The Tolkien Lore Podcast

Now that I’ve nitpicked and given credit for Peter Jackson’s second film in the Tolkien universe, let’s look at some of the details that are a little off, but you might not notice unless you’re a major nerd. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com...

The loss of innocence is a fairly common theme in literature, and wouldn’t you know, Tolkien handled it too! As with most things, he manages a nuanced take showing both the positives and negatives of innocence and its loss, if you know how to read his tale. Check out the whole Hobbit Day playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCeOWemVWFcbslFv0kk1_HQMb6o0Q-k5L&jct=TO0kZczE9iWwleN...

In my previous video on this topic ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWZtLRAm3Hc ) I covered several details Peter Jackson got right in The Fellowship of the Ring. Here I add a few more from that film, plus a bunch from The Two Towers. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f...

In the second half of my (humorous) review of The Two Towers, we have lots of characters doing stupid things, knowing things they shouldn’t, and timelines making no sense, among other problems! For previous entries in this series check out these links: Fellowship, part 1:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb4E0TBsrtA Fellowship, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBCiY7P2Dg Fellowship, Part...

It was bound to happen I suppose. I showed the trailer for War of the Rohirrim in my previous video so of course I got a copyright claim, but this has gotten out of hand. Let’s talk about the broken YouTube copyright system. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: ht...

The trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCUg6Td5fgQ) for the animated “War of the Rohirrim” film, brought to you by the same creative team behind the New Line Lord of the Rings films, finally dropped. Unfortunately it killed a lot of my anticipation for the movie…. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee:...

Someone recently sent me a private message asking about the plausibility of the feat of the Three Hunters, for which Eomer names Aragorn “Wingfoot.” Here’s the results of my research into the issue. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore...

Recently a minor controversy erupted on X/Twitter regarding comments by Ismael Cruz Cordova, who plays Arondir in Amazon’s “Rings of Power” series, to the effect that he was trying to be the most Elven character he could be. Of course the critics said he wasn’t, and defenders said he was. But what were Tolkien’s elves really like? Turns out Arondir (and practically ever other elf in any visual ada...

Continuing my nitpicky review of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy, I get into the first part of The Two Towers, which involves lots of stupid decisions and...maybe an editing snafu? For previous entries in this series check out these links: Fellowship, part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb4E0TBsrtA&pp=ygU3ZXh0cmVtZWx5IG5pdHBpY2t5IHJldmlldyBmZWxsb3dzaGlwIG9mIHRoZSByaW5nIHBhcnQgMQ%...

Recently a video by YouTuber and artist Jazza ( https://www.youtube.com/@Jazza ) popped up in my feed, and it’s all about illustrating Tolkien’s creatures and characters according to their book descriptions, so you know I had to check it out! How did he do, from my purist’s perspective? Let’s find out! Here’s his first video where he illustrates the Balrog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj-cS3k-...

In a quest fraught with practical problems, like how to get into Mordor, how to evade capture, and how to make good time, it turns out most of the decisions made have little to do with these practical details. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.c...

GRRM is at it again, or rather Twitter is at it again reviving old quotes by the Song of Ice and Fire author, with a really bonkers line about Tolkien and sex. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https:// www.patreon.com/tolk...

Someone shared something of a meme on my Discord server (join at the link below!) and it actually raised some interesting points about how movies affect our imaginations, as well as a legitimate question regarding how Saruman hid his activities for so long, so let’s take a look. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-35519...

Aragorn’s choice to follow the Uruk-hai in order to rescue Merry and Pippin is made very differently in the original book as compared to Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy, but the same scene also foreshadows in some ways Sam’s own difficult choices much later in the story. For my recent discussion of Aragorn’s lack of self-confidence, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Rhi8bV6zQ&pp=...

Galadriel tells the Company that she cannot see Gandalf from afar unless he is within the borders of Lothlorien. This is an implied limitation on a much more astonishing ability which is never explored in detail, but maybe we can tease out a few things from the text on what exactly Galadriel can and can’t see, and how and why as well. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c...

Another fascinating cross-over with modern media, this time with an Australian kids show about anthropomorphic dogs?? Let me explain. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https:// www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affili...

Aragorn has a significant amount of self doubt after Gandalf falls with the Balrog, in contrast to the dynamic, confident leader we see in much of the rest of his story. This hints at aspects of his relationship to Gandalf that aren’t really that explicit in the story, but we can find other bread crumbs.... Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble:...

After the “Hunt for Gollum” movie announcement, I notice more than one person asking why the Tolkien Estate hasn’t sold the rights to the Silmarillion yet. It seems like a natural enough question following the death of Christopher Tolkien, but there are still plenty of obstacles to such a move. Want to know about that atrocious John Boorman LOTR script? Here are my videos on it: Part 1: https://ww...

Viewer coreyander286 wondered about this, and in the post Peter Jackson era it’s not a strange thing to wonder, but there’s a fairly simple answer. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https:// www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero...

Wrapping up the first of Peter Jackson’s original Middle-earth Trilogy, we have a grab bag of homages, reversals, and interesting adaptive choices. Previous videos in this series: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_1rDzChnJ0 Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2dKbIlTthc Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-3...

Embracer Group has finally announced details of its planned first foray into the world of Middle-earth from a cinematic angle, with a working title of “The Hunt for Gollum.” I give the details so far, my thoughts, and maybe some snide remarks about a certain other company. My review of the fan film by the same name is here if you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INb-aR2UDkY Other Lin...

Wrapping up my extreme nitpick of Peter Jackson’s first Middle-earth movie, we have insane character decisions, major tonal disconnects, and even technical complaint. Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb4E0TBsrtA Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBCiY7P2Dg Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee:...

Decades ago, when Dungeons and Dragons first got started, there were a fairly large number of Christians in the United States who thought it (and many other fantasy properties) were dangerous and anti-Biblical. That was always based mainly on a misunderstanding, and you’d think by now that would have been cleared up. I recently found out, though, that there are still people who think even Lord of...

A viewer asked me in an email what I thought would have happened if Frodo hadn't been wearing Bilbo's mithril coat and had instead been killed in Moria. I tried to come up with a response, but as it turns out there are just too many possibilities, so instead I made this video describing my thought process and why "what if" questions can be dangerous roads to travel. Other Links:...

Peter Jackson’s take on the confrontation of Gandalf on the one hand and Theoden and Grima Wormtonge on the other drastically changes the nature of what is going on in the scene. Some of that is somewhat dictated by the medium of cinema, but some of it is...not. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https:// playeur .com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https:/...