What if Sauron got The One Ring? | Tolkien Theory

We look at sections of The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's letters to answer the question - what would happen if Sauron reclaimed The One Ring? We'll pick up from Frodo's failure at Mount Doom to determine Sauron's strategy, how the elves would seek to combat him, and who would be left standing!

Hit subscribe - and the bell!

To purchase artist work, check out these amazing artists!

Sauron - Jerry Vanderstelt
Sauron at Barad-dur - Shadow of War
Sauron - Anna Podedworna (thumbnail)
Sauron - WETA
Sauron - Shadow of War
At the Cracks of Doom - Ted Nasmith
Frodo and Sam in Mordor - Andrea Piparo
Sauron - WETA
Sauron - Guardians of Middle-earth
Battle of the Black Gate - Ted Nasmith
The Eagle's Song - Anke Eissmann
Nazgul Charge - Felix Englund
Battle of Dale - WETA
Eye of Sauron - John Howe
Battle of Dale - WETA
Dol Guldur - WETA
Sauron - Guardians of Middle-earth
Angband - Skullb*st*rd
Battle of Pelennor Fields - Aegeri
Sauron - Shadow of War
Sauron - WETA
Galadriel - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Elrond Halfelven - Donato Giancola
Morgoth - CK Goksoy
Minas Tirith - Ralph Damiani
Lothlorien - Ralph Damiani
Rivendell - Ralph Damiani
Grey Havens - Ralph Damiani
Sauron - Alan Lee
Carn Dum - Skullb*st*rd
Orthanc - Ralph Damiani
Fortress - Felix Englund
The Mouth of Sauron - John Howe
The Mouth of Sauron - John Howe
Mouth of Sauron - Guardians of Middle-earth
Nazgul Bowing Before Sauron - Kip Rasmussen
Sauron - Janka Lateckova
Barad-dur - Shadow of War
Saruman - John Howe
The Voice of Isengard - Matthew Stewart
Sauron - Tom Romain (for Lore of the Rings YouTube channel)
Luthien in the Court of Morgoth - Pete Amachree
Sauron the Deceiver - Skullb*st*rd
Spirit of Sauron - Skullb*st*rd
The Shadow of Sauron - Ted Nasmith
Morgoth - CK Goksoy
Morgoth the Vala - Skullb*st*rd
The Shores of Valinor - Ted Nasmith
Eru Iluvatar - Janka Lateckova
Music of the Gods - Kip Rasmussen
Wanderer - CK Goksoy
Radagast the Brown - Ralph Damiani
Alatar and Pallando - Ralph Damiani
Alatar and Pallando 2 - Ralph Damiani
Sam and Frodo in Emyn Muil - Ted Nasmith
Mount Doom - Alan Lee
Samwise Gamgee - Matthew Stewart

#sauron #lordoftherings #tolkien

[NerdoftheRings]

Let me hear your theories! What would you change about mine? I love theorizing with fellow fans!

[brianbernstein]

Sauron: “For my first act, I will place a registry of motor vehicles in every kingdom.”

[valentinkambushev]

Having Radagast and the Blue wizards as the last remaining leaders of the free peoples, with rebels from all the peoples of Middle Earth, sounds like the most awesome thing. Yes, it's extremely sad, but also very hopeful.

[joaobagattoli]

I love that he always specifies that "Sauron is not a flaming eye, but very much in physical form"

[alien]

Sauron: “finally middle-earth is mine”

Morgoth who just escaped the timeless void: “ours”

[aliali-ceyf]

then the shire would be back on the menu boys!

[FletcherReedsRandomness]

Then Sauron would have to put the Ring on his remaining ring finger. As someone who craves order, this would annoy him greatly.

[danielrobinson]

I always figured that the Valar would intervene should Sauron actually win. They just didn't want to meddle unless it was absolutely neccesary. The Valar sent the wizards to Middle-Earth after all, so isn't like they cut all ties with the realms. Ulmo himself even graced the shores of Middle-Earth long after their departure. I think there would be hope, even if the people of the land didn't realize it. Tolkein didn't like to deal in absolutes.

[icantthinkofacoolname]

*Disney lord of the rings*

"Somehow Sauron had another ring"

[anonymousforagoodreason]

I said the same thing to Men of the West, and I just wanted to let you know, thank you. The re-kindling of my love for tolkien lore (spear-headed by both your pages) has dragged me out of a deep dark depression. I've re read the hobbit and LoTR twice now, binge-watched all your videos lol and I am no longer living in a land of shadow.

Thank you for all you do!

[mattjones]

I reckon he'd use the ring to create a conglomerate that offered unbeatable prices and next day delivery. Undoubtedly, his reach would grow long, covering all in shadow. I then think he'd rewrite history to fit his corporate narrative, making himself seem fair but feel foul.

[gabsis]

It was kinda comforting to know that by the time the forces of Sauron reached Lothlórien and Rivendell, they were long gone and in Valinor. Must be nice to be an Elf in this worse case scenario… or to be Gandalf.

[Hreodrich]

Just imagining the moment when Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel sense that Sauron has the ring gave me chills. Just knowing and having to savor the despair in that moment of knowing that all hope is truly lost and you haven’t even had the luxury of dying yet. Damn

[jacobp]

"All is lost! The free peoples are subjugated by evil"
Eru: "So anyway, I started blasting"

[zachiboi]

I like this scenario, however there is one thing worth mentioning. When the Witch-King was overthrown he wasn't necessarily dead, he was only greatly diminished. Tolkien himself stated that the Witch-King would have returned had it not been for the One Ring's destruction, for the Nazgul slain or banished are still tied to the Nine Rings regardless, only the One Ring's destruction allowed true death. Its a unique approach however to leave out the Witch-King in this alternate timeline letting Khamul play a bigger role but still I believe the Witch-King would have eventually returned.

I also believe that the Witch-King would not have heeded Eru's call to the afterlife, for it is said that he was evil in his beginning and Sauron needed not to coerce him, he [The Witch-King] was even speculated to return to life at Dagor Dagorath to fight for Sauron and therefore Morgoth.

Another point, I don't think Gandalf the White would have died at the Morannon without taking Sauron's armies with him. Gandalf would have made a last ditch effort to deplete Sauron's army if possible to allow for more time for the Free Peoples to resist.

[deccy_boi]

The thought of Radagast wandering alone across the desolated lands of Middle-earth actually made my heart pang. He's such a wholesome character and it genuinely hurts me to imagime him so hopeless.

[mattbixby]

On the one hand, this is a great piece of hypothetical writing. The idea that Sauron could have won, and what would have happened if he had, is fun to contemplate. It's clear that Tolkien did it too. The thing to remember though is that while, from a practical point of view, Sauron could easily have won the War of the Ring, in reality he never had a chance. The reason Eru intervened and had Gollum fall was precisely so that at the exact moment the will of any being in Middle Earth failed, he would step in.

The reward for faithfulness was success. Much as Gandalf's willingness to do the right thing at the Bridge of Khazad Dum had resulted in his elevation, Frodo's determination and will to bring the ring to the Cracks of Doom meant that Eru would provide the missing glue, the last piece. The heroism and faith of Frodo and Sam saved Middle Earth. Eru just picked up the slack at a critical moment.

[benleon]

We all know sauron would inevitably meet his end at the hands of tom bombadil

[inchpp]

Sauron getting the One Ring doesn't means that it's game over, it simply means that the people of Middle Earth need to get gud and beat Sauron on hardest difficulty

[nrellis]

I always felt that if Sauron regained the Ring, the Valar would have sent an army against him almost immediately, and his rule would have been ended within a few years. They had sent the Istari to Middle Earth to inspire the free folk because they were afraid to recreate the destruction associated with the fall of Morgoth, but would never have tolerated Sauron ruling as a second Dark Lord. Much of the western lands would have been devastated by this and the Elves of Lothlorien and Imladris would have departed as you say. Also, Sauron didn't necessarily have 9 fingers; he had created a new physical form for himself and there is no reason to assume his loss of a finger at the Battle of the Last Alliance was permanent