The Tolkien Road

In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, Bilbo’s birthday festivities begin, as we continue through LORD OF THE RINGS Book 1, Chapter 1, A LONG EXPECTED PARTY! We’ll take time to envision the layout of the party field, and consider the variety of entertainments and meals that made it one of the greatest birthday celebrations of all time! This section begins with the words “Before long the invitations b...

Tolkien Reading Day 2024 is upon us, and boy do we have a curve ball for you! What do Tolkien and Quentin Tarantino have in common? Apparently more than you'd think! Greta and I watched Tarantino's 2019 film "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" twice this week, and found some fascinating synchronicities with Tolkien's own vision of fairy tales from "On Fairy-stories", including one that has me convince...

Welcome to Episode 367 of The Tolkien Road, or Episode 3 in the Do Not Be Hasty - reckoning! In this episode, we'll explore Gandalf's arrival at Bag End with fireworks in tow, and his subsequent discussion with Bilbo about his party, plans, and upcoming joke. Perhaps most importantly, we'll answer that important question: just HOW BIG were Gandalf's eyebrows??? Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kait...

In this episode, we grab a pint with Sam's dad at the Ivy Bush as we resume our exploration of Lord of the Rings Book 1 Chapter 1 A Long Expected Party by considering the section from “Twelve more years passed…” to “...this very month as-is.” The bulk of this section concerns Hamfast Gamgee, aka The Gaffer, and his conversation with other Shire-folk including Daddy Twofoot, Sandyman the Miller, an...

With this episode, we begin a new journey, as we return to The Lord of the Rings for something epic (in scope) and Entish (in pace). Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/jpQhFfCvyL0 WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-99625727 LISTEN AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/99676164 FOLLOW...

With Sauron having been defeated and disembodied at the end of the Second Age, and a time of peace settling in upon the free lands of Middle-earth, how do we arrive at the events of The Lord of the Rings, some 3,000 years later? The account we’ll be looking at in this episode is taken entirely from Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, and describes the major events that lead up to A Long-Expec...

With Elendil and his sons having founded Arnor and Gondor after the downfall of Númenor, Sauron wastes little time in launching an assault upon them, his aim to conquer the free lands of Middle-earth once and for all! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/FTBb9KDSOKE WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/post...

In this episode, we’re approaching the END of our journey through the Fall of Númenor as we explore the founding of Arnor and Gondor after the downfall of Númenor. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/XCeXZeKhSi4 WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-97791398 LISTEN AD-FREE »...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring Ar-Pharazôn’s assault on the Blessed Realm and the great cataclysm that brings Númenor to it’s tragic end. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/Df8hMWPfFDQ WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/97318479 LIST...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring Sauron’s tenure there, his devious and depraved works, and Isildur’s heroic moment. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/gUQyPV08UZk WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-in-96921024 LISTEN AD-FREE » ht...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the rise of Ar-Pharazôn, Númenor’s last King, AND his attack upon Sauron. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/buIaEjcCD4Y WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-94382415 LISTEN AD-FREE » htt...

In this episode, we learn of the reign of Tar-Palantir, the penultimate King of Númenor, who sought to return the land of Gift to its ancient ways. We’ll also learn of the rise of his nephew Pharazôn and the beginning of the abominable reign that ultimately leads to the downfall of the Land of Gift. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG...

In this episode, we’re taking a quick break from The Fall of Númenor to review the new edition of The Letters of JRR Tolkien, released just last week! Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/QGBSygzWEFk WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/93525366 LISTEN AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/...

Hey there, fellow travelers! I was recently a guest on the Exploring Tolkien podcast from TheOneRing.com . We had a great discussion looking at some of the changes in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films and asking the question: Are we OK with these changes? Some of the issues we discussed include: Do Men Want Power MORE THAN Immortality? Did Jackson SCREW UP The Last Alliance of Men and Elves?...

In the last episode, we considered the decreasing reign and lifespans of the rulers of Númenor in the late third millennium of the Second Age, and the root causes of their decline. In this episode, we pick up where we left off, with the death of Tar-Ardamin, the first N ruler to live less than 300 years, and the taking of the sceptre by his son, Ar-Adûnakhôr, and Númenor’s increasing enmity toward...

In this episode, we’ll explore key events during the reign of Tar-Ancalimon, as well as briefly review the reigns of several Númenorean rulers that followed. We’ll learn of Númenor’s increasing spiritual and moral decay and the increasingly contentious power situation in the once peaceful island kingdom. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/7YXPlNBc5xE WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.co...

In this episode, we’ll explore the events attributed to the year 2251 of the Second Age. Those events are: Death of Tar-Atanamir; Tar-Ancalimon Takes The Sceptre; Rebellion and Division of the Númenóreans begins; About this time the Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, Slaves of the Nine Rings, First Appear. We’ll see how the increasing Númenorean anxiety towards death served to create a spiritual environment t...

In this episode, we consider the reign of Tar-Atanamir, the 13th ruler of Númenor. We learn here that Atanamir was given the epithet “The Great”. Yet we also learn that he was given another - “The Unwilling”. I have to admit, it’s not entirely clear to me why Tar-Atanamir deserved to be called “The Great”, though I will explore that issue in this episode. And we will certainly discuss why he was c...

The War of the Three Rings is over! With Sauron’s armies destroyed, Middle-earth is at peace. However, Middle-earth’s peace brings with it a new threat - Númenorean Empire! In this episode, we’ll consider the events spanning the years of SA1731 thru SA2029, as Númenor spreads its influence over Middle-earth - and the Shadow spreads its influence over Númenor. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://you...

With Sauron’s invading armies having been pushed back from the Grey Havens and subsequently routed at the Battle of Tharbad, the Dark Lord is on the run! In this episode, we’re looking at the next series events, those of the year SA1701. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/par3Y0ph_9s WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-91403916 LISTEN AD-FREE » https://www.patre...

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring Sauron’s full scale invasion of Eriador and the subsequent counterattack of the Númenoreans. When we left off, things were looking pretty dire for the Elves of Eriador against the army of Sauron. In this chapter, we’ll continue our exploration of Sauron’s War Against The Elves, or The War of the Three Rings, as...

With this episode, the War of Sauron Upon The Elves (what we might also call the War of the Three Rings) begins. And given the relative length of the next 3 chapters, as well as their unified theme, I decided to combine them into this one episode. The chapters we’ll be looking at are: - 1693 - War of the Elves and Sauron Begins. The Three Rings Are Hidden. - 1695 - Sauron’s forces invade Eriador....

In this episode, we're continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor with "c1600 - Sauron Forges The One Ring In Orodruin. The Completes The Barad-dûr. Celebrimbor Perceives The Designs Of Sauron." Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/vZyIucaQEjg WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-90163414 EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob L...

In this episode, we're continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor with "c1590 - The Three Rings Are Completed In Eregion"! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/1tsKulWfUBk WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-88290129 EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Melkor27 - KG FOLLOW & SUPPORT THE TOLKIEN ROAD : PATREON »...

The full title of this chapters is "c1500 - The Elven Smiths Instructed By Sauron Reach The Height Of Their Skill. They Begin The Forging of the Rings of Power."In this episode, we discuss the nature of Sauron's "gifts" to the Noldor, and how their nature and past makes them particularly prone to Sauron's malevolent plot. Join us as we discuss! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/1tsKulWfUBk WATCH...