How powerful is Elrond?

This is a revised and updated version of a video first published in August 2021.

Dodging bullets , multiplying himself, punching concrete and flying.

All his power couldn't stop me from laughing in cinema when Frodo woke up and looked into Agent Smiths smiling face.

Hugo Weaving deserves huge respect for such an iconic performance.

Acknowledgements to Hugo Weaving who embodied Elrond so very convincingly and with great natural authority. The man played Elrond and Smith, two so very opposite characters yet both equally essential pillars to their respective universes. I don't see Smith when I'm watching Elrond, nor visa versa. A very, very great actor indeed. Love the channel and this video, I'd watched the older version more than once. Nice refresh!

Maybe Elrond’s “air” powers are used to give the Hidden Valley fair weather? That seems to be how the elves use their magic most frequently. Natural and enhancing things rather than forcing change.

Poor Elrond, over 1000 years of fostering Isildur's heirs, and seeing them die, over and over...and that's just one loss the guy endured.

Huh, just thought of this: Galadriel had powers over water, which we of course in her Mirror, but there's another description of her abilities that is often overlooked... when the Aeothaid were riding to the aid of Gondor at one point SHE brought up a mist to hide the army of the future Rhoririm from Sauron's eyes at the nearby Dul Guldor. And Gandalf, had power over fire like you said, but of course also the fire of courage and hearts, he doesn't seem to have to do or say anything for his courage effect to work, it's passive though potent. With Elrond having power over air, what do we see him use the most? His WORDS. The expression of Air is speech. And Elrond's words are always powerful and influential. *One sidenote about the differences in "magic" use between Elrond and Galadriel is that Elrond may not have had as much experience in "active" "magic". Galadriel learned a lot from Melian the Maia on how things worked in the world, training that Elrond may not have had access to, which may be partly why his actions are less showy most of the time. Even the flood at the Bruinen (spelling?) was partly "showy" because of Gandalf's actions not Elrond's. Not saying Elrond couldn't have made the foamy horses in the river, only that he may not have been as skilled in doing at as Gandalf or Galadriel as his magic was focused in other directions. Ok, I'll stop babbling now :D - thanks for the video!!!!

How powerful was Elrond? Yes, very. One of the very good characters in Tolkien's world, where wisdom and power and merging into a solid guidance to anyone seeking good.

I love the line Elrond speaks to the Nazgul in the third Hobbit movie "You should have stayed dead."

A weird thing (though very common in fiction) in LotR is that the rulers of each realm are also the most (or close to the most) powerful / skilled / talented people there. This almost never happens in real life. The king is very rarely also going to be the wisest at giving advice, or the strongest warrior, or the most learnt mage. Or, in a modern setting, it's like if the Prime Minister of a country was also its most genius scientist. You'd expect the ruler to be a manager, hopefully a talented one, but that they're main skill set is in leading and organising rather than their personal ability to resolve plot points.

Elrond is a GOAT. Id say he probably sat things out in the end to oversee that as many elves left middle earth as possible. Making sure the roads were as safe as possible, making sure there was a homely house for them to stay before continuing further. He was being a leader, and one of the last to leave. Great man

Thank you very much for that insightful video. Elrond is one of my favorite characters, especially because he is a 'supportive' character, that accomplishes many tasks behind the scenes, indirectly or through guidance.

My favorite good LotR character. Hugo Weaving did a wonderful job playing him. Thanks so much for the video!

I have watched quite a few of your ASOIAF and Tolkien videos in the last few weeks. Every time you start a video with a question like this, I say “i don’t know, Robert, you tell me” and chuckle to myself. Every time. Never change!

I remember this being discussed in an earlier video, but think think the "power" we see in LotR in the sense of wisdom or lore comes from a very real sense of being "in tune" with the world. Considering that in-universe, the world was literally sung into existence as the Music of the Ainur, I think the musical analogy is very apt. Individuals who are in tune with that deeper music that underlies the world are more likely to sense the hidden patterns underlying events, have insight into how things may unfold in the future, and perhaps also recognize others who have that strong connection. Valar, maiar, and those with connections to them such as elves and Numenorian humans seem to have an innately stronger connection, but it takes intentional study to truly open one's mind to the music of the world. Elrond, very definitely, exemplifies all of these criteria.

That was a lovely closing paragraph. You do have such a lovely way of looking at the world.

In ROTK at Aragorn's coronation, when the banner is moved aside and Arwen emerges, Hugo's "my baby is all growed up" expression sparks the water works for me every time.

I Love Lord Elrond even if he didn't seek or want any tittles. The book Elrond was so different from movies Elrond, book Elrond was "kind as summer" even if he had such a painful life: They parents became sky entities when he was a child, was a hostage in his childhood, he not only had separated ways (until the end of times!) of his beloved twin brother but to his treasured daughter as well and on top of that, he lost her wife for a very long time and her damage was even impossible for him to cure. I rejoice myself thinking when he cross the sea and reunited with his wife in the undying lands. Thanks IDG!

I think the interesting (potential) manifestation of Elrond's ring as the Ring of Air is his role as Loremaster. Often, the element of Air is associated with study, rational thought, analysis, and language. While we don't see Elrond's command of on element at any point in the same way that we do with the other two Elven Ring bearers, his fame as being a font of knowledge is great. I wonder if Vilya helps him with his ability to accrue and hold onto knowledge, and dispense it as wisdom when it is needed?