Watch Party: Lord of the Rings

"I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness; but I know I can’t turn back. It isn’t to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want - I don’t rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through, sir, if you understand me." What does Amazon's move from New Zealand to UK mean for the show, and for...

"In seven hours the glory of each tree waxed to full and waned again to naught; and each awoke once more to life an hour before the other ceased to shine. Thus in Valinor twice every day there came a gentle hour of softer light when both trees were faint and their gold and silver beams were mingled." Amazon finally gives us an official release date, along with their first official teaser image fea...

"But we need not assent. If we love Numenor also, let us enjoy it before they ruin it. We also are daughters of the great, and we have wills and courage of our own" Having wrapped up the finished portion of Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife, we now look back at the story and consider what it has to say about feminism, gender roles, and marriage, and discuss how Amazon might approach these c...

"I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all of the ages of this world alone."  This week, Michael and Jen spill some hot copyright tea, and then wrap up the finished portion of Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife. Our tale finally reaches a crescendo, as the lovers are permanently torn asunder. Join us as we peel back the layers of this story, and explore how it ties into Tolkie...

“ 'If Helm dislikes a crooked staff that is thrust on him, he breaks it. So!' With that, he smote Freca with such a blow with his first that he fell back stunned, and died soon after." We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special announcement: a new feature film set in Middle-Earth is in the works! New Line and Warner Bros. surprised everyone yesterday with an announ...

“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.” We asked, and the people...

“'Then let Spring and summer now begin!’ He said. 'And let not winter  return,' said Erendis.” Today on Watch Party we talk about the show's newest director, and the fattest budget in the history of television. Then, back to Aldarian and Erendis, where our star crossed lovers finally tie the knot. But, it may not be the happily ever after we were hoping for.    Want to join the watch party with a...

“Such gifts as come from the Valar, and through them from The One, are to be loved for themselves now, and in all nows. They are not given for barter, for more or for better. The Edain remain mortal men, Aldarion, great though they may be. We cannot dwell in the time that is to come, lest we lose our now for a phantom of our own design.” On today’s pod, we discuss a possible timeline for the Amazo...

"Far above the Ephel Dúath in the West the night-sky was still dim and pale. There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a sma...

Happy Tolkien Reading Day! Today is March 25th, the day that the one ring was destroyed, Barad-dur fell, and Sauron was defeated. We want to commemorate this wonderful holiday by reading a couple of our favorite passages of hope and courage.  Whatever is happening in your life during these difficult times, try to take a moment to read a few lines from your favorite Tolkien text and find solace in...

“We also are daughters of the great, and we have wills and courage of our own. Therefore do not bend, Ancalime. Once bend a little , and they will bend you further until you are bowed down. Sink your roots into the rock, and face the wind, though it blow away all your leaves.” On today’s pod, we've got warlords, a new director, rumblings about production problems, and some tasty tasty Crowe.  And...

“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.” On today’s pod we’re going to bring you up to speed on the latest rumors about the show and Amazon’s marketing...

"You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!” This week on Watch Party, we wrap up our scene by scene review of the 1977 Rankin/Bass animated adaptation of The Hobbit. We pick things b...

"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” Today is our first true watch party! We start with the Rankin/Bass 1977 animated adaption of The Hobbit, a real gem featuring Tolkien's original songs set to a folksy soundtrack, psych...

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Justice shall be done upon him. For wrongfully he has made war upon Gondor and wrested its lands. Therefore the King of Gondor demands that he should atone for his evils, and depart then for ever.” Today we continue our conversation about our hopes and dreams for Amazon's new Lord of the Rings series, and the characters we most hope to see. We already kn...

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." In this inaugural episode of Watch Party: LOTR On Prime, we are stepping onto the road and getting swept off to Middle Earth. Join our fellowship as we start our adventure, and rediscover Tolkien's magical world in anticipation of Ama...