Some believe that Gandolf the Grey and Gangalf the White are diametrically opposed characters, but what did John Tolkien really intend for the Istari's mission? "You shall not pass!" we've already heard, so let's take a broader view. We continue to explore Middle-earth through the lens of the wizard Gangalf's great game. So, why did The Return of the King take place the way it did? How did the Aragorn project come about, and what do the elves, and Elrond in particular, have to do with it? Our theory extends far beyond Arda; we go back to its origins to understand why the Númenor 2.0 project can be considered a success.

00:00 Aragorn's Preparation
00:58 Finding the One Ring
02:49 Origin of the Hobbits
05:00 The Ring of Power and the Hobbits
07:01 Gandalf's Goals
08:52 Project Númenor 2.0
09:49 The White Council and Saruman
13:33 The Lord of the Rings and Fragmentation
14:29 Sauron's Activity
15:25 The Development of the Peoples of Middle-earth
16:22 The Activity of the Istari
17:17 The Influence of the Istari on Events
21:01 The Death of the Last King
24:50 Consequences for Gondor
26:42 Dynastic Marriages and Attacks
28:33 The Stewards of Gondor
31:20 The Descendants of Isildur
33:46 Succession Issues and Dynasty
35:38 The Influence of Saruman and Sauron
37:31 The End The Lord of the Rings