The One Ring

The story of Beren and Luthien takes a dark turn with death and cruelty, but also reveals a more fairy tale side with all the shape-shifting, magic, and a talking dog! Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they get deep into the 2nd part of Beren and Luthien's story! Don't forget to checkout our extended podcast by becoming a patron--it's almost another 30 minutes of Tolkien talk and free for the first month! https://theonering.com/patron ——————————————————— Window on the West - Episode 27 ——————————————————— They're taking the hobbits to Isengard ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE-1RPDqJAY —————————————————— 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast —————————————————— Get the Extended Podcast ► https://theonering.com/patron Apple ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455 Google ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS93b3R3 —————————————————— 🔎 If You Like Tolkien —————————————————— The Silmarillion ► https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k The Fall of Númenor ► https://amzn.to/3FpWs3F The Atlas of Middle-earth ► https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien ► https://amzn.to/3bognFr —————————————————— Chapters —————————————————— 00:00 Intro 01:20 Get the Extended Podcast 03:10 Dan's Big Thought 07:31 Felagund vs Sauron 13:50 Why duke it out with songs? 17:25 He slayed them cruelly 20:00 Luthien = Rapunzel? 23:05 Huan and Fairy Tales 27:50 The brothers are gathering power 31:45 Finrod is Slain 34:01 Luthien's Greater Power 35:55 Sauron's a Furry... Werewolf 38:50 Sauron Battles Luthien 43:30 Sauron's a Pac-man Ghost 48:00 Huan Still Follows Celegorm 49:25 Beren's Big Move 1:00:40 Ted Nasmith's Art 1:02:05 Luthien WILL Die 1:06:30 On to Part 3!

The story of Beren and Luthien is the beating heart of Tolkien's entire Middle-earth. It's one of the first two stories he wrote (while serving in World War 1), and was directly inspired by moments he spent with his not-yet-wife, Edith. In this episode, we look deeply into what it must have been like for Beren to meet Thingol and Melian, question how much Beren valued the Silmarils (if at all), and discuss the value of oaths and whether Finrod's oath was "good". And don't miss our AI-generated quiz on "All that is gold does not glitter"! Can YOU spot the AI fanfic? ——————————————————— Window on the West - Episode 26 ——————————————————— Unfinished Tales ► https://amzn.to/3WUKohz The Fall of Númenor ► https://amzn.to/3Y6fh3M —————————————————— 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast —————————————————— Get the Extended Podcast ► https://theonering.com/patron Apple ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455 Google ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS93b3R3 —————————————————— 🔎 If You Like Tolkien —————————————————— The Silmarillion ► https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k The Fall of Númenor ► https://amzn.to/3FpWs3F The Atlas of Middle-earth ► https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien ► https://amzn.to/3bognFr —————————————————— Chapters —————————————————— 00:00 Intro 02:30 All that is Gold Does not Glitter - AI Edition! 11:30 Dan's Big Thought - The WORST Meet the Parents moment 13:33 The First Story he Wrote 15:33 It starts with a connection Between Beren and Melian 19:07 Tolkien Using the word "Magic" 21:50 Like a treatment for a Screenplay 24:30 The Fell Spirits That Inhabit Things 26:50 Beren sees Luthien like Thingol sees Melian 32:30 Beren Meets the Parents 38:03 "Little Lords and Brief Kings" 40:33 Luthien is Worth More than the Fate of Arda 43:00 Beren's awkward laugh? Indignant chuckle? 46:35 Does Beren value the Silmarils? 50:15 Beren reaches Finrod in Nargothrond 54:00 Celegorm and Curufin corrupt Finrod's People 1:00:29 If You Like Tolkien - Erendis and Aldarion

"Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures. And of these histories most fair still in the ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien. Of their lives was made the Lay of Leithian, Release from Bondage, which is the longest save one of the songs concerning the world of old; but here the tale is told in fewer words and without song." —————————————————— 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast —————————————————— Get the Extended Podcast ► https://theonering.com/patron Apple ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455 Google ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS93b3R3 —————————————————— 🔎 If You Like Tolkien —————————————————— The Silmarillion ► https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k The Fall of Númenor ► https://amzn.to/3FpWs3F The Atlas of Middle-earth ► https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien ► https://amzn.to/3bognFr —————————————————— Chapters —————————————————— 00:00 Intro 02:15 A Green Great Dragon 04:00 A Glade of Hemlocks (not the evergreens) 07:00 It's the Glue that Binds The Silmarillion Together 09:45 "Amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures..." 12:45 The Story has Gone Crooked

It’s as if the show runners for Amazon’s Rings of Power ignored the way Tolkien ACTUALLY wrote good characters.

CS Lewis played an instrumental role in making sure JRR Tolkien finished The Lord of the Rings. Get The Letters of JRR Tolkien ▸ https://amzn.to/3wgKdSZ Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

If you want to read about Haleth, go to Chapter 17 of The Silmarillion, titled "Of the Coming of Men into the West"! Brace yourself, though... she's no super-powered Rings of Power Galadriel! Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

Sauron makes his big entrance into Middle-earth in theis chapter, and does some serious damage to the elves and men. But Morgoth still seems to underestimate his foes. Join Michael, Dan, and I as we read through the second part of chapter 18 of The Silmarillion! And stick around for our extended discussion on CS Lewis's thoughts on The Two Towers and The Return of the King... ——————————————————— Window on the West - Episode 24 ——————————————————— CS Lewis' Review ► https://paulkuritz.com/2019/12/c-l-lewis-defends-the-lord-of-the-ring/ —————————————————— 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast —————————————————— Get the Extended Podcast ► https://theonering.com/patron Apple ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455 Google ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS93b3R3 —————————————————— 🔎 If You Like Tolkien —————————————————— The Silmarillion ► https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k The Fall of Númenor ► https://amzn.to/3FpWs3F The Atlas of Middle-earth ► https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien ► https://amzn.to/3bognFr —————————————————— Chapters —————————————————— 00:00 Intro 02:34 Dan's Big Thought 06:02 Why are elves more hesitant to fight than men? 10:40 Morgoth's Treachery Finds More Hold in the Elves 12:00 Sauron's Great Entrance 19:55 Huor is only 13 when he meets Turgon! 23:55 Morgoth Feigns Pity 26:45 Gorlim the Unhappy 27:50 Tolkien Writes like a Historian 30:08 Beren came hardly into Doriath. 32:40 Edith Marie Tolkien's Gravestone 35:00 If You Like Tolkien - CS Lewis reviews The Lord of the Rings 46:52 Get the Extended Podcast!

Today's "scholars" create warped images of what Tolkien wrote by making up claims built on their own prejudices. Tolkien's Jewish Dwarves ▸ https://daily.jstor.org/j-r-r-tolkiens-jewish-dwarves/ Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

Not unexpectedly, Amazon's showrunners thought they could write Tolkien's world better than Tolkien. That's how we ended up with insta-Mordor... just add water! Original Article ▸ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rings-of-power-mt-doom-volcano-water-real-1235230089/ Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

In the 1960s "Frodo Lives" was a phrase a particular crowd of Lord of the Rings fans used -- and, though it certainly increased book sales, it looks like Tolkien wasn't of fan of it. Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower #frodo

We delve into the first half of Chapter 18, "Of the Ruin of Beleriand and Fall of Fingolfin", taking a long look at this valiant elf's hopeless assault on Morgoth--an elf who ACTUALLY HAS A TEMPEST IN HIM, and not the dust devil in The Rings of Power's Galadriel. Join us as we look at things like: * Tolkien Gives us the end of the story at the beginning * Fingolfin's "Fire" * Why are the eagles late? * Morgoth is not unscathed--he's scarred and limping! ——————————————————— Window on the West - Episode 23 ——————————————————— Quiz 1 ► https://www.allthetests.com/personality-tests/are-you-this-star-figure/movie-characters/lord-of-the-rings-lotr-characters/which-lord-of-the-rings-character-are-you/quiz19/1155066356/which-lord-of-the-rings-wizard-are-you Quiz 2 ► https://twinfinite.net/2020/09/which-lord-of-the-rings-character-are-you-take-this-quiz-to-find-out/ Quiz 3 ► https://www.geekbomb.net/snax_quiz/which-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-character-are-you/ CS Lewis' Review ► https://paulkuritz.com/2019/12/c-l-lewis-defends-the-lord-of-the-ring/ —————————————————— 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast —————————————————— Get the Extended Podcast ► https://theonering.com/patron Apple ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455 Google ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS93b3R3 —————————————————— 🔎 If You Like Tolkien —————————————————— The Silmarillion ► https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k The Fall of Númenor ► https://amzn.to/3FpWs3F The Atlas of Middle-earth ► https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien ► https://amzn.to/3bognFr —————————————————— Chapters —————————————————— 00:00 Intro 01:16 All that is Gold Does Not Glitter 13:15 Which Rings of Power Character is Dan? 20:34 Dan's Big Thought 23:14 Tolkien Gives us the End of the Story in the Beginning 28:04 Sauron goes EVERYWHERE 30:17 The Bond Between Men and Elves 31:53 Why Fingolfin is Michael's Favorite Elf 34:35 Fingolfin's Fire, Like a Wind amid the Dust 40:05 The Eagle Comes... but Too Late 44:40 Morgoth: Scarred and Limping 46:41 Evil has Taken on its Final Form 49:47 Jonathan Avoided The Rings of Power 52:35 If You Like Tolkien 56:55 Get the Extended Podcast!

Not sure how this is gonna work out, but there's a rumor floating that The Rings of Power has cast Tom Bombadil in season two of The Rings of Power... something Peter Jackson didn't do. What can we expect? Original Rumor Report ▸ https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2023/01/04/116054-bonkers-rings-of-power-s2-rumour-a-wild-tom-bombadil-appears/ Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

If you've never seen Leonard Nimoy's (aka Spock from Star Trek) "hit" song about Bilbo Baggins, you owe it to yourself to watch (and you'll almost certainly crack a smile--even on your worst day)! Click the link below and tell me what you think! The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins ▸ https://youtu.be/BC35cQKHwzg Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower #startrek #spock

The New York Times ran an article explaining that the Prime Minister of Italy is fascist because she was a Lord of the Rings fan... I'm not making this up. They seriously believe this drivel. These hacks write with all the force of a massive army of straw men... New York Times Article ▸ https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/21/world/europe/giorgia-meloni-lord-of-the-rings.html Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

in 1955 CS Lewis wrote his review of The Two Towers and Return of the King. In it, he (perhaps without realizing) makes the argument as to why Tolkien's fantasy/myth is more "real" than the less than mediocre fantasy we've seen recently. CS Lewis's Full Review ▸ https://paulkuritz.com/2019/12/c-l-lewis-defends-the-lord-of-the-ring/ (also found in the book "Tolkien and the Critics" : https://amzn.to/3ia8Yge) Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

Who is the REAL "strong" woman in Tolkien's Middle-earth? Why do men fear elves? Death really weirds-out the elves... and why we measure our lives in milestones, and elves do not! Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they tackle the 2nd half of Chapter 17, of the Coming of Men into the West! —————————————————— Episode Links —————————————————— Stephen R Lawhead Website ► https://www.stephenlawhead.com/ Taliesin (Book 1) ► https://amzn.to/3Z6K2Xv Merlin (Book 2) ► https://amzn.to/3Z73tPV —————————————————— 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast —————————————————— Get the Extended Podcast ► https://theonering.com/patron Apple ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455 Google ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS93b3R3 —————————————————— 🔎 If You Like Tolkien —————————————————— Stephen R Lawhead's Books ► https://www.stephenlawhead.com/ The Silmarillion ► https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k The Fall of Númenor ► https://amzn.to/3FpWs3F The Atlas of Middle-earth ► https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien ► https://amzn.to/3bognFr —————————————————— Chapters —————————————————— 00:00 Intro 01:30 Thanks to our listeners! 05:17 All That is Gold Does Not Glitter 14:30 Dan's Big Thought 17:20 Was it Amlach? 22:44 We need Michael's chart of the Houses of men! 26:30 Even Death Causes Dissension 27:45 Fearing the Light of Their Eyes 32:44 "Sure, grab those Northern lands, men" 35:28 Haleth: A Strong Woman 38:33 Fool-fire! 41:00 Death: Well, that was weird.... 42:32 Tolkien's Manly Details 44:35 Milestones Measure Men's Lives--Not Elves 47:52 Michael's 2022 Letter from Father Christmas 52:10 If You Like Tolkien - The Pendragon Cycle

Simon Tolkien asserted something INCREDIBLE to the BBC when assessing Peter Jackson's films... which makes his involvement in The Rings of Power even more unbelievable! I have no idea how this is the guy that ended up running the Tolkien Estate now (other than consanguinuity)... Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com #tolkien #lordoftherings #ringsofpower

The Rings of Power actually got a nomination! And, if you think about it, it's probably for the best part of the show... Some Article Link ▸ https://thescl.com/news/nominees-announced-for-4th-scl-awards/ Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com

Amazon's brass keeps parroting the notion that it's just a small subset of Tolkien fans that are having a "Strong Reaction" to the show. Comicbook.com Article ▸ https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/lord-of-the-rings-rings-of-power-amazon-studios-house-of-dragons-competition/ Become a Member! ▸▸ https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸ https://windowonthewest.com

Amazon's Global Head of TV makes some odd claims about Rings of Power season 2... doubling down on what has proven to NOT work in season 1! Original Deadline Article ▸ https://deadline.com/2022/12/lotr-the-rings-of-power-amazon-vernon-sanders-interview-investment-season-2-spoilers-pace-battles-season-3-renewal-1235201384/ Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com

In 1962, even JRR Tolkien felt the commercialization of Christmas--but he makes the more important point about that problem in a letter to his son Michael Get this Letter Tolkien Wrote ▸ https://amzn.to/3POY9N9 Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com

After last week telling us that Rings of Power has too many men, we now find out that Amazon has--with stunning bravery--announced that no men shall be allowed to direct any episode season 2 of this creatively lacking show. Read the Article ▸ https://www.ign.com/articles/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-season-2-directors-reflect-the-female-filmmaker-landscape Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com

This poem, title "Noel", was written by J.R.R. Tolkien before The Hobbit was published, and only just discovered in 2013 in a 1936 copy of The Annual of Our Lady's School (a school magazine). The beautiful imagery Tolkien creates with his words resonates profoundly with the winter season's cold and desolate landscape... but the heavens and earth are overwhelmed with joy by the eucatastrophe (as Tolkien would put it) of Christ's birth. ▶ Special thanks to Austin Robertson for the beautiful reading ▶ https://austinrobertsonvoice.com ——————————————————— Noel, by JRR Tolkien ——————————————————— Grim was the world and grey last night: The moon and stars were fled, The hall was dark without song or light, The fires were fallen dead. The wind in the trees was like to the sea, And over the mountains' teeth It whistled bitter-cold and free, As a sword leapt from its sheath. The lord of snows upreared his head; His mantle long and pale Upon the bitter blast was spread And hung o'er hill and dale. The world was blind, the boughs were bent, All ways and paths were wild: Then the veil of cloud apart was rent, And here was born a Child. The ancient dome of heaven sheer Was pricked with distant light; A star came shining white and clear Alone above the night. In the dale of dark in that hour of birth One voice on a sudden sang: Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth Together at midnight rang. Mary sang in this world below: They heard her song arise O’er mist and over mountain snow To the walls of Paradise, And the tongue of many bells was stirred in Heaven's towers to ring When the voice of mortal maid was heard, That was mother of Heaven's King. Glad is the world and fair this night With stars about its head, And the hall is filled with laughter and light, And fires are burning red. The bells of Paradise now ring With bells of Christendom, And Gloria, Gloria we will sing That God on earth is come. —————————————————— 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast —————————————————— Get the Extended Podcast ► https://theonering.com/patron Apple ► https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455 Google ► https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5wb2RjYXN0bWlycm9yLmNvbS93b3R3

Did YOU write long, world-building, story-driven letters from Santa to your your kids every Christmas? No? Didn't think so. Tolkien did. I rest my case. :) Letters From Father Christmas (softcover) ▶ https://amzn.to/3G7aclq Letters From Father Christmas (hardcover) ▶https://amzn.to/3HPIlrA Letters From Father Christmas (Kindle) ▶ https://amzn.to/3V61wAl Become a Member! ▸▸. https://theonering.com/patron Subscribe to Our Podcast! ▸▸. https://windowonthewest.com