Exploring Tolkien16 Syys 2025

146. Smaug’s Hydrophobia – The Hobbit #31

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 birds.

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)!

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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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166. Is Evil Really in Control? : Children of Húrin #4

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives! Is evil REALLY in control? Tolkien pursues this in this chapter–for the first and ...

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165. An Interview with Bernard Hill (Théoden)

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives! This is my favorite interview from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions for...

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164. A Glimmer of Hope Through the Eyes of Death : Children of Húrin #3

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives! “Day shall come again”–but for now, it’s the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. In this e...

9 Kesä 52min

163. The Most Tragic Middle-earth Childhood : Children of Húrin #2

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives! Turin’s tragic journey starts here. In this episode, we examine the opening chapte...

26 Touko 1h 5min

162. Morgoth’s Curse and the Pride of Men : The Children of Húrin #1

We finally return to Tolkien’s First Age for a new deep-dive series on The Children of Húrin, starting with Christopher Tolkien’s introduction. We discuss why Tolkien considered Turin’s tale one of hi...

12 Touko 46min

161. Tolkien’s First Tragic Tale : The Story of Kullervo

The Kalevala is perhaps Tolkien’s earliest inspiration… In this episode, we dig into The Story of Kullervo the tragic Finnish myth (from the Kalevala) that captured Tolkien’s imagination as a young m...

28 Huhti 1h 7min

160. Did Peter Jackson make Saruman too Powerful? : Film Changes #49 and #50

This episode tackles two more changes from Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring—Saruman orchestrating the storm on Caradhras, and the missing warg attack in Hollin. We break down how these adaptatio...

14 Huhti 51min

159. Boromir’s Slippery Slope : Film Change #48 (and Stephen Colbert’s Lord of the Rings movie!?)

In this episode, we examine the insertion of Boromir’s ring-handling scene on the slopes of the Misty Mountains–though it was completely invented, how close was it REALLY to the books? … and THEN we d...

31 Maalis 54min