No, Talion is Not Canon in J.R.R. Tolkien‘s Legendarium

As much as fans may want to believe otherwise, Talion – the gruff ranger protagonist of the critically-acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow video games – is not considered a canonical part of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s fantasy universe. He‘s the creation of Monolith Productions, not the revered author.

But that hasn‘t stopped gamers and Tolkien devotees alike from wishing Talion‘s epic quest for vengeance against Sauron occupied a tangible part of The Lord of the Rings canon. This article will analyze the case for and against including Talion among other established non-canon – but loved – characters dwelling in Middle-earth lore.

The Origins of Talion and Celebrimbor

As a quick refresher, Talion‘s backstory goes like this: he was a captain stationed at the Black Gate of Mordor, guarding Gondor‘s outer border alongside his wife and son. When Sauron‘s forces launch a surprise attack led by the Black Hand, Talion‘s family is slaughtered before his eyes. And to make matters worse, the Hand‘s ritual sacrifice empowers the long-dead Elven spirit, Celebrimbor.

Seeking revenge against Sauron and the Black Hand, Celebrimbor‘s spirit merges with the deceased Talion, resurrecting him as a wraith-like Gravewalker. With new supernatural abilities, the pair embark on a personal vendetta that soon escalates into saving all of Mordor from falling back under the Dark Lord‘s control.

Celebrimbor himself boasts some serious pedigree in Tolkien lore as well. He was considered the greatest Elven craftsman of the Second Age, responsible for forging the Rings of Power under instruction from Annatar, the disguised Sauron. Though Celebrimbor would rebel against his deceitful master, his actions (and hubris) enabled centuries of death and domination at the hands of the One Ring.

Unlike Talion, Celebrimbor is very much canon, playing an important role in helping the Elves preserve their realms…at least for a time. So while one half of Shadow‘s dynamic duo has legitimate roots in Tolkien lore, the other was invented whole cloth. But that distinction hasn‘t prevented endless speculation about how Talion might squeeze into canon.

Similarities and Incongruities with Wider Lore

Admittedly, Monolith does a commendable job tying their new narrative threads into existingfiction. The games take place concurrently with The Lord of the Rings main storyline, frequently intersecting with familiar characters and landmarks that hardcore fans will recognize.

For example, major plot points involve defending Minas Tirith alongside Gandalf, drinking with Gimli at an inn in Minas Ithil, and battling the Balrog known as "Durin‘s Bane" from the Mines of Moria at multiple junctures. Through these cameos and boss fights, the series weaves itself rather seamlessly into the established timeline.

But keen-eyed observers will note critical moments where lore clashes or contradicts the source material:

While undoubtedly crafted to serve gameplay and tell a compelling story, such liberties with the revered fantasy canon understandably irk die-hard fans. And Talion himself, as a completely new inhabitant of Middle-earth, represents the most glaring incursion of all.

So Where Could Talion Fit in the Lore?

If one were hellbent on headcanoning Talion into Lord of the Rings continuity, the most likely explanation works as follows:

We know Aragorn led the Rangers of the North as their Chieftan prior to the War of the Ring. It‘s possible Talion served under his command at the Black Gate before the events of Shadow of Mordor, perishing alongside his family in that initial Orc raid.

When Gandalf learns a Gravewalker helped defeat Sauron‘s resurgence in Mordor alongside an Elf-wraith, it‘s conceivable he surmised this creature‘s true identity from reports. But given the apparent madness caused by Celebrimbor‘s possession of Talion, Gandalf chose not to speak much of this fallen Ranger Chieftan.

This would explain Gandalf and Gimli‘s willingness to occasionally help Talion reclaim Minas Ithil and Minas Tirith throughout the games. They likely pitied him as a tortured wraith trapped between life and death – noble once as a Man, but now unpredictable and dangerous.

Ultimately, while this plausible explanation threads the needle, Talion occupying any tangible role in the War of Ring itself poses problems. His presence as an undead lord battling armies of Orcs would warrant significantly more reaction and concern from Middle-earth‘s central players.

But discussing where Talion might reside within canon sure is fun!

Other Examples of Non-Canon Characters

Gamers and movie fans alike will remember various other original heroes co-existing alongside Aragorn, Gandalf and the rest of the Fellowship throughout licensed LotR media:

Like Talion, these protagonists demonstrate how developers strive to build engrossing original plots within Tolkien‘s sandbox while avoiding outright contradictions with the lore. Sometimes they walk that tightrope more gracefully than others.

But even when missteps occur, fans appreciate the passion and effort that goes into expanding this beloved fantasy world. These new stories prompt renewed interest in the source material while pioneering unexplored corners of Middle-earth.

Talion Still Captivates Fans – Canon or Not

Debating whether the infamous Gravewalker could logically fit within J.R.R. Tolkien‘s sprawling mythology reminds why we love this fantasy franchise so much. It signifies a shared investment in the histories, characters and themes that compose Middle-earth.

While Talion occupies an interesting moral grey area as a gruff anti-hero, his portrayal still fascinates us. And inspiration gleaned from researching topics like ring-lore and the Rangers of Gondor often translates into examining Tolkien‘s novels more closely as well.

So while this iconic protagonist does not walk among the canon Fellowship we know and love, that won‘t dissuade fans from wishing Talion‘s epic clashes with fortress sieges and500 feet tall spider monsters constituted certified lore!

At the end of the day, whether Caragor-riding through Mordor as an undead Gravewalker or dying valiantly alongside Aragorn as a loyal Ranger of Gondor, Talion‘s legend endures as a testament to the amazing fantasy universe crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien so many years ago.