Exploring Tolkien

Three dwarves lost and a shape-shifting berserking bear unleashed—the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies reconciles Bilbo to Thorin and gives us a completely different Elvenking than what you saw in the movies. In this episode, we dig into Tolkien’s penultimate chapter, “The Return Journey,” unpacking the emotional aftermath and story-shaping consequences of the war that changed Middle-earth.

We also explore:

• Why Beorn...

Did Tolkien “earn” The Battle of the Five Armies, or is the surprise enough to justify its existence? In this episode, we look at Tolkien’s climactic battle from The Hobbit, comparing how it unfolds on the page to its chaotic portrayal in the extended film edition. How do armies materialize so suddenly, and does Tolkien set the stage well enough for the goblin onslaught?

Check out the Battle of the Five Armies Map!

We a...

Bilbo owns up to his burgling — a betrayal that drives Thorin to the brink of killing him.  But Bilbo isn’t cowed… and the armies of elves and men aren’t cowed by Dain’s special forces.  But maybe they should be!

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 th...

We look at Chapter 16 of The Hobbit, where Bilbo makes his most controversial choice-—handing the Arkenstone over to Bard and the Elvenking. Is Bilbo a traitor to the dwarves, or the only one thinking clearly as war looms? Or maybe he just wants to get home!

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 g...

The talking birds bring news of the dragon’s demise to the dwarves–only to find a host of elves and men are coming to the mountain’s gate. Bard makes his claim for a portion of the treasure, but Thorin finds his reasons lacking–or is it just his lust for the treasure overtaking him?

This episode, we look at:

• More (very old) talking birds
• Thorin’s “dragon sickness” — or is it his ...

You’d think the death of the dragon is is the climax of The Hobbit… right? In this chapter, Tolkien gives us action, destruction, and the rise of a new unlikely hero. We look at Bard’s big moment, the politics of Laketown in crisis, and what Tolkien’s original idea for Smaug’s demise actually entailed. , we geek out on Hobbit facts, Tolkien’s fondness for enchanted gems, and the curious significance of talking bir...

Smaug is gone, so the Bilbo and the dwarves… just sit there?!  For a couple of days they do–and eventually they reach the treasures.  Bilbo, though, makes a choice to REALLY become the burglar when he sees the Arkenstone.

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 Arkensto...

Smaug is finally fully revealed! This week, we finish “Inside Information”, where Bilbo finally comes face-to-face with the unassessably wealthy dragon. We break down the wordplay Bilbo engages in as he denies Smaug his real name, Smaug’s memorable boasts, and how Bilbo manages to outwit Middle-earth’s greatest dragon (or maybe it’s just… luck?).

We explore:

• Why names and riddles matter so much in Middle-earth (and...

The new game, Tales of the Shire was released last month after numerous delays… so, I took a bullet for the team and bought the game.  I livestreamed playing the game for the very first time earlier this week–and it was everything I thought it would be!

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...

Bilbo finally becomes a real burglar in this chapter, venturing alone into the heart of the Lonely Mountain as Thorin and company are once again exposed for the unprepared adventurers they are. Meanwhile, And Smaug the possessive is finally revealed.

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 be...

Here’s the next episode in our series of interviews from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions! In this interview–just before The Return of the King was released–Elijah wood reflects on the journey of becoming Frodo Baggins. From long days on set in New Zealand to forging real friendships with his castmates, he shares what made filming The Lord of the Rings so special—and why he’d happily do it all over agai...

Erebor’s secret door: clever storytelling or a bit too convenient? In this episode, we discuss one of The Hobbit’s quieter chapters, where Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach Erebor’s hidden entrance. We break down why the dwarves seem at a loss, how Bilbo’s perspective has shifted on the journey, and whether this chapter signals Tolkien’s move from fairy tale logic toward a more realistic fantasy world.

We also look at:

• Why t...

As Thorin and company finally reach the Lonely Mountain, reality sets in—and it doesn’t smell so pleasant. We examine Tolkien’s skillful prose and worldbuilding as the company confront the desolation left by Smaug and realize they really have no plan–just the map they carry.

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?
• Dra...

Tolkien makes it pretty clear what he thinks about politicians in this chapter… While Thorin and company regain their royal swagger, the Master of Laketown plots to save his own skin and run them out of town.

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...

Were back looking at the first half of Chapter 10, “A Warm Welcome.” In this episode, we discuss the arrival of Bilbo and the dwarves at Laketown (check out Tolkien’s drawing), how this chapter leans on Tolkien’s world building—from Laketown’s real-life archaeological inspiration to the unexplained trade relations between elves and men, and how Thorin is now looking to Bilbo to lead...

In this very special episode, we reveal the exact barrel music sung in Thranduil’s halls as the dwarves were tossed into the river!  😉 Then, we get into the details of barrel physics, the river, and why there might be “raft-elves”.

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…
• Tol...

Bilbo fully embraces his role as hero and finds a way to save the dwarves — but not before we find out how the Elvenking distrusts the dwarves while comparing himself to the great wealthy kings of old.

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...

Bilbo is the only one left to save the dwarves–and to his own surprise, he’s up to the task!

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?
• Ho...

JRR Tolkien’s voice was, well, unique.  He was notably hard to understand (his students regularly complained that his classes were difficult because they simply couldn’t understand him), and even the Inklings (his friends and reading group that included CS Lewis and Charles Williams) preferred it when Christopher Tolkien read excerpts from Lord of the Rings to the group in the 1940s!

We do have few of his voice recordin...