159. One DOES Simply Walk Into Mordor : Film Changes #46 and #47
In this episode, we dig into two crucial scenes: the iconic formation of the Fellowship and the bridge-side tryst between Aragorn and Arwen. Drawing from both book and film, we examine what’s gained (...
18 Mar 0s
158. An Interview with Sean Astin (Sam Gamgee)
Here’s another 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–Sean Astin reflects on wrapping u...
4 Mar 23min
157. Is this the BEST Change in The Lord of the Rings Films? : Film Changes #44 and #45
Orc pods and Uruk-hai origins: lore-breaking or the best possible changes? In this episode, we dig into Peter Jackson’s “orc pod” scenes and the cinematic invention of Lurtz, the alpha Uruk-hai, We al...
18 Feb 0s
156. The Cringiest Line in Lord of the Rings : Film Changes #42 and #43
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...
3 Feb 44min
155. The Infamous Messenger Moth : Film Changes #39, #40, and #41
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 Arago...
22 Jan 0s
154. Tolkien Wrote the Ultimate Retcon – The Hobbit #38
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...
6 Jan 59min
153. The Christmas Eucatastrophe (and is The Lord of the Rings a Christmas movie?)
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, an...
23 Des 20250s
152. Tolkien Ties up EVERY Loose End (we’re done!) – The Hobbit #37
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 thoroug...
12 Des 20250s
