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This is my favorite interview from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions for The Return of the King! Bernard Hill was such a real, genuine, and engaged personality. He had great stories from the set, from time spent with James Cameron, and how much he found joy in his home and horses. And he really like the iPod I used to record this interview! 😂

He also discusses:

• How he helped shape iconic scenes, including the “spears” charge at Pelennor Fields
• The collaborative script process and what it revealed about the making of LOTR
• Bernard’s own shire: restoring a wildflower meadow and building his haven in Suffolk

In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:

• New app features–including Word of the Day feature and trivia
• How you can join the conversation, give feedback, and win giveaways

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).

🔗 Episode Links
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The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
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Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives!

“Day shall come again”–but for now, it’s the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. In this episode, we walk through Chapter 2 of The Children of Húrin a breaking down Tolkien’s bloodiest, most tragic battle. We cover the epic (and doomed) alliance of elves, men, and dwarves, the double-cross by the Easterlings, and why Morgoth’s victory still leaves him filled with dread. And we even get the Pope involved!

We also look at:

• Why the elves’ greatest host could never stand against Morgoth—and what the battle’s tactics reveal about Tolkien’s “epic history” mindset
• The legendary valor (and fate) of Húrin and Huor—plus the prophecy that links Gondolin to Morgoth’s ruin
• Tolkien’s use of prophecy, fate, and heroism: why the darkest chapter is full of hope for the future
• The difference between Tolkien’s approach to battles and the modern appetite for nonstop action

In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:

• Listener comments about tragic foreshadowing, and Turin’s nature.
• More LEGO Lord of the Rings
• Why pop culture’s take on Tolkien struggles with the deeper logic of Middle-earth

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).

🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exlcusives!

Turin’s tragic journey starts here. In this episode, we examine the opening chapter of The Children of Húrin, exploring the foundational relationships and lineage that shape Turin’s fate. Why does Tolkien focus so much on houses and kin? How does the friendship with the crippled servant Sador color Turin’s early years? We unpack the narrative roots of tragedy, prophecy, and the fraught bond between elves and men.

We also look at:

• What Tolkien’s “fire” actually means when describing Húrin
• The rare, uneasy alliance between elves and men in the First Age
• How tragedy marks Turin’s family from the very beginning
• Giving, pity, and the early signs of Turin’s character—before everything goes wrong

In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:

• The roles of Morwen and Húrin—and how their contrasting natures shape Turin’s destiny
• Tolkien’s craft: why his metaphors never just describe, but also worldbuild
• Why houses and heraldry matter so much in Middle-earth’s oldest tales

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).

🔗 Episode Links
Get the Exploring Tolkien App!
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Exploring Tolkien App
Get the Extended Podcast

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

We finally return to Tolkien’s First Age for a new deep-dive series on The Children of Húrin, starting with Christopher Tolkien’s introduction. We discuss why Tolkien considered Turin’s tale one of his “three great stories” alongside Beren and Luthien and the Fall of Gondolin, the central themes of pride, what Morgoth’s curse actually was, and more!

We also look at:

• The three great houses of men—and why they matter in this story
• The encroaching darkness of Morgoth and the echoes of Greek tragedy
• Whether Turin’s fate is his own making, or shaped by the will of a Dark Lord
• The role of pride—of Húrin, Morwen, Turin, and even Morgoth himself
• View the The Map of Beleriand we talked about

In our extended episode (available for members at https://theonering.com/members), we talk about:

• Listener pushback on Finnish vs. Russian naming traditions in epic storytelling
• How The Hunt for Gollum is progressing

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month) or at Patreon (https://theonering.com/patreon).

🔗 Episode Links
The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

The Kalevala is perhaps Tolkien’s earliest inspiration… In this episode, we dig into The Story of Kullervo the tragic Finnish myth (from the Kalevala) that captured Tolkien’s imagination as a young man. We explore why Kullervo’s tragic tale—full of vengeance, orphaned rage, and doomed family bonds—became the seed for later stories like The Children of Húrin (and even Beren and Lúthien!).

We also examine:

• The Kalevala’s raw, unfamiliar style and why Tolkien found it so fresh
• How Tolkien’s early attempts at rewriting folklore reveal his love of language and poetry
• How the Kalevala’s influence shaped Middle-earth’s earliest legends
• The parallels (and differences) between Kullervo and Turin Turambar
• What makes Kullervo so unlike Tolkien’s usual heroes

In our extended episode (available for members at https://theonering.com/members), we discuss:

• The big ol’ Lego set that’ll be released in a month
• Elanor Gamgee as the face of the new LOTR movie.
• Listener’s feedback on Saruman’s strength.

🔗 Episode Links
The Story of Kullervo
The Children of Hurin
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

This episode tackles two more changes from Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring—Saruman orchestrating the storm on Caradhras, and the missing warg attack in Hollin. We break down how these adaptations simplify Middle-earth, debate whether Saruman’s powers go too far, and discuss what’s lost when the mountain itself isn’t an antagonist.

We also examine:

• Why Jackson condensed multiple threats into “just Saruman and Sauron”
• The cinematic potential of Gandalf’s fiery defense against spirit wargs
• Aragorn’s warnings vs. Saruman’s prophecies—and who really drove the Fellowship’s next moves
• What removing the Hollin warg attack means for Sauron’s reach in the story

In our extended episode (members at https://theonering.com/members), we dive into:

• News about Tolkien’s rare books and LOTRO’s new expansions
• Listener comments over Boromir’s character moments on the slopes of the Misty Mountains
• The fated 5 seasons of The Rings of Power
• What’s next for the podcast (Children of Húrin, Kullervo, and maybe Lord of the Rings itself)!

🎉 Get the extended episode by becoming a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo, free for the 1st month) or at Patreon (https://theonering.com/patreon).

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In this episode, we examine the insertion of Boromir’s ring-handling scene on the slopes of the Misty Mountains–though it was completely invented, how close was it REALLY to the books? … and THEN we discuss Peter Jackson’s NEXT Lord of the Rings films, this time written by Stephen Colbert! 😬

We look at:

• Boromir’s believable corruption
• How much of this scene was actually pulled straight from the book?
• Will this be a movie we want, or just another exercise in fan-service?
• Will the film really just be a flashback?

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Is the word “simple” the most important part of Boromir’s statement?
• And how necessary were Merry and Pippin at the council?
• How much of Colbert’s ideology will be in the new film?
• Other opportunities for films around the time of The War of the Ring

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In this episode, we dig into two crucial scenes: the iconic formation of the Fellowship and the bridge-side tryst between Aragorn and Arwen. Drawing from both book and film, we examine what’s gained (and lost) when Tolkien’s deep lore is streamlined for cinema.

We also look at:

• Who actually attended the Council of Elrond
• Boromir’s famous “Gondor has no king” line—book vs. film debate
• Why Gimli’s axe-to-the-ring moment feels out of place
• How Arwen and Aragorn’s romance changes when moved from appendix to film
• The effects of missing characters like Bilbo and Glorfindel

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Listener questions: Is Lurtz a good addition—or does he rob Aragorn of a key moment?
• The origins of the Uruk-hai – sci-fi or fantasy?
• How “meat’s back on the menu” could’ve been more lore friendly
• The looming Hunt for Gollum trilogy—how much story is really there?
• How an Aragorn biopic could finally do the ranger justice

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat