144. Never Laugh at Live Dragons – The Hobbit #29

144. Never Laugh at Live Dragons – The Hobbit #29

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 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:

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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

Jaksot(159)

126.  Why Did Tolkien Change The Hobbit (and what did he change)? : The Hobbit #15

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125.  Bilbo Trembled and Found Pity : The Hobbit #14

125. Bilbo Trembled and Found Pity : The Hobbit #14

The 2nd half of “Riddles in the Dark” is the most rewritten part of The Hobbit in the 1951 rewrite!  And it’s where Bilbo takes a giant leap (so to speak) into the future of his adventure. In this epi...

10 Joulu 20240s

124. Miserable Riddles in the Dark : The Hobbit #13

124. Miserable Riddles in the Dark : The Hobbit #13

“Riddles in the Dark” is not only the most memorable event from all of Middle-earth — it’s also the turning point that ultimately led to The Lord of the Rings.  In this episode we look at: Tolkien’s ...

26 Marras 202451min

123. Nightmare in Moria : The Hobbit #12

123. Nightmare in Moria : The Hobbit #12

The goblins of Moria grab the dwarves (and Hobbit) who decided to camp out on their “front porch”, leading to some real terrifying moments! Does Gandalf use gunpowder? How Tolkien subcreates his worl...

19 Marras 202446min

122. The Real Misty Mountains : The Hobbit #11

122. The Real Misty Mountains : The Hobbit #11

The first part of Chapter 4, Over Hill and Under Hill, is unique for it’s direct correlation with Tolkien’s own past.  We discuss: Tolkien’s hiking experience and how it influenced this section of Th...

12 Marras 20240s

121. Tolkien Gave Up on Fixing The Hobbit : The Hobbit #10

121. Tolkien Gave Up on Fixing The Hobbit : The Hobbit #10

When Tolkien attempted to rewrite the Hobbit in 1960, he just gave up halfway through Chapter 3. In this episode we look at: Changes in time and distance Changes in Prose and style Why he gave up His...

5 Marras 202445min

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120. Where the Children’s Story Ends and the Epic Story Begins : The Hobbit #9

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29 Loka 202442min

119. The Rings of Power Leaves us with Dwarf Politics and Randomly Shouting Elves

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We did it!  And this time we wrangled Dan in to give us his BIG THOUGHT again! 🙂 In this final episode of Season 2, one dwarf delved too deep (and then we find out the real problem there–political in...

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