount Doom entrance next Tuesday.
Sauron: “Oh fiddlesticks.”
*kaboom*
It was supposed to be installed last Friday but they filled out the wrong building permits.
Sometime between 9 a.m. Tuesday and 3 p.m. Friday
I think it's pretty clear that orcs are union guys.
Eru pulling the strings of fate.
The Darkness cannot comprehend the Light. I love that my favorite stories are still being discussed with the proper attention. Keep up the good work
“It was his inability to understand goodness”. MAN I love your videos. You help us understand how much deeper things go. Thank you for your work!!!
Something I have never seen discussed: right before entering the Cracks of Doom, Gollum assaults Frodo. In response, Frodo casts him off, and clutching the Ring to his chest, Frodo _curses_ Gollum, telling him that if Gollum ever touches him (Frodo) again, he (Gollum) himself will be cast into the Fire of Doom.
This is _exactly_ what transpires: Gollum attacks Frodo again, and subsequently falls, holding the Ring as he descends into the Fire of Doom.
I think Frodo's spirit had grown by that point that a curse, pronounced by him upon the Ring, was utterly binding. From then on, Gollum's fate was sealed.
Definitely would enjoy a video on this
That was always one of my favorite parts of the book, that Frodo did start to gain some Ringlore just by holding onto it. It's something that Galadriel mentions to him regarding the potential powers of the Ring, "Have you tried to?" I also have to wonder if his far-sighted dreams were because of the Ring, and this final act of Ring Magic is what ends up saving the day as, it could be argued, that Frodo's will had overcome the Ring's desire for self-preservation, allowing for the fulfillment of the curse.
I thought In Deep Geek actually did a video on this at one time? I think it was in one discussing why they never killed Gollum.
@@IxionAC If @InDeepGeek did indeed cover this particular event, then I haven't seen that video yet.
Here's the excerpt from The Return of the King that I am referring to:
"Frodo flung [Gollum] off and rose up quivering.
" 'Down, down!' he gasped, clutching his hand to his breast, so that beneath the cover of his leather shirt he clasped the Ring. 'Down, you creeping thing, and out of my path! Your time is at an end. You cannot betray me or slay me now.'
"Then suddenly, as before under the eaves of the Emyn Muil, Sam saw these two rivals with other vision. A crouching shape, scarcely more than the shadow of a living thing, a creature now wholly ruined and defeated, yet filled with hideous lust and rage; and before it stood stern, untouchable now by pity, a figure robed in white, but at its breast it held a wheel of fire. _Out of the fire spoke a commanding voice._
" *'Begone and trouble me no more! If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom.'* "
Seems to me the only thing Sauron really needed at Mount Doom was a guard rail. O.S.H.A. could have saved the Ring, and Sauron himself. :)
But... slippery hobbitses!
He clearly went to Galactic Empire Technical -- Reardon Extension Kinetics, Thaumaturgy for his engineering degree. Those GET-REKT guys are all about the aesthetics and the lulz.
Guard rail didn't protect Harambe. Small agents of chaos will always find a way.
Lol…my wife and I discussed that. There were no guardrails anywhere in M.E. Whether it was in Moria or Lothlorien, they just didn’t build them.
For that is evil's great flaw: it cannot comprehend the value of basic health & safety measures to protect workers. Thus does it bring about its own demise.
If I recall correctly, in the book version, Gollum FELL off the ledge as he was dancing about with delight at reclaiming his Precious. Frodo did not shove him as he was still writhing about in pain. I had always wondered if there was still a small part of Sméagol left within, just enough to make them fall in to put a final end to it all.
Supposedly. Eru gave him a gentle push with a puff of air that you see as he stumbles.
Smeagol swore on the precious and broke his oath. Eru gave him a gentle push as punishment
In the books, Gollum's fall is attributed to an intervention by Éru, along the lines of the returning of Gandalf.
I must say, I find myself preferring the movie interpretation where Frodo's struggle causes Gollum to fall. It gives a bit more emphasis to free will, I think, while still being open to giving Éru credit for how fate came to pass.
These Videos are such a high quality! Pls continue with this very nice channel!
About Mount Doom it should also be mentioned that the mountain of fire is basically perpetually erupting, and had been for a while once Sauron had rebuilt Barad-dur and ruled Mordor again. Tolkien mentioned that the way up to the crack of doom was crumbling and broken in places and occasionally encased in fresh lava flows that had to be cleared by orcs routinely and the road repaired in order to make it up there. The way up was extremely arduous and dangerous if not downright impossible at times if you didn't have a small army with you to help clear the way up there. The land of Mordor and Orodruin itself were some of the greatest parts in Sauron's defenses.
In addition to Shelob and Cirith Ungol, the pass was ALSO guarded by Minas Morgul which was crawling with Orcs led by the Witch King. In fact, his pull is so strong that Frodo nearly walks out to him with the Ring on. Again (or, rather, for the first time), the Hobbits are saved by a stroke of luck because that fortress empties out as they're climbing the black stair. If they'd been a little bit later, they'd have been caught on the road by the column and, if they'd been a little bit earlier, Frodo might have succumbed to the pull of the Ring and marched up to the fortress and been captured.
On the topic of a locked door, I think it is mentioned that Mt. Doom is constantly changing. In the movie there is a stone doorway, but I don't remember if such a doorway exists in the book. The Hobbits certainly never get all the way into the center of the mountain. They reach a spot with a chasm that blocks the way (that just so happens to lead down into the lava). So, it's entirely possible that a door would have just fallen apart as the mountain shifted.
Yea active volcanoes tend to do that seems Tolkien was aware of that detail.
Excellent analysis. I was enjoying it so much I unconsciously said out loud “very good” after the summary at the end about Sauron not understanding goodness 😂
Well done!
Even if and obviously when someone did take the ring to Mordor intending to destroy it, it was literally impossible for someone even Sauron himself to actually willingly do it. The literal intervention of God aside, extra security wasn’t exactly needed.
Fantastic work as usual Robert! Thank you again for breaking down Tolkien’s Legendariam in nerdy detail!! ❤
It was defended well against the sort of attack Sauron was anticipating. That two (well, actually three) little hobbits would sneak in was a strategy Sauron could not anticipate. It is natural to anticipate an opponent's actions in terms of what we would do were the situation reversed, and Sauron wouldn't DREAM of trying that sort of strategem.
Yes, that is what this video is saying...
It's a little silly of Sauron considering his past tower-related failure.
0:43 ah, you see, thats the thing. Two people walked into mordor, not one
"*One* does not simply walk into Mordor" but what about two?
Well they are half-lings so does two hobbits make one person? 🤔
Yes, we've had one hobbit walk into Mordor, but what about second hobbit?
@@Hurricayne92"that still only counts as one!"
They were passionate lovers of the mountain. ❤
I really love these Tolkien videos, and you have such a soothing voice. Keep up the good work, and do go on making videos where you dig in to more obscure Tolkien stuff.
I’ve been waiting for a new video and was not disappointed. Also, I always loved the “weighs all things to a nicety on his scales of malice.” Explanation by Gandalf, it shows Sauron’s underlying nature of evil and how it and he had blind spots which could be used to advantage!
Thanks again for another wonderful episode.
This is an excellent video. In fact all of In Deep Geek videos about Tolkien are really superb. Thank you Geek. As I listened to this video a thought occurred to me that would help answer the question "why not just put up a locked door on the entrance tunnel into Mount Doom?" Remember that the tunnel is in direct line of sight from the top of the Dark Lord's tower into the mountain. A door would have blocked his line of vision. Why he would want to see into the very heart of the volcano is anyone's guess but it feels like the kind of a thing that Sauron would want to be able to do.
Good to see the "link to the playlist" now operational. 🙂
Sure it was guarded - except for Sauron's hubris of "nobody could ever choose to refuse power".
I have wanted someone to put out there this exact explanation for so long! Thank you for putting it out there so thoroughly, and so well spoken!
Actually, Sauron was correct. No one in Middle Earth could willingly destroy the One Ring (maybe Tom Bombadil could). Frodo fails at the end. At the last moment he cannot bring himself to throw the One Ring into the Cracks of Doom. It was just happenstance that saw the One Ring destroyed. Indeed, Gandalf foreshadows this at the very beginning before Frodo even starts his quest when he tells Frodo to cast the ring into the fireplace and, Frodo meaning to, instead puts the ring in his pocket. Gandalf says, "'You see? Already you too, Frodo, cannot easily let it go, nor will to damage it. And I could not “make” you - except by force, which would break your mind. But as for breaking the Ring, force is useless. Even if you took it and struck it with a heavy sledge-hammer, it would make no dint in it. It cannot be unmade by your hands, or by mine."
And that was long before the One Ring had a good hold over Frodo (both through time holding it on his journey and proximity to Sauron).
Wow two Lord of the Rings videos in such short proximity! Epic!!! 🤩
I’m just a casual LOTR fan, but man I love your content.
Technically, Sauron was correct in that no mortal would willingly throw the ring. Frodo failed at the very end. But Gollum falling with the ring (as per the book) was the ultimate stroke of luck.
One does not simply walk into Mordor.
No. Two, however..
Three, Gollum walked in as well 😂😂😂
I did
One doesn't simply crip walk into Mordor.
@@evanhayes5891I seen it.
You got this one exactly as it was. The argument actually could be made that just by being where it was, Mount Doom was indirectly more guarded than most of Middle-Earth. The act of just getting to it without permission was incredibly hard by itself and likely would have failed if not the exact combination of factors that enabled it happening.
Getting past Minas Morgul by itself was an achievement barely done and almost personally detected by the Witch King, while the statues there would have been enough to stop most people.
Surviving Shelob's tunnels without the special equipment they had would be rather unlikely, and in the case of her noticing anyone as she did, she'd probably be dangerous enough to handle a dozen normal men, especially with the advantage of her webs, the lack of lighting, and her sheer size. Passing her was a combination of luck, Sam's good thinking, and that magic weapon they had with them which was previously used to kill one of the world's most dangerous dragons.
Beyond the first two barely-possible checks, the guarded tower itself feels like an afterthought because anyone dangerous enough to attempt forcing their way to it wouldn't be likely to be hindered much by just some orcs.
The way the hobbits actually got in was probably harder than just travelling all the way around to eastern Mordor to bypass the mountains, where I expect Sauron probably had other forts and guard posts built to protect his only naturally unshielded border. Hard to say what defenses may have been there since I've never even heard of a story where it would be relevant.
Just found this channel through watching David Lightbringer, and wow! Thank you for all the awesome content. Never stop!
If Gollum somehow survived the story (maybe he bit the finger off and it just fell in and he just didn't see until too late, or Frodo slipped in ring and all, or whatever), would he have been allowed to board a boat to the west? He indeed was a ring bearer. The longest holder of the ring, longer even than Sauron. And I'm not certain how evil Gollum is per say. Corrupted, of course, but does that make him evil? Boromir I don't ever hear referred to as evil despite his fall from grace, simply overpowered by an artifact far stronger than any mortal.
I think part of the difference for Gollum was how he took the ring in the first place-by murdering his relative, who was the one that actually found it. The ring probably amplified his dark thoughts, but he did still act on them and seize the ring for himself by way of kinslaying. Setting aside if Gollum would have been allowed to go West, I don't think he'd even want to anyways if given the chance-he hated the light and all things good, and had actively rejected redemption when he had the chance for it (may or may not be a movie only thing where he actually seems to go back to being Smeagol for a time, before rejecting "Smeagol" and going back to "Gollum", but I think a similar thing happened in the books)
Did gollum have the ring for longer than Sauron? I'm unclear as to the exact timeline of the war of the ring in the second age, but wasn't it quite a lengthy war? In addition to the build up to the war and such
I don't think Gollem could have made the trip to the boats if any wanted to send him. His life was bound to the ring. Much like Bilbo he would rapidly age (the movie had it happen before the ring was destroyed but that was incorrect) and Gollem had it si much longer he might have days, weeks or just maybe months before being reduced to dust.
At the longest he might last to see the Shire. He would probably need to be carried most of the way.
Gollum having the ring longer than Sauron?
If an elvish rope burned his next imagine him sitting on an elvish boat for weeks with only elvish food to eat.
He would probably turn to dust. Bilbo began to rapidly age to match his current age, and all that was built with the One Ring's influence was crumbling.
The tides of time would not be gentle to a +500 year old Hobbit.
Your voice is pure asmr and your analyses are so spot on and well-researched, such a treat in my free time :)
"We must send the Ring to the Fire." Elrond
"Inconceivable!" Sauron
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Inigo Montoya
It was the ol' Kansas City shuffle. Sauron looks North while the hobbits go south.
Another gem; thank you Robert!
LOTR lore aside, it also doesn't make much strategical sense from a military point of view to keep a large force in the center of your territory just hanging out. You can keep some of your reserves, and your training, medical and logistics near some strategic points, but you generally want your army guarding your border or attacking the enemy.
One "can" walk to Mordor but, there is no 'merely' in that endeavor.
Thats one of my favorite things about Lotr, Sauron isnt like Thanos or some such, he does have eyes and ears everwhere but they are just that, no more. They can have the counsel of Elrond and Not have Sauron instantly find out about it
Even tho he is super human he has very clear sensory limitations
He is very powerful but far from all knowing
Yea Sauron is an "Angel" not a "God"
I’ve watched many of your videos but I think this was your best one!
1:49 the two watchers guard the entrance to cirith ungol, not the path which runs alongside it. Had Frodo not been captured, he and Sam need not have passed them; they could have simply walked past down the path.
Damn I’m here early enough to witness the Battle of the powers
How did Gandalf and Elrond know for sure that throwing the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom would destroy it?
They didn't. They just hoped it would work.
Interesting question, but there was Ringlore to study, and Saruman was the master of it, and good for some time in Middle Earth. It wouldn't surprise me if part of the known Ringlore was that *any* Ring of Power can only be destroyed in the fire in which it was made, or in a more strongly magical fire such as dragon-fire. Three of the dwarves' Rings were "eaten by dragons", but Gandolf doubted that even Ancalagon the Black, greatest of all dragons, could destroy the One Ring.
One of your best efforts here ... kudos
" . . . [Sauron] thought it inconceivable that anyone would be able to bring themselves to destroy [the Ring]."
And he was right. Frodo failed to cast the One into the Cracks of Doom.
Excellent video!
I'm not sure I would say the idea never occurred to him so much as he disregarded it as impossible. And as you pointed out he was right, *nobody* had the will to destroy the ring. It, literally, took an act of GOD. Eru had to trip him, and this was after sending Gandolf back. This is why I laugh at "if Sauron had won" theories. He was never going to. The fix was in. Eru had their back. He had pissed off GOD. How do you defend against.... God?????
Eru Ex Machina
Eru isn't going to do everything, he normally doesn't do much at all to interfere with the music playing out (unless the humans storm the gates of heaven) - some of the Valar do a little more. So yeah Sauron could have won this war; if Frodo had said "nah, I'm good", or Sam had gone back to the Shire after looking in the mirror, or someone slightly more corruptible had gotten it, or the rest of the Fellowship failed to distract him. A ring-bearer (or 3) had to make the sacrifice to get it there, and many more had to help him.
@@MagusMarquillin yeah but Eru engineered everything so that the right hobbit got the ring, etc. Sauron was beyond tilting at windmills thinking he could pull one over on the supreme being of all of all existence.
@@chrisbarnett5303 OK, good point. Certain people were chosen to be offered the choice to fight - it then gets very theological on how much God knows about peoples "free will" choices in advance. Like did he know Faramir wouldn't be allowed go to Rivendell when he was summoned via dream? It's more then I know for sure. And I'm not certain what's being done by Eru as opposed to Manwe, Ulmo or Varda, who are all less then omniscient.
@@MagusMarquillin that's something that's always bugged me about Christianity- like okay we have free will but god made us knowing every choice we'd make, so how can he condemn us when he made us that way?!
"It was his inability to understand goodness". AHHHHHHHh~ SOO good!
There's a brief moment during the Host of the West's march to the Gates of Mordor that I find interesting. They loudly proclaimed far and wide that they were marching on Mordor, sending heralds to proclaim that the "Lords of the West" had come. But Gandalf convinced them to change that - and despite Aragorn's objections, they began to proclaim that "The King of Gondor" had come.
I feel like it's not fair to Sauron to say he couldn't conceive of anyone actually trying to destroy The One Ring, he was right in the sense that no one could ever purposefully destroy it (or at least not any elf, man, or even Maiar, maybe a Valar could, though, and Tom Bombadil probably had the ability if he wanted to, he just didn't give AF). The only reason The One Ring got destroyed was because a series of events that allowed the One Ring to fall in on accident. Putting guards up there or even locking the door would be like preparing for a meteorite hitting you, it's so unlikely that you'd be wasting your time
It took lots of mini divine interventions from Eru Illuvatar for the One Ring to be destroyed. How can you possible plan for literal Deus Ex Machina (or Eru Ex Machina?)?
Exactly, and you can make a very good argument that even Gandalf knew from the very beginning that Frodo would not be able to intentionally destroy the ring. Sneaking into Mt. Doom wasn't even a "so crazy it might just work" kind of plan, by all accounts it should just *not* have worked at all.
I feel there is a very subtle implication that in the same way Gandalf could tell that Gollum had a future role to play, there was also something that hinted to him to go through with this plan anyway, no matter how stupid it might look from a purely rational point of view.
@@CMDKeenCZ With Gandalf, he has great wisdom and intuition of Eru's path to follow but I don't think he has clear, explicit ideas what will happen. He knows how to let go and let God (Eru). He may have known Fordo probably wouldn't be able to resist but that's still where their fate lay and who knows maybe if anyone can do it, Frodo could?
My new favorite channel
My favorite passage in lotr is when Sauron's gaze is drawn to the cracks of doom as Frodo put on the ring, to the door "he had made"
When his folly is laid bare, and the panic he felt. To Sauron, the idea that anyone or anything could bring the ring to the cracks of doom was as nonsensical to him as the idea of killing yourself to get rich is to us. But when he realized what was going on, he saw that it was through his own hand that doom was now at hand. I just love that.
Lord Robert !!!! It’s good to see you have another video out on the LOTR lore
An encouraging theme, considering recent results here in the good old USA.
Beautifully answered! Interestingly, another question came into my mind. Why could the One Ring only be destroyed in the Cracks of Doom?
I think that at the council of Elrond in the books they mention, that dragon fire might destroy it as well. Some of the dwarven rings were destroyed that way. But that wasn't an option because there were no dragons any more with hot enough fire to do it (and you couldn't go and ask them nicely for it anyway).
Easy answer is that it never occurred to Sauron that anyone would want to take it to Mordor to destroy it. He could not conceive that anyone would do anything other than try to use it themselves for power.
You watched the video - great!
"Evil is the means of its own destruction" is something i really needed to hear today. Thank you.
Boy are you ever right. Robert is delivering us from devastation for a moment today.
In place of a Dark Lord you would have a greasy sheen! Not dark but beautiful and orange as the Dawn!”
@@edbuchan2857 I saw a vision, of hair swept forward in a wave.
Likewise, the defeat of evil won't come from some powerful hero come to save us (Gandalf, Galadriel, someone like that), but from the little people who simply refused to accept evil.
We have to be like Sam, don't give up and keep a box with a seed of hope inside.
A masterful piece in deed!!
This is exactly why ONLY Frodo could have been the Ring Bearer. I think the is a video on that topic as well.
We read this passage, when, in his final moments, Sauron realizes how badly he's been fooled:
And far away, as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own, even in Sammath Naur the very heart of his realm, the Power in Barad-dûr was shaken, and the Tower trembled from its foundations to its proud and bitter crown. The Dark Lord was suddenly aware of him, and his Eye piercing all shadows looked across the plain to the door that he had made; and the magnitude of his own folly was revealed to him in a blinding flash, and all the devices of his enemies were at last laid bare. Then his wrath blazed in consuming flame, but his fear rose like a vast black smoke to choke him. For he knew his deadly peril and the thread upon which his doom now hung.
You did a terrific job with this video.
I like this channel, but this video was especially good.
"!One Does Not Simply Walk into Mordor". They were two, or rhree if you count in Gollum. /s
Beautifully put
One of your best videos.
In early for another excellent take on the LOTR. Many thanks, again!
I like to imagine that Sam, after initial recovery in Minas Tirith, would have eaten a weeks worth of food for several Hobbits in a single sitting, anything but Lembas!
That's an adorable thought!
another brilliant video!
I've only recently found this channel, and I love it. Devouring all of the LOTR episodes.
Question: Does anyone have a good suggestion for this type of treatment of the WoT series?
It was heavily defended and im looking forwards to you explaining thoses defences.
And i was not disappointed
4:48 so some Elvish baker saved the world, cool
The Professor’s famous distrust of allegories aside, this is literally the plot of Operation Fortitude prior to D-Day
I think one needs to add that actually the destruction of the ring could only be possible without the concept of destiny.
Gollum fall into the crack of doom as it was destined by the music of ainur and the will of Eru.
This is an additional argument why destroying the ring was an almost impossible quest
Thats good writing man no wonder this is so beloved. Lesser writer wouldve for sure had Frodo just overcome any greed and throw it in, but the twist of even he couldn’t stop himself in the end and what saves him is the pity for gollum he showed is a great lesson. Basically means karma, keep doing good things even when theres no calculable value to you and you will have a reserve of good deeds that may or may not come full circle instead of a pile of scorned people who may or may not come back to bite you.
Can you do a more in depth video on these sentinels? They sound fascinating
I literally asked this myself today as I listened to the Two Towers… 🤯
I could listen for Hours to your great Videos 👍
I've been listening to a lot of lore and this is the first time hearing about the watchers. I'd like a lore video on them if possible.
Boromir: "One does not simply walk into Mordor."
Frodo: "Hold my beer."
The simple answer is this: Sauron NEVER IMAGINED that anybody would even ATTEMPT to destroy the Ring. It was inconceivable to Sauron that someone would have the most power object in the world in the palm of their hand, and then just give it up.
Even then what are they going to do, sneak in? The hobbits failed to evade detection twice, and humans or elves would stick out even more.
Related question:
Obviously, Elrond was able to deduce that the One Ring would be able to be unmade in the fires of Mount Doom, but did Sauron himself ever actually realise this? Given he never seems to have contemplated anyone destroying it, did he even think through that that would be possible? At the end of the story when he senses that the ring is at the crack of doom and he panics, assuming that isn't because the ringbearer is right near him and he thinks they're going to attack him directly, is that the first time that he actually realises that this could even happen?
You have a great voice for audio books. It would be awesome to hear you cover lord of the rings, a song of ice and fire and one of my favorite series, the dark tower.
Sauron: Ah, there we go! My forge is complete! Hmmm... this is the only place my ring could be destroyed. Better put a locked gate here just to be safe!
*Thousands of years later*
Sam: Look Mr. Frodo! We're almost there! I can see... oh no.
Frodo: What is it, Sam?
Sam: The doorway, Mr. Frodo! It's locked! We can't get in!
Frodo: *horrified pikachu face*
Thank you Robert, for never failing to show me yet another piece of Tolkien’s genius. At this point, I don’t think there was anything he put in which wasn’t serving more than two purposes, whether moving the plot forward, expanding the ever deep lore which lead to this point, or showing us the kind of the characters and the themes of this world
I love how the answer to literally every question is essentially "RTFB..."
What do Luke Skywalker and Gimli have in common?
Both have an uncle Owen (Oin) killed by the enemy!
OOH, interesting point. Gollum was spared 3 times, by Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam. That allowed the "eucatastrophe" - the small part Gollum would play before the end. I had been noticing a pattern of 3's in Tolkien's work - probably inspired by the Christian trinity - but this is an example that I had not noticed.
Let's not forget that first you have to get into Mordor in the first place. And the plains around the volcano were crawling with Orcs. Also Mt Doom was in walking distance from Barad Dur and the path there was kept clear and guarded by Orcs as apparently Sauron himself liked to occasionally stroll out there personally.
Can you make a video going into detail about the silmarils, how they were made, and their abilities, as well as where they ended up?
I wonder if the power of the ring helped the Hobbits survive the journey. Yes the lembas helped, but Gollum didn't eat lembas, and he survived the journey.
I always thought the idea was that, Sauron would’ve never expected it
Remember Gollum cursed himself by swearing to the Precious not to betray Frodo...which was the key to it's destruction...
Two questions maybe worth exploring: (1) What do you think would have happened to Frodo, long term, after he succumbed to the Morgul blade; would he become some Barrow Wight-like wraith, or some kind of assassin-spy for Sauron, etc.? (2) What do you think would specifically happen if Gollum never showed up at Mt. Doom; what would have happened to Sam, Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn? What do you think would be the story/narrative from there?
The eagles simply flew into Mordor. Wasn't Sauron worried about eagles?
The Lego set for Barad-Dûr raises an interesting question. What was inside that tower? There’s a library among other things inside their interpretation of Barad-Dûr, did Sauron have such normal accommodations in his tower? It’s funny to me to imagine what he did all day.
Two reasons. First, Hubris. Gandalf remarked that wanting to have no one in his place was not a thought that entered his mind. Second, there was no need as Sauron did not believe the ring was headed there. He was pretty sure Aragorn had it and planned accordingly.
I'll add in addition, Sauron probably new of other, easier ways to destroy the ring making the choice entirely vexatious to him.
In addition, without the ring, the forces against him were too weak to win, so he'd easily dismiss the destruction of the ring.
It was a simultaneous destruction of the ring and eruption of mt doom that is the destruction of sauron. It may have weakened him to a near mortal but not won if the ring were destroyed another way.
Plus the ring being unguaded in an infiltration team would be beyond the pale for him. Delivering the ring to him effectively.
There's no real angle to consider the possibility for him. Why purposefully chose such a risky plan?
Sauron overstimates his enemies naturally as a strategic thinker. He knows his military weaknesses and expects to be exploited there. He's been defeated on the battlefield before so naturally is avoiding that outcome most of all, hence his extremely defensive behaviour at this point.
I think personal assassination would be his worry at the time, hence holing up. Reforging the sword that cut him down would convince him of this plan.
I like your takes on LotR.
I love as well how well this answers why they couldn't just fly the eagles into Mordor and toss the ring in. I think if Frodo and Sam's quest ever did properly reach the ears of Sauron, were it not for the armies of the west and the deceptions of Gandalf, Aragorn, and Pippin I think Sauron would have been forced to consider that their plan, and thus make moves against. Also, I've heard some people ask why they were able to just make their way through "the back door" into Mordor is they had a guide, and a guide loyal to the same beast that then tried to kill them, Shelob. Not to mention that if Sauron was to have such a back entrance there would be no better guard then Shelob, and at the price of a few soldiers lives it was another path that Sauron just didn't have to consider.
Would be interested in a video about those sentinels
At least in the movie, Extended Version of Fellowship Of the Ring, Gandalf speaks to Elrond about the hope of the quest (because Elrond has little hope).
Gandalf essentially asserts that the fellowship can succeed because they have the element of surprise, because "our Enemy has not even in his darkest dreams contemplated that we should attempt to destroy The One Ring" or something along those lines.
I cannot recall if these lines are in the book, or a similar line, but I do think it sums it up quite well. Sauron was a creature of Domination and Lawful Evil. He could not truly understand why someone would resist power and willingly toss it out for the greater good, and, I guess, for the love of your next/your neighbor ;-).
Now, why he didn't just cover the entrance in brickwall , I Do not know. Perhaps he still used/intended to use the heat of mount Doom as a forge for further magical artefacts? IMO, that he did not contemplate that anyone would destroy the ring seems the most complete answer; He could not imagine anyone trying to do so. IMO, I think it's unlikely that he knew about Elrond/Isildur contemplating it back then (That is, just how close he was to demise 3000 years ago).
Sauron didn't just discount goodness, he forgot about hope. Hope is one of the strongest motivators among mortals, who have lived just short enough to still believe in it.
And hope is greatest evil in itself