The Tolkien Lore Podcast

Viewer Gershom ben Avraham posed this question on social media, and while there’s no direct answer to the question that I’m aware of, there are certainly several suggestive pieces of evidence. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon:...

A recent video by TheRedBook on Sauron’s death ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM5hrpjsoM8&pp=ygUbc2F1cm9uIGRlYXRoIG9mIGEgZGFyayBsb3Jk ) reminded me of some pertinent passages in Tolkien’s writings that may help build a more solid theory for why Morgoth and Sauron, after a certain point in their trajectory toward evil, could no longer change their bodily forms, which is why Sauron in The Lor...

In the tragic tale of Turin Turambar, Gwindor, with his dying breath, tells Turin that Finduilas stands between him and his doom and that he must save her. Tragically he never does, but I’ve always questioned Gwindor’s words. Until now. Need more background on Turin’s story? Check out my Silmarillion Synopsis playlist ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82go3_JE24g&list=PLgdY5RPp2o5NmAPZ7WkFdk4t...

How would Bilbo, who knew nothing of Gollum’s personal history, know to refer to his grandmother of all people in relation to Gollum sucking eggs? It was probably Gandalf! Don’t forget to check all the other videos put out for Hobbit Day! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzxLO5Ihf4Fo2t5AjwbMXlI8S0ZkCH_iA&jct=BGiscSJHFxiH9Ex4fMTkCXuDR1nGww For more on the Hobbit retcon, check out my video on...

In response to my request for video topics, viewer mariayonde suggested I might have been a bit hasty in concluding that William’s talking purse in The Hobbit was just a fanciful embellishment by Bilbo to make his story more appealing to a younger audience. Instead, what if the purse was a Dwarf-made magical purse that came to the trolls the same way as the rest of their hoard, which contained fam...

Before entering Moria, Aragorn tells Gandalf to “beware,” and later regrets that his premonition was accurate, which seems to suggest that the outcome of Gandalf dying was inevitable. But was it? Might Gandalf have survived Moria? How would that have altered the course of the rest of the story? For my video on Gandalf’s plan to get into Mordor, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HocWkoHD...

I’ve discussed the concepts of Amdir and Estel, the two kinds of hope in Tolkien’s world, and how they play out differently for different characters in The Lord of the Rings ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Kye-0DOac&pp=ygUYdG9sa2llbiBsb3JlIGFtZGlyIGVzdGVs ), but Aragorn is a great example of how a character can grow from one to the other. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utr...

Smith of Wootton Major is one of the most fascinating stories Tolkien ever wrote, which seems to have tremendous depth despite its brevity and simplicity. On a recent reread I noticed that its autobiographical elements were much more pronounced than I previously realized. Prior video on Smith of Wootton Major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyzNBaaHZqY&pp=ygUjdG9sa2llbiBsb3JlIHNtaXRoIG9mIHdvb...

The story of Tal-Elmar, reproduced in The Peoples of Middle-Earth by Christopher Tolkien, promised a story of dreams, adventure, and possibly some of the most explicit exploration of the ideas of race/ethnicity in any of Tolkien’s works. Unfortunately, as with so many of Tolkien’s barely-begun stories, we can only guess at what might have been. For more on the Druedain, check here: https://www.you...

The Battle of Five Armies, made by the creators of The War of the Ring (my review of which is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knXfPlC6-KA&pp=ygUud2FyIG9mIHRoZSByaW5nIGJvYXJkIGdhbWUgcmV2aWV3IHRvbGtpZW4gbG9yZQ%3D%3D ), is a highly tactical war game similar to but also unlike its predecessor. How does it shape up? Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodca...

In my recent video on the Tale of Adanel ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcOISb-59rw&pp=ygUTdGFsZSBvZiBhZGFuZWwgZmFsbA%3D%3D ) I discussed how Morgoth seems to have taken a very different approach to dealing with Men as compared with Elves, but why would his strategy change? Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195...

Galadriel makes a big deal of Celeborn’s wisdom in The Lord of the Rings, but we actually get almost no examples of it and are left wondering what makes him so impressive. Could it be Galadriel’s real reason for thinking him wise is highly personal? My video on Galadriel’s various backstories is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8c33_qTQ_E&t=25s&pp=ygUZY2hhcmFjdGVyIHN0dWR5IGdhbGFkcmll...

00:00 Intro 02:44 Game Overview 06:53 Mechanics and Gameplay 38:58 Likes and Dislikes 52:39 Theming and Lore Apologies to my brother (check out his channel over at https://www.youtube.com/@strategywizard for board game reviews, unboxing, etc.) for taking so long to finally play this game that he got me [inaudible] ago, but now I’ve finally played it and I can give my breakdown of the mechanics, wh...

A subscriber recently shared a possible plot hole that someone else brought up: How could the minstrel who sings of Frodo of the Nine Fingers at the Field of Cormallen know Frodo and Sam’s story past when they left Faramir? I think there are three possible explanations. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: ht...

The Christian Scriptures of the New Testament have many passages dealing with the idea that God uses the weak and foolish to accomplish His ends and put to shame the strong and wise of the world. Tolkien uses this same theme pretty frequently in his own works, but why should weakness be a virtue? I think I can give an answer. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLore...

Jordan Rannells, editor of the Prancing Pony Podcast, has put together a soundscape for the Lord of the Rings, and it’s amazing! Use discount code LORE25 for 25% off all three books, or LORE10 for 10% off one book at: https://jordanrannells.com/shop Concept Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxg2_xX9Mc Release Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCc_pAyu6aA&t= Book 1 Chapter 1 Co...

In connection with the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth (which I’ve discussed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwi7_nABWDI&t=2s&pp=ygUWdG9sa2llbiBsb3JlIGF0aHJhYmV0aA%3D%3D ), Tolkien wrote a brief account of what Men in the days of the First Age believed about their past and why they, unlike Elves, were mortal, and it bears some remarkable similarities to but also differences from another...

Long-time patron PABrewNews had another request for a topic, this time along the lines of demon possession and how it might figure into Middle-earth given Tolkien’s Catholicism. In light of last week’s Thursday Thoughts video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynNQDDU2FH4&pp=ygUvdGh1cnNkYXkgdG9sa2llbiB0aG91Z2h0cyBkcnVlZGFpbiBjaXJpdGggdW5nb2w%3D ), I might have a few things to say on the topic....

I recently noticed an interesting parallel between how Gandalf “punishes” Sam for eavesdropping and how Aragorn “punishes” Beregond for his deeds in defense of Faramir. But perhaps the most interesting thing about the parallel is that it answers a doubt Aragorn has about himself. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195...

A chance (as they say in Middle-earth) series of events led me to speculate on the nature of the two watchers at the gate of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, which I had previously wondered about but never had a good theory for. Hat tips for inspiring this idea go to David Rowe (see his appearance on my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOHLbX0u8EI&pp=ygUpdG9sa2llbiBsb3JlIGRhdmlkIHJvd2Ug...

Demetrious Polychron, author of “The Fellowship of the King,” has filed suit against Amazon, the Tolkien Estate, and others claiming that the Rings of Power TV show stole his ideas and thus violated copyright, and it only gets more hilarious from there. Other Links: Utreon: https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twit...

One of my Elf Friend tier supporters has submitted a question for me to address in a video about the nature and origins of Tom Bombadil. It’s certainly a unique theory with some interesting points, so let’s take a look! Other Links: Utreon: https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore...

YouTuber @ZacharyEvans thinks I’m too harsh on Peter Jackson’s version of Theoden, and laid out his arguments in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47etG_4b8Gg . He has some good points, but I think he makes a few mistakes as well. I also think it’s worth revisiting this topic in light of last weeks video on Northern Courage ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e5ecL77EEA&pp=ygUkbm9ydGh...

In Volume 10 of The History of Middle Earth (Morgoth’s Ring), we encounter the “Statute of Finwe and Miriel,” which lays out rules for when elves can remarry if their spouse somehow “dies.” Given Tolkien’s theology as a Catholic, it’s hard not to see some strong parallels with Jesus’ commentary on the same general topic…. Other Links: Utreon: https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https:...

Tolkien takes cues from the Beowulf poet and finds value in pagan virtues and Christianizes them in his fiction. Other Links: Utreon: https://utreon.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 Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If...