This kind of video is exactly what sets this Tolkien channel apart from others. The depth of insight, the breadth of contextual information on mythology, language and Tolkiens development is fascinating. It does require a bit of commitment from the viewer, but I’m sure more and more fans will see the channel for what it is: the true Number 1 resource for Middle Earth fans.
That part about Morgoth losing power to those things he created is the single most important thing I have learned from you. I really appreciate the fact that you put in text and documented it. I never remembered that fact, You are the best Tolkien expert out there.
Agreed. And Melkor/Morgoth lost power for several other reasons (bestowing much of his power and essence into Arda to corrupt and bend it to his will, hence the term "Morgoth's Ring", pouring some more of his power unto his many servants) and continued to lose power as the countless ages passed leading up all the way to the end of the First Age where he was at his weakest, vastly inferior compared to what he once was as the greatest/mightiest of all the Valar by far in his prime in the beginning.
Sir Christopher Lee reading of Children of Hurin was EPIC. The tragic fate of watching the curse happen to your children and not being able to do a damn thing about it. Makes me wonder if Turin is an elf friend what does it take to be an elf enemy. I think if he hadn’t of abandoned Findulas things might have been different for him.
Part 1 of 13. Oh boy!! Can't decide whether to listen to each episode as it appears or whether to wiat until they're all uploaded and have a massive binge whilst I complete a huge home DIY project!
I am so excited to have reached the point in time that we all get to see RD’s treatment of this masterpiece of JRRT’s. This is one of my two favorites of the Legendarium, the other being the Tale of Beren and Luthien. Both stories stand, in my mind at least, as equally awesome. One is a tale of hope and love sprinkled with tragedy, while The Children of Hurin is a story of tragedy, woe, and despair, but, throughout it, you can’t help but admire Turin and his father’s defiance of evil. Such a great and tragic work of art.
one of my friends recommended this channel to me, and I was a bit hesitant since I had come to see most of these “Tolkien explained” channels as basically just reading Tolkien Gateway into a microphone. I was wrong, this is already much more in-depth than what I expected. looking forward to the next dozen videos about my favorite Tolkien book!
32:04 I’m sorry, but now I can’t stop picturing the Valar sitting in their cosmic briefing room, with one of them - who coincidentally looks like Oscar Isaac - grimly announcing that “somehow, Morgoth returned”.
My day gets instantly better when there's a new Tolkien Untangled video. It's even better past that when it's about my favorite Tolkien story. Thanks, Dave!
Im hoping this goes into a fall of gondolin series. The fall of gondolin and the children of hurin are probably my favorite stories. Loving these videos.
I will add one more major mythological influence for Turin -- the tale of Sigurd and the Dragon. This is one of the great stories of Nordic myth, and is immediately what I thought of as I was reading The Children of Hurin. Some aspects of the story are profoundly similar. The dragons Glaurung and Fafnir, several traits of Turin and Sigurd, and even some of the darker details regarding the personal relationships in the story. As it happens, Tolkien also has a translation of Sigurd's story, which I can recommend wholeheartedly.
I was so much looking forward to this. It has turned an awful, intense, stressful 10 hr a day week into Thank God it’s Friday when there is a Rainbow Dave video. The start is magnificent and I love the historical foundations. Can’t wait for the next.
Your channel has quickly become my absolute favorite Tolkien channels. Amazing video once again! As a Finn my joy was palpable at the mention of Kalevala and you explained it beautifully.
I read almost all of Tolkien, and know the stories; however, I was waiting for this series to continue more than I waited on my paycheck hahaha :D Thank you, for all the stories
This is why this channel is different in the best of ways! You don't simply launch into the story itself but spend an entire video helping us to develop the relevant background knowledge, and it gives your audience more reasons to care about this story. Excellent!
Jeff said he wanted his own Game of Thrones, and whenever I re-read this I feel that this would have made such an awesome show that would be that water-cooler-phenomenon because it is SO different from the happy hero-stories everyone knows. Really looking forward for all 13 episodes!
Frr If somebody that understand tolkien and is note woke would make that happen it could imo be even better then Peter Jackson trilogy or at the same lvl. There is a biiiiig potential.
It has an awesome length to turn into a one season series, too! But Jeff better fucking keep his dirty claws off it. He already destroyed the Second Age, I don't want him anywhere NEAR the First Age, especially not near my favorite Tolkien story of all time!
@@magiv4205 Yeah I feel like a one-off miniseries of however many episodes it would take, 10, 15, 20, without dragging. As for Jeff I think we can all agree that he didn't destroy or sully any of Tolkiens work since ROP has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with Tolkien spare a few names they copied onto entirely different characters.
Thank you Rainbow Dave, another fantastically entertaining series! I love your delivery of this material and I'm so excited to get to go on another deep dive journey. Your delivery always seems exciting and simultaneously grounded. As an older viewer (54) and long admirer of Tolkiens' works, I am perpetually surprised when the story makes me think critically about my own beliefs and examinations of my own actions. The "tangent" you discussed relating to "fate vs. freewill" I particularly enjoyed. I think with the audience you have garnered, you have many cotangent supporters :) Thank you for your work.
I am so excited for this series! The Children of Hurin is my second favorite story in the legendarium. Such a glorious introduction and backstory Rainbow Dave!
I cannot wait for the Tolkien Untangled treatment of this story - I hope you cover 1) Hurin’s conversation with Morgoth about fate of men - so profound to me 2) strength of men (least in the elder days) seeming to be able to exceed that of elves - sort of important that men are not lesser in all ways to elves - men and elves together seem to enrich and compliment each other in many ways - tragic they had to be sundered by Morgoth’s malice
Thank you for turning me onto Tolkien. I honestly have no words to say how much I've appreciated your videos. You're a natural lecturer and as a former teacher (18 years coming to a sudden an inglorious end) I wonder if you've ever considered offering a guest lecture to universities to go along with your videos (teachers pay teachers, even). I don't think you need to be a credentialed/professional teacher to offer this interesting and incredibly well researched content. If you're interested, I'd be happy to share some pointers for lesson plans or such. You wouldn't be compromising your video content, just monetizing a portion of it to educate others and helping teachers with less experience come up with amazing and inspiring lessons. In an alternate universe, if I'd had a teacher who showed this much passion and interest in a subject as you show, I would've been a Tolkien scholar or gone into a similar field!
CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!! I can not express how great your videos are. The words that come to mind are: profound (in your reading, knowledge, love for Tolkien's work. And so transported/conveyed to others). Engaging (yes I am hyped for the rest of the series and your take on EVERYTHING. specially that I did read The Children of Hurin). Passionate (I love Tolkien's work, but I never dove nor even read half of what you read). So really thank you, just follow your passion. Your journey on this channel has been a great joy to follow so far.
Dave, you`re doing it so well. You`re the only one that can make me go "wider", learning about tolkien as a man and author and how it all came to be. seriously, you`re slowly getting my deeper into the tolkienian vibe understanding better, and doing it all super interestingly. thanks!!
This is so awesome! I love this introduction and explanation of how Professor Tolkien painfully pieced together the character of Turin, all those years and from the 'germ' of the Legendarium beginnings. Even before a silmaril was thought of. Beowulf and Kalevala influences: Kalevala, the dwelling place of the poem's chief characters, is a poetic name for Finland, meaning “land of heroes.” Thank you Dave, for your in depth and comprehensive research into Tolkien's writings. I'm anticipating this series on The Children of Hurin.
I could watch your videos all day, they are thorough, well researched and IMHO, you are one of the best storytellers on YT (if not the best). Can't wait for your next videos of this series! Thank you!
Can't wait to go through this series with you! I had always pictured Sigurd as the main inspiration for Turin's character, so thanks for bringing Kullervo to my attention 😃
Dave you are wonderful for doing this my friend. I can’t even fandom the amount of research that goes behind each one your vídeos. 😊 I feel like I have such a better grasp of the story of Middle Earth with your insights. Your enthusiasm is contagious and I find myself re-reading the Silmarillion again. Thank you for what you do. Your videos keep me company while I work and every new release is a bright part of my day.
When you announced that you would do this series, I was so excited! To judge by the first one, this series will be amazing! Love your videos, Rainbow Dave!
Mr. Dave... Of all the tales of the Silmarillion, the book that most inspired me to write my own mythology 18 years ago, you've decided to make an expansive series about the one I immediately chose as my favorite. And you began with the most epic and awe-inspiring backstory, spooky, even, because the Silmarillion was kind of like my version of "the germ.” I'm very excited to relive and learn more about what I've set aside as my most personally favored chapter of the Silmarillion. I've already learned things I did not know before, and I can't wait to hear the rest, be it review or news. Thank you! I want you to know that your work means something to me, and to others who wander the vast interwebs in search of meaning in a world that can feel so meaningless.
Thank you for such a wonderful introduction to your untangling of this epic story - my favourite of all the tales in the Silmarilllion. So glad I discovered your channel. I first started reading Tolkien 45 years ago and have never lost my love for his works, or my excitement in reading them again and again. Can't wait for your next video ❤
Going to save this video for later, can’t wait! Also, the Christopher Lee audiobook is probably the best narration ever, wish he did the Silmarillion too.
Never been more excited to the torturous days in between video releases of this incredibly introduced story by this brilliant and deep conveyed background. Thank you Dave.
This book was one of the most dark and depressing ones for me to have read back when I was in my teens, exploring the saddest, most petty, most personaly horrifying chapters in the Silmarillion with more detail and none of the payoff in the form of the War of Wrath found in the Silmarillion. Which is to say I loved it, and I'm glad you're looking into it. Turin is a classic tragic hero, and a wonderfully human character to contrast with the similarly flawed, yet larger than life elven heroes like Feanor and Fingolfin, or the more successful classic heroes like Tuor and later Aragorn. The suffering he and his family go through at Morgoth's hands cements the dark lord as the true villain that he is (and not the sympathetic character modern writers would want him to be). Per chance, if you ever want to do a more relaxing topic, might I suggest looking into some of the poetry in Tolkiens "Adventures of Tom Bombadill," as well as other works contained within such as "Leaf by Niggle" or my personal out-of-Middle-Earth favorite, "Farmer Giles of Ham."
Oh, my favorite Tolkien story ever, what an amazing present! I just got this notification during my lunchbreak and will ride the high from this video from the rest of my day, thank you!
Turin's story is the one tale I have the hardest time remembering. Excited for your untangling! Great background to start us off, I had no idea about Tolkien and the Kalevala. I only know of the Kalevala from some Mystery Science Theater episodes 😅
Another outstanding video, sir. Thank you for the time, effort, and love you put into them. As a fan who first began reading these stories 40 years ago, I appreciate your work. Thank you, brother.
My favourite of all of Tolkien's tales, the one that evokes the most pathos and provokes the most thought. And now I've watched it and listened to it. Wonderful. Thank you once again, Rainbow Dave. THIRTEEN episodes? I can hardly wait to be overtaken by the running feet of doom.
I am a recent Tolkien fan, so I am overjoyed at the mention of Kalevala! I had commented about it on a previous video of yours. So, I feel a little more legit and on the road to being considered a Tolkien nerd.
The absolute bravery of Hurin to not just endure the presence of Morgoth (once the second most powerful being in existence), but to taunt him and bring up the names of Manwe and Varda. I've always thought of the curse of 'Morgoth's Eyes' to be like the worst form of depression, the kind that twists everything good and pure til you can take no joy from it. Can't believe Eru let it happen to be honest but then we wouldn't have this amazing, heartrending tale.
As a Finn it's always nice to get some attention on our national epic, and how Tolkien used it as inspiration. For some reason or another I also feel a sense of pride for Tolkien having based the elven language for large parts on Finnish grammar.
After a week of antibiotics for all my kids the youngest one comes home with a high fewer… stupid virus. So mummy won’t be able to go to the concert she would have been invited to tonight by one of her best friends… in the most beautiful concert hall in the world with the best acoustics (Wiener Musikverein)…😭😭😭… BUT…BUT…. A new video by Rainbow Dave! By far the most awesome content creator concerning Tolkiens world! A video to compensate almost everything! At least I can binge in this video delight! Thanks Dave❤️
Thanks RD!! I don't remember this story very well, but I remember writing Hurin and Turin into a D&D game I was playing 25 ish years ago. So at least at some point I went to the trouble to give them stats, so I know this is gonna rule!!! Keep up the remarkable work! See you next week!!
I'd never heard of the tale of the children of Hurin before watching your channel, so I have zero expectations, which is how it should be! Kinda excited!
Thank you so much for this great introduction Dave, really looking forward to dive into this amazing story with your unparalleled depth of knowledge and passion! 😊
I’m only 15 minutes in, but I wonder if The Music ever stops. All of the children of Ilúvatar constantly sing and make new music with their thoughts and choices. Anyway, omg I love this long form deep dive content!
Finally! The 1st Age continues. I got a little bit excited when this popped up. A little disappointed that the 1st video is a 50 min foreword, but it's the etymology & background & the examinations of Saxon mythology etc that give us insight into Tolkien's mind that really make you stand out from the other Tolkien channels. The most interesting foreword ever. I have a criticism of Eru Ilúvatar but I'll follow your lead & wait til the end of the story.
2:45... you know... you're right. The title we use isn't the best title for the story. 10/10, not sure why I didn't see it earlier, thank you for untangling that knot I didn't I had.
The way you connected Finnish tales to the Legendarium, that was brand new to me. I usually think Finland as more...Eurasian, not so much Nordic. It really helps me understand that the lines on maps do not reflect culture. Well done, m8!
The Finnish language is one of the last few remaining of those that existed before the Indo-European migrations into Europe. The folklore is a blend of that with Nordic influences from the west and Slavic ones from the east. It's all really fascinating, and so different from what most of us are used to.
This is my favorite story. I hate when I get a happy ending and I feel cheated. Nope, Túrin / Kullervo give you the opposite and it's more savory than bittersweet. Otherwise, I'm a really happy person. I always pictured James Le Gros as Túrin and Steve Martin as Húrin. I can't wait to see what you think of Mîm. He's an extra level of complexity. Let the sadness begin!!
This is absolutely so exciting. I cannot wait for this whole series of videos dissecting the whole story. Re Feanor vs Turin complexity. I’d wager that though Feanor is not as psychologically nuanced as Turin that is not to say his story is less emotionally deep or profound or certainly not less intense. They’re both great dramatic characters in different ways. I am happier to have them both in the story than one or the other 😊
Excellent work on the background setup! I think you provide a lot of insights that are easy to overlook. Now while waiting for the next video I have to start listening afresh to the Children of Hurin narrated by Christopher Lee!
I recently got the Children of Hurin from the library and am part way through it. Of course I want to read ahead of your videos. (I have read the Silmarillion, so I'm not worried about spoilers.)
Great video about a most tragic, hardcore story! As a practicing occultist I can tell you curses work both by interfering with people's minds into making them make wrong choices, enhancing their flaws of character in detriment to their good traits and talents, as well as by generating adverse outside circumstances for them that would result in them being harmed one way or another. There's more to it than that, as in this case the curse targeted an entire family, but the same applies nonetheless. Having that out of the way, I think Turin was always well intended and striving to do good, or at least fix wrongs. But in doing so he kept kicking himself in the nuts as a result of the effects of the curse. The results turned out awful for him and those around. I think he's microcosm must've been something. Besides being a possible case study for psychology, I think he must've felt anguish, sorrow and all sorts of pains on a constant basis. But I think his strong-willed nature made him feed on that and drive him onward. In some ways it's kinda like a Sith who harnesses power from pain and misery, both his own and others', but in this case Turin chooses to use that power to fight the evil that affects him and his surrounding environment instead of growing in power just so he'd end up subjugating others and thus becoming that same evil. It's true he's got his character flaws that work against him, but not even the Eldar were perfect. But just as in the case of every real life person, his flaws kept dragging him down. The fact they were inflated and empowered by the curse only made it much, much worse. Btw, I felt the scene with Hurin shouting towards Turgon as utterly heartbreaking. I'm going to stop as not to give spoilers to others, but that's the perfect image of despair to me 😢 Looking forward towards another outstanding series! 👏👏👏👏
I like Turin because he is so unapologetically human. We can identify with him because we all know the dark things we hide from others in our hearts and most of us want to do right, but often by trying to do what we ‘believe’ is right we do the evil we do not wish to do and cause worse things to occur. Mankind in Tolkien’s world are different to Elves and Dwarves because they have a dual complex nature.
Túrin Turambar was the character I most identified with in my feverish 15yo brain. Valiant yet cursed, honorable yet enslaved, the Terror of Defiance yet unable, in the end, to overcome but still able to pass along hope. Strange, sometimes, how things work out....
Bob, I discovered your channel only a few weeks ago, but I've already listened to every video here -- some of them twice. (Except for the ones about the Amazon "LOTR" show, since I have refused to watch that.) Your breadth of familiarity with the Tolkien universe is truly outstanding. I consider myself a "Tolkien nerd" of nearly four decades -- and you still make connections that I had not considered. So my hat is off to you! Please continue with this effort as long as you can! PS: quick question -- one of videos in the Children of Húrin playlist is listed as "hidden" -- is this correct? I'd hate to think I'm missing out on an entry here!
I loved that RD! Thank you! I like how you have 'set the foundation' and have given us some themes and things to think about when you are telling the story. That's a really good way to start. Awesome :)
Talking of the Gollum eucatastrophe. Gollum swore on the precious (the one ring) to protect his master and the Ring unknowingly brought about it’s own demise by punishing Gollum through the oath. As Frodo said to Gollum later after showing him mercy after Gollum’s betrayal he said “If you ever touch me again you will be cast into the Fires of Doom yourself”.
Children of Húrin is my second favorite Tolkien story behind LOTR itself. And this video is great, however, I feel like you need to cut our boy Fëanor some slack too, I believe somewhere it is mentioned that the Valar consider Melkor corrupting Fëanor and the Nolder his worst feat, so he shouldn't be completing judged on his actions.
Everything we know about Tolkien's legendarium... wizards, dragons, Hobbits, the Ring, its lands, peoples and gods... all began as backstory for Turin Turambar. That's so poignantly epic!
If I didn't love this channel so much, I'm not sure I would choose to listen to these right now. But I guess I love this channel a lot cause here I go!
@@tolkienuntangled You are awesome and I don't think you can help imparting your exuberance and joy into any task you take on. Obviously, the tale is dark but I will watch because you will bring a bit of light to the darkness and make it manageable. And, you clearly love this story. I don't. But maybe I will lean something that will enhance my appreciation for the tale (as someone who has adored dragons since she was 6, I hate Glaurung; he is an evil SOB in the worst way). In any case, I am all yours for the next 12 weeks but feel free to take a break from the tragedy with a long overdo video on Círdan or the Entwives or ...
Thank you RD for your invariably illuminating, engaging, and indeed moving storytelling. I bet there are not many channels that would introduce this story by way of Boethius - but I’m sure Tolkien and his friends would approve. Would you ever consider doing a one-off or mini-series on the Inklings?
My dog walk tonight is gonna be epic
I'll walk ur dog if u want. 🤷♂️
Great idea. For me it’s a pre bedtime listen. But I love the dog walk idea too
That is a great idea!
I feel that on a deeply personal level. Cheers
Stoop! I'm literally waking my dog right now and listening to this!
This kind of video is exactly what sets this Tolkien channel apart from others. The depth of insight, the breadth of contextual information on mythology, language and Tolkiens development is fascinating. It does require a bit of commitment from the viewer, but I’m sure more and more fans will see the channel for what it is: the true Number 1 resource for Middle Earth fans.
Thank you very much!
There really aren't yet any other videos on the subject that have done such a good job as this one.
I'm just here for the pure comedy and accent-
Definitely deserves a seat at the table with Nerd of the Rings, In Deep Geek, and Men of the West!
@@BradsGonnaPlaythis channel is better than all those (which I’m also subbed to).
That part about Morgoth losing power to those things he created is the single most important thing I have learned from you. I really appreciate the fact that you put in text and documented it. I never remembered that fact, You are the best Tolkien expert out there.
Agreed. And Melkor/Morgoth lost power for several other reasons (bestowing much of his power and essence into Arda to corrupt and bend it to his will, hence the term "Morgoth's Ring", pouring some more of his power unto his many servants) and continued to lose power as the countless ages passed leading up all the way to the end of the First Age where he was at his weakest, vastly inferior compared to what he once was as the greatest/mightiest of all the Valar by far in his prime in the beginning.
Read The Silmarillion.
“Since I’ve got a minute, and I can’t look at Gondolin, I’ll just look at everything else that matters to you, and worsen them by my attention.”
Sir Christopher Lee reading of Children of Hurin was EPIC.
The tragic fate of watching the curse happen to your children and not being able to do a damn thing about it.
Makes me wonder if Turin is an elf friend what does it take to be an elf enemy.
I think if he hadn’t of abandoned Findulas things might have been different for him.
Part 1 of 13. Oh boy!! Can't decide whether to listen to each episode as it appears or whether to wiat until they're all uploaded and have a massive binge whilst I complete a huge home DIY project!
I am so excited to have reached the point in time that we all get to see RD’s treatment of this masterpiece of JRRT’s. This is one of my two favorites of the Legendarium, the other being the Tale of Beren and Luthien. Both stories stand, in my mind at least, as equally awesome. One is a tale of hope and love sprinkled with tragedy, while The Children of Hurin is a story of tragedy, woe, and despair, but, throughout it, you can’t help but admire Turin and his father’s defiance of evil. Such a great and tragic work of art.
one of my friends recommended this channel to me, and I was a bit hesitant since I had come to see most of these “Tolkien explained” channels as basically just reading Tolkien Gateway into a microphone. I was wrong, this is already much more in-depth than what I expected. looking forward to the next dozen videos about my favorite Tolkien book!
32:04 I’m sorry, but now I can’t stop picturing the Valar sitting in their cosmic briefing room, with one of them - who coincidentally looks like Oscar Isaac - grimly announcing that “somehow, Morgoth returned”.
My day gets instantly better when there's a new Tolkien Untangled video. It's even better past that when it's about my favorite Tolkien story. Thanks, Dave!
Im hoping this goes into a fall of gondolin series. The fall of gondolin and the children of hurin are probably my favorite stories. Loving these videos.
I will add one more major mythological influence for Turin -- the tale of Sigurd and the Dragon. This is one of the great stories of Nordic myth, and is immediately what I thought of as I was reading The Children of Hurin. Some aspects of the story are profoundly similar. The dragons Glaurung and Fafnir, several traits of Turin and Sigurd, and even some of the darker details regarding the personal relationships in the story.
As it happens, Tolkien also has a translation of Sigurd's story, which I can recommend wholeheartedly.
I was so much looking forward to this. It has turned an awful, intense, stressful 10 hr a day week into Thank God it’s Friday when there is a Rainbow Dave video. The start is magnificent and I love the historical foundations. Can’t wait for the next.
Your channel has quickly become my absolute favorite Tolkien channels.
Amazing video once again!
As a Finn my joy was palpable at the mention of Kalevala and you explained it beautifully.
Thanks very much!
It's a good channel lol
I read almost all of Tolkien, and know the stories; however, I was waiting for this series to continue more than I waited on my paycheck hahaha :D Thank you, for all the stories
Yeeeaaah! So glad we're here. Can't wait to watch the upcoming.
This is why this channel is different in the best of ways! You don't simply launch into the story itself but spend an entire video helping us to develop the relevant background knowledge, and it gives your audience more reasons to care about this story. Excellent!
This ^^
Jeff said he wanted his own Game of Thrones, and whenever I re-read this I feel that this would have made such an awesome show that would be that water-cooler-phenomenon because it is SO different from the happy hero-stories everyone knows. Really looking forward for all 13 episodes!
Frr If somebody that understand tolkien and is note woke would make that happen it could imo be even better then Peter Jackson trilogy or at the same lvl. There is a biiiiig potential.
It has an awesome length to turn into a one season series, too! But Jeff better fucking keep his dirty claws off it. He already destroyed the Second Age, I don't want him anywhere NEAR the First Age, especially not near my favorite Tolkien story of all time!
@@magiv4205 Yeah I feel like a one-off miniseries of however many episodes it would take, 10, 15, 20, without dragging. As for Jeff I think we can all agree that he didn't destroy or sully any of Tolkiens work since ROP has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with Tolkien spare a few names they copied onto entirely different characters.
@@jnsl1982 I'll drink to that!
@@jnsl1982 Beautiful words💯
Thank you Rainbow Dave, another fantastically entertaining series! I love your delivery of this material and I'm so excited to get to go on another deep dive journey. Your delivery always seems exciting and simultaneously grounded. As an older viewer (54) and long admirer of Tolkiens' works, I am perpetually surprised when the story makes me think critically about my own beliefs and examinations of my own actions. The "tangent" you discussed relating to "fate vs. freewill" I particularly enjoyed. I think with the audience you have garnered, you have many cotangent supporters :) Thank you for your work.
I am so excited for this series! The Children of Hurin is my second favorite story in the legendarium. Such a glorious introduction and backstory Rainbow Dave!
And whats your favorite? Just curious.
It’s my no. 1 favourite.😊
@@rall172 my #1 top spot goes to Beren and Luthien.
I cannot wait for the Tolkien Untangled treatment of this story - I hope you cover 1) Hurin’s conversation with Morgoth about fate of men - so profound to me 2) strength of men (least in the elder days) seeming to be able to exceed that of elves - sort of important that men are not lesser in all ways to elves - men and elves together seem to enrich and compliment each other in many ways - tragic they had to be sundered by Morgoth’s malice
Thank you for turning me onto Tolkien. I honestly have no words to say how much I've appreciated your videos. You're a natural lecturer and as a former teacher (18 years coming to a sudden an inglorious end) I wonder if you've ever considered offering a guest lecture to universities to go along with your videos (teachers pay teachers, even). I don't think you need to be a credentialed/professional teacher to offer this interesting and incredibly well researched content. If you're interested, I'd be happy to share some pointers for lesson plans or such. You wouldn't be compromising your video content, just monetizing a portion of it to educate others and helping teachers with less experience come up with amazing and inspiring lessons. In an alternate universe, if I'd had a teacher who showed this much passion and interest in a subject as you show, I would've been a Tolkien scholar or gone into a similar field!
CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!!
I can not express how great your videos are.
The words that come to mind are: profound (in your reading, knowledge, love for Tolkien's work. And so transported/conveyed to others). Engaging (yes I am hyped for the rest of the series and your take on EVERYTHING. specially that I did read The Children of Hurin). Passionate (I love Tolkien's work, but I never dove nor even read half of what you read).
So really thank you, just follow your passion. Your journey on this channel has been a great joy to follow so far.
Dave, you`re doing it so well.
You`re the only one that can make me go "wider", learning about tolkien as a man and author and how it all came to be.
seriously, you`re slowly getting my deeper into the tolkienian vibe understanding better, and doing it all super interestingly.
thanks!!
This is so awesome! I love this introduction and explanation of how Professor Tolkien painfully pieced together the character of Turin, all those years and from the 'germ' of the Legendarium beginnings. Even before a silmaril was thought of. Beowulf and Kalevala influences: Kalevala, the dwelling place of the poem's chief characters, is a poetic name for Finland, meaning “land of heroes.” Thank you Dave, for your in depth and comprehensive research into Tolkien's writings. I'm anticipating this series on The Children of Hurin.
Your description of Turin brings Boromir to my mind, Dave 😅 Anyone else riding this boat?
What a series to look forward to, mate🙌🏼
I could watch your videos all day, they are thorough, well researched and IMHO, you are one of the best storytellers on YT (if not the best).
Can't wait for your next videos of this series!
Thank you!
Can't wait to go through this series with you! I had always pictured Sigurd as the main inspiration for Turin's character, so thanks for bringing Kullervo to my attention 😃
Dave you are wonderful for doing this my friend. I can’t even fandom the amount of research that goes behind each one your vídeos. 😊 I feel like I have such a better grasp of the story of Middle Earth with your insights. Your enthusiasm is contagious and I find myself re-reading the Silmarillion again. Thank you for what you do. Your videos keep me company while I work and every new release is a bright part of my day.
When you announced that you would do this series, I was so excited! To judge by the first one, this series will be amazing! Love your videos, Rainbow Dave!
Mr. Dave... Of all the tales of the Silmarillion, the book that most inspired me to write my own mythology 18 years ago, you've decided to make an expansive series about the one I immediately chose as my favorite. And you began with the most epic and awe-inspiring backstory, spooky, even, because the Silmarillion was kind of like my version of "the germ.” I'm very excited to relive and learn more about what I've set aside as my most personally favored chapter of the Silmarillion. I've already learned things I did not know before, and I can't wait to hear the rest, be it review or news.
Thank you! I want you to know that your work means something to me, and to others who wander the vast interwebs in search of meaning in a world that can feel so meaningless.
That’s so lovely to read. Thank you very much! I can’t wait to be talking about Turin either!
Thank you for such a wonderful introduction to your untangling of this epic story - my favourite of all the tales in the Silmarilllion. So glad I discovered your channel. I first started reading Tolkien 45 years ago and have never lost my love for his works, or my excitement in reading them again and again. Can't wait for your next video ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Going to save this video for later, can’t wait! Also, the Christopher Lee audiobook is probably the best narration ever, wish he did the Silmarillion too.
Keep it up man, this is hands down my favorite Tolkien channel!
Thank you! I know this was probably a lot of work to put together but we really appreciate it. Excellent!!!! ❤
Never been more excited to the torturous days in between video releases of this incredibly introduced story by this brilliant and deep conveyed background. Thank you Dave.
This book was one of the most dark and depressing ones for me to have read back when I was in my teens, exploring the saddest, most petty, most personaly horrifying chapters in the Silmarillion with more detail and none of the payoff in the form of the War of Wrath found in the Silmarillion.
Which is to say I loved it, and I'm glad you're looking into it. Turin is a classic tragic hero, and a wonderfully human character to contrast with the similarly flawed, yet larger than life elven heroes like Feanor and Fingolfin, or the more successful classic heroes like Tuor and later Aragorn. The suffering he and his family go through at Morgoth's hands cements the dark lord as the true villain that he is (and not the sympathetic character modern writers would want him to be).
Per chance, if you ever want to do a more relaxing topic, might I suggest looking into some of the poetry in Tolkiens "Adventures of Tom Bombadill," as well as other works contained within such as "Leaf by Niggle" or my personal out-of-Middle-Earth favorite, "Farmer Giles of Ham."
Oh, my favorite Tolkien story ever, what an amazing present! I just got this notification during my lunchbreak and will ride the high from this video from the rest of my day, thank you!
This is my favorite Tolkien story as well - notification came just as I was finishing breakfast and getting ready to take a shower. So excited!
Been waiting for this for sooooo long! Thank you!
Turin's story is the one tale I have the hardest time remembering. Excited for your untangling! Great background to start us off, I had no idea about Tolkien and the Kalevala. I only know of the Kalevala from some Mystery Science Theater episodes 😅
Another Great upload to binge while working!! Thankyou rainbow dave mah buddy!! Time to listen😉
Another outstanding video, sir. Thank you for the time, effort, and love you put into them. As a fan who first began reading these stories 40 years ago, I appreciate your work. Thank you, brother.
rewatching it for the second time, your communication skills are over the top, I drop a tear every time.
I’M SO EXCITED FOR ANOTHER SERIES! THANK YOU DAVE!!!
My favourite of all of Tolkien's tales, the one that evokes the most pathos and provokes the most thought. And now I've watched it and listened to it. Wonderful. Thank you once again, Rainbow Dave. THIRTEEN episodes? I can hardly wait to be overtaken by the running feet of doom.
I've been waiting for this for awhile now.
Great start to the series.
Thanks Dave
Dave, I love your opening words. With all my apartment lights out, started this video and ... I was frozen in place!
Waited to finish the book before I started these videos…ahh..now I can just sit back and relax and enjoy!!
Wow man. You can tell a story. Love this channel. Thank you so much for all that you do.
I am a recent Tolkien fan, so I am overjoyed at the mention of Kalevala! I had commented about it on a previous video of yours. So, I feel a little more legit and on the road to being considered a Tolkien nerd.
The absolute bravery of Hurin to not just endure the presence of Morgoth (once the second most powerful being in existence), but to taunt him and bring up the names of Manwe and Varda. I've always thought of the curse of 'Morgoth's Eyes' to be like the worst form of depression, the kind that twists everything good and pure til you can take no joy from it. Can't believe Eru let it happen to be honest but then we wouldn't have this amazing, heartrending tale.
As a Finn it's always nice to get some attention on our national epic, and how Tolkien used it as inspiration. For some reason or another I also feel a sense of pride for Tolkien having based the elven language for large parts on Finnish grammar.
After a week of antibiotics for all my kids the youngest one comes home with a high fewer… stupid virus. So mummy won’t be able to go to the concert she would have been invited to tonight by one of her best friends… in the most beautiful concert hall in the world with the best acoustics (Wiener Musikverein)…😭😭😭… BUT…BUT…. A new video by Rainbow Dave! By far the most awesome content creator concerning Tolkiens world! A video to compensate almost everything! At least I can binge in this video delight! Thanks Dave❤️
Glad to brighten a difficult day!
Thanks RD!! I don't remember this story very well, but I remember writing Hurin and Turin into a D&D game I was playing 25 ish years ago. So at least at some point I went to the trouble to give them stats, so I know this is gonna rule!!! Keep up the remarkable work! See you next week!!
I'd never heard of the tale of the children of Hurin before watching your channel, so I have zero expectations, which is how it should be! Kinda excited!
Amazon should have hired you to write their series. You have a great understanding of Tolkien and his works that is almost unrivaled.
Thank you so much for this great introduction Dave, really looking forward to dive into this amazing story with your unparalleled depth of knowledge and passion! 😊
I have waited probably over 6 months for this Children of Hurin series! YAY so excited to listen
You’re a mad genius! Can’t wait to dive in!
I’m only 15 minutes in, but I wonder if The Music ever stops. All of the children of Ilúvatar constantly sing and make new music with their thoughts and choices. Anyway, omg I love this long form deep dive content!
Finally! The 1st Age continues. I got a little bit excited when this popped up. A little disappointed that the 1st video is a 50 min foreword, but it's the etymology & background & the examinations of Saxon mythology etc that give us insight into Tolkien's mind that really make you stand out from the other Tolkien channels. The most interesting foreword ever. I have a criticism of Eru Ilúvatar but I'll follow your lead & wait til the end of the story.
2:45... you know... you're right. The title we use isn't the best title for the story. 10/10, not sure why I didn't see it earlier, thank you for untangling that knot I didn't I had.
The way you connected Finnish tales to the Legendarium, that was brand new to me. I usually think Finland as more...Eurasian, not so much Nordic. It really helps me understand that the lines on maps do not reflect culture. Well done, m8!
The Finnish language is one of the last few remaining of those that existed before the Indo-European migrations into Europe. The folklore is a blend of that with Nordic influences from the west and Slavic ones from the east. It's all really fascinating, and so different from what most of us are used to.
amazing video, I'm really excited for Children of Hurin
It's here!!! and holy 13 parts! Cheers Dave thanks!
This is my favorite story. I hate when I get a happy ending and I feel cheated. Nope, Túrin / Kullervo give you the opposite and it's more savory than bittersweet. Otherwise, I'm a really happy person. I always pictured James Le Gros as Túrin and Steve Martin as Húrin. I can't wait to see what you think of Mîm. He's an extra level of complexity. Let the sadness begin!!
But can't you have a happy ending without feeling cheated? Or, for that matter, a sad ending that does make you feel cheated?
This is absolutely so exciting. I cannot wait for this whole series of videos dissecting the whole story.
Re Feanor vs Turin complexity. I’d wager that though Feanor is not as psychologically nuanced as Turin that is not to say his story is less emotionally deep or profound or certainly not less intense. They’re both great dramatic characters in different ways. I am happier to have them both in the story than one or the other 😊
YOU'RE FINALLY FINISHING THE SERIES! LETS GOOOO
Danke!
Excellent work on the background setup! I think you provide a lot of insights that are easy to overlook. Now while waiting for the next video I have to start listening afresh to the Children of Hurin narrated by Christopher Lee!
Awesome choice!
I am so glad the series has gone on for long enough to reach the Children of Húrin. Annon allen, mellon nín!
Thank you so much Rainbow Dave.... My favourite story in the whole of arda...
Can't wait for you break down!
So well done as always! I’m very much looking forward to this series!
I recently got the Children of Hurin from the library and am part way through it. Of course I want to read ahead of your videos. (I have read the Silmarillion, so I'm not worried about spoilers.)
Great video about a most tragic, hardcore story!
As a practicing occultist I can tell you curses work both by interfering with people's minds into making them make wrong choices, enhancing their flaws of character in detriment to their good traits and talents, as well as by generating adverse outside circumstances for them that would result in them being harmed one way or another. There's more to it than that, as in this case the curse targeted an entire family, but the same applies nonetheless.
Having that out of the way, I think Turin was always well intended and striving to do good, or at least fix wrongs. But in doing so he kept kicking himself in the nuts as a result of the effects of the curse. The results turned out awful for him and those around.
I think he's microcosm must've been something. Besides being a possible case study for psychology, I think he must've felt anguish, sorrow and all sorts of pains on a constant basis. But I think his strong-willed nature made him feed on that and drive him onward. In some ways it's kinda like a Sith who harnesses power from pain and misery, both his own and others', but in this case Turin chooses to use that power to fight the evil that affects him and his surrounding environment instead of growing in power just so he'd end up subjugating others and thus becoming that same evil.
It's true he's got his character flaws that work against him, but not even the Eldar were perfect. But just as in the case of every real life person, his flaws kept dragging him down. The fact they were inflated and empowered by the curse only made it much, much worse.
Btw, I felt the scene with Hurin shouting towards Turgon as utterly heartbreaking. I'm going to stop as not to give spoilers to others, but that's the perfect image of despair to me 😢
Looking forward towards another outstanding series! 👏👏👏👏
switching back and forth between GirlNextGondors Feanor simping and Dave bashing the dude is giving me whiplash but its also funny as hell 😂😂
Lexi is a Noldor. She can't help herself.😆😂🤣
I like Turin because he is so unapologetically human. We can identify with him because we all know the dark things we hide from others in our hearts and most of us want to do right, but often by trying to do what we ‘believe’ is right we do the evil we do not wish to do and cause worse things to occur. Mankind in Tolkien’s world are different to Elves and Dwarves because they have a dual complex nature.
Túrin Turambar was the character I most identified with in my feverish 15yo brain. Valiant yet cursed, honorable yet enslaved, the Terror of Defiance yet unable, in the end, to overcome but still able to pass along hope. Strange, sometimes, how things work out....
This is it!! Finally.
Thank you Rainbow Dave 🙏🏼😆
Excellent content. Love to here the philosophical underpinning from Tolkien.
Bob, I discovered your channel only a few weeks ago, but I've already listened to every video here -- some of them twice. (Except for the ones about the Amazon "LOTR" show, since I have refused to watch that.) Your breadth of familiarity with the Tolkien universe is truly outstanding. I consider myself a "Tolkien nerd" of nearly four decades -- and you still make connections that I had not considered. So my hat is off to you! Please continue with this effort as long as you can!
PS: quick question -- one of videos in the Children of Húrin playlist is listed as "hidden" -- is this correct? I'd hate to think I'm missing out on an entry here!
Thank you for all of your work. Your videos are one of the few moments of genuine joy in my life.
I loved that RD! Thank you! I like how you have 'set the foundation' and have given us some themes and things to think about when you are telling the story. That's a really good way to start. Awesome :)
OMG 13 parts. Thanks
Ooooohhh I have been waiiiting for thiiiiiiiiiisssssssd
Thank you RD!!
Talking of the Gollum eucatastrophe. Gollum swore on the precious (the one ring) to protect his master and the Ring unknowingly brought about it’s own demise by punishing Gollum through the oath. As Frodo said to Gollum later after showing him mercy after Gollum’s betrayal he said “If you ever touch me again you will be cast into the Fires of Doom yourself”.
I didn't know that Boethius foreshadowed Molinism! Been putting "Consolation of Philosophy" off. Will have to check it out.
Happy Friday, Rainbow Dave! This story is so dark and bleak, it’s odd I’m excited for it.
Stay Groovy
Children of Húrin is my second favorite Tolkien story behind LOTR itself. And this video is great, however, I feel like you need to cut our boy Fëanor some slack too, I believe somewhere it is mentioned that the Valar consider Melkor corrupting Fëanor and the Nolder his worst feat, so he shouldn't be completing judged on his actions.
I enjoyed this. Very insightful my friend
Thanks!
Everything we know about Tolkien's legendarium... wizards, dragons, Hobbits, the Ring, its lands, peoples and gods... all began as backstory for Turin Turambar.
That's so poignantly epic!
This is another stunningly well researched and explained video.
First age is brutal but an awesome story - the one I'd most love to know about and here it is - can't wait :)
If I didn't love this channel so much, I'm not sure I would choose to listen to these right now. But I guess I love this channel a lot cause here I go!
Thanks very much! I promise not to make it too depressing.
@@tolkienuntangled You are awesome and I don't think you can help imparting your exuberance and joy into any task you take on. Obviously, the tale is dark but I will watch because you will bring a bit of light to the darkness and make it manageable. And, you clearly love this story. I don't. But maybe I will lean something that will enhance my appreciation for the tale (as someone who has adored dragons since she was 6, I hate Glaurung; he is an evil SOB in the worst way). In any case, I am all yours for the next 12 weeks but feel free to take a break from the tragedy with a long overdo video on Círdan or the Entwives or ...
So excited for this series. Thanks Dave!
This is my fourth or maybe fifth time listening to this setup. I can't begin to explain how excited I am for this series. Thank you so much Dave!!!
Im very glad you enjoy it!
THANK YOOOOU TIME FOR SLEEP THIS IS MY FAV STUFF TO LISTEN TO WHEN I RELAX.
Thank you RD for your invariably illuminating, engaging, and indeed moving storytelling. I bet there are not many channels that would introduce this story by way of Boethius - but I’m sure Tolkien and his friends would approve. Would you ever consider doing a one-off or mini-series on the Inklings?
Thanks very much. A video on the Inklings is a good idea, thanks for the suggestions!
SO WORTH THE WAIT
What a WONDERFUL gift to enjoy with my coffee!! Thanks for blessing us with this today💜