Exploring Tolkien

In this episode, we look at two of the most unloved film changes from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: Arwen replacing Glorfindel and making Arwen the only one with power and agency in The Flight to the Ford.. Michael and Jonathan break down why these choices set off so many Tolkien fans, how they impact the agency of Aragorn and Frodo, and whether these moments actually improve the movies.

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

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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 to going through ALL the changes in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings!  This week we discuss Aragorn’s sword substitions, changes at Weathertop, and that infamous messenger moth:

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

Most people haven’t read how Tolkien actually wrote how The Hobbit precisely connects to The Lord of the Rings.  In The Quest of Erebor (first published in Unfinished Tales) Tolkien explains precisely how every major event in The Hobbit is connected to the greater story in The Lord of the Rings. And it’s not only the historical/factual connections–Tolkien clearly connects the philosophical underpinnings of Middle-earth more clearly into The Hobbit too!

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

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🎧 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 turn our attention from The Hobbit to a long-hidden Tolkien gem: his 1936 Christmas poem, “Noel.”  We take a look at the history of the poem’s rediscovery, its deep-rooted Tolkien-esque imagery, and why its message of hope stands uniquely in Tolkien’s literary career.

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)

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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

 

In this episode, we wrap up The Hobbit with “The Last Stage” and reflect on Bilbo’s road home, the petty (now less petty?) Rivendell elves, the unexpected return to Bag End, and how Tolkien so thoroughly captures the meaning of “home.” We also take an extended look at Tolkien’s 3 (THREE!) songs in this final chapter. Then, we examine why Tolkien might give so much attention to the aftermath and how Bilbo is changed forever (or maybe it’s just a bigger stronger Tookish side?).

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