Episodes

Join our Free Discord Channel! You know that the film The War of the Rohirrim will be released later this year, right? Well, here is Tolkien’s story of Helm Hammerhand, as HE told it. Michael and Jonathan look at the history of Rohan and the true story of Helm Hammerhand, not the story retold for Modern Audiences we’ll be getting later this year In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about: * Why the name “Hera” is important? * Why Shieldmaidens are NOT Tolkien-inspired. ...

Join our Discord Channel! Join our Discord Community (for free)! 👉 https://discord.gg/fRATdAqEFr On what I just realized was our 2 year anniversary, we brought our original amigo, Dan Coats, back to talk about Tom Bombadil, The Rings of Power, The Hunt for Gollum, and more! In our extended episode (available for our members — but this week everybody gets it!) we talk about: * Does Dan miss the podcast? * The Silmarillion or On Fairy Stories — which did he get more out of? * The Hobbit and T...

Join our Discord Channel! Here’s one more episode in our series of interviews from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions (check them all out at https://www.theonering.com/interviews-with-the-cast-and-crew-of-lord-of-the-rings). In addition to the interview we discuss the upcoming film “Fellowship: Tolkien and Lewis” now in production at Angel Studios. This time we sat with Pippin and Merry, and found out: What their relationship was like wth Peter Jackson What did it take to get through ...

Join our Discord Channel! The films brought us a dark and evil Bree — but Tolkien calls it “friendly” and “familiar”! And Barliman Butterbur has a simple cameo. And then nearly the entire “Strider” chapter is removed–we have no real information on him by the time the Hobbits leave Bree with him in the films! Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on: * The missed opportunity of Barliman Butterbur’s Brewery * Nob’s a Hobbit… but...

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/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on: * If Tom Bombadil was removed from the film, how could Jackso...

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/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on: How do we hear Tom Bombadil’s songs in our own head? How...

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 Jackson do a disservice by removing them? Losing the depth of the character of Middle-earth IS a loss! Why do forests have SO...

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.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on: Who should have been cast as Farmer Maggot? Who ...

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 — Michael and Jonathan seriously DISAGREE on this one! Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to h...

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 like to adapt literary works What he does BEFORE he starts composing What inspired some of the music in the film The works ...

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 story where almost award-winnning actors perfectly portrayed characters Tolkien should have written. We talk about Our favo...

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 story could possible end on a positive high note! After spending 8 episodes on Tolkien’s unfinished tale, it feels even more like a missed opportu...

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 of Tolkien’s letters. Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members) I look at: ...

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, while also bringing in greater roles for some characters and places Tolkien mentions but never really fleshes out. AND it’s ALL d...

Michael and I talk about “The Further Course of the Narrative” in Aldarion and Erendis. Tolkien made some notes about where the story would go, but at times they’re contradictory, and there’s no cohesive plot to speak of. What it is, though, is a glimpse into how Tolkien crafted his world, how there was no cohesive outline but times when his mind was simply driven to write the ideas that came to him. We look at: * How Tolkien wrote this way * Ancalime’s family life–with her parents and husban...

As we close out the prose of this story, the king makes a great sacrifice for the greater good of Númenor, and the new queen becomes a pitiable creature with no hope for her own future. We look at: * Meneldur’s Sacrifice * Aldarion’s Redemption * Erendis’s descent into self-pity Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members): * Did Aldarion provoke Sauron with his journeys to Middle-earth? * Why does Tolkien focus so much on the problem with pr...

Aldarion gets married and is able to stay on land for a few years… up until his daughter turns 4, and then he just can’t stay away from the sea anymore. We look at: * Does Tolkien hate Aldarion? * What drives Aldarion? * Does Erendis hate everything? * Home is where your wife is Then, in our extended episode (become a member to get it at https://theonering.com/members): * Should the kingship of Númenor had more constitutional rules? * Would Middle-earth have been better off with Meneldur...

Join our Discord Community (for free)! In this episode we learn when Tolkien wrote this story, as well as what might have inspired him to put this to paper. Then, Aldarion and Erendis FINALLY get married! But Aldarion manages to get in one more voyage before committing to it… and then we get elves! And birds! And a white tree! We look at: Tolkien getting inspired by the Prose Edda again! When Tolkien wrote Aldarion and Erendis (it was AFTER the Lord of the Rings!) Is Aldarion a Mariner or Ki...

Join our Discord Community (for free)! Jonathan and Michael continue their analysis of “Aldarion and Erendis”. These two aren’t exactly star-crossed lovers–their complicated and long-gestating relationship runs for decades, and that’s just BEFORE they get married. Aldarion tries to balance his love of the sea with his love for Erendis… and fights the battle ceaselessly! In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk more about these changes, and also: * Did the Valar remove their ...

Join our Discord Community (for free)! After Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion, he looked in his father’s notes for more works… and then published Unfinished Tales. This week, Jonathan, Michael, and one of our favorite guests– the Middle-earth Mixer– look at the tale of “Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner’s Wife”! It’s not exactly a happy story, but as you’d expect with anything Tolkien writes, it’s full of meaning, beauty, depth and wisdom. In our extended episode (available for o...

Join our free Discord community! These are our last 2 changes for awhile — listen to hear what we’ll be reading next! Radagast is completely excised from the film… which might just have been a good decision Merry and Pippin become common veggie thieves that just happen to run into Frodo and Sam in a cornfield. Lucky coincidence. In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about these changes, and also: Questions from our members about Far...

We’re going over 2 more changes to The Fellowship of the Ring this week! Gandalf tells Frodo to meet him at the Prancing Pony… which leads to a full 6 CHAPTERS cut from the films! Frodo and Sam never get to spend any time with Gildor in the films–and only get a fleeting glimpse of “Wood Elves” 🤮 In our extended episode (available for our members — $4/mo and free for the first month) we talk more about these changes, in addition to: Would the “spotted toad” threat have been a bad movie moment...

We’re going over 2 more changes to The Fellowship of the Ring this week! Is Bilbo’s party true to how Tolkien wrote it? If it isn’t.. did Jackson change it for the better? Peter Jackson dropped nearly all 17 years from the time of Bilbo’s party to the start of Frodo’s journey. Isn’t that a lot to change? Or maybe–just maybe–this is actually true to the book? In our extended episode (available for our members — https://theonering.com/members) we talk more about these changes, and also: If tho...

Starting in 1920, JRR Tolkien wrote letters from Father Christmas to his children–and continued doing that for 24 more years! Through those letters, he created an entire mythology, including characters (like the North Polar Bear, Ilbereth his elf helper, bear cubs, goblins), stories, and even battles! Thankfully, all those letters were kept and can now be read by us in the “Letters from Father Christmas” book! This year, we put together a reading of Tolkien’s 1926 letter–by Father Christmas hi...