The Tolkien Lore Podcast

A listener asked me this question recently in the comments, and it turns out to be a fascinating journey into Tolkienian metaphysics. Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

8 Nov 202117min

One of the most frequently recurring manifestations of evil in Middle-earth is the giant spider. And Tolkien loves to have his (arguably) favorite heroes exterminate them with a vengeance. Credit to my son for letting me borrow his toy spider for the thumbnail. :) Intrigued by the theme of evil being self-defeating? I have a video on that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c67oYSVgWI More Halloween themed videos: Tolkien’s creepiest creatures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uhdM4GyrBk Scariest scenes from The Lord of the Rings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhfrhAX1T5w&t=458s Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

1 Nov 202120min

After he finished The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien set about revising the stories of the First Age, which would come to be published by his son Christopher as The Silmarillion. In the process, he wrestled with some significant questions he had not put much thought to before, including the nature of orcs. The Red Book’s video on orcish lifespans is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-CDanQALn8 My video on the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwi7_nABWDI Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

25 Okt 202125min

Isengard and the Tower of Orthanc are architecturally and strategically significant, but historically obscure. They’re a perfect showcase of how Tolkien draws us into his world by giving us just a handful of fascinating tidbits but almost no concrete details. Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

18 Okt 202123min

Sir Lenny Henry, an actor in Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV series, recently made some comments about his role in a radio interview on the BBC, and they raise a lot of questions…. The article from which I pulled the transcript of Sir Lenny’s comments is here: https://bleedingcool.com/tv/sir-lenny-henry-on-being-a-black-hobbit-in-the-lord-of-the-rings/ The full interview is here with his relevant remarks (not accurately transcribed but sufficiently similar) starting at about the 29:20 mark: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010fk3 Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

11 Okt 202122min

A footnote by Tolkien in the recently released “The Nature of Middle-Earth” has lots of people claiming that it proves gay Elves are canonical in Tolkien’s legendarium, but a careful analysis undermines this argument. Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

4 Okt 202124min

Sauron’s Ring acts very differently in Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy than it does in the original novel, and those differences have pretty significant implications for the plot…. Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

27 Sep 202150min

Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam all changed radically due to their adventures, and in ways that strangely mirror each other. In this video I explore how their adventures changed them—the good, the bad, and the rest. The playlist for all the videos by my fellow YouTubers is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSSf8JTB0Nrqdd1U_JmGQcTTWFrihAN_u Other Links: Rumble at https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek

22 Sep 202118min