Exploring Tolkien

Join our Discord Channel! Dropping the Barrow-downs removes one of the most important callbacks in the final Battle of the Pelennor Fields before Minas Tirith. It also excises some of the wonderful depth of Middle-earth that Tolkien reveals in these nods and glances. We also take a look at the new game, “Tales of the Shire.” Become a member at https://theonering.com/mem

Join our Discord Channel! Tom Bombadil is a polarizing figure in Middle-earth. Some hate him, some love him. Peter Jackson decided to completely avoid that discussion and simply excise him from the film. What’s really interesting is that his comments about Bombadil really mirror JRR Tolkien’s own points made in a letter in 1954. Become a member at https://theonering.com

Join our Discord Channel! The first REAL dangers outside of the Shire were cut from the films. So, how much did we REALLY lose by not having The Old Forest or Old Man Willow in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films? Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on: What about other evils in Middle-earth? Did Jackso

Join our Discord Channel! Peter Jackson cut the one Hobbit who had the backbone to stand up to a Nazgul, the one who struck fear in the hearts of other Hobbits — but was also a serious family man! We also look at the complete loss of Crickhollow. How did that affect the story, and more importantly, the relationships between the Hobbits? Become a member at https://theonering.c

Join our Discord Channel! We’re back and looking at ALL the changes in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings! This week we head over to Orthanc and the changes made to Gandalf’s visit to Saruman: Gandalf visiting Saruman isn’t just a flashback–and what about all those little changes made there?! Saruman and Gandalf throw down in a Wizard duel for the ages

Join our Discord Channel! Here’s another episode in our series of interviews from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions (watch https://youtu.be/JqhF91GJbGg and https://youtu.be/avh0HxUI8Vs episodes), we spoke with Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore. He really goes in depth on his thoughts and composing process! In this episode, Mr. Shore discusses: What it’s

Join our Discord Channel! As season 2 of the Rings of Power approaches (later this year, we hope!), Michael and I decided to look back at our favorite scenes, favorite characters, and favorite quotes from our favorite television show! Join us as we rediscover all those times this show took our breath away with it’s ability to weave expertly crafted scenes into a holistic stor

Join our Discord Channel! In this final episode of looking at The Mariner’s Wife, we fully finish Tolkien’s tale–but staying true to Tolkien’s characters and world. You’ll find out: Why Sauron Hates Celebrimbor and the Númenoreans How Erendis Dies How Sauron is defeated (and what he does after that) Why Erendis decides to marry Hallacar How this stor

Join our Discord Channel! This month we found out that renowned Tolkien scholars Christian Scull and Wayne Hammond will be publishing a NEW book with NEW content by Tolkien–The Collected Poems of JRR Tolkien. I take a look at their announcement, highlighting some of the details they mentioned. I also take a bit of time to discuss last year’s revised and expanded version

Join our Discord Channel! We don’t know if Tolkien intended on ever finishing this story of Aldarion and Erendis. Written later in life, it is perhaps his most emotionally gut wrenching tale…. and it deserves to be finished! Jonathan lays begins to lay out the entire story of Aldarion, starting at his birth and helping to round out the world of Numenor at this time, whi