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{{Infobox Person Servants of Evil
  
{{Infobox Person Servants of Evil
 
| image = Watcher1.jpg
  
| image = Watcher1.jpg
−
| caption = Watcher in the Water from the film
 +
| caption = The '''Watcher in the Water''' from the film
 
| name = Watcher in the Water
  
| name = Watcher in the Water
 
| othernames = The Watcher
  
| othernames = The Watcher
−
| title = Guarder of the West Gate
 +
| title = Guardian of the West Gate
−
| birth = Possibly pre First Age
 +
| birth =
 
| rule =
  
| rule =
−
| death = Unknown; possibly still alive
 +
| death =
−
| realms = [[Doors of Durin]]
 +
| realms =
−
| spouse = Most likely none
 +
| spouse =
−
| weapon = Tentacles, teeth
 +
| weapon =
−
| race = Unknown (possible [[Urulóki]])
 +
| race = Unknown
−
| culture = Mutilated Creatures of Melkor (Evil Races)
 +
| culture =
−
| gender = Most likely male
 +
| gender =
−
| height = Huge
 +
| height =
−
| hair = None
 +
| hair =
−
| eyes = Dark
 +
| eyes =
−
| actor = CGI
 +
| actor =
 
| voice =
  
| voice =
 
| character =
  
| character =
 
}}
  
}}
   
−
{{Quote|The Pool is up to the wall at the Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took Oin.|the Book of Mazarbul, ''The Lord of the Rings''}}
 +
{{Quote|The Pool is up to the wall at the West-gate. The Watcher in the Water took Óin.|from the [[Book of Mazarbul]]}}
   
−
The '''Watcher in the Water''' was a horrifying and mysterious beast with many tentacles living in a stagnant pool near The [[Doors of Durin|Westgate of Moria]] in [[Middle-earth]]. The huge creature lived in a lake that was described by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] as "... a dark, still lake" which was created by the damming of the [[Sirannon]] river, which was located on the west side of the mine of [[Moria]]. The water had crept deeper and deeper, closer and closer to The Doors of Durin leaving only a narrow walkway where once [[The High Road]] allowed traffic between [[Ost-in-Edhil]] and [[Khazad-dûm]] many years before during The Second Age. Some say it was the creature itself who created the dam over many decades.
 +
The '''Watcher in the Water''' was a horrifying and mysterious beast with many tentacles living in a stagnant pool or lake near the [[Doors of Durin|West-gate of Moria]], which was described by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] as "... a dark, still lake" created by the damming of the [[Sirannon]] river. The water had gradually grown deeper and crept closer to [[Doors of Durin|The Doors of Durin]], leaving only a narrow walkway where once [[The High Road]] allowed traffic between [[Ost-in-Edhil]] and [[Khazad-dûm]] many years before the [[Second Age]]. Some said it was the creature itself who created the dam over many decades.
   
−
==History==
 +
== History ==
   
  +
The Watcher was thought to have emerged from beneath Moria, being described by Gandalf as "older, fouler" than [[Orcs]]. During the attempted recolonization of Moria by the [[Dwarves]], the Watcher killed [[Óin]] when his reconnaissance party visited the West Gate.
−
[[File:Watcher in the Water.jpg|350px|thumb|left|Watcher in the Water in the The Fellowship of the Ring movie]]
  
   
  +
When the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] arrived by the pool of water, many immediately began to feel an evil feeling emanating from the water. As they pondered the riddle of the Doors of Durin, Boromir threw a rock into the water. After Gandalf opened the gates and the Fellowship moved towards the entrance, the Watcher attacked Frodo, using its many long tentacles to grab hold of his legs. Sam slashed at the tentacles that were grabbing his friend, managed to injure the monster and it released the hobbit. Gandalf then commanded that the Fellowship run further into the gate to escape the Watcher's wrath. The enraged monster's tentacles tore down the ancient holly trees which stood on either side of the doors, the Gate, and many boulders, thus trapping the Fellowship inside the darkness of Moria.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring (novel)|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Book Two, Ch. IV: "[[A Journey in the Dark]]"</ref>
−
The Watcher is thought to have emerged from beneath Moria, being described by Gandalf as "older, fouler" than Orcs. During the attempted recolonization of Moria by the [[Dwarves]], the Watcher killed [[Óin]] when his reconnaissance party visited the West Gate.
  
   
  +
== Portrayal in adaptations ==
−
When the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] arrives by the pool of water, many immediately begin to feel an evil feeling emanating from the water. Boromir, disturbed by the water and frustrated by [[Gandalf]]'s failure to open the gates to Moria, threw a rock into the water, to which he was reprimanded by [[Frodo]]. After Gandalf opened the gates and the fellowship moved towards the entrance, the Watcher attacked Frodo using its many long tentacles to grab hold of Frodo's legs. Sam slashed at the tentacles that were around Frodo, and managed to injure the monster and it released the Hobbit. Gandalf then commanded that the Fellowship run further into the gate to escape the Watcher's wrath. The enraged monsters tentacles tore down the ancient holly trees which stood on either side of the doors, the beautiful doors of Durin and many bolders, thus trapping the Fellowship inside the Long Dark Of Moria.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]], [[The Fellowship of the Ring (novel)|The Fellowship of the Ring]],'' Book Two, Chapter IV: "[[A Journey in the Dark]]"</ref>
  
  +
=== ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy ===
   
  +
[[File:The Watcher 3.jpg|thumb|left|328x328px|The Watcher going after the Fellowship with its tentacles in [[The Fellowship of the Ring (film)|''The Fellowship of the Ring'' (film)]].]]
−
==Portrayal in adaptations==
  
−
===The Lord of the Rings film trilogy===
  
   
  +
The Watcher in the Water is seen in [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Fellowship of the Ring (film)|rendition of ''The Fellowship of the Ring'']] as a very detailed computer-generated creature. In the movie, the Watcher is disturbed by [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and [[Peregrin Took]], who threw rocks in the water to pass the time while [[Gandalf]] tries to figure out the password to gain entrance to Moria. (This differs from the novel, in which it was [[Boromir]] who disturbed the water by throwing a stone.) In either case, by the time the riddle of the Door is figured out ("Speak 'friend' and enter." - by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in the film and Gandalf in the original novel), the Watcher is already provoked. It catches Frodo and lifts him in the air, despite [[Sam Gamgee|Samwise Gamgee]]'s attempts to defend him. The rest of the Fellowship, who attempt to injure the many serpentine tentacles of the Watcher, save him. The Watcher drops Frodo when it is injured and he is caught by Boromir. [[Legolas]] shoots the Watcher in the eye as the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] retreats into the [[Mines of Moria]]. Just as they make it inside, the Watcher tears down the doorway, and the way out is blocked by falling rocks. After the gate is blocked, the Fellowship is then forced to travel into the darkness of Moria.
−
[[File:The Watcher 3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Watcher going after the Fellowship at the Doors of Durin with its tentacles in [[The Fellowship of the Ring (film)]].]]
  
   
  +
Although Tolkien described the creature to have twenty-one tentacles, Peter Jackson instead gave it twelve visible tentacles (this was due to the effects team finding that twenty-one tentacles were difficult to render properly). In the game adaptation of the novel, the Watcher is depicted as a Nessie-like creature with many arms.
−
The Watcher in the Water can be seen in [[Peter Jackson]]'s rendition of The Fellowship of the Ring as a very detailed computer-generated creature. In the movie, the Watcher is disturbed by [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and [[Peregrin Took]], who throw rocks in the water to pass the time while [[Gandalf]] tries to figure out the password to gain entrance to Moria. This differs from the novel, in which it was [[Boromir]] who disturbed the water by throwing a stone. In either case, by the time the riddle of the Door is figured out ("Speak 'friend' and enter." - by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in the film and Gandalf in the original novel), the Watcher is already provoked. It catches Frodo and lifts him in the air, despite [[Sam Gamgee|Samwise Gamgee]]'s attempts to defend him. The rest of the Fellowship, who attempt to injure the many serpentine tentacles of the Watcher, save him. The Watcher drops Frodo when it is injured and he is caught by Boromir. [[Legolas]] shoots the Watcher in the eye as the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] retreats into the [[Mines of Moria]]. Just as they make it inside, the Watcher tears down the doorway, and the way out is blocked by falling rocks, which land on the Watcher and probably kill it. After the gate is blocked, the Fellowship is then forced to travel into the darkness of Moria. Although Tolkien described it to have twenty-one tentacles, Peter Jackson instead gave it twelve visible tentacles (this was due to the effects team finding that twenty-one tentacles were difficult to render properly). In the game adaptation of the novel, the Watcher is depicted as a Nessie-like creature with many arms.
  
   
−
===Translations around the World===
 +
=== Video games ===
   
  +
==== The Third Age ====
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
  
  +
−
!Foreign Language
  
  +
In ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]'', the Watcher in the Water is the first real boss that [[Berethor]]'s party has to face. Its attacks consist mainly of tentacle attacks and "Reeking Spout", a gust of foul breath and slime that deals significant damage to the whole party. After a brief but fierce battle, Berethor's company is able to anger the Watcher enough to clear the way for them to enter Moria. Shortly after, they end up fighting the Watcher again, this time in a huge lake that has flooded part of Moria. This time, they kill it for good.
−
!Translated name
  
  +
  +
However, this game is non-canonical to the book, and even to the movie, so the Watcher's fate is still unknown.
  +
  +
==== The Battle for Middle-earth II ====
  +
  +
[[File:The Watcher 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"The Watcher in the Water" in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]].'']]
  +
  +
In [[EA]]'s ''[[BFME2|The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'', the Watcher in the Water is a power to use in [[Isengard]] and [[Goblins|The Goblins]] in the Evil Campaign or in a Skirmish. When it attacks, it uses its tentacles to smack any surrounding enemies. When picking up an enemy with one of its tentacles, it eats it and its health heals. It is a commander on the Good Campaign in Missions 2, 6 & 8.When it dies or its time is done it goes back into the water pool where it goes to its home until it is summoned again. In the Evil Campaign it cost ten power points, while in a Skirmish it costs 15.
  +
  +
==== The Lord of the Rings Online ====
  +
  +
Upon beginning Volume II of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', the player enters Moria with his/her legendary, which can be named and tailored to a specific play-style, making the new weapons very innovative and much more powerful than regular weapons. Before entering Moria, the prologue has the player at the walls of Moria. After completing Book I you may enter Moria. However, the first expedition goes wrong, and the watcher takes Bróin . While Bróin is not dead, several other Dwarves are killed and the group flees. Upon returning, you have been granted a legendary weapon, which is capable of hurting the watcher. After a prolonged fight of tentacle cutting and more hacking and slashing, the watcher retreats and you may enter Moria. In one of the playable dungeons (known as instances) you may kill the watcher, which gives one of the rarest and infamous trophies. However, it takes a large group to do this raid, or a group of high level players. It is recommended that before starting Moria you are level 50 and have completed Volume I: The Shadows of Angmar (in which you aid Gandalf and the Fellowship by fighting the False king of Angmar's forces). It is also noted that the killing of the watcher was never confirmed in the books.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''</ref>
  +
  +
==== LEGO The Lord of the Rings ====
  +
In ''[[LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game]]'' the Watcher appears in a role virtually identical to that in the films, though the events of its encounter with the Fellowship is added onto for gameplay purposes.
  +
  +
== Trivia ==
  +
* It is common for the Watcher in the Water to be featured as the Kraken Peter Jackson created - but it should be noted that Tolkien never described the creature's physical attributes aside from the tentacles.
  +
* In ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]] ''there is rumored to be another (seemingly larger) Watcher in the [[Sea of Núrnen|Sea of Nurnen]].
  +
  +
==Translations==
  +
<div style="overflow:auto; height:300px; width:500px; float:left">
  +
<!--<div style="overflow:auto; height:200px;">-->
  +
{| class="itemtable" style="color:#6f3d0b; border:2px solid #FFF; border-top: 0; text-align:left; -moz-border-radius-bottomleft:8px; -moz-border-radius-bottomright:8px; -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius:8px; -webkit-border-bottom-right-radius:8px;" bgcolor="#edeeff"
  +
| width="300" |'''Foreign Language'''
  +
| width="300" |'''Translated name'''
 
|-
  
|-
  +
|Afrikaans
−
|Portuguese (Brazil)
  
  +
|Bode in die Water
−
|Vigia na Água
  
 
|-
  
|-
  +
|Albanian
−
|Spanish (Spain and Latin America)
  
  +
|Vrojtues në Ujë
−
|Guardián del Agua
  
 
|-
  
|-
  +
|Amharic
−
|Italian
  
  +
|በውኃ ውስጥ ተጠባባቂ ?
−
|Osservatore nell'acqua
  
  +
|-
  +
|Arabic
  +
|المراقب في الماء
  +
|-
  +
|Armenian
  +
|պահապան ջրի մեջ
  +
|-
  +
|Basque
  +
|Uretan Behatzailea
  +
|-
  +
|Belarusian Cyrillic
  +
|вартаўнік ў вадзе
  +
|-
  +
|Bengali
  +
|পানিতে প্রহরী
  +
|-
  +
|Bosnian
  +
|Posmatrač u Vodi
  +
|-
  +
|Bulgarian Cyrillic
  +
|наблюдател във водата
  +
|-
  +
|Cambodian
  +
|មើលនៅក្នុងទឹក
  +
|-
  +
|Catalan
  +
|Observador en L'aigua
  +
|-
  +
|Cebuano
  +
|Bantayan diha sa Tubig
  +
|-
  +
|Chinese (Hong Kong)
  +
|水中監視者
  +
|-
  +
|Chinese (Simplified)
  +
|水中的监视者
  +
|-
  +
|Croatian
  +
|Stražar u Vodi
  +
|-
  +
|Czech
  +
|Hlídač ve Vodě
  +
|-
  +
|Danish
  +
|Iagttager i Vandet
  +
|-
  +
|Dutch
  +
|Waker in Het Water
  +
|-
  +
|Esperanto
  +
|Prizorganto en la Akvo
  +
|-
  +
|Estonian
  +
|Vaataja Vees
  +
|-
  +
|Filipino
  +
|Bantay sa Tubig
  +
|-
  +
|Finnish
  +
|Veden valvoja
 
|-
  
|-
 
|French
  
|French
 
|Guetteur de l'Eau
  
|Guetteur de l'Eau
  +
|-
  +
|Frisian
  +
|Horloazje yn it Wetter
  +
|-
  +
|Galician
  +
|Observador na Auga
 
|-
  
|-
 
|German
  
|German
 
|Wächter im Wasser
  
|Wächter im Wasser
 
|-
  
|-
  +
|Greek
−
|Chinese (Hong Kong)
  
  +
|Παρατηρητής στο Νερό
−
|水中監視者
  
  +
|-
  +
|Gujarati
  +
|પાણી નોંધક
  +
|-
  +
|Hausa
  +
|Tsaro a cikin ruwa
  +
|-
  +
|Hebrew
  +
|צופה על המים
  +
|-
  +
|Hindi
  +
|पानी में चौकीदार
  +
|-
  +
|Hungarian
  +
|A Tó őre
  +
|-
  +
|Icelandic
  +
|Áhorfandi í Vatni
  +
|-
  +
|Italian
  +
|Osservatore nell'acqua
  +
|-
  +
|Japanese
  +
|水中の監視者
  +
|-
  +
|Javanese
  +
|Penonton ing Banyu
  +
|-
  +
|Korean
  +
|호수의 감시자
  +
|-
  +
|Latvian
  +
|Vērotājs no Ūdens
  +
|-
  +
|Lithuanian
  +
|Stebėtojas į Vandenį
  +
|-
  +
|Macedonian Cyrillic
  +
|стражар во вода
  +
|-
  +
|Nepalese
  +
|पानी मा हेरविचार
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Norwegian
  
|Norwegian
 
|Sjøens vokter<br />Vokteren i vannet
  
|Sjøens vokter<br />Vokteren i vannet
  +
|-
  +
|Pashto
  +
|په اوبو کې څیړونکی
  +
|-
  +
|Persian
  +
|نظاره گر در آب
  +
|-
  +
|Polish
  +
|Czatownik z Wody
  +
|-
  +
|Portuguese (Brazil)
  +
|Vigia na Água
  +
|-
  +
|Romanian
  +
|Gardă în Apă
  +
|-
  +
|Russian
  +
|Глубинный Страж
  +
|-
  +
|Serbian
  +
|ватцхер у води (Cyrillic) Vidovita u Vodi (Latin)
  +
|-
  +
|Shona
  +
|Mucherekedzi Mumvura
  +
|-
  +
|Sinhalese
  +
|ජලය මුරකරු
  +
|-
  +
|Slovak
  +
|Strážca vo Vode
  +
|-
  +
|Slovenian
  +
|Stražar v Vodi
  +
|-
  +
|Spanish (Spain and Latin America)
  +
|Guardián del Agua
  +
|-
  +
|Swahili
  +
|Mlinzi katika maji
  +
|-
  +
|Swedish
  +
|Bevakare i Vattnet
  +
|-
  +
|Tajik Cyrillic
  +
|нигаҳбонашон дар об
  +
|-
  +
|Tamil
  +
|நீரில் கவனிப்பவர்
  +
|-
  +
|Thai
  +
|ร้ายที่อยู่ในน้ำ
  +
|-
  +
|Turkish
  +
|Sudaki Gözcü
  +
|-
  +
|Ukrainian Cyrillic
  +
|спостерігач у воді
  +
|-
  +
|Urdu
  +
|پانی میں نگہبان
  +
|-
  +
|Uzbek
  +
|Wатчер ин тҳе Wатер (Cyrillic) Suvda Qorovul (Latin)
  +
|-
  +
|Uyghur
  +
|ۋاتچھەر ىن تھە ۋاتەر
  +
|-
  +
|Welsh
  +
|Gwyliwr yn y Dŵr
  +
|-
  +
|Yiddish
  +
|וואַטשער אין די וואַסער
 
|}
  
|}
   
  +
</div>
−
===Video games===
  
  +
{{Clear}}
−
====The Third Age====
  
   
  +
== References ==
−
In [[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]], the Watcher in the Water is the first real boss that [[Berethor]]'s party has to face. Its attacks consist mainly of tentacle attacks and "Reeking Spout", a gust of foul breath and slime that deals significant damage to the whole party. After a brief but fierce battle, Berethor's company is able to anger the Watcher enough to clear the way for them to enter Moria. Shortly after, they end up fighting the Watcher again, this time in a huge lake that has flooded part of Moria. When they fight it this time, they kill it for good.
  
  +
<references />
−  
−
However, this game is non-canonical to the book, and even to the movie, so the watcher's fate is still unknown. His head could have been crushed by the falling boulders.
  
−  
−
====The Battle for Middle-Earth II====
  
−  
−
[[File:The Watcher 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"The Watcher in the Water" in The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II.]]
  
−  
−
In [[Battle for Middle-earth II]], the Watcher in the Water is a power to use as [[Isengard]]/[[Goblins|The Goblins]] or in the Evil Campaign or even a Skirmish. When it attacks, it uses its tentacles to smack any surrounding enemies. When picking up an enemy with one of its tentacles, it eats it and its health heals. It is a commander on the Good Campaign in Missions 2, 6 & 8.When it dies or its time is done it goes back into the water pool where it goes to its home until it is summoned again. In Evil campaign it cost 10 power points while in a Skirmish it costs 15 power points.
  
−  
−
====Lord of the Rings Online====
  
−  
−
Upon beginning Volume 2, the Mines of Moria in earnest, the player enters Moria with his/her legendary, which can be named and tailored to a specific play-style, making the new weapons very innovative and much more powerful than regular weapons. Before entering Moria, the prologue has the player at the walls of Moria. After completing a series of quests you may enter Moria. However, the first expedition goes wrong, and the watcher takes Broin (please correct this if this is incorrect). While Broin is not dead, several other dwarves are killed and the group flees. Upon returning, you have been granted a legendary weapon, which is capable of hurting the watcher. After a prolonged fight of tentacle cutting and more hacking and slashing, the watcher retreats and you may enter Moria. In one of the playable dungeons (known as instances) you may kill the watcher, which gives one of the rarest and infamous trophies. However, it takes a large group to do this raid, or a group of high level players. It is recommended that before starting Moria you are level 50 and have completed volume 1 (in which you aid Gandalf and the fellowship by fighting the False king of Angmar's forces). It is also noted that the killing of the watcher was never confirmed in the books.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''</ref>
  
−  
−
==Trivia==
  
−
* It is common for The Watcher in the Water to be featured as the kraken Peter Jackson created, it should be noted Tolkien never described the creature's physical attributes, exclude the tentacles.
  
−
==References==
  
−
<references/>
  
−  
−  
−  
−
{{Space|Watcher in the Water}}
  
   
  +
[[de:Wächter im Wasser]]
  +
[[es:Guardián del Agua]]
  +
[[fr:Guetteur de l'Eau]]
  +
[[it:Osservatore nell'Acqua]]
  +
[[pl:Czatownik]]
  +
[[ru:Глубинный Страж]]
 
[[Category:Creatures]]
  
[[Category:Creatures]]
 
[[Category:Monsters]]
  
[[Category:Monsters]]
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[[Category:Minor characters (The Lord of the Rings)]]
  
[[Category:Minor characters (The Lord of the Rings)]]
 
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (film) Characters]]
  
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (film) Characters]]
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[[Category:The Lord of the Rings Characters]]
  
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[[Category:Servants of Sauron]]
  
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[[Category:Servants of Darkness]]
  
−
[[Category:Evil]]
  
−
[[Category:Villains]]
  
−  
−
[[de:Wächter im Wasser]]
  
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[[es:Guardián del Agua]]
  
−
[[fr:Guetteur de l'Eau]]
  
−
[[it:Osservatore nell'Acqua]]
  
−
[[ru:Глубинный Страж]]
  

Revision as of 08:17, 11 April 2020


"The Pool is up to the wall at the West-gate. The Watcher in the Water took Óin."
—from the Book of Mazarbul

The Watcher in the Water was a horrifying and mysterious beast with many tentacles living in a stagnant pool or lake near the West-gate of Moria, which was described by J.R.R. Tolkien as "... a dark, still lake" created by the damming of the Sirannon river. The water had gradually grown deeper and crept closer to The Doors of Durin, leaving only a narrow walkway where once The High Road allowed traffic between Ost-in-Edhil and Khazad-dûm many years before the Second Age. Some said it was the creature itself who created the dam over many decades.

History

The Watcher was thought to have emerged from beneath Moria, being described by Gandalf as "older, fouler" than Orcs. During the attempted recolonization of Moria by the Dwarves, the Watcher killed Óin when his reconnaissance party visited the West Gate.

When the Fellowship arrived by the pool of water, many immediately began to feel an evil feeling emanating from the water. As they pondered the riddle of the Doors of Durin, Boromir threw a rock into the water. After Gandalf opened the gates and the Fellowship moved towards the entrance, the Watcher attacked Frodo, using its many long tentacles to grab hold of his legs. Sam slashed at the tentacles that were grabbing his friend, managed to injure the monster and it released the hobbit. Gandalf then commanded that the Fellowship run further into the gate to escape the Watcher's wrath. The enraged monster's tentacles tore down the ancient holly trees which stood on either side of the doors, the Gate, and many boulders, thus trapping the Fellowship inside the darkness of Moria.[1]

Portrayal in adaptations

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy

The Watcher 3

The Watcher going after the Fellowship with its tentacles in The Fellowship of the Ring (film).

The Watcher in the Water is seen in Peter Jackson's rendition of The Fellowship of the Ring as a very detailed computer-generated creature. In the movie, the Watcher is disturbed by Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, who threw rocks in the water to pass the time while Gandalf tries to figure out the password to gain entrance to Moria. (This differs from the novel, in which it was Boromir who disturbed the water by throwing a stone.) In either case, by the time the riddle of the Door is figured out ("Speak 'friend' and enter." - by Frodo in the film and Gandalf in the original novel), the Watcher is already provoked. It catches Frodo and lifts him in the air, despite Samwise Gamgee's attempts to defend him. The rest of the Fellowship, who attempt to injure the many serpentine tentacles of the Watcher, save him. The Watcher drops Frodo when it is injured and he is caught by Boromir. Legolas shoots the Watcher in the eye as the Fellowship of the Ring retreats into the Mines of Moria. Just as they make it inside, the Watcher tears down the doorway, and the way out is blocked by falling rocks. After the gate is blocked, the Fellowship is then forced to travel into the darkness of Moria.

Although Tolkien described the creature to have twenty-one tentacles, Peter Jackson instead gave it twelve visible tentacles (this was due to the effects team finding that twenty-one tentacles were difficult to render properly). In the game adaptation of the novel, the Watcher is depicted as a Nessie-like creature with many arms.

Video games

The Third Age

In The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, the Watcher in the Water is the first real boss that Berethor's party has to face. Its attacks consist mainly of tentacle attacks and "Reeking Spout", a gust of foul breath and slime that deals significant damage to the whole party. After a brief but fierce battle, Berethor's company is able to anger the Watcher enough to clear the way for them to enter Moria. Shortly after, they end up fighting the Watcher again, this time in a huge lake that has flooded part of Moria. This time, they kill it for good.

However, this game is non-canonical to the book, and even to the movie, so the Watcher's fate is still unknown.

The Battle for Middle-earth II

The Watcher 2

"The Watcher in the Water" in The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II.

In EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II, the Watcher in the Water is a power to use in Isengard and The Goblins in the Evil Campaign or in a Skirmish. When it attacks, it uses its tentacles to smack any surrounding enemies. When picking up an enemy with one of its tentacles, it eats it and its health heals. It is a commander on the Good Campaign in Missions 2, 6 & 8.When it dies or its time is done it goes back into the water pool where it goes to its home until it is summoned again. In the Evil Campaign it cost ten power points, while in a Skirmish it costs 15.

The Lord of the Rings Online

Upon beginning Volume II of The Lord of the Rings, the player enters Moria with his/her legendary, which can be named and tailored to a specific play-style, making the new weapons very innovative and much more powerful than regular weapons. Before entering Moria, the prologue has the player at the walls of Moria. After completing Book I you may enter Moria. However, the first expedition goes wrong, and the watcher takes Bróin . While Bróin is not dead, several other Dwarves are killed and the group flees. Upon returning, you have been granted a legendary weapon, which is capable of hurting the watcher. After a prolonged fight of tentacle cutting and more hacking and slashing, the watcher retreats and you may enter Moria. In one of the playable dungeons (known as instances) you may kill the watcher, which gives one of the rarest and infamous trophies. However, it takes a large group to do this raid, or a group of high level players. It is recommended that before starting Moria you are level 50 and have completed Volume I: The Shadows of Angmar (in which you aid Gandalf and the Fellowship by fighting the False king of Angmar's forces). It is also noted that the killing of the watcher was never confirmed in the books.[2]

LEGO The Lord of the Rings

In LEGO The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game the Watcher appears in a role virtually identical to that in the films, though the events of its encounter with the Fellowship is added onto for gameplay purposes.

Trivia

  • It is common for the Watcher in the Water to be featured as the Kraken Peter Jackson created - but it should be noted that Tolkien never described the creature's physical attributes aside from the tentacles.
  • In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor there is rumored to be another (seemingly larger) Watcher in the Sea of Nurnen.

Translations

Foreign Language Translated name
Afrikaans Bode in die Water
Albanian Vrojtues në Ujë
Amharic በውኃ ውስጥ ተጠባባቂ ?
Arabic المراقب في الماء
Armenian պահապան ջրի մեջ
Basque Uretan Behatzailea
Belarusian Cyrillic вартаўнік ў вадзе
Bengali পানিতে প্রহরী
Bosnian Posmatrač u Vodi
Bulgarian Cyrillic наблюдател във водата
Cambodian មើលនៅក្នុងទឹក
Catalan Observador en L'aigua
Cebuano Bantayan diha sa Tubig
Chinese (Hong Kong) 水中監視者
Chinese (Simplified) 水中的监视者
Croatian Stražar u Vodi
Czech Hlídač ve Vodě
Danish Iagttager i Vandet
Dutch Waker in Het Water
Esperanto Prizorganto en la Akvo
Estonian Vaataja Vees
Filipino Bantay sa Tubig
Finnish Veden valvoja
French Guetteur de l'Eau
Frisian Horloazje yn it Wetter
Galician Observador na Auga
German Wächter im Wasser
Greek Παρατηρητής στο Νερό
Gujarati પાણી નોંધક
Hausa Tsaro a cikin ruwa
Hebrew צופה על המים
Hindi पानी में चौकीदार
Hungarian A Tó őre
Icelandic Áhorfandi í Vatni
Italian Osservatore nell'acqua
Japanese 水中の監視者
Javanese Penonton ing Banyu
Korean 호수의 감시자
Latvian Vērotājs no Ūdens
Lithuanian Stebėtojas į Vandenį
Macedonian Cyrillic стражар во вода
Nepalese पानी मा हेरविचार
Norwegian Sjøens vokter
Vokteren i vannet
Pashto په اوبو کې څیړونکی
Persian نظاره گر در آب
Polish Czatownik z Wody
Portuguese (Brazil) Vigia na Água
Romanian Gardă în Apă
Russian Глубинный Страж
Serbian ватцхер у води (Cyrillic) Vidovita u Vodi (Latin)
Shona Mucherekedzi Mumvura
Sinhalese ජලය මුරකරු
Slovak Strážca vo Vode
Slovenian Stražar v Vodi
Spanish (Spain and Latin America) Guardián del Agua
Swahili Mlinzi katika maji
Swedish Bevakare i Vattnet
Tajik Cyrillic нигаҳбонашон дар об
Tamil நீரில் கவனிப்பவர்
Thai ร้ายที่อยู่ในน้ำ
Turkish Sudaki Gözcü
Ukrainian Cyrillic спостерігач у воді
Urdu پانی میں نگہبان
Uzbek Wатчер ин тҳе Wатер (Cyrillic) Suvda Qorovul (Latin)
Uyghur ۋاتچھەر ىن تھە ۋاتەر
Welsh Gwyliwr yn y Dŵr
Yiddish וואַטשער אין די וואַסער

References

  1. ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Ch. IV: "A Journey in the Dark"
  2. ↑ The Lord of the Rings Online
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