We look at:

• Boromir’s believable corruption
• How much of this scene was actually pulled straight from the book?
• Will this be a movie we want, or just another exercise in fan-service?
• Will the film really just be a flashback?

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Is the word “simple” the most important part of Boromir’s statement?
• And how necessary were Merry and Pippin at the council?
• How much of Colbert’s ideology will be in the new film?
• Other opportunities for films around the time of The War of the Ring

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also look at:

• Who actually attended the Council of Elrond
• Boromir’s famous “Gondor has no king” line—book vs. film debate
• Why Gimli’s axe-to-the-ring moment feels out of place
• How Arwen and Aragorn’s romance changes when moved from appendix to film
• The effects of missing characters like Bilbo and Glorfindel

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Listener questions: Is Lurtz a good addition—or does he rob Aragorn of a key moment?
• The origins of the Uruk-hai – sci-fi or fantasy?
• How “meat’s back on the menu” could’ve been more lore friendly
• The looming Hunt for Gollum trilogy—how much story is really there?
• How an Aragorn biopic could finally do the ranger justice

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

He also discusses:

• Why Astin sees Sam’s cinematic arc as more heroic than the book’s version
• The struggle to balance being “strong” on screen with being a faithful hobbit
• Sword training with a Star Wars legend—and why it didn’t make the cut
• What “the Shire” means to Sean Astin personally—and where he finds his own ideal home (again!)

In our extended episode (for members at https://theonering.com/members):

• How you can beta test the new Exploring Tolkien app and help shape its future

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

We also explore:

• What Tolkien actually says (and doesn’t say) about how Uruk-hai were made
• Why “orc pods” feel a bit too much like The Matrix—and whether it helps or hurts the films
• Lurtz as a character: does inventing a main orc villain actually make the Boromir scene more powerful?
• The blurred line between lore-friendly and lore-accurate movie adaptations
• How visual, dramatic choices shape your connection to Tolkien’s world

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Listener reactions and hot takes on Glorfindel and Arwen
• The challenge of cutting “side quests” (like the Barrow-downs) for movie pacing
• Why adding new leaders (like Lurtz) can actually deepen the cinematic experience
• A sneak peek at the new Exploring Tolkien app

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Why losing Glorfindel means losing a key link to Middle-earth’s ancient history
• The movie’s “girl boss” approach to Arwen’s character—and what it does to the story
• Frodo’s lost agency at the ford, and the difference between book and film
• The most “cringeworthy” line in Lord of the Rings

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• The re-release box office numbers for The Lord of the Rings trilogy (any why were they so low)
• Viewer comments on our last video (were we wrong?)
• Michael reviews the new Rise of the Merlin show based on Stephen R. Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Was Aragorn really just carrying around a package of small swords the entire time?
• Was the battle at Weathertop lore-friendly?
• The messenger moth replaces Radagast… and Jonathan can’t get over it.

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• The Rings of Power will now include a blue wizard — a surprise no one was asking for.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We take a look at:

• The three published versions of the Quest for Erebor—and why the Annotated Hobbit’s is the longest and most complete
• Gandalf’s “absurd” commitment to Bilbo, and why he pushes for a stealthy quest instead of open war
• Why Gandalf was concerned about the Hobbits forgetting the  “high and perilous” figures of legend.
• The crucial role of Smaug as the north’s wild card, and why Gandalf fears a Sauron-Smaug alliance

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• How Tolkien could have retconned: stone giants, Beorn’s descendants, Gundabad orcs, and trala-lally elves into The Lord of the Rings
• How Gandalf’s mysterious “waking mind” connects to fate and agency in Tolkien’s world
• Listener corrections and deep-dives into Hobbit trivia

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We discuss:

• The surprising 2013 rediscovery of “Noel” and how Tolkien scholars tracked it down through forgotten school annuals and convent archives.
• The poem’s Nordic and Middle-earth flavor in the early stanzas—and the “eucatastrophic” shift when a child is born.
• Song and music as markers of Tolkien’s poetic voice, the emphasis on Mary’s song, and what it means for the joy of the world.
• Why “Noel” is a rare example of Tolkien writing an explicitly Christ-centered poem, and how it stands apart from his other work.
• The unmistakable hope and gladness that “Noel” brings to the weary, gray world.
• The craft and subtlety Tolkien brings, never over-explaining the mystery—just inviting us to imagine, wonder, and rejoice.

In our extended episode (available for EVERYONE this week! :D. Merry Christmas! Become a member or a patron!), we tackle one of the greatest Christmas questions… is Lord of the Rings a Christmas film!?

• Does simply watching a film at Christmas imbue it with holiday status, or must its core message embody the “eucatastrophe” of the season?
• The surprisingly non-Christmas nature of Die Hard and Gremlins.
• Our favorite Christmas movies, from It’s a Wonderful Life to Home Alone, and what really makes a story Christmas-worthy.

🔗 Episode Links
Noel – Tolkien’s Lost Christmas Poem (YouTube)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also cover:

• The Hobbit doesn’t even use the word “Shire”
• Fixing our capitalization 🙂
• Are the elves’ final songs belittling Bilbo’s journey, or highlighting true riches?
• The fate of Lake-town’s Master: Tolkien’s take on dragon-sickness and political corruption
• How Tolkien leaves almost no loose ends in this tale.
• Even in the penultimate paragraph, Tolkien nods at Bilbo’s luck… if luck you call it!

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Member comment: Maybe the Arkenstone’s DID influence the Battle of Five Armies?
• Member comment: The deeper meaning of “Bilbo the Magnificent”.
• What one thing did we discover in this extremely deliberate reading of The Hobbit?

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also explore:

• Why Beorn’s sudden intervention was more than just another “eagle rescue”—and what Tolkien draws from the real definition of berserkers”.
• Thorin’s final moments and his transformation from gold-obsessed king to the Dwarf who names Bilbo “child of the kindly West” — did he earn that change?
• The fate of Fili and Kili—Tolkien originally spared them in his draft… and why he changed that.
• What the actual division of treasure reveals about Dwarven honor, claims, and leadership
• How Tolkien uses this chapter to quietly set the stage for The Lord of the Rings and fill out the wider world of Middle-earth

Plus, we tackle the bigger questions:

• Did Bilbo’s “betrayal” actually make things worse?
• Why is Bilbo so eager to leave—has the Baggins/Took conflict finally resolved?
• And what’s up with the mysterious “three parts” of the goblins wiped out in battle?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What the untold story of Beorn’s descendants and their wild realm could have been—and how Tolkien left open the door for new adventures
• The evolution of Bilbo as a character: has he truly found peace between Took and Baggins?

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Check out the Battle of the Five Armies Map!

We also explore:

• Tolkien’s battle tactics vs Peter Jackson’s video game tactics.
• Why did Bilbo chooses the Elven King’s side?
• Trying to make sense of Peter Jackson’s battle map vs Tolkien’s map.
• Tolkien’s knowledge of medieval warfare.
• Is Thorin’s charge from the gate truly enough to change the tide of battle?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Whether the goblin army’s sudden arrival is really “earned” in the story, or if Tolkien’s plotting gives us room to quibble.
• How small additions could have made the battle less sudden—should there have been hints via raven messenger?
• Where would a talking Raven fit into The Lord of the Rings.

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also explore:

• Bilbo’s crowning “honest” achievement.
• Bard as Faramir?
• Dain’s Dwarven special forces arrive!
• What exactly were those dark clouds that shadowed the commencement of battle.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What “going home” for Bilbo may really entail.
• We count the amount of talking animals in Lord of the Rings vs. The Hobbit.
• Where would a talking Raven fit into The Lord of the Rings — we give our detailed thoughts.

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also explore:

• Did you know this chapter originally had a different title?
• Why EXACTLY did Bilbo give up the Arkenstone (and his part of the Treasure)?
• The morality of giving away the Arkenstone: is it just, betrayl, or is there a greater good?
• Gandalf’s ability to say enough to encourage and hope, but not let them off the hook for their involvement.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• The most satisfying way to read The Hobbit: as it’s own non-Middle-earth story, as a LOTR prequel, or somewhere in the middle?
• How annoyed Jonathan is when fans force The Hobbit into precise MIddle-earth lore.

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This episode, we look at:

• More (very old) talking birds
• Thorin’s “dragon sickness” — or is it his dwarven heart?
• Bard’s three reasons for having a claim to the treasure
• Who’s at fault for starting the battle?df
• What effect does the elves’ presence have on Thorin’s response?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Are we warming up to how Peter Jackson portrayed Thorin’s dragon sickness? Well….
• How Thorin’s change in the films lessens his deathbed turn in the books.
• The most egregious change in The Hobbit films is…

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also look at:

• How Bard came out of nowhere, and whether the films were right to introduce him sooner
• All those talking birds!
• Smaug’s hydrophobia
• Why the old black arrow is the best arrow–and why might it be black?
• Tolkien’s love for alliteration, and the details that make this chapter so satisfying
• How the Elvenking is more like the elves of Middle-earth now.

In our extended episode (available for our members), we discuss:

• Comments and feedback from our listeners on the Arkenstone
• How Tolkien’s distinction between magic and enchantment shapes the whole story

If you’d like to hear the extended conversation and join upcoming live chats, become a member today (free for the first month)!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We explore:

• The deep lore connection between the Arkenstone and the Silmarils.
• Bilbo’s big “burglar” moment—what are the moral implications of his decision to pocket the Arkenstone?
• How getting a glimpse of treasure suddenly fills the dwarves with unexpected courage (or maybe just classic dwarvish greed).
• Why Tolkien’s details about mithril, ancient armor, enchanted harps, and precious gems make Middle Earth feel so real.
• All the little moments and missed opportunities in Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation—what did the films completely mess up in this part of the story?

In our extended episode (available for our members), we dive deeper into:

• Was the Arkenstone ever meant to be a Silmaril? We look deeper into Tolkien’s drafts and unique connections between Fëanors gems and the Dwarves greatest gem.

If you’d like to hear the extended conversation and join upcoming live chats, become a member today (free for the first month)!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We explore:

• Why names and riddles matter so much in Middle-earth (and how they protect Bilbo)
• How Tolkien redefined dragons for fantasy—leaving old fairy tale clichés behind
• The thrush’s “snail anvil,” Bilbo’s lucky break, and whether Tolkien’s worldbuilding is brilliant…or just a little too convenient
• Dwarven treasure: legendary loot or worldbuilding gold?

In our extended episode (available for our members), we dive deeper into:

• The mystery of Erebor’s “most useless” door—and why it locks the party inside
• King Bladorthin: a video-game waiting to happen
• Tolkien video game adaptations: what works, what flops, and our dream Middle-earth game
• The famous Samwise monologue in Peter Jackson’s films—does it live up to Tolkien’s original?

Here are the images we discussed in this episode:

• Mt Rainier
• The Lonely Mountain – Tolkien
• Conversation with Smaug – Tolkien
• Peter Jackson’s 2 Legged Smaug
• Dragonheart’s 4 Legged Dragon

If you’d like to hear the extended conversation and join upcoming live chats, become a member today (free for the first month)!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Here’s the YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/live/HsU4yfM4g7U

I review the game early in the review… but you can listen to the whole thing as “enjoy” this new experience after that.

Make sure to become a member and join us for our monthly chats (membership is free for the first month)!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also discuss:

• Our Hobbit Fact: The Lonely Mountain is a…
• Thorin’s continued lack of a plan
• Tolkien’s precise definition of dwarves–exactly what we’ve been looking for for a long time!
• The dwarves’ not-so-complicated relationship with heroism and treasure
• The intoxicating allure of Smaug’s hoard and its effect on dwarves… AND hobbits

In our extended episode (available for our members), we dive deeper into:

• How much treasure did Smaug really have? Did Peter Jackson get it right?
• The dragon debate over two legs or four, and how Peter Jackson changed his mind (for the better?)
• We examine Tolkien’s depiction of smaug (linked below) in detail.

Here are the images we discussed in this episode:

• Mt Rainier
• The Lonely Mountain – Tolkien
• Conversation with Smaug – Tolkien
• Peter Jackson’s 2 Legged Smaug
• Dragonheart’s 4 Legged Dragon

If you’d like to hear the extended conversation and join upcoming live chats, become a member today (free for the first month)!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

He discusses:

• Four years of filmmaking and friendship
• The camaraderie at the heart of Middle-earth
• What Elijah learned about himself through Frodo
• Life as “Frodo” in the eyes of fans

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

We also look at:

• Why the thrush and its “snail anvil” are more than just a quirky detail
• What the dwarves’ lack of a plan says about their role in the story
• The line between chance events and plot devices in Tolkien’s writing
• Bilbo’s all-important homesick mindset

In our extended episode (available for members), we talk about:

• How Tolkien’s view of dwarves changed over time—and what inspired it
• The first mentions of dwarves in Tolkien’s legendarium
• Warhammer armies, 3D printing, and tabletop gaming
• Answering listener questions from YouTube and Discord

If you’d like to hear the extended conversation and join upcoming live chats, become a member today (free for the first month)!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also look at:

• Why are the dwarves so quick to lose hope?
• Is Bilbo the real leader of this quest?
• How do Tolkien’s maps shape the story?
• Dragon desolation: does Smaug’s evil actually change the land?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Our guilty pleasure reads—what fantasy and sci-fi books do we binge when we’re not in Middle Earth?
• 3D printing, wargaming, and hobbies we nerd out over when we’re not podcasting.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

Images in Episode
The Front Gate – Original
The Front Gate – Colored
The Lonely Mountain – Early Sketch
The Lonely Mountain

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also look at:

• Our 3 Year Anniversary!
• The men’s songs are a little too positive.
• Are the dwarves getting TOO confident?
• What happened to Bilbo?  Where’d he go in this part of the chapter?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• We talk about the last 3 years, our favorite episodes, and where we’re going next.
• What was the WORST change Peter Jackson made to Laketown in The Hobbit films?

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also look at:

• The release of The Hunt for Gollum
• Try to figure out what the elves and men were actually trading–and what are the elves actually giving them men in return for the wine and apples

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What did we lose in The Hobbit films when Peter Jackson changed the barrels sequence.
• What could possibly be a good way to end The Hunt for Gollum film?

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Make sure to become a member to listen to the full versions of the barrel song!

We also look at:

• Is Thranduil a direct stand-in for Thingol?
• Lots of elves live in caves…
• Tolkien’s beautiful watercolor paintings inspired by this chapter.
• The parallels between the Dwarves song and the Barrel song.
• Why being saved by giant eagles is more believable than surviving a barrel rapid-ride from The Hobbit films.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Peter Jackson’s slapstick barrels out of bond scene in The Hobbit film.
• Why suspense matters–and Tolkien’s was wonderful in The Hobbit.
• Do we have any confidence in someone building a Lord of the Rings attraction?
• Lord of the Rings online portrays Thranduil’s halls wonderfully.
• 3 full versions of the elves barrel song!

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Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we also look at:

• The announcement of a new Lord of the Rings land/attraction in a new Universal park.
• The significance of the elves residence in caves.
• Why is the elf king so petty?
• The strength of Dorwinion wine.
• How effective are these magic doors really?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• AI Tolkien reading his “Noel” poem.
• What would be a right and proper Lord of the Rings ride?
• Do we have any confidence in someone building a Lord of the Rings attraction?

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we also look at:

• Bilbo’s moment of transformation into the hero of the story.
• The size of these spiders.
• Tolkien’s use of spiders throughout the history of Middle-earth
• How Tolkien had planned for Ungoliant to die (it wasn’t by her own mouth!)
• What do Attercop, Tomnoddy, and Lob actually mean?
• How we can tell Tolkien love the history of the elves… but his heart is still with the Hobbits.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• How we recreated Tolkien’s voice in last week’s episode.
• The difficulties in creating it with the right pronunciations.
• What Michael thought about the quality of it.
• Ethically… should we even do it?

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
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🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We do have few of his voice recordings of him reading his own work (mostly from The Hobbit). We’ve always wondered, though, what would it sound like if he read from his other works… like The Silmarillion?  So, we spent some time to try and put together an approximation of his voice (using different technologies), including some of his idiosyncratic pauses and speech patterns.

Here, then, is an approximation of Tolkien’s voice reading Ainulindalë from The Silmarillion! (pardon any mispronunciations–that part is tough to get right!)

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🔗 Episode Links
The Silmarillion

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we also look at:

• Exactly when Tolkien settled on the final names for Gandalf, Thorin, and Beorn.
• Tolkien’s first foray into prosaic terror.
• The meaning of the deer–and the white hart’s significance.
• Bombur’s slumber–elven or evil?
• The Dwarves STILL blame bilbo.
• Tolkien’s use of modern analogies–only in the Hobbit and not LOTR.
• How the elves still differ in The Hobbit vs LOTR — they have some real magic here.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Where would Beorn have learned his skin changing ability? Can that have an origin in Tolkien’s mythology?  (our answer: yes!)

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we look at:

• CS Lewis’s Advice that shaped The Lord of the Rings
• Gandalf and Beorn’s Dark Humour
• Is Beorn a Vegetarian
• Beorn’s Big Bear Rave
• The history of Dancing Bears of Númenor
• The Meaning of the Dwarves “wind” song
• Dr. Doolittle and JRR Tolkien

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• How to retcon (retroactively connect) Beorn into Middle-earth
• What would a Beorn TV show look like (and why it SHOULD be made!)

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we look at:

• The reported decline of viewership in The Rings of Power
• What inspired Tolkien to create Beorn?
• Why did Beorn stay his anger at all the unexpected guests.
• How does Beowulf and Tolkien’s intimate knowledge of that tale come into play here?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Fan comments on the eagles.
• Why did Tolkien and Lewis write their best works as part of the Inklings?

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The Hill – Hobbiton Across the Water – Pen and Ink – JRR Tolkien
The Hill – Hobbiton Across the Water – Color – JRR Tolkien
Beorn’s Hall – JRR Tolkien

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we look at:

• Why did Tolkien decide to use wolves in this story?
• The orcs’ taunting and incredibly detailed, frightening song.
• Why the eagles decided to save Gandalf.
• Why Tolkien liked the eagles and used them here.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Are the eagles in Middle-earth really deus ex machina?
• Did Tolkien rely on the eagles too much?

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Thumbnail Image : “Bilbo and the Eagles” by Ted Nasmith

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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Get the Extended Podcast
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Get the Extended Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we look at:

• Middle-earth’s 1st connection to Anime (not War of the Rohirrim!)
• Bilibo’s Courage
• Dwarves Disloyalty
• Gandalf’s confidence
• Tolkien’s growth as a master of prose

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• How Michael would have changed War of the Rohirrim
• War of the Rohirrim and the Bechdell test

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Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In 2013, Tolkien scholars Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull found something they didn’t expect.

While researching a 1936 edition of The Tablet (a Catholic journal), they found mention of 2 Tolkien poems published in the Abingdon Annual of Our Lady’s School — a still active school in Abingdon!

The school directed them where to find the 80 year-old publication.  In it, they found an early version of Tolkien’s poem The Shadow Bride (here titled The Shadow Man) and this poem, Noel!

There is distinct beauty in the images Tolkien creates; it resonates profoundly with the winter season’s cold and desolate landscape… but the heavens and earth are overwhelmed with joy by the eucatastrophe (as Tolkien would put it) of Christ’s birth

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🔗 Episode Links
Noel, a Christmas Poem on Youtube (with imagery)
Our Extended Discussion on Noel
A Letter From Father Christmas
Tolkien’s North Pole Mythology

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Here, then, is our unabashed review of the film… the ups (a couple), the downs (too many), and the whys that remain unanswered.

We examine the following in War of the Rohirrim:

• The Animation/Art Style
• The Music
• The Characters/Acting
• The Dialogue
• The Story
• The Pacing
• The Lore

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What the movie SHOULD have been if it was lore-accurate, fleshing out a tail that focuses directly on Helm Hammerhand.

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🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
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🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

If you haven’t read the original chapter, you can download a PDF here!

Be sure to check out our side-by-side comparison, to easily spot the differences between the original and rewritten chapter.

This week we look at:

• Why Tolkien though the tone and style of The Hobbit was a mistake.
• How Tolkien ret-conned The Lord of the Rings into The Hobbit – right in the prologue!
• Tolkien’s original depiction of Gandalf explaining Bilbo’s lies to Frodo (found in Peoples of Middle-earth).
• How Tolkien changed the Ring into a character.
• How Tolkien changed Gollum into a villain.
• How Tolkien even made the orcs more sinister.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• How Tolkien should really ever be the only person to write more Middle-earth stories.
• Screenwriter Phillipa Boyen’s comments on The War of the Rohirrim movie and how the untold story is the most “compelling” story.
• How her story can’t “ruin Tolkien”.
• A few thoughts on the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia Netflix series.

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Why is the riddle game so sacred?  Where does it come from?
• What might’ve inspired Tolkien to create Gollum.
• How Tolkien shows us Gollum’s 2 minds.
• How Tolkien’s expert prose reveals Bilbo’s pity.
• How invisible gold rings have quite the literary history.
• How Peter Jackson missed an opportunity in filming Bilbo’s escape from the Misty Mountains.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Whether it’s the objects that make the adventurer (like a ring or a sword), or does there have to be an adventurer there already?
• We make some War of the Rohirrim predictions.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Tolkien’s use of the words “miserableness” and “miserabler”.
• The original character that inspired Gollum.
• What *actually* brings Bilbo comfort.
• Where Tolkien’s riddles originated.
• How Gollum’s riddles and Bilbo’s riddles reflect the characters and mindsets.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Which is our least favorite riddle?
• Would we have been able to actually answer any of the riddles?
• Our members’ reactions to the differences between goblines and orcs
• The genius of Tolkien to allow us to subcreate the goblins/orcs.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Does Gandalf use gunpowder?
• How Tolkien subcreates his world with a few simple phrases.
• The importance of the Goblin song, and the elves, dwarves, and goblins are all introduced with song!
• Where Tolkien’s prose is almost poetic in an Olde English kind of way.
• How Tolkien loves those swords!

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What we would change if Tolkien had continued with his rewrite.
• Our members’ reactions to the differences between goblines and orcs
• The genius of Tolkien to allow us to subcreate the goblins/orcs.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Tolkien’s hiking experience and how it influenced this section of The Hobbit VERY obviously.
• Stone Giants… are they even necessary or part of Middle-earth? And what ARE they?
• What’s the significance of Bilbo’s dream?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What we would change if Tolkien had continued with his rewrite.
• What are the differences between goblins and orcs?  Is there a difference?  And when did Tolkien stop using the word “goblin” altogether?

Here are the pics to go along with today’s episode!

• Rivendell Roof in Switzerland
• Jungfrau Mountain from Tolkien’s 1912 Switzerland Hiking Trip

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Changes in time and distance
• Changes in Prose and style
• Why he gave up
• His detailed notes on timeline and itinerary that outlined his changes to The Hobbit

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What are the least Lord of the Rings/Middle-earth type events in The Hobbit that Tolkien would likely have changed.

Here are the pics to go along with today’s Hobbit Fact about the Hildebrandt brothers!

• An Unexpected Party
• The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Return of Gandalf
• Éowyn and the Nazgûl
• City of the Nazgûl
• The Healing of Éowyn
• Shannara
• Star Wars

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for on Patreon!

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• How Elrond’s name plays a big part.
• Tolkien’s improved writing in The Lord of the Rings.
• What inspired Tolkien’s description of RIvendell.
• Why are these elves SO different?
• How elves were portrayed BEFORE Tolkien changed the cultural understanding.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Coincidence, chance, or providence.
• Why what Tolkien writes in his stories isn’t mere coincidence (unlike modern story telling)

Here are the pics to go along with today’s Hobbit Fact!

• Immature Golden Eagle by Archibald Thorburn
• Tolkien’s Drawing of The Eagle and Bilbo

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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Get the Extended Podcast
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🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
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Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In this final episode of Season 2, one dwarf delved too deep (and then we find out the real problem there–political intrigue!), the elves (despite help from the magically appearing dwarf army) retreat, Galadriel fights Sauron then just steps off a cliff, the Stranger’s (not so secret) name is revealed in a superbly hamfisted way, and Númenor decides that the Faithful deserve to be thrown in prison based on some letter from somebody that somehow explains everything about Halbrand in a 2 second glance.

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We also get the worst battle in the history of Middle-earth, the greatest smith of Eregion acceds to Sauron willingly, the dwarves turn back and entire army to face one person, and a troll that is quite truly full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In short, he’s a mentor to the powerful in Middle-earth.

And that’s all wrong.

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The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Things aren’t looking up.

Don’t worry, though… we’ll be back reading thru The Hobbit next week!

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The History of The Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* Whether they prefer Rings of Power Elves or Hobbit Elves
* Elves in British Folklore
* Could the Hobbit’s elves just be teenagers?

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The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• How Elrond was a “Fortunate Accident”!
• The indistinct descriptions of Middle-earth–following by the distinct description of Rivendell.
• What inspired Tolkien’s description of RIvendell.
• Why are these elves SO different?
• How elves were portrayed BEFORE Tolkien changed the cultural understanding.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Gnomes vs Elves — and when Tolkien changed the name!
• The Rings of Power’s latest trailers and it’s continued changes to Tolkien’s world.

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

• Want the first edition of The Hobbit? Get ready to pay!
• Middle-earth gains space–and is now the “character” we know
• Gandalf’s got a horse–and he’s AWESOME!
• Bilbo is more helpless and forgotten–and it’s better
• JRR Tolkien’s prose is more expertly crafted
• Listen to Tolkien Reading “Roast Mutton”

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Why does Tolkien refer to the Dwarves gold as “enchanted”
• And why is the gold “pale”?  Does is have a greater meaning than just a color choice?
• The Hobbit film fan-edit — let’s watch it together!

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🔗 Episode Links
Tolkien Reading “Roast Mutton”
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

It’s not that the trolls aren’t scary… or are they? Did Tolkien mean for them to be frightening? In this episode we get into how the trolls find a balance, of sorts, between, fear and goofiness–and maybe it all starts with their accents (Michael breaks down exactly where their accent is from too!).

We discuss:
* The Hobbits and The King
* Troll Accents
* The Brave Burglar
* The Incompetent Dwarves
* The Incompetent Wizard

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* Dwarven Law and Bilbo’s Contract
* What would Dwarf jelly actually taste like… and what if it’s seasoned with Hobbit?
* Would the key have also turned to stone if they never dropped it?

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We make our way through the first 1/2 of Chapter 2, Roast Mutton… First, though, we reveal a Hobbit fact that makes one big connection between The Hobbit and The Silmarillion!

Bilibo finally makes his way out the door–but was it his decision or did Gandalf force him out?  And who is this “king” that’s mentioned?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* How many editors were there for The Red Book of Westmarch?
* Thorin’s dignity in Peter Jacksons films.

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🔗 Episode Links
The Annotated Hobbit
The History of The Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

When Tolkien set out to rewrite The Hobbit in 1960, much was lost, but much was gained… Do the gains outweigh the losses? We review his rewritten 1st chapter of The Hobbit, newly title “A Well-Planned Party”.

We discuss:

* Fairy Rabbit’s are NOT Hobbits… but AI can still imagine them.
* Fairy Rabbit #1
* Fairy Rabbit #2
* Fairy Rabbit #3
* Fairy Rabbit #4
* Fairy Rabbit #5
* Fairy Rabbit #6
* Tolkien’s grammatical error that created an entirely new word.
* The overall tonal and stylistic changes in the 1960 rewrite.
* The specific passages that were changes for the worse.
* The specifics and details Tolkien added to bring it closer to Lord of the Rings.
* Our final thoughts on whether we prefer the original Hobbit or Tolkien’s 1960 rewrite.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* What did Peter Jackson add to The Hobbit movie that was actually GOOD.
* Dragons with 2 legs vs dragons with 4 legs.
* Beorn in the battle of the 5 armies and a certain unnecessary scene.

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🔗 Episode Links
The Annotated Hobbit
The History of The Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Bilbo loses the comfort of his home and finds that the Tookish side of his mind is starting to overcome the Baggins side

We discuss:

* The three things that pushed Bilbo over onto the Took side of his personality.
* How the Dwarven song of the Misty Mountain helps us glimpse the greater world of Middle-earth that Tolkien hadn’t integrated into The Hobbit yet.
* Golf! (and Tolkien’s philological jest)
* How Tolkien took the 3 things that defined him and created the Hobbit from it.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* Did Tolkien explicitly establish Middle-earth as part of our own Earth’s past anywhere outside of The Hobbit?
* How little Tolkien changed The Hobbit from the earliest manuscript he wrote (that we know of).

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🔗 Episode Links
Michael Drout’s Discussion on The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
The History of The Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

As we get into the first chapter of The Hobbit, we discuss how coming at The Hobbit from a how does this fit into the Middle-earth cosmology perspective is probably not the best start.

We discuss:

* How The Hobbit wasn’t really in Middle-earth in the beginning.
* How “Good Morning” is used so expertly by tolkien
* How Bilbo’s Tookish side is starting to take over
* The BEST cover art for any edition of The Hobbit (see link below)

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* Why Gimli doesn’t have an instrument.
* How Tolkien described Hobbit ears.

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🔗 Episode Links
The Annotated Hobbit
The BEST Hobbit Cover EVER
The History of The Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This week we begin our read through of The Hobbit–but we’re focusing first on how Tolkien actually evolved the Hobbit from his first edition in 1937 to a revised edition that’s more in line with The Lord of the Rings in 1951 to an abandoned rewrite in 1960.

We discuss:

* The History of The Hobbit — based on his recollection, and how it differs from what his children remember.
* The style differences in the 3 versions.
* The story differences (particularly with Gollum)
* How Tolkien’s creative processes and approach might have shifted in the 15 years between publishing the Hobbit and publishing The Lord of the Rings.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* Parallels between The Hobbit and The King of Elfland
* Gollums entire personality changed in the 1951 rewrite
* Was Tolkien thinking about the themes and values he wanted in the hobbit when he was just telling it to his kids.
* Is it better to read The Hobbit 1st, or The Lord of the Rings 1st?
* Do you feel like less of a Tolkien fan if you just can’t get into all the notes and details in books like The Histories of Middle-earth?

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🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

You know that the film The War of the Rohirrim will be released later this year, right?  Well, here is Tolkien’s story of Helm Hammerhand, as HE told it.  Michael and Jonathan look at the history of Rohan and the true story of Helm Hammerhand, not the story retold for Modern Audiences we’ll be getting later this year

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

* Why the name “Hera” is important?
* Why Shieldmaidens are NOT Tolkien-inspired.
* Why Peter Jackson SHOULDN’T be involved in Tolkien anymore.
* Our upcoming read-through of The Hobbit!

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

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On what I just realized was our 2 year anniversary, we brought our original amigo, Dan Coats, back to talk about Tom Bombadil, The Rings of Power, The Hunt for Gollum, and more!

In our extended episode (available for our members — but this week everybody gets it!) we talk about:

* Does Dan miss the podcast?
* The Silmarillion or On Fairy Stories — which did he get more out of?
* The Hobbit and The Children of Hurin are next!
* Will Dan join us for reviewing The Rings of Power?

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Here’s one more episode in our series of interviews from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions (check them all out at https://www.theonering.com/interviews-with-the-cast-and-crew-of-lord-of-the-rings).

In addition to the interview we discuss the upcoming film “Fellowship: Tolkien and Lewis” now in production at Angel Studios. This time we sat with Pippin and Merry, and found out:

• What their relationship was like wth Peter Jackson
• What did it take to get through all those years of moviemaking?
• Where is THEIR shire? 🙄
• How did working on Lord of the Rings change them?

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to hear us:

• Examine AI manipulated images of Tom Bombadil (thanks to our member Fra for those!)

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

The films brought us a dark and evil Bree — but Tolkien calls it “friendly” and “familiar”! And Barliman Butterbur has a simple cameo. And then nearly the entire “Strider” chapter is removed–we have no real information on him by the time the Hobbits leave Bree with him in the films!

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

* The missed opportunity of Barliman Butterbur’s Brewery
* Nob’s a Hobbit… but is Bob?!
* Merry survived the black breath in Bree WITHOUT athelas… how?
* What’s Celebrimbor’s fate in The Rings of Power?

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Glass Hammer’s Middle-earth Album
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Dropping the Barrow-downs removes one of the most important callbacks in the final Battle of the Pelennor Fields before Minas Tirith. It also excises some of the wonderful depth of Middle-earth that Tolkien reveals in these nods and glances.

We also take a look at the new game, “Tales of the Shire.”

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• * If Tom Bombadil was removed from the film, how could Jackson have integrated the Barrow-downs scene into his film?
• Thoughts on our next podcast series.

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Tom Bombadil is a polarizing figure in Middle-earth. Some hate him, some love him. Peter Jackson decided to completely avoid that discussion and simply excise him from the film.

What’s really interesting is that his comments about Bombadil really mirror JRR Tolkien’s own points made in a letter in 1954.

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• How do we hear Tom Bombadil’s songs in our own head?
• How could Jackson have added Bombadil to the films?
• Who would have made a great actor to portray Bombadil?

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Bombadil by The Hildebrandt Brothers
Bombadil by John Howe
Bombadil’s home by Alan Lee
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

The first REAL dangers outside of the Shire were cut from the films. So, how much did we REALLY lose by not having The Old Forest or Old Man Willow in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films?

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• What about other evils in Middle-earth? Did Jackson do a disservice by removing them?
• Losing the depth of the character of Middle-earth IS a loss!
• Why do forests have SO much character in Middle-earth?

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Peter Jackson cut the one Hobbit who had the backbone to stand up to a Nazgul, the one who struck fear in the hearts of other Hobbits — but was also a serious family man!

We also look at the complete loss of Crickhollow. How did that affect the story, and more importantly, the relationships between the Hobbits?

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Who should have been cast as Farmer Maggot?
• Who should have been cast as Fatty Bolger?
• What should have been cut from the films so we could have had Farmer Maggot?

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We’re back and looking at ALL the changes in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings!  This week we head over to Orthanc and the changes made to Gandalf’s visit to Saruman:

• Gandalf visiting Saruman isn’t just a flashback–and what about all those little changes made there?!
• Saruman and Gandalf throw down in a Wizard duel for the ages — Michael and Jonathan seriously DISAGREE on this one!

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• What would wizarding power look like if Jackson hadn’t made it so physical.
• If Christopher Lee and Ian McKellen had switched roles, what would that have been like?

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Here’s another episode in our series of interviews from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions (watch https://youtu.be/JqhF91GJbGg and https://youtu.be/avh0HxUI8Vs episodes), we spoke with Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore. He really goes in depth on his thoughts and composing process!

In this episode, Mr. Shore discusses:

• What it’s like to adapt literary works
• What he does BEFORE he starts composing
• What inspired some of the music in the film
• The works in Return of the King he’s most proud of
• If The Hobbit theme was a direct lift from another well-known melody

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to hear our thoughts on:

• Why Jonathan finds The Lord of the Rings soundtrack lacking when compared to some other film scores
• Jonathan and Michael’s favorite and LEAST favorite themes from the films.

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

As season 2 of the Rings of Power approaches (later this year, we hope!), Michael and I decided to look back at our favorite scenes, favorite characters, and favorite quotes from our favorite television show!

Join us as we rediscover all those times this show took our breath away with it’s ability to weave expertly crafted scenes into a holistic story where almost award-winnning actors perfectly portrayed characters Tolkien should have written.

We talk about

• Our favorite characters
• Our favorite scenes
• Quotes from the show that took our breath away!

Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members) we discuss how Tom Bombadil will become a new (and better) part of Middle-earth through The Rings of Power!

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The Rings of Power
Watch the Rings of Power Again
Instead of Reading The Silmarillion, watch The Rings of Power!

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Don’t bother reading, just watch The Rings of Power

In this final episode of looking at The Mariner’s Wife, we fully finish Tolkien’s tale–but staying true to Tolkien’s characters and world. You’ll find out:

• Why Sauron Hates Celebrimbor and the Númenoreans
• How Erendis Dies
• How Sauron is defeated (and what he does after that)
• Why Erendis decides to marry Hallacar
• How this story could possible end on a positive high note!

After spending 8 episodes on Tolkien’s unfinished tale, it feels even more like a missed opportunity–both as something we WISH Tolkien would have completed, but also a story of the 2nd age that would make for a great television series.

Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members):

• Where does pipe-weed come into the story–since the Numenoreans were actually instrumental in discovering it!
• The Druedain (pukel men) actually came to Númenor too. Where might they fit into this tale?

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Unfinished Tales
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
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The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This month we found out that renowned Tolkien scholars Christian Scull and Wayne Hammond will be publishing a NEW book with NEW content by Tolkien–The Collected Poems of JRR Tolkien. I take a look at their announcement, highlighting some of the details they mentioned.

I also take a bit of time to discuss last year’s revised and expanded version of Tolkien’s letters.

Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members) I look at:

• An old Tolkien commentary published in 1969!
• Why I have a couple of “Middle-earth for Dummies”!
• Why the Tolkien Estate threatened us legally in 2005!

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🔗 Episode Links
The Collected Poems of Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
JRR Tolkien Companion and Guide

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The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
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The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We don’t know if Tolkien intended on ever finishing this story of Aldarion and Erendis. Written later in life, it is perhaps his most emotionally gut wrenching tale…. and it deserves to be finished!

Jonathan lays begins to lay out the entire story of Aldarion, starting at his birth and helping to round out the world of Numenor at this time, while also bringing in greater roles for some characters and places Tolkien mentions but never really fleshes out.

AND it’s ALL done by staying true to the lore Tolkien set out without changing ANYTHING he told us (unlike some recent TV show on Amazon that treated Tolkien’s works like a dog treats homework).

And we think it’s a great story that DESERVES bigger recognition!

Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members):
* Was Erendis really co-dependent with Ancalime, or was she just responding to how Aldarion treated her?
* How did Middle-earth have food like tomatoes and tobacco if there was no new world yet discovered?

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The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien Audiobook
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Letters of JRR Tolkien Audiobook
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We look at:
* How Tolkien wrote this way
* Ancalime’s family life–with her parents and husband
* Erendis and how, in a way, she can be compared to Eowyn
* Was Erendis’ death hopeful or hopeless?

Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members):
* More thoughts on Aldarion meeting Celeborn and Galadriel
* If these stories were “preserved” by Gondor, why would such thoughts by Erendis be saved?
* What were the “emissaries” of Sauron to the elves at this time? What of using men against them?

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We look at:
* Meneldur’s Sacrifice
* Aldarion’s Redemption
* Erendis’s descent into self-pity

Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members):
* Did Aldarion provoke Sauron with his journeys to Middle-earth?
* Why does Tolkien focus so much on the problem with pride?
* Was Aldarion’s dream something given to him by the Valar (or Illuvatar)?

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Sad: Man Faltering On His ‘Read Through The Silmarillion In A Year’ Plan (Babylon Bee article)

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The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We look at:
* Does Tolkien hate Aldarion?
* What drives Aldarion?
* Does Erendis hate everything?
* Home is where your wife is

Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members):
* Should the kingship of Númenor had more constitutional rules?
* Would Middle-earth have been better off with Meneldur instead of Aldarion?
* Did the elves need Aldarion?

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Middle-earth Mixer

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The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In this episode we learn when Tolkien wrote this story, as well as what might have inspired him to put this to paper. Then, Aldarion and Erendis FINALLY get married! But Aldarion manages to get in one more voyage before committing to it… and then we get elves! And birds! And a white tree!

We look at:

• Tolkien getting inspired by the Prose Edda again!
• When Tolkien wrote Aldarion and Erendis (it was AFTER the Lord of the Rings!)
• Is Aldarion a Mariner or King?
• What’s important about the elves coming to their wedding–and which elves were they!?
• Erendis bears a real resemblance to Lúthien. Was this intentional?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk more about these changes, and also:

• A deeper discussion into the parallels between Edith Tolkien and Erendis
• Why do we get a glimpse of Erendis’ thoughts, in a much deeper level than Aldarion’s?

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The Númenorean Helm
The Road to Middle-earth by Tom Shippey

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The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

Jonathan and Michael continue their analysis of “Aldarion and Erendis”.  These two aren’t exactly star-crossed lovers–their complicated and long-gestating relationship runs for decades, and that’s just BEFORE they get married. Aldarion tries to balance his love of the sea with his love for Erendis… and fights the battle ceaselessly!

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk more about these changes, and also:

* Did the Valar remove their protection from Aldarion?
* Was their relationship ever actually compatible?
* And what’s up with Aldarion’s title, Lord of the Ships and Havens of Númenor?

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

After Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion, he looked in his father’s notes for more works… and then published Unfinished Tales.

This week, Jonathan, Michael, and one of our favorite guests– the Middle-earth Mixer– look at the tale of “Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner’s Wife”! It’s not exactly a happy story, but as you’d expect with anything Tolkien writes, it’s full of meaning, beauty, depth and wisdom.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk more about these changes, and also:

* Did Meneldur push Aldarion away?
* Did Aldarion dislike Númenor?
* What about Aldarion and the Harfoots?
* And more members-only questions!

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Join our Discord Community (for free)

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Get the Extended Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

These are our last 2 changes for awhile — listen to hear what we’ll be reading next!

• Radagast is completely excised from the film… which might just have been a good decision
• Merry and Pippin become common veggie thieves that just happen to run into Frodo and Sam in a cornfield. Lucky coincidence.

In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about these changes, and also:

• Questions from our members about Farmer Maggot and Mushrooms.
• Farmer Maggot — the John Wick of Middle-earth
• Generating action hero maggot with AI art…. check out these images!
  • 👉 https://www.theonering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Farmer-Maggot-and-Dogs-Poster.jpg
  • 👉 https://www.theonering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Farmer-Maggot-Defends-his-Mushrooms.jpg

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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Join our Free Discord Community
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

1. Gandalf tells Frodo to meet him at the Prancing Pony… which leads to a full 6 CHAPTERS cut from the films!
2. Frodo and Sam never get to spend any time with Gildor in the films–and only get a fleeting glimpse of “Wood Elves” 🤮

In our extended episode (available for our members — $4/mo and free for the first month) we talk more about these changes, in addition to:

• Would the “spotted toad” threat have been a bad movie moment if Jackson added it?
• If we could keep one–and ONLY one–of the myriad things Jackson left out between Hobbiton and Bree, what would it be?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

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Get the Extended Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

1. Is Bilbo’s party true to how Tolkien wrote it? If it isn’t.. did Jackson change it for the better?
2. Peter Jackson dropped nearly all 17 years from the time of Bilbo’s party to the start of Frodo’s journey. Isn’t that a lot to change? Or maybe–just maybe–this is actually true to the book?

In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about these changes, and also:

• If those 17 years would’ve been part of the film, what would have taken place, and how would it have been scripted?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

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Get the Extended Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

Through those letters, he created an entire mythology, including characters (like the North Polar Bear, Ilbereth his elf helper, bear cubs, goblins), stories, and even battles! Thankfully, all those letters were kept and can now be read by us in the “Letters from Father Christmas” book!

This year, we put together a reading of Tolkien’s 1926 letter–by Father Christmas himself!

More about Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas
Listen to the letter again on YouTube!

In our extended episode (available for our members) I talk a bit more about the letters he wrote, and read his final (and somewhat gut-wrenching) letter to his daughter Priscilla.

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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Get Letters from Father Christmas
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
More about Letters from Father Christmas

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

1. The theatrical edition of The Fellowship of the Ring started with Frodo and Gandalf’s relationship, even though the book didn’t establish any of that until AFTER Bilbo’s party. Was this good for the film?
2. When Gandalf enters Bag End, it’s as though he’s never been there before–knocking his head on the chandelier and banging it into the doorjamb.  Is this actually in Gandalf’s character?

In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about the these changes, including:

• Should Peter Jackson have added more Hobbiton characters earlier in the film?
• Did we miss out by not having Dwarves with carts delivering party goods?
• How missing out on making Bilbo’s party MASSIVE would have made for better comedy.

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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🔗 Episode Links
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

Read the Poem
Listen to the poem Noel again on YouTube!

In our extended episode (available for our members) we debate whether the Lord of the Rings can be considered a Christmas movie (there’s a lot of leeway if Die Hard is a Christmas movie, right?!).

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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🔗 Episode Links
8 Things The Rings Of Power Does Better Than Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings Movies
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

This week we also take a look at Bilbo’s prologue in the extended edition–particularly in how it takes cues from Tolkien’s prologue to The Lord of the Rings. We might just surprise you with our discussion!

In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about the article that copied our recent videos about the film changes, including:

• How they get elven diversity all wrong
• How seeing yourself as skin-color in Middle-earth never matters
• How fitting more stories into The Rings of Power was, well, stupid

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🔗 Episode Links
8 Things The Rings Of Power Does Better Than Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings Movies
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

• Men Want Power, not Immortality
• Elendil’s Battle and Elrond’s Pleading
• The Ring’s Got a Mind of its Own

Check out The Tolkien Road podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

In our extended episode (available for our members for only $4/mo–free for the first month!) we talk about:

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to find out

• Could Sauron have made the ring with one of his eyeballs?! 😜
• Why didn’t Elrond take the ring from Isildur (in the movie) when he had the chance?
• Did Elrond know he couldn’t take the Ring himself (when he was with Isildur)?
• How would we have changed the final battle between Elendil/Gil-galad and Sauron?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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🔗 Episode Links
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Tolkien Road on X
Tolkien Road on Apple Podcasts
Tolkien Road on Spotify
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Letters of JRR Tolkien (Revised and Expanded)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

• Sauron, the Formless
• Elrond, the Unbeliever
• Saruman, Sith Lord

Check out The Middle-earth Mixer’s podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

In our extended episode (available for our members for only $4/mo–free for the first month!) we talk about:

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to find out

• How could Sauron have been better portrayed in the films?
• Did Christopher Lee regret playing the changed Saruman?
• Did Peter Jackson kill off Saruman just to get rid of the Scouring of the Shire?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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🔗 Episode Links
Middle-earth Mixer on X
Middle-earth Mixer on Apple Podcasts
Middle-earth Mixer on Spotify
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

• Gimli, the Comic Relief
• Gimli, the Hatchet Man
• Legolas’ Boots were Made for Walkin’ (on snow)
• They did Boromir Dirty… Blonde

Are we right? Wrong? Did we miss something obvious? Let us know!

In our extended episode (available for our members for only $4/mo–free for the first month!) we talk about:

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to find out

• Do books need comic relief like films? Why or why not?
• Is Legolas the straight man to Gimli’s funny guy?
• Is he considered comic relief too?
• Was Peter Jackson’s portrayal of Legolas walking on snow effective?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

• The Hobbit Youth Movement
• Aragorn, the Dark and Brooding
• Aragorn, the Reluctant King

Are we right? Wrong? Did we miss something obvious? Let us know!

In our extended episode (available for our members for only $4/mo–free for the first month!) we talk about:

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to find out

• Is Frodo too young and too incompetent in the films?
• Why didn’t Aragorn ascend the throne of Gondor earlier?
• Is movie Aragorn a little too perfect at times?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

• Gandalf, the Befuddled
• Sam, the Best Bud
• Merry and Pippen, the Pranksters

Are we right? Wrong? Did we miss something obvious? Let us know!

In our extended episode (available for our members for only $4/mo–free for the first month!) we talk about:

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to find out

• Could PJ have done more to distinguish Merry and Pippin?
• Why wasn’t Gandalf more of a leader in the films?
• Do movies try to make too many characters with dynamic story arcs?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

• It’s an Adaptation
• Intercut Storylines
• Many of the Songs and Poems were cut

Are we right? Wrong? Did we miss something obvious? Let us know!

In our extended episode (available for our members for only $4/mo–free for the first month!) we talk about:

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to find out

• What’s the one major adaptation Jackson shouldn’t have made.
• Judging Christopher Tolkien for judging PJ’s films
• Could PJ have easily put in more songs and poems? Or would it need to be a 12 episode show on Netflix?
• Is the poetry PJ put in the films fitting enough?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

In this episode, Philippa discusses:

• What it’s like to work with Peter Jackson.
• How she feels about fan criticism of the films.
• Whether the actors had any input into the script.
• How she views Frodo and Sam’s relationship.
• How she feels about writing a script for The Hobbit (it hadn’t been written yet!).

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members to find out

• Why The Hobbit (as an adapted film story) failed so dramatically compared to The Lord of the Rings.
• What the next series of podcast episodes will tackle!

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

In this episode, Viggo Mortensen discusses:

• What he does (as a newly discovered sex symbol) with all those phone numbers in his pockets.
• What he did to train for the films.
• What it was like coming on set the day before principal filming began.
• What it was like working with Peter Jackson

Become a member to at https://theonering.com/members to find out what we think about Viggo’s responses, and how he portrayed Aragorn in the films:

• Why Aragorn’s made-up character arc was necessary–but disappointing?
• How Viggo’s approach to Aragorn highlights how The Rings of Power writers get characters wrong.

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

Jeff’s music stands out with music inspired by books, locations, and art. Listening to his music is an experience I haven’t had with any other musician.

So what does this have to do with Tolkien? Like we learned in Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy Stories”, the escape-consolation-recovery that we find in fairy stories is something that can be found in other art–and this is something we can find in Jeff Johnson’s music.

Make sure you listen till the end for some of Jeff’s music:

• The Road Goes Ever On
• A Wonder Voyage – Eirlandia
• The Endless Knot – Songs from Albion 3 (members only)
• The Dream of Taliesin – The Bard and the Warrior (members only)
• Way of the Warrior – The Bard and the Warrior (members only)

Then join us in our extended podcast where Jeff endures our Confessions from the Comfy Chair (including his thoughts on the Rings of Power)!

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change
The Road Goes Ever On (The Old Walking Song)
Jeff Johnson’s Music (Bandcamp)
Ark Music (Jeff’s website)
Eirlandia Album

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

In this episode, Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom joined us to talk their thoughts about the films, their careers, and the crazy premiere in Wellington for Return of the King.

Become a member to at https://theonering.com/members to hear our thoughts on:

• Whether Liv Tyler was actually a good actress or just a pretty face.
• If elves should’ve been portrayed differently by Peter Jackson.
• Michael’s least favorite elf in Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings (I bet you can guess it!).

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

While the audio is terrible (we did what we could to make it listenable!), Peter Jackson’s Gandalf answered our questions earnestly and thoughtfully–particularly when discussing wisdom and fidelity to Tolkien’s books.

I hope you enjoy this special interview! And make sure you become a member at https://theonering.com/members! In the extended episode I talk more in depth about:

• What that green “jade” necklace he wore was (and a photo).
• My thoughts on his portrayal of Gandalf (and whether even having a portrayal is good or bad).
• Outside of PJ’s films, what is the best adaptation of Lord of the Rings?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

This week we look at:

• Why Consolation/Eucatastrophe is required
• What is Lord of the Ring’s chief eucatastrophe?
• Is eucatastrophe deus ex machina?
• Why Eucatastrophe is glimpse of Truth (with a capital T!)
• How George RR Martin drags us into darkness

Then in our members-only episode (https://theonering.com/members) we discuss:

• Should we try to avoid other artists visual interpretations of Tolkien since they affect our own subcreation?
• What did Peter Jackson do in his films to help in understanding Tolkien?
• Have we lost eucatastrophe as a glimpse of Truth in today’s stories?
• Do you have to experience True eucatastrophe (the resurrection of Christ) to effectively write eucatastrophe?
• Is there a modern story that resembles Tolkien’s notion of eucatastrophe?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

And here’s my final attempt at defining On Fairy Stories in 1 sentence: A Fairy Story is a peculiarly unique artistic experience, as the author speaks directly into the imagination of the reader to sub-create a magical new world that provides visceral glimpses of eternal Truth through Eucatastrophe.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Tales from the Perilous Realm (has “On Fairy Stories” essay)
Amon Rudh by Ted Nasmith

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

As we get closer to finishing out “On Fairy Stories,” Michael Dan and I discuss how recovery and escape are 2 of the 3 things (consolation will be next week!) that these fantasy tales offer us.  We look at:

• Recovery from what?
• What is this “mooreeffoc” he wrote about?
• Has the world lost the ability to recover?
• Why modern stories don’t offer escape
• Star Trek vs Star Wars — as fairy stories
• And how Tolkien was wrong about science fiction!

Then in our members-only episode (https://theonering.com/members) we discuss:

• How modern buildings reflect the loss of recovery.
• Does recovery/escape/consolution bleed over to other art forms?
• Do visual arts bring about escape?
• Does music bring about escape?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Tales from the Perilous Realm (has “On Fairy Stories” essay)

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

Michael, Dan, and I discuss this idea of Fantasy as the one form of Art that comes closest to true Enchantment.  We look at:

• The difference between imagination and fantasy.
• The ideal of “Faërian Drama”.
• The problem with “modern” sensibilities in Fantasy–and how that ruins true sub-creation.
• Why films will never match the power of true sub-creation.

Then in our members-only episode (https://theonering.com/members) we:

• Did Peter Jackson’s films destroy Tolkien’s sub-creative vision?
• Can Tolkien’s faith be separated from his sub-creation? Should it?
• Is there a difference between determinative and discovery sub-creation?
• “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.”

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Tales from the Perilous Realm (has “On Fairy Stories” essay)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

We talk about:

• Suspension of Disbelief vs Literary Belief
• How fairy-stories are not to be relegated to nurseries
• How children ruin everything (even fairy-stories) if we leave it alone with them
• The “covert sniggering” that happens when adults write stories FOR children
• Is the Hobbit too “silly” for Middle-earth

Then in our members-only episode (https://theonering.com/members) we:

• Did Tolkien approve or enjoy tragedies?
• Discuss our interview with Nick Groom last week, and why we weren’t more confrontational.
• We did, in fact, react with quiet disbelief at some of Professor Groom’s answers to our Confessions from the Comfy Chair!

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Tales from the Perilous Realm (has “On Fairy Stories” essay)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

• Professor Groom’s thoughts on the ambiguity of evil in Middle-earth
• How Tolkien’s themes are vital in a post-lockdown era
• Why he believes The Rings of Power is a great story in the tradition of Middle-earth adaptations–but definitely isn’t Tolkien’s story.

Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we:

• Does The Rings of Power deserve the amount of criticism we give it?
• Who is his favorite character in all of Middle-earth?
• What should be done to encourage young artists to write great new stories again?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)! Nick Groom is the Professor of Literature in English at the University of Macau, held positions at universities of Chicago, Stanford and Exeter where he holds an Honorary Professorship, and for many years taught the only UK undergraduate course in Tolkien. BECOME A MEMBER! Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here! 🔗 Episode Links Tolkien in the 21st Century (US version) Twenty-First-Century Tolkien (UK version) The Last Ringbearer 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast Get the Extended Podcast Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Google 🔍 If You Like Tolkien The Silmarillion The Fall of Númenor The Fall of Gondolin The Children of Hurin The Atlas of Middle-earth The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien 🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice! 🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

So, when listening, remember that no one had yet seen Return of the King, and PJ hadn’t yet done The Hobbit. We didn’t know that this film would garner 13 Academy Awards–or that it would cap what many argue is the greatest film trilogy of all time. We knew the expectations for this film were high, but it hadn’t yet met (or eclipsed) those.

I recorded all the roundtable interviews on my 2000s-era iPod with a simple little microphone–which means the audio quality on this is a little rough. So, *HUGE* thanks to Lee Scrivner from the Speculative Tolkienism show on the Deep Guild YouTube channel. Check them out at YouTube!

I hope you enjoy this detour down memory lane! And make sure you become a member at https://theonering.com/members! I talk more in depth about

• Who I liked best when interviewing them.
• Who was the most stand-offish star from the film.
• Reveal candid pictures from the red carpet premiere that day–I was also an interviewer of all the stars as they made their way on the carpet to the theatre!

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Deep Guild (thanks for editing the audio!)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

It’s a thought-provoking episode this week as we continue to dissect this incredibly important essay Tolkien wrote!

In our members-only episode (https://theonering.com/members) we:

• How the Rings of Power fails with incantational adjectives
• Why time and distance in fairy stories matters
• Why Peter Jackson had a better understanding of fairy story, and adhered better to the “soup” of fairy story than any other sub-created version of Middle-earth

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Beowulf
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

Michael and I had the privilege of discussing not just his inspiration and visions of Tolkien, but also:

• What kinds of paintings are the greatest challenge?
• Why he wasn’t involved in Peter Jackson’s films –and what he thinks of them!
• How will AI art impact artists like him?

Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we:

• Which place in Middle-earth inspires him most?
• What art styles inspire him?
• Who is HIS favorite Middle-earth artist?
• What’s his take on upcoming War of the Rohirrim Film?
• And our infamous Confessions from the Comfy Chair, including:
  • What level of Dante’s Hell does The Rings of Power belong in?
  • What’s the nerdiest thing he’s ever done?
  • Who is his favorite Tolkien character?
  • What cheesy movie or book does he like?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
TedNasmith.com
Illustrated Silmarillion
Ted’s Book Recommendation – World without Mind by Franklin Foer

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

Why is this important? Well, the “fairy tale” in Tolkien’s era was relegated to simple children’s fiction, something adults grew out of along with their innocence and naiveté. But to Tolkien, these stories that take place in the land of Faërie contain more beauty and truths than any tale set in modern day environs.

In this essay Tolkien defines these stories by what they have, and what they are not, not precisely by what they ARE. And we even jump into whether Star Wars or Star Trek might match Tolkien’s definition!

Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we:

• Discuss what our favorite fairy story is (other than LOTR)
• Try and figure out what the best fairy story of the last 2 decades is (or if there even IS one!)

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Tales from the Perilous Realm (“On Fairy Stories”)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!

Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we:

• Discuss what we’ll be diving into next (Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy Stories”)
• Reveal the Big Project we’ll be undertaking soon
• Figure out how Númenor’s faithful transported The Stone of Erech
• Are there time-out rooms in The Halls of Mandos?

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

📕 Join our Book Club! Become a member and join our bi-weekly Book Club where we’re reading through Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Tales from the Perilous Realm (“On Fairy Stories”)
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the incredible artwork!

It’s hard to believe, but this week we finish “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age”–the last chapter of The Silmarillion!

We talk about the the truth and beauty of Middle-earth (and how we’re not connected to it), how Peter Jackson portrayed the battle between Gil-Galad, Elendil, and Sauron poorly, and Saruman’s mysterious visit to the east–after which he took up residence in Orthanc and started his evil turn.

Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we discuss if Isildur just took the glory over Elendil and Gil-Galad when they defeated Sauron, why Tolkien mentioned Frodo’s destruction of the differently in The Silmarillion, and whether Sauron should’ve bribed the Dwarves with gold (since the Rings of Power didn’t sway them a bit). To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

📕 Join our Book Club! Become a member and join our bi-weekly Book Club where we’re reading through Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
The One Ring Shop
Make Tolkien Great Again

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!

This week we take Michael to task for defending Amazon’s show, why the rings were so seductive to each race, and why do the green elves also long for Valinor?

Then, join us in our extended episode where we discuss how the idea of Galadriel and Halbrand in a relationship (or “Haladriel” as we’ve heard) is absolutely absurd, and look deeper at the the lure of Rings for dwarves, elves, and men.  To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

📕 Join our Book Club! Become a member and join our bi-weekly Book Club where we’re reading through Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
The Silmarillion

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

This week we talk why we love Tolkien so much, the path that brought us to be a part of this show, all the stats for the show… and most importantly, we ask each other our EXTREMELY personal TORC Inquisition questions 🙂 !

And join us in our extended episode where we discuss what our families think of us doing this show, if we’ve had any big debates, and we think we each resemble in Tolkien’s legendarium! To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

Thanks for listening to this weeks rather different episode… next week it’s on to “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age”!

???? Join our Book Club! ????
Become a member and join our bi-weekly Book Club where we’re reading through “Taliesin” by Stephen R. Lawhead!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

Episode Links
Game Livestream #1
Game Livestream #2

???? Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google

???? If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien indicates that the most moving scene in all of the Lord of the Rings was Gollum’s near repentance on the stairs of Cirith Ungol, as he looked on Frodo and Sam sleeping:

“Gollum looked at them. A strange expression passed over his lean hungry face. The gleam faded from his eyes, and they went dim and grey, old and tired. A spasm of pain seemed to twist him, and he turned away, peering back up towards the pass, shaking his head, as if engaged in some interior debate. Then he came back, and slowly putting out a trembling hand, very cautiously he touched Frodo’s knee – but almost the touch was a caress. For a fleeting moment, could one of the sleepers have seen him, they would have thought that they beheld an old weary hobbit, shrunken by the years that had carried him far beyond his time, beyond friends and kin, and the fields and streams of youth, an old starved pitiable thing.”

Tolkien believed that Gollum was on the precipice of redemption, and quite nearly found his love for Frodo competing with his desire for the ring!

Join us in our extended episode where we discuss the best Lord of the Rings games made, and–if we were given the opportunity to make a game–what game would each of us create in Tolkien’s world. To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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Episode Links
Gollum Game (only buy this at a deep discount)
Game Livestream #1
Game Livestream #2

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???? If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

You can also WATCH ON YOUTUBE!

——————————————-
⛰ The Fellowship ⛰
——————————————-
Jonathan from @TheOneRingCom
https://www.theonering.com

John from @BoundingintoComics
https://boundingintocomics.com

John from @TolkienRoad
https://tolkienroad.com

Michael from @TheOneRingCom
https://www.theonering.com

Garet from Himself

Join us in our extended episode where we discuss if chasing the idea of “freedom” simply leads to more evil, if Ar Pharazon thought Sauron was evil or just a rival, and how many generations of ents there might be. To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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Episode 36
No Dwayne! Look Up!
Young Shelob

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???? If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Join us in our extended episode where we discuss why Elwing chose to be immortal “because of Luthien”, if Tolkien made parallels between the story of Earendil/Elwing and the tale of Aldarion and Erendis (from Unfinished Tales), and what’s up with Maedhros yeeting himself into a chasm of fire?! To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

???? Join our Book Club! If you’re a member, make sure you join our Book Club where we’re be reading through Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead.

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Episode 35
Unfinished Tales

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???? If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Join us in our extended episode where we discuss why Elwing chose to be immortal “because of Luthien”, if Tolkien made parallels between the story of Earendil/Elwing and the tale of Aldarion and Erendis (from Unfinished Tales), and what’s up with Maedhros yeeting himself into a chasm of fire?! To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

And for our members, make sure you join our Book Club where we’re be reading through Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

Episode 34
Livestreams on Friday (when we can schedule them!)

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???? If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

Hope you enjoy this extra episode!

You can also WATCH ON YOUTUBE!

——————————————-
⛰ The Fellowship ⛰
——————————————-
Jonathan from @TheOneRingCom
https://www.theonering.com

John from @BoundingintoComics
https://boundingintocomics.com

The Middle-earth Mixer
https://twitter.com/MiddleearthMixr

John from @TolkienRoad
https://tolkienroad.com

Steve from @ghprog
https://glasshammer.com/

Michael from @TheOneRingCom
https://www.theonering.com

Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they discuss Ulmo’s influence, Turgon’s pride, Maeglin’s treachery, and the Tolkien’s rule on fighting Balrogs!

We also make a special announcement… Livestreams are coming on Friday, April 28th!

Join us in our extended episode where we discuss whether the Valar should care about the Noldor, if the Valar are absentee landlords, why there aren’t any good dragons, and why Turgon is so prideful. To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

And for our members, make sure you join our Book Club where we’re be reading through Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead.

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

Episode 33
The Fall of Gondolin
Livestream coming April 28 @ 3pm Eastern! Every Friday!

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

• How the movies were his gateway drug into Tolkien
• That there might actually be some positive parts to The Rings of Power
• Where Warner Bros. new movies might be going
• Which of Tolkien’s stories SHOULD be made into a film

And stick around for our extended podcast for our patrons (30 more minutes! Get at https://www.theonering.com/patron) where we talk more about:

• Where does the sould/voice/life of the Eagles come from — and what about the talking sword Anglachel?
• Is it really magic in the Lord of the Rings?
• Confessions from the Comfy Chair including
— What Circle of Dante’s Inferno does Rings of Power belong in?
— What’s the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done?
— What would be a great non-Tolkien book to read?
— How can we foster creativity so writers will create new great stories again?

The Middle-earth Mixer is a podcast and tweeting machine who (while having fun poking fun on Twitter) dives deep into Tolkien’s lore on his easy-to-consume podcasts!

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Mixer’s Twitter
Mixer’s Podcast
CS Lewis’ Space Trilogy

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In this episode, Jonathan, Michael, and Dan discuss the power of curses (and why didn’t Morgoth just curse more people), how the Silmaril is actually kind of like the One Ring (and even negatively affects Beren and Luthien), and how–of Hurin’s entire family–Morwen was the only one not conquered.

We also make a special announcement… Livestreams are coming on Friday, April 28th!

Join us in our extended episode where we discuss whether Melian knew about the dwarves and should have warned Thingol, why aren’t the Dwarves burned by the Silmaril, and whether Melian could have (or should have) taken the Silmaril to Valinor. To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and  live chats. Click here!

Episode 32 Links
The Children of Hurin

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they discuss the rest of the story of Túrin! And, yes, we do dive into the extremely unexpected issue around the talking sword…

Don’t forget to join us in our extended episode where we discuss Túrin’s suicide, and dive into more detail about his unwanted doom! To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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Episode 31 Links
Fellowship of the Ring Puzzle
The Two Towers Puzzle

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they discuss this tragic counterpoint to Beren and Luthién–a tale of woe, sorrow, grief, death, and not much of a happy ending.

Don’t forget to join us in our extended episode where we discuss why this is Jonathan’s favorite (non-LOTR) Tolkien story too! To get the extended episode, become a member at https://www.theonering.com/patron ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

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Episode 30 Links
Tolkien Dogmatics
The Children of Hurin

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

• How Tolkien’s theology is shown in his works (and how it changed)
• What Tolkien thought about criticism
• How fantasy is actually a DEEPER look into our world, and not a rewrite
• What sub-creation actually is and isn’t
• Balrogs!

Stick around for our extended podcast for our patrons (35 more minutes!) where we talk more about:

• Austin’s experiences in Edinboro
• How Tolkien changed his perspective on life and faith
• Why Tolkien is a Calvinist
• Confessions from the Comfy Chair including
  • What Circle of Dante’s Inferno does Rings of Power belong in?
  • What’s the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done?
  • What would be a great non-Tolkien book to read?
  • How can we foster creativity so writers will create new great stories again?

Austin Freeman has a PhD in systematic theology, is faculty at Houston Christian University, and the author of the book “Tolkien Dogmatics”. Austin’s book is a deep dive into Tolkien’s theology, how he expressed that through his stories, and the care he took in engaging his faith through his creativity.

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Episode Links
Tolkien Dogmatics at Lexham Press
Tolkien Dogmatics at Amazon

Episode Links
The Tolkien Road
The Tolkien Road – Patreon
Tolkien’s Overture : Concerning the Music of the Ainur
Tolkien’s Requiem : Concerning Beren and Luthien

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

Become a patron to check out our extended podcast where we ply John for Confessions from the Comfy Chair!

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST AND BECOME A PATRON!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, shop discounts, and more. Click here!

Episode Links
The Tolkien Road
The Tolkien Road – Patreon
Tolkien’s Overture : Concerning the Music of the Ainur
Tolkien’s Requiem : Concerning Beren and Luthien

Subscribe to our Podcast
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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

Michael and Jonathan had the pleasure of talking with John Trent, founder and editor-in-chief of Bounding into Comics! We dive into Tolkien in the past, Tolkien in the present (Rings of Power :(), and Tolkien in the Future (the new Warner Bros films), while also examing faith, love, and why writers can’t write anymore.

Become a patron to check out our extended podcast where we ply John for Confessions from the Comfy Chair!

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST AND BECOME A PATRON!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, shop discounts, and more. Click here!

Episode Links
Bounding into Comics
Bounding into Comics – Twitter
Bounding into Comics – YouTube
Bounding into Sports

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

Join Jonathan and Michael as they discuss chapter 20 of The Silmarillion, “Of the Fith Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad”. This is probably one of the hardest chapters to figure out; it brings together many of the characters we’ve met, but in new circumstances and starts tying together storylines that will see a future payoff.

And test yourself if you can recognize the cameos in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films!

Join us in our extended episode by becoming a member (click that JOIN button next to the SUBSCRIBE button–or go to https://www.theonering.com/patron). We talk about Maedhros‘ motivations, James Cameron comparing himself to Tolkien, the 5 upcoming Middle-earth games, and more!  It’s about another 30 minutes of Tolkien talk and it’s free for the first month!

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Episode 29 Links
The Atlas of Middle-earth

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

And join us in our extended podcast as we look at what Vin Diesel said about Tolkien, how some folks think “Tampering” with Tolkien is OK, and answer questions from our esteemed patrons!

Head over to theonering.com/patron to get our extended podcast — it’s about another 30 minutes of Tolkien talk and it’s free for the first month!

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Episode 28 Links
Beren and Luthien by JRR Tolkien

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If You Like Tolkien (from past episodes) ????
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin

Michael, Dan, and I TEAR APART this article that claims Tolkien’s original writing has problems that just aren’t successful with Modern Audiences ™. It’s a ridiculous, vapid, and completely meritless claim that deserves to be drawn, quartered, and burned to a formless ash.

Read the Article

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