Shire Reckoning

This week, we leave behind the hobbitry of the Third Age and consider one of the greatest of Tolkien's stories: Beren And Lúthien. How does this story help us understand all of the relationships in Tolkien's work, romantic and otherwise? Did we lose something essential when Tevildo became Sauron? You can find the video version of this podcast by clicking here ; the slides are available by clicking...

This week, we leave the Mountain and return to the Hill in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies . Is this film a good film? A good sequel ? Does Jackson deliver on the promised conflicts? Is there a worse sequence than the goat-powered chariot ride? Show Notes: The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies  (2014) Shire Reckoning is a Next Word production. For bonus episodes and to support the sh...

This week, we battle some audio goblins to consider the complicated structure and style of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug . Is there an internal tension between the Fairy Tale and the Tolkien Lore? Can great performances save a film? Who needs convection anyway? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking here . Show Note...

This week, we wake from our enchanted-stream slumber to catch up on the rumors of The Hunt For Gollum , craft a cozy meal or two in Tales From The Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game , and consider what makes Tolkien so difficult to adapt. The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking here . Show Notes: The Lord Of The Rings: The Hu...

This week, we return from an unexpected hiatus to embark upon an unexpected journey -- specifically, Peter Jackson's 2012 movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ! What does the film get right? Does the production history explain some of the miss-steps? Does anyone need Gloin? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking here...

This week, we return home to Bag End and consider the consequences of Bilbo's adventure in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit . Is the Shire different now? What are the signs that we're back in the normal world? What has tired the Tookish part of our hero, and strengthened the Bagginsish? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking h...

This week, the aftermath of the Battle of Five Armies in Chapter 18 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit . Why don't we see Thorin's moment of redemption? Is his heroism enough to break the dragon-sickness for everyone else too? Is wisdom the right word for Bilbo's Baggins side? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking here . Sho...

This week, the Battle of Five Armies in Chapters 15 and 16 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Is gold peculiarly evil in Tolkien's world? Does Thoring really value the Arkenstone above all things? Where and when does eucatastrophe intervene?  The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking here . Show Notes: Shire Reckoning Productio...

This week, we return to the Lonely Mountain in Chapter 15 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "The Gathering Of The Clouds". Are two talking birds too many? How do we distinguish between Roäc, son of Carc, and the humble thrush? How does dragon sickness work? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking here . Show Notes: Shire Rec...

This week, we switch our focus away from the Lonely Mountain to discover what happened to Smaug in Chapter 14 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Fire And Water". Does Bard become more three-dimensional every time we see him? Are the people of Esgaroth really wrong to believe in prophecy? Why is Smaug's final resting place cursed? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the...

This week, we consider the dragons of Middle-earth: Glaurung, Ancalagon, Smaug and (to a much lesser extent) Scatha. Why are dragons so significant to Professor Tolkien and to his Legendarium? Why are the four named dragons so different from one another? Are there hidden dragons in The Lord of the Rings ? Thanks to Jules for the question! Show Notes Groundbreakers: Icons of our Time (Christie's) R...

This week, Thorin and Company finally recover at least a small amount of their treasure in Chapter 13 of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Not At Home". What is the Arkenstone? For whom was Bilbo's mithril shirt made? Who is not at home, and why? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for download by clicking here . Show Notes: Shire Reckoning Produc...

This week, a Q&A special in which we consider the nature of good and evil in a world made by a benevolent God, the tragedy (or not) of Fëanor, and the Ring of the Witch-King of Angmar. Thanks to Steph, Fergus and Angela for the questions! Show Notes The Prancing Pony Podcast Moot: Call For Papers The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2026 AMC Event) In The Forest Singing Sorrowles...

This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Twelve of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Inside Information". Is Bilbo a leader now? How do we understand the symbolic and symbiotic connection between the dragon and the horde? Is Bilbo's riddling introduction to Smaug his best moment in the book? The video version of this session is available by clicking here ; the slides are available for downlo...

This week, in an extra-length episode of Shire Reckoning, we dive into the riddle of Tom Bombadil. Who and what is Tom? How do we understand his unique qualities from the text? How does he fit with the cosmology that Tolkien presents to us? Show Notes Peg Wooden Dolls And his feet are faster -- Old Tom's Trochees (FR 1.viii.142) (Tom Hillman) The Bodley Medal Is it a critical mineral or a Tolkien...

This week, we reach the Lonely Mountain in Chapter Eleven of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "On The Doorstep". How do we understand the Desolation of Smaug? Does Tolkien resolve the conflict between free will and prophecy? What is the function of the back door? The slides are available for download by clicking here . Show Notes: Shire Reckoning Production Schedule The History of the Hobbit  (John D....

This week, we consider the textual history of Tolkien's Legendarium, from the stories told in the Cottage of Lost Play to the Red Book of Westmarch. How does Tolkien's framing of his work shift from myth to history? What are the benefits of this careful chain of texts? What are the other accounts that we wish we could read? Thanks to Suzanne for the question! Show Notes The Book Of Lost Tales, Par...

This week, we finally meet some Men in chapter ten of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome". How does the book suggest the history of Esgaroth? How is the Master of Lake-town contrasted with Good Tolkienian Kings? What is the effect of prophecy, and how does it interact with free will? You can see the video version of this podcast here , and the slides are available for download by clickin...

This week, we break format a little bit to talk about the (actually pretty good) first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power . What struggles does the show face on a conceptual level? How do the various plot threads and timelines work together, and with Tolkien's original stories? What is the difference between an intriguing mystery box, and lying to the audience? Show Notes The Lord...

This week, the halls of the Elven King in chapter nine of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, "Barrels Out Of Bond". Is this the moment that The Hobbit becomes a fantasy novel? How does Bilbo's luck relate to eucatastrophe? Do these elves really seem like elves? You can see the video version of this podcast here , and the slides are available for download by clicking here . Show Notes: Shire Reckoning Pr...

This week, we discuss estel , hope. Why is it so important to our sense of Tolkien's Legendarium? How it is lost, or turned to despair? How do we continue to fight in the face of adversity? Thanks to Elizabeth and Nathan for the questions! Show Notes Anthem (Leonard Cohen) The Hobbit (1967 BBC Radio) Flanders and Swann The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor Jennifer Hal...

This week, we celebrate Hobbit Day by pausing in our journey through J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and looking at the 1977 TV movie adaptation. Can you compress the whole story into 78 minutes? What happens when the goblins and elves become more monstrous? How do we understand the anti-war sentiment? You can see the video version of this podcast here , and the slides are available for download by cl...

This week, we discuss the most magical place in all of Middle-earth, Lothlórien. How did it get started? Why is it so magical? What's Galadriel's whole deal, anyway? Thanks to Sarah for the question! Show Notes Captain Britain “A fear of anything large and alive, and not easily tamed or destroyed”: Kaiju in The Lord of the Rings (Kristine Larsen) The Inconsistencies of Galadriel: The Influence of...

This week, the enchantments of the Mirkwood in Chapter Eight of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. How do we understand the conflict, physical and magical, between the elves and the spiders? Why does Bilbo feel more accomplished and confident in this chapter? Is this really a turning point in the adventure? You can see the video version of this podcast here , and the slides are available for download by...

This week, we discuss the Great Powers of Arda, the Valar. Who are they? How do they teach us how to understand the philosophical framework of Tolkien's world? Did they make mistakes, or do they just look like mistakes from where we're standing? Thanks to Darius for the question! Show Notes Morgoth's Ring, The History of Middle-earth Volume 10 "The British Invasion, The Impact of  The Lord of the...