What if Gandalf Took the Ring? | Tolkien Theory

Explores a plausible timeline and consequences if Gandalf took the One Ring, analyzing Tolkien lore and key events in Middle-earth.

Key Takeaways

Gandalf taking the ring would accelerate the quest timeline and change the fellowship’s composition.
Despite his power, Gandalf fears the ring’s corrupting influence and initially resists using it.
Strategic travel routes and timing are crucial, with Gandalf avoiding early Nazgûl encounters.
The council’s decision to destroy the ring remains the only viable option even with Gandalf as bearer.
Political and military events in Rohan and Gondor would unfold differently under this new timeline.

What the video covers

The video explores the hypothetical scenario of Gandalf taking possession of the One Ring and its impact on Middle-earth.
Gandalf’s suspicion of Bilbo’s ring leads him to confirm its identity after interrogating Gollum in Mirkwood.
Unlike Frodo, Gandalf accepts the ring out of pity and desire to do good, setting off earlier on the quest.
Gandalf travels to Rivendell before the Nazgûl become active, arriving with relative ease and without the full fellowship.
The council in Rivendell still decides to destroy the ring despite Gandalf volunteering to carry it.
The journey south towards the Gap of Rohan is preferred over traveling east to Lothlórien due to strategic concerns.
The video discusses the absence of Saruman consultation and the altered dynamics of the fellowship’s formation.
Key battles and political moves, including Rohan’s eagerness to fight Saruman and Minas Tirith’s war preparations, are touched upon.
The theory integrates detailed timeline analysis and Tolkien lore to create a coherent alternate narrative.
The video emphasizes Gandalf’s internal struggle with the ring’s corrupting influence despite his resolve not to use it.

Chapters

Why does Gandalf decide to take the One Ring in this theory?

Gandalf takes the ring out of pity for hobbits and a desire to do good, believing he can wield its power responsibly to protect Middle-earth.

How does Gandalf’s possession of the ring affect the timeline of the quest?

Gandalf leaves the Shire earlier than Frodo would have, reaching Rivendell before the Nazgûl become active, which changes the fellowship’s formation and journey.

Does Gandalf use the ring during the journey according to this theory?

No, Gandalf initially resists using the ring due to its corrupting influence, though it begins to weigh on his thoughts after weeks of possession.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

It's a question many have asked: what would happen if one of the most powerful beings in Middle-earth took the ring? Now, I've taken all the effort I put into my usual videos—mapping travels, researching dates and timelines—and put it into figuring out a plausible sequence of events. So today on Nerd of the Rings, we tackle the question: what if Gandalf took the One Ring?

Speaker A

plausible sequence of events so today on nerd of the rings we tackle the question what if gandalf took the one ring our story begins in bag end over the years gandalf has grown suspicious of bilbo's ring after bilbo leaves he instructs frodo

Speaker A

Our story begins in Bag End. Over the years, Gandalf has grown suspicious of Bilbo's ring. After Bilbo leaves, he instructs Frodo not to use it, believing it may be a ring of power. As Aragorn hunts for Gollum, Gandalf makes his way to Minas Tirith, where he finds the scroll of a sealed door and puts together the pieces of the history of the One Ring. He leaves Minas Tirith, and on his way back to the Shire, he learns from the elves of Lothlórien that Aragorn has captured Gollum.

Speaker A

history of the one ring he leaves minas tirith and on his way back to the shire he learns from the elves of lorian that aragorn has captured gollum gandalf travels to merkwood where he interrogates gollum seeing the effects that the ring has had

Speaker A

Gandalf travels to Mirkwood, where he interrogates Gollum, seeing the effects that the ring has had on this creature who had once been a hobbit, in addition to how it affected Bilbo over the past decades. Gandalf is now certain the ring Frodo now possesses is, in fact, the One Ring. Gandalf travels with all haste back to the Shire, arriving on April 12, 3018.

Speaker A

arriving on april 12 3018. in the book we get a sense of how gandalf could have come to possess the ring and what could happen if he did no cried gandalf with that power i should have power too

Speaker A

In the book, we get a sense of how Gandalf could have come to possess the ring and what could happen if he did. "No," cried Gandalf, "with that power I should have power too, great and terrible over me. The ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly. Do not tempt me! I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness, and the desire of strength to do good. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength now."

Speaker A

by pity pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good the wish to wield it would be too great for my strength now this is where the true story diverges and our theory takes hold after confirming frodo's ring to be the

Speaker A

This is where the true story diverges, and our theory takes hold. After confirming Frodo's ring to be the One, Frodo offers it to Gandalf. Rather than refuse, Gandalf, out of his pity for hobbits and desire to do good, agrees to take the One Ring. This would be an all-too-logical thing to do. After all, Sauron has known the names of the Shire and Bag End for at least a year by this point. He will surely be coming for the ring, and the land of the Shire and its hobbit inhabitants are ill-prepared and ill-equipped to face any force of the enemy, even with the modest guard of Dunedain around its borders. Not to mention a hobbit like Frodo, if confronted by a servant of the enemy, would stand little chance of fighting back or escaping.

Speaker A

shire and bagans for at least a year by this point he will surely be coming for the ring and the land of the shire and its hobbit inhabitants are ill-prepared and ill-equipped to face any force of the enemy even with the

Speaker A

So Gandalf takes possession of the ring and decides to head to Rivendell, the nearest place of strength from which to move. Rather than leave in September as Frodo would, Gandalf leaves on May 1st, the same day he leaves the Shire in the actual story. In the books, it takes Gandalf from September 29th to October 18th to reach Rivendell from Hobbiton. That is less than three weeks, which includes being attacked by the Nazgûl on Weathertop and taking a long detour north in order to lose the four pursuing him.

Speaker A

the nearest place of strength from which to move rather than leave in september as frodo would gandolf leaves on may 1st the same day he leaves the shire in the actual story in the books it takes gandalf from

Speaker A

We can safely assume that with the Nazgûl not leaving their dwellings of Minas Morgul and Dol Guldur until June 20th, Gandalf reaches Rivendell with relative ease within the same three-week period, meaning he arrives in Imladris before the end of May, 3018. It's possible and even likely that Gandalf would have Aragorn accompany him to Rivendell, but the other fellowship members would not be in Rivendell for quite some time, and the hobbits would be left out entirely. Gollum won't escape the elves' captivity until June 20th, so there's yet no reason for Legolas to come to Rivendell. Likewise, Boromir and Gimli would also have not yet left their homes, let alone arrived in Imladris.

Speaker A

with the nazgul not leaving their dwellings of minas morgul and dogeldor until june 20th gandalf reaches rivendell with relative ease within the same 3 week period meaning he arrives in him ladris before the end of may 3018. it's possible and even likely that

Speaker A

Now, the fellowship stayed in Rivendell for roughly two months, so for consistency's sake, we'll say Gandalf rests in Rivendell for the same amount of time. Therefore, at some point between the end of May and the end of July, it is left to those who remain to have their own council: Gandalf, Elrond, Glorfindel, Aragorn, and the elves of Rivendell.

Speaker A

legolas to come to rivendell likewise boromir and gimli would also have not yet left their homes let alone arrived in amladdress now the fellowship stayed in rivendell for roughly two months so for consistency's sake we'll say gandalf rests in rivendell for the same

Speaker A

Now, I believe Gandalf would still at this point be following his own advice to not use the ring. His trip has been relatively easy thus far, so there's been no reason yet for him to use it or even remove it from his bag or pocket or wherever he stores it. However, as he has possessed the ring for two months, it begins to work on him, though he likely does not realize it, even if it was kept in a vault in Rivendell while they decide what to do.

Speaker A

gandalf would still at this point be following his own advice to not use the ring his trip has been relatively easy thus far so there's been no reason yet for him to use it or even remove it from his bag or pocket

Speaker A

Having possessed it for weeks, the ring begins to weigh on Gandalf's thoughts. By this time, the ring has just enough effect on Gandalf to lead him to volunteer to take the ring at the council. The council still decides to destroy the ring, of course, as we learn in the actual book that this is truly the only viable option they have.

Speaker A

do having possessed it for weeks the ring begins to weigh on gandalf's thoughts by this time the ring has just enough effect on gandalf to lead him to volunteer to take the ring at the council the council still decides to destroy the

Speaker A

Now, here they would have a choice: would they go south towards the Gap of Rohan, or would they travel east, crossing the mountains then turning south to Lothlórien? Here, I believe they would mimic what occurs in the actual story, going south towards the Gap of Rohan for multiple reasons.

Speaker A

mountains then turning south to lorien here i believe they would mimic what occurs in the actual story going south towards a gap of rohan for multiple reasons first traveling to lorien this way would take them close to murkwood

Speaker A

First, traveling to Lothlórien this way would take them close to Mirkwood, and even more concerning, while Sauron had been kicked out of Dol Guldur by the White Council decades earlier, we know from my Ringwraith video that Sauron still had forces there led by the Nazgûl Khamûl the Easterling. Traveling so near to Sauron's one stronghold outside of Mordor would indeed be taking a huge risk.

Speaker A

stronghold outside of mordor would indeed be taking a huge risk second at this point the wise would be completely unaware of the treachery of saruman speaking of saruman you may wonder why would gandalf not immediately go to saramon like he does in the films to

Speaker A

Second, at this point, the wise would be completely unaware of the treachery of Saruman. Speaking of Saruman, you may wonder why Gandalf would not immediately go to Saruman like he does in the films to consult the White Wizard. While in the books, Gandalf only goes to Isengard after meeting Radagast on the road while wandering Eriador. Since Gandalf has now taken the ring himself, he has no need to seek news in the wild and therefore would not meet up with Radagast to be told to go to Isengard.

Speaker A

and therefore would not meet up with ratagas to be told to go to isengard this may be a bit of a stretch but for all we know ratagast may himself come to rivendell during this two-month period seeking gandalf he may even take part in

Speaker A

This may be a bit of a stretch, but for all we know, Radagast may himself come to Rivendell during this two-month period seeking Gandalf. He may even take part in this revised council, informing Gandalf that Saruman wishes to see him, like he does in the book. So this fellowship would believe they had an ally, and a powerful one, awaiting them at Isengard.

Speaker A

you know what to avoid any confusion with the actual fellowship i'm going to call our hypothetical fellowship gandalf's company since he's the star of this theory gandalf aragorn and a small group of elrond's elves make up the company

Speaker A

This alternate fellowship leaves Rivendell around the beginning of August. You know what? To avoid any confusion with the actual fellowship, I'm going to call our hypothetical fellowship Gandalf's Company, since he's the star of this theory. Gandalf, Aragorn, and a small group of Elrond's elves make up the company.

Speaker A

roads on which they could take horses today i'm going with the same path as the canon story gandalf's company is made of more warriors but i think they would still err on the side of caution choosing to evade the spies of sauron and travel in

Speaker A

As in the books, I believe Elrond and Glorfindel remain behind. Once again, there's two possible approaches here: do they take the path from the actual story, heading south on foot along the narrow paths beside the mountains in order to evade spies, or do they go by roads on which they could take horses? Today, I'm going with the same path as the canon story.

Speaker A

forged the grey flood he loses his horse and must travel the rest of the way on foot he spends a good chunk of his trip wandering the roads of ariador as he doesn't know where exactly rivendell is located

Speaker A

Gandalf's Company is made of more warriors, but I think they would still err on the side of caution, choosing to evade the spies of Sauron and travel in secrecy. Interestingly, this means they would likely miss Boromir, who at this point is traveling north to find Rivendell.

Speaker A

boromir completely now we know it takes the fellowship a bit over a month to go from rivendell to lorien which includes a failed attempt to cross the redhorn pass so we'll give gandalf's company a month and a half to make their way to saruman

Speaker A

We know Boromir departs Minas Tirith on horseback on July 4th. He makes his way north and through the Gap of Rohan. As he fords the Greyflood, he loses his horse and must travel the rest of the way on foot. He spends a good chunk of his trip wandering the roads of Eriador, as he doesn't know where exactly Rivendell is located.

Speaker A

important matters with gandalf alone wizard to wizard as it were while the rest of the group waits gandalf and saruman make their way into orthanc where saruman builds up to his big reveal his pitch to gandalf to join

Speaker A

As he says at the Council of Elrond, "Long have I wandered by roads forgotten, seeking the house of Elrond, of which many have heard but few knew where it lay." Since Gandalf's Company takes the paths near the Misty Mountains, they miss Boromir completely.

Speaker A

back and while defending himself kills saruman with this act the one ring strengthens its hold on gandalf having heard the commotion the rest of gandalf's company burst into the tower of isengard gandolf explained sauron's treachery and his attack on gandalf

Speaker A

Now, we know it takes the fellowship a bit over a month to go from Rivendell to Lothlórien, which includes a failed attempt to cross the Redhorn Pass. So we'll give Gandalf's Company a month and a half to make their way to Saruman in Orthanc, arriving in mid-September.

Speaker A

ring wraiths we know that in september 3018 they've returned to the wold in rohan having unsuccessfully searched the veils of anduin for leads on the shire and for gollum at this point sauron is aware of saruman's treachery and tells the nas

Speaker A

Now, this is where things get really interesting. Gand...

Speaker A

gandalf and aragorn withstand the nine it's possible however as gandalf has now used the ring and had a couple days to dwell on the power that it brought him he is unable to resist the opportunity presented to him

Speaker A

in unfinished tales we hear a very applicable line from saruman to the nazgul when they come to isengard i have it not as surely its servants perceive without telling for if i had it then you would bow before me and call me

Speaker A

lord with the nine preparing to lay siege upon orthanc gandolf slips on the ring once again the ring wraiths are confronted by its new bearer the nas ghoul are now gandalfs to command naturally aragorn and the elven companions would be uneasy by this

Speaker A

development gandalf dismisses their concerns as a one-time occurrence he assures them he only used the ring this one time as they could not hope to battle all nine while he was still weary from his battle with saruman it is just the stroke of luck they need

Speaker A

in the end gandalf convinces the group that the ring rights cannot be destroyed while sauron and the ring endure however since gandalf possesses the ring he can command them causing havoc in sauron's forces reluctantly aragorn and the elves allow gandalf to

Speaker A

send forth the nazgul he commands the witch king to return to minus morgul and make preparations for war with all the orcs under his command gandalf's company makes their way southeast to rohan arriving at eterus around a week later

Speaker A

just as in the books theoden and his kingdom have been weakened by the words and poison of grima worm tongue in similar fashion to the real story theory gandalf comes to eterus and heals the king and grima wormtongue is banished from

Speaker A

the realm in the books theoden is much more eager to fight saruman than in the films the very same day that theoden is healed he leads the rohirum to take the fight to saruman in similar fashion theory theodin is

Speaker A

brought up to speed by gandalf except in this situation they are taking the fight to sauron gandalf consults with the king and it is decided theoden will muster the rohirrim and ride to minas tirith after a rest of about a week in eteres

Speaker A

gandolf makes his way south he tells aragorn and the elves to assist in the preparations of the rohirum and to meet him at minas tirith making the trip of roughly 350 miles gandalf arrives at minas tirith in late

Speaker A

october 3018 at around the same time boromir arrives in rivendell and holds council with elrond the elf wishing to maintain secrecy of the ring will only state that a company on an important task has headed south and boromir will likely be of best

Speaker A

service in his home city gandalf is brought to the throne room of minas tirith to meet with the steward of the city gandalf reveals to denathor his plan for rohan and gondor rohan will ride to minas tirith join

Speaker A

with the forces of gondor and ride to the black gate to make war on sauron himself denathor refuses gandalf's plan he has received word that the forces of minas morgul which had attacked us gileth have retreated back to the morgul veil why now should

Speaker A

they ride out to face an enemy that has retreated as in the books denathore has used the palantir to learn the truth about aragorn and knows he rides with theoden he answers gandalf in the same manner as in the return of

Speaker A

the king do i not know thee mythrandir thy hope is to rule in my stead to stand behind every throne north south or west so with the left hand thou would stews me for a little while as a shield

Speaker A

against mordor and with the right bring up this ranger of the north to supplant me but i say to thee gandalf myth reindeer i will not be thy tool i am steward of the house of an arion i will not step down to be the dota

Speaker A

chamberlain of an upstart even were his claim proved to me still he comes but of the line of a sildore i will not bow to such a one last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship and dignity by this time the

Speaker A

ring has a strong hold on gandalf he is no longer concerned with the courtesy of halls and the positions of men enough answered the wizard too long have you sat in the seat of ruling once more gondor shall have its king and

Speaker A

by no authority of yours shall he be denied as denethor rises from his seat gandalf wields the combined power of the ring of fire and the one denethor is consumed by flames and is no more with the steward gone gandalf seizes

Speaker A

control of the city he orders war preparations to begin immediately in the books it takes the rohirrim five days to travel from dunharrow to minas tirith with less urgency they arrive in around a week after assembling their forces

Speaker A

after making battle preparations with aragorn and theoden gandolf leads their combined forces in their march to the black gate they arrive in late november in a coordinated attack the forces of minus morgul attack those of baradur in the days before the nine lead the

Speaker A

forces of morgul against their former master as the men of the west arrive they breach the gate to find two decimated armies gandalf orders his forces and the ring rates themselves to attack all the orcs the servants of sauron are to be utterly

Speaker A

destroyed gandalf calls forth the dark lord himself from his tower tolkien himself covered this hypothetical scenario in letter 246 one can imagine the scene in which gandalf say was placed in such a position it would be a delicate balance on one

Speaker A

side the true allegiance of the ring to sauron on the other superior strength because sauron was not actually in possession and perhaps also because he was weakened by long corruption and expenditure of will in dominating inferiors sauron descends from his tower

Speaker A

to fight gandalf face to face gandalf with his two rings unleashes his full power and is the victor destroying the dark lord at this point amidst the chaos of battle and the defeat of sauron aragorn runs to gandalf offering his

Speaker A

assistance to take the ring to mount doom gandalf refuses the ring is mine it shall remain with me and with it i shall protect all middle earth it is the only way no gandalf you cannot keep it says aragorn gandalf comes to a

Speaker A

realization aragorn wants the ring for himself or at least that is what he believes he must seize this one opportunity in the aftermath of battle amongst the chaos whether by a nearby ring wraith or by his own hand

Speaker A

gandalf kills elisar gandolf grieves the loss of his friend but knows it was necessary to keep the peace and the ring he orders the armies to return to their realms and to spread the word sauron is overthrown and peace is to

Speaker A

reign in middle earth to ensure this peace gandalf makes plans to place each of the nine nazgul in strategic positions throughout middle earth peace and order must be maintained at all costs those who resist or break the law will be dealt with

Speaker A

severely i'll conclude with another quote from tolkien's letter 246 regarding gandalf's rule gandalf as ringlord would have been far worse than sauron he would have remained righteous but self-righteous he would have continued to rule and order things for good

Speaker A

and the benefit of his subjects according to his wisdom which was and would have remained great gandalf would have made good detestable and seem evil it seems i have missed much tell me mithrandia where is my father where's my brother i

Speaker A

have stationed your brother in australia he is overseeing the reconstruction of the city your father is dead it seems sauron had poisoned his mind with the use of a palantir my hope is that in his absence you will

Speaker A

be of great service to gondor i cannot stay in one city permanently i need only a modest force from you and from theoden for my journey a force whither will you take this force mithrandia much must be set in order to

Speaker A

ensure the safety of middle earth i ride to rivendell and lorien rivendo the line of kings has failed boromir i believe it is time for a new line to begin what say you king so there you have it guys my theory on

Speaker A

what if gandalf took the one ring he rules over middle earth maintaining peace by brute force a tyrant in a different mold than sauron but all the more tragic as he does great evil in his pursuit of good

Speaker A

now obviously there's a lot of conjecture in here and a few things i just did because i thought it was interesting i just couldn't resist denithor being in flames the second time so now i turn it over to you what do you

Speaker A

think would happen if gandalf took the one ring let me know in the comments as always i want to say a huge thank you to my patreon supporters including tom de bombadil 19 sky carcass selim rahman jim limber davis s'morezerk and matt

Speaker A

schultz thanks so much for watching and subscribing and we'll see you next time on nerd of the rings

Topics:GandalfOne RingMiddle-earthTolkien theoryLord of the RingsRivendellNazgûlFellowshipTolkien lorealternate history

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