Exploring Tolkien is a weekly show that dives deep into JRR Tolkien and all the ages of Middle-earth. Jonathan Watson and Michael Grumbine are your hosts as they read through Tolkien’s works, interview other Tolkien enthusiasts and authors, and critically examine how Tolkien’s world is being treated by mega-corporations like Amazon.com and Warner Bros.
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156. The Cringiest Line in Lord of the Rings : Film Changes #42 and #43 (00:44:19)
In this episode, we look at two of the most unloved film changes from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: Arwen replacing Glorfindel and making Arwen the only one with power and agency in The Flight to...
155. The Infamous Messenger Moth : Film Changes #39, #40, and #41 (00:00:00)
We’re back to going through ALL the changes in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings! This week we discuss Aragorn’s sword substitions, changes at Weathertop, and that infamous messenger moth:
Was Arago...
154. Tolkien Wrote the Ultimate Retcon – The Hobbit #38 (00:59:45)
Most people haven’t read how Tolkien actually wrote how The Hobbit precisely connects to The Lord of the Rings. In The Quest of Erebor (first published in Unfinished Tales) Tolkien explains precisely...
153. The Christmas Eucatastrophe (and is The Lord of the Rings a Christmas movie?) (00:00:00)
We turn our attention from The Hobbit to a long-hidden Tolkien gem: his 1936 Christmas poem, “Noel.” We take a look at the history of the poem’s rediscovery, its deep-rooted Tolkien-esque imagery, an...
152. Tolkien Ties up EVERY Loose End (we’re done!) – The Hobbit #37 (00:00:00)
In this episode, we wrap up The Hobbit with “The Last Stage” and reflect on Bilbo’s road home, the petty (now less petty?) Rivendell elves, the unexpected return to Bag End, and how Tolkien so thoroug...
151. Eagles Didn’t Win the Battle – The Hobbit #36 (00:00:00)
Three dwarves lost and a shape-shifting berserking bear unleashed—the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies reconciles Bilbo to Thorin and gives us a completely different Elvenking than what you ...
150. Tolkien’s Battle Tactics – The Hobbit #35 (00:00:00)
Did Tolkien “earn” The Battle of the Five Armies, or is the surprise enough to justify its existence? In this episode, we look at Tolkien’s climactic battle from The Hobbit, comparing how it unfolds o...
149. Bilbo’s Honest Betrayal – The Hobbit #34 (00:56:07)
Bilbo owns up to his burgling — a betrayal that drives Thorin to the brink of killing him. But Bilbo isn’t cowed… and the armies of elves and men aren’t cowed by Dain’s special forces. But maybe the...
148. Bilbo Doubles Down on Burglary – The Hobbit #33 (00:49:40)
We look at Chapter 16 of The Hobbit, where Bilbo makes his most controversial choice-—handing the Arkenstone over to Bard and the Elvenking. Is Bilbo a traitor to the dwarves, or the only one thinking...
147. Is Thorin Gold-Sick or Just Sick of the Elves – The Hobbit #32 (00:00:00)
The talking birds bring news of the dragon’s demise to the dwarves–only to find a host of elves and men are coming to the mountain’s gate. Bard makes his claim for a portion of the treasure, but Thori...
146. Smaug’s Hydrophobia – The Hobbit #31 (00:00:00)
You’d think the death of the dragon is is the climax of The Hobbit… right? In this chapter, Tolkien gives us action, destruction, and the rise of a new unlikely hero. We look at Bard’s big moment, the...
145. Is the Arkenstone a Silmaril? – The Hobbit #30 (00:52:41)
Smaug is gone, so the Bilbo and the dwarves… just sit there?! For a couple of days they do–and eventually they reach the treasures. Bilbo, though, makes a choice to REALLY become the burglar when he...
144. Never Laugh at Live Dragons – The Hobbit #29 (00:00:00)
Smaug is finally fully revealed! This week, we finish “Inside Information”, where Bilbo finally comes face-to-face with the unassessably wealthy dragon. We break down the wordplay Bilbo engages in as ...
143. Playing Tales of the Shire So You Don’t Have To (00:00:00)
The new game, Tales of the Shire was released last month after numerous delays… so, I took a bullet for the team and bought the game. I livestreamed playing the game for the very first time earlier t...
142. Size Matters to Every Dragon – The Hobbit #28 (00:00:00)
Bilbo finally becomes a real burglar in this chapter, venturing alone into the heart of the Lonely Mountain as Thorin and company are once again exposed for the unprepared adventurers they are. Meanwh...
141. An Interview with Elijah Wood (00:00:00)
Here’s the next episode in our series of interviews from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions! In this interview–just before The Return of the King was released–Elijah wood reflects on the jour...
140. Into the Mountain’s Throat – The Hobbit #27 (00:00:00)
Erebor’s secret door: clever storytelling or a bit too convenient? In this episode, we discuss one of The Hobbit’s quieter chapters, where Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach Erebor’s hidden entrance....
139. The Problem with Thorin – The Hobbit #26 (00:46:15)
As Thorin and company finally reach the Lonely Mountain, reality sets in—and it doesn’t smell so pleasant. We examine Tolkien’s skillful prose and worldbuilding as the company confront the desolation ...
138. What Tolkien Really Thinks About Politicians – The Hobbit #25 (00:43:16)
Tolkien makes it pretty clear what he thinks about politicians in this chapter… While Thorin and company regain their royal swagger, the Master of Laketown plots to save his own skin and run them out ...
137. Do the elves have ANYTHING valuable to trade? – The Hobbit #24 (00:00:00)
Were back looking at the first half of Chapter 10, “A Warm Welcome.” In this episode, we discuss the arrival of Bilbo and the dwarves at Laketown (check out Tolkien’s drawing), how this chapter leans ...
136. The Lowest IQ Elves of Middle-earth? – The Hobbit #23 (00:44:21)
In this very special episode, we reveal the exact barrel music sung in Thranduil’s halls as the dwarves were tossed into the river! 😉 Then, we get into the details of barrel physics, the river, and ...
135. The Greedy and Petty Elves of Mirkwood – The Hobbit #22 (00:46:37)
Bilbo fully embraces his role as hero and finds a way to save the dwarves — but not before we find out how the Elvenking distrusts the dwarves while comparing himself to the great wealthy kings of old...
134. When Bilbo Became the Hero – The Hobbit #21 (01:00:08)
Bilbo is the only one left to save the dwarves–and to his own surprise, he’s up to the task!
This week we also look at:
Bilbo’s moment of transformation into the hero of the story.
The size of these ...
133. Ainulindalë – A Reading in JRR Tolkien’s Voice (00:00:00)
JRR Tolkien’s voice was, well, unique. He was notably hard to understand (his students regularly complained that his classes were difficult because they simply couldn’t understand him), and even the ...
132. Evil or Elves or Both… Terror in Mirkwood : The Hobbit #20 (00:54:05)
In this first half of chapter 8 of the hobbit–Flies and Spiders–Jonathan and Michael discuss the evil enchantment of Mirkwood, and if the elves might have a small part in it.
This week we also look at...
