Alan Sisto

So we're talking about, you know, 150 years later, Saruman figures Gandalf knew even then, or he foresaw it somehow.

And not just that Gandalf knew, but he kept that knowledge from himself and from the council and,

All because, and again, he's just weaving these super complicated reasons.

Oh, Gandalf must have known and he must have kept it secret from the council and he must have kept it secret because he was trying to delay me because he wanted the ring for himself.

I mean, it's just, it's, it's funny in a way.

Like, how do you walk yourself down this road?

No, but logic isn't in the moment there.

Right, yeah.

Your brain just starts running with these massive fears and thinking worst case scenario.

But unlike Saruman, folks who deal with that are the victims of that, whereas Saruman is like his own worst enemy.

And, yeah, you know what?

In a way, that's exactly what's happening here because Saruman is afraid.

It's fear that's driving this.

And, yeah, it's – and, of course, Saruman thinks like – everybody thinks like he does.

So that's the thing, right?

It's an echo of that earlier line we read.

I don't know if this was last week or the week before.

He was himself so far fallen that he believed all others of the council had each their deep and far-reaching policies for their own enhancement.

Of course, because he does.

Therefore, everybody else must too.