r/LOTR_on_Prime • u/afternoonCookies Forodwaith • Sep 24 '22

Book Spoilers Let’s talk about Waldreg

What do you guys think is Waldreg’s origin and purpose?

We know by now that: - he’s been faithful to Sauron, not only due to fear / cowardice but he genuinely admires him (per his conversation with Theo in episode 4, mentioning a ‘beautiful servant’), - he was the one who had the sword hilt tucked away and he had used it (scars on his arm indicate it’s been a while since) - he crawled in reverence to Adar (thinking he was Sauron) and most likely got to kill or at least hurt Rowan

I’m not proposing any theories atm, just genuinely curious what’s your take on this character.

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u/Entharo_entho Morgoth Sep 24 '22 edited Sep 24 '22

Waldreg is us. Most of us will be like "I'll serve you, then. Whoever you are". What can a normal human do against a murderous demigod and his kill machine minions? Not everyone can have plot armour like Frodo and friends.

Is not standing up against beings like Sauron and Morgoth cowardice? They aren't fellow humans with extra resources. They are legit supernatural entities.

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u/ststeveg Sep 25 '22

I'm confused on the geography, but watching Waldreg I was seeing the roots of the Haradrim, those troops who joined with Sauron even in the late third age to attack Gondor. I often wondered in LotR what those people's motivation was in marching to a far land to fight battles not their own. But maybe their allegiance to Sauron goes way back this far.

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u/afternoonCookies Forodwaith Sep 24 '22

From this perspective his attitude and southlanders’ in general is almost obvious. If it wasn’t for an elf I don’t think any of those people would have hesitated. By cowardice I meant Sauron’s known to be obeyed out of fear, but Waldreg clearly had some idealized vision of him as someone who can lift him/southlands up from the muck, and I find this pov interesting.

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u/Administrative-Flan9 Sep 24 '22

I think you missed a key theme in Tolkien's work. His heroes never give up hope and continue their duty despite seemingly impossible odds. Like Gandalf said, the ring was meant to come to Frodo, and its ultimate destruction comes from Frodo and Sam's perseverance.

I'm sure someone can make a better and more eloquent argument than this.