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...
16 Sep 20250s
145. Is the Arkenstone a Silmaril? – The Hobbit #30
Smaug is gone, so the Bilbo and the dwarves… just sit there?! For a couple of days they do–and eventually they reach the treasures. Bilbo, though, makes a choice to REALLY become the burglar when he...
4 Sep 202552min
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 ...
19 Aug 20250s
143. Playing Tales of the Shire So You Don’t Have To
The new game, Tales of the Shire was released last month after numerous delays… so, I took a bullet for the team and bought the game. I livestreamed playing the game for the very first time earlier t...
7 Aug 20250s
142. Size Matters to Every Dragon – The Hobbit #28
Bilbo finally becomes a real burglar in this chapter, venturing alone into the heart of the Lonely Mountain as Thorin and company are once again exposed for the unprepared adventurers they are. Meanwh...
22 Jul 20250s
141. An Interview with Elijah Wood
Here’s the next 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–Elijah wood reflects on the jour...
11 Jul 20250s
140. Into the Mountain’s Throat – The Hobbit #27
Erebor’s secret door: clever storytelling or a bit too convenient? In this episode, we discuss one of The Hobbit’s quieter chapters, where Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach Erebor’s hidden entrance....
24 Jun 20250s
139. The Problem with Thorin – The Hobbit #26
As Thorin and company finally reach the Lonely Mountain, reality sets in—and it doesn’t smell so pleasant. We examine Tolkien’s skillful prose and worldbuilding as the company confront the desolation ...
10 Jun 202546min
