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Wander Middle-earth with Past Episodes

May 18, 2023

106: The Key to the Lonely Mountain: An In-Depth Look at “On the Doorstep” in JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit

Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach The Lonely Mountain, but are they able to find the secret door and enter the mountain without Smaug the dragon knowing? Exclusive discounts for you : https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/discount...
May 11, 2023

105: The Hobbit: Book vs Movie: Chapter 10

Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves finally reach Laketown! Today we explore how Peter Jackson’s second Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug, adapts the chapter “A Warm Welcome” from JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit . Let's wander! Come ex...
May 4, 2023

104: “A Warm Welcome” The Hobbit Chapter 10

Bilbo, Thorin, and the dwarves finally arrive in Lake-town, where another unexpected party occurs, and where Bilbo encounters a new creature: the race of Men. Let's wander! Come explore JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth, from the Lo...
April 27, 2023

103: Book vs Movie | The Hobbit Barrels out of Bond

Invented dialogue, new characters, made-up scenes: the adaption of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit is in full swing. Today we compare The Hobbit chapter 9, Barrels out of Bond, with its on screen adaptation in Peter Jackson’s film T...
April 20, 2023

102: The Hobbit: Chapter 9

Bilbo Baggins finally becomes the burglar that Gandalf promised he would be. I’m not sure that exactly great expectations on Gandalf’s part, but who am I to argue with a wizard? Let's wander! Come explore JRR Tolkien's Middle...
April 15, 2023

101: Book vs Movie: The Hobbit chapter 8

Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves discover that some mushrooms in Middle-earth are dangerous to their health, as they attempt to pass through the forest of Mirkwood. Today we compare Peter Jackson’s on screen adaption of the chap...
April 13, 2023

100: The Hobbit Chapter 8: Flies and Spiders

Bilbo Baggins almost gets eaten (again), has to save the dwarves (again), and meets elves (again). Today we explore JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit , chapter 8, Flies and Spiders. Let's wander! Come explore JRR Tolkien's Middle-eart...
April 6, 2023

099: Book vs. Movie | The Hobbit Chapter 7

We dive into the history of evil as we compare chapter 7 of the Hobbit with it’s on-screen adaption in the form of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, the Desolation of Smaug. Let's wander! Come explore JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth, fr...
April 4, 2023

098: The Hobbit: Queer Lodgings

Bilbo meets the most perplexing creature yet, and another simple choice saves the fate of Middle-earth. Let's wander! Come explore JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth, from the Lord of the Rings, to the Hobbit, to the Silmarillion, to...
April 1, 2023

097: A Dwarves’ Story, Not a Hobbit’s: Comparing the Book vs Movie | The Hobbit Chapter 6

We finally reach the end of Peter Jackson’s first Hobbit Movie! We’ll compare chapter 6 from the book to its on screen adaptation, and explore how the story’s subtle shift in narrative focus resolves. Let's wander! Come explo...
March 30, 2023

096: The Hobbit Chapter 6 | Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire

Bilbo Baggins becomes bacon . . . or at least he fears that he has. Some new creatures want to eat him, another new creature seems to want to eat him; yet despite feeling like food, Bilbo is starting to change, but is it all ...
March 23, 2023

095: What Makes A Good Story | Tolkien's "On Fairy Stories"

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! March 25 marks the day when the One Ring was destroyed and the Dark Lord Sauron was overthrown. Every March 25 for the last 20 years, the Tolkien Society commemorates Tolkien Reading Day. This is a ...
March 21, 2023

094: JRR Tolkien and Robert Jordan | An Interview with a Wheel of Time Expert

What is JRR Tolkien's influence on other fantasy authors? Fantasy author and Wheel of Time expert Jason Denzel joins me to discuss how Tolkien influenced Robert Jordan, Amazon's adaptations of both Wheel of Time and Rings of ...
March 18, 2023

093: Book vs Movie | The Hobbit Chapter 5

Bilbo becomes separated from the dwarves, and strikes an odd deal with a slimy creature in order to get unlost, but also changes the fate of Middle-earth in the process. Come explore JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth, from the Lord ...
March 16, 2023

092: Dark Journeys: The Hobbit Chapter 5 Part 2

One of the most chilling elements of a fantasy story is the descent into darkness. Darkness is the realm of evil, where wicked power have a home-court advantage. But journeys into the dark have a way of bringing out the light...
March 14, 2023

091: The Hobbit Chapter 5 Part 1: Riddles in the Dark

Lost in the dark, and without hope, Bilbo makes an unlikely discovery that has enormous ramifications for the fate of Middle-earth, meets a slimy creature who may not be all that different from himself, and wins a riddle game...
March 9, 2023

090: Book vs Movie | The Hobbit Chapter 4

Today we compare JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit chapter 4 with Peter Jackson’s on-screen adaptation in the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Extended edition, of course. Come explore JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth, from the Lord of the Ri...
March 7, 2023

089: The Hobbit Chapter 4: Over Hill and Under Hill

The dangers of adventure, an encounter with goblins, and the power of Gandalf. We continue our exploration of JRR Tolkien’s the Hobbit, by wandering through chapter 4: Over Hill and Under Hill. Come explore JRR Tolkien's Midd...
March 2, 2023

088: Book vs Movie | The Hobbit Chapter 3

A Short Rest, but a long embellishment. Today we look at how The Hobbit movie adapts chapter 3 of JRR Tolkien’s the Hobbit. We dive into the deeper evils brewing around the quest, what the film has to say about the nature of ...
Feb. 28, 2023

087: The Hobbit Chapter 3: A Short Rest

The nature of evil, the nature of elves, and a brief encounter with Elrond (curiously, not called Half-elven). We follow Bilbo and the dwarves on their adventure to the Lonely Mountain in chapter 3 of JRR Tolkien’s children’s...
Feb. 26, 2023

086: New LOTR Movies and Tolkien's Transcendence

Warner Bros Studios has announced new Lord of the Ring movies are in the works. I provide some thoughts on the directions they could go, and provide a warning for future Middle-earth film makers. Come explore JRR Tolkien's Mi...
Feb. 23, 2023

085: The Hobbit Chapter 2: Book vs Movie

We compare chapter 2 of the Hobbit to its on-screen portrayal, and continue exploring how little yet significant changes push our hobbit to the side and highlight the dwarves. Oh, and I even have a Rings of Power dig as well....
Feb. 16, 2023

084: Interview with a Tolkien Journalist: Larry D Curtis

Special guest Larry D. Curtis, a Tolkien journalist, joins me as we explore JRR Tolkien's influence culture, being on set for the Hobbit, and some criticisms on Rings of Power. Exclusive discounts for you : https://www.ringsp...
Feb. 9, 2023

083: The Hobbit Chapter 2: Roast Mutton

Food, fire, and foreshadowing: we wander the second chapter of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and explore how this simple chapter is a major clue to the rest of Bilbo’s adventure. Exclusive discounts for you : https://www.ringspod...