Tolkien Lore

In a quest fraught with practical problems, like how to get into Mordor, how to evade capture, and how to make good time, it turns out most of the decisions made have little to do with these practical details. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

GRRM is at it again, or rather Twitter is at it again reviving old quotes by the Song of Ice and Fire author, with a really bonkers line about Tolkien and sex. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Someone shared something of a meme on my Discord server (join at the link below!) and it actually raised some interesting points about how movies affect our imaginations, as well as a legitimate question regarding how Saruman hid his activities for so long, so let’s take a look. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Aragorn’s choice to follow the Uruk-hai in order to rescue Merry and Pippin is made very differently in the original book as compared to Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy, but the same scene also foreshadows in some ways Sam’s own difficult choices much later in the story. For my recent discussion of Aragorn’s lack of self-confidence, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Rhi8bV6zQ&pp=ygUiZGFyayBuaWdodCBvZiBhcmFnb3JuJ3MgY29uZmlkZW5jZQ%3D%3D For more discussion on Aragron’s character arc (or lack thereof), click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPpBd0WSOV4 Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Another fascinating cross-over with modern media, this time with an Australian kids show about anthropomorphic dogs?? Let me explain. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Aragorn has a significant amount of self doubt after Gandalf falls with the Balrog, in contrast to the dynamic, confident leader we see in much of the rest of his story. This hints at aspects of his relationship to Gandalf that aren’t really that explicit in the story, but we can find other bread crumbs.... Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

After the “Hunt for Gollum” movie announcement, I notice more than one person asking why the Tolkien Estate hasn’t sold the rights to the Silmarillion yet. It seems like a natural enough question following the death of Christopher Tolkien, but there are still plenty of obstacles to such a move. Want to know about that atrocious John Boorman LOTR script? Here are my videos on it: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhKX7VdMiZU Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbxZU3mVRsc Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7BqeOwPcSE Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHGpbhTKq0w For good measure, here I talk about JRR Tolkien’s comments on another script he hated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMLLIFb_Pe8 For my (very old) thoughts on how you might adapt the Silmarillion, check this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cliHCmfpj3M Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Viewer coreyander286 wondered about this, and in the post Peter Jackson era it’s not a strange thing to wonder, but there’s a fairly simple answer. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Wrapping up the first of Peter Jackson’s original Middle-earth Trilogy, we have a grab bag of homages, reversals, and interesting adaptive choices. Previous videos in this series: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_1rDzChnJ0 Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2dKbIlTthc Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Embracer Group has finally announced details of its planned first foray into the world of Middle-earth from a cinematic angle, with a working title of “The Hunt for Gollum.” I give the details so far, my thoughts, and maybe some snide remarks about a certain other company. My review of the fan film by the same name is here if you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INb-aR2UDkY Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Wrapping up my extreme nitpick of Peter Jackson’s first Middle-earth movie, we have insane character decisions, major tonal disconnects, and even a technical complaint. Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb4E0TBsrtA Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBCiY7P2Dg Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Decades ago, when Dungeons and Dragons first got started, there were a fairly large number of Christians in the United States who thought it (and many other fantasy properties) were dangerous and anti-Biblical. That was always based mainly on a misunderstanding, and you’d think by now that would have been cleared up. I recently found out, though, that there are still people who think even Lord of the Rings is somehow religiously dangerous…. My video on the ways in which Lord of the Rings is fundamentally Christian is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AWD7UWsn4w Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

A viewer asked me in an email what I thought would have happened if Frodo hadn't been wearing Bilbo's mithril coat and had instead been killed in Moria. I tried to come up with a response, but as it turns out there are just too many possibilities, so instead I made this video describing my thought process and why "what if" questions can be dangerous roads to travel. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Peter Jackson’s take on the confrontation of Gandalf on the one hand and Theoden and Grima Wormtonge on the other drastically changes the nature of what is going on in the scene. Some of that is somewhat dictated by the medium of cinema, but some of it is...not. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Continuing my extreme nitpick of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy, we discuss terrible movie tropes, inexplicable events, and bad character decisions. Apologies for the audio and video issues; I tested the setup before I started but it still came out weird for some reason. If you missed part 1 of this series, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb4E0TBsrtA Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Minor changes come fast and thick in this section of the movie, and several of them have significant storytelling implications. Miss my first video in this series? Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_1rDzChnJ0 Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

After his meeting with Denethor, word quickly spreads about Pippin and the local residents get the idea that he is Hobbit royalty and that he was bringing some half-high warriors to aid in the defense, but how exactly did they get this idea? It’s a bit of a funny story. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

In the first chapter of the Silmarillion, Eru Iluvatar makes it clear that while Melkor may try to disrupt the music with themes of his own, all will ultimately redound to the glory of Iluvatar. Boromir’s death turns out to be a great example of that. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Cinemasins was off base with a lot of their criticisms so let’s see what we can really find if we decide to be super finicky with our viewing of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy... Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

For all his faults, Peter Jackson clearly knew the story he was adapting to screen. And superfans know this because they noticed those little details that only a fellow superfan would bother to mention. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

A viewer asked that I discuss Tolkien-inspired lyrics in Led Zeppelin songs, so here I go with some bonus material from Rush! Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Tolkien’s Elvish script is beautiful, but it might seem hard to learn at first glance. It’s actually quite easy if you just take a closer look, and you can customize it as much as you want! Here’s my previous videos “translating” some of the Elvish in Lord of the Rings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tz6PdaQpFo Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Once again I explore how modern pop culture intersects with Tolkien in surprising, interesting, and insightful ways, this time through the lens of Pixar’s “Inside Out.” Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Saruman’s speeches to Gandalf have always struck me as revealing something of Tolkien’s opinion of politicians in modern democratic systems. Sweet-tongued and convincing but willing to sacrifice principle and honesty in pursuit of his goals, he reflects an uncomfortably large number of prominent figures on the modern political scene. Let’s analyze him and see how he matches up. Not familiar with the background of how Gandalf came to Saruman in the book? Check my recent video comparing the book and movie on this point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXinRWIi1yw Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://playeur.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).

Last week (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXinRWIi1yw&pp=ygUzbG9yZCBvZiB0aGUgcmluZ3MgYm9vayB2IG1vdmllIGdhbmRhbCBkaXNhcHBlYXJhbmNl) I discussed how the changes to how we experience Gandalf’s disappearance and captivity in Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring make sense given the limitations of the medium. A viewer commented that the case was rather the opposite with the Paths of the Dead and Aragorn’s appearance in the Corsair ships, so in this video I explore what makes these two examples different. Other Links: Playeur (formerly Utreon): https://utreon.com/c/TolkienLorePodcast/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-355195 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@TolkienLore:f Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrrtlore Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tolkiengeek Xero Shoes (affiliate link): https://xeroshoes.com/go/TolkienGeek Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/EVKynAj2m9 (If link is expired contact me at tolkienloremaster@gmail.com and I’ll send a fresh invite link).