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 Aragorn really just carrying around a package of small swords the entire time?
• Was the battle at Weathertop lore-friendly?
• The messenger moth replaces Radagast… and Jonathan can’t get over it.

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

• The Rings of Power will now include a blue wizard — a surprise no one was asking for.

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🔍 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

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 how every major event in The Hobbit is connected to the greater story in The Lord of the Rings. And it’s not only the historical/factual connections–Tolkien clearly connects the philosophical underpinnings of Middle-earth more clearly into The Hobbit too!

We take a look at:

• The three published versions of the Quest for Erebor—and why the Annotated Hobbit’s is the longest and most complete
• Gandalf’s “absurd” commitment to Bilbo, and why he pushes for a stealthy quest instead of open war
• Why Gandalf was concerned about the Hobbits forgetting the “high and perilous” figures of legend.
• The crucial role of Smaug as the north’s wild card, and why Gandalf fears a Sauron-Smaug alliance

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• How Tolkien could have retconned: stone giants, Beorn’s descendants, Gundabad orcs, and trala-lally elves into The Lord of the Rings
• How Gandalf’s mysterious “waking mind” connects to fate and agency in Tolkien’s world
• Listener corrections and deep-dives into Hobbit trivia

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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 History of The Hobbit
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

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, and why its message of hope stands uniquely in Tolkien’s literary career.

We discuss:

• The surprising 2013 rediscovery of “Noel” and how Tolkien scholars tracked it down through forgotten school annuals and convent archives.
• The poem’s Nordic and Middle-earth flavor in the early stanzas—and the “eucatastrophic” shift when a child is born.
• Song and music as markers of Tolkien’s poetic voice, the emphasis on Mary’s song, and what it means for the joy of the world.
• Why “Noel” is a rare example of Tolkien writing an explicitly Christ-centered poem, and how it stands apart from his other work.
• The unmistakable hope and gladness that “Noel” brings to the weary, gray world.
• The craft and subtlety Tolkien brings, never over-explaining the mystery—just inviting us to imagine, wonder, and rejoice.

In our extended episode (available for EVERYONE this week! :D. Merry Christmas! Become a member or a patron!), we tackle one of the greatest Christmas questions… is Lord of the Rings a Christmas film!?

• Does simply watching a film at Christmas imbue it with holiday status, or must its core message embody the “eucatastrophe” of the season?
• The surprisingly non-Christmas nature of Die Hard and Gremlins.
• Our favorite Christmas movies, from It’s a Wonderful Life to Home Alone, and what really makes a story Christmas-worthy.

🔗 Episode Links
Noel – Tolkien’s Lost Christmas Poem (YouTube)
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🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
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

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 thoroughly captures the meaning of “home.” We also take an extended look at Tolkien’s 3 (THREE!) songs in this final chapter. Then, we examine why Tolkien might give so much attention to the aftermath and how Bilbo is changed forever (or maybe it’s just a bigger stronger Tookish side?).

We also cover:

• The Hobbit doesn’t even use the word “Shire”
• Fixing our capitalization 🙂
• Are the elves’ final songs belittling Bilbo’s journey, or highlighting true riches?
• The fate of Lake-town’s Master: Tolkien’s take on dragon-sickness and political corruption
• How Tolkien leaves almost no loose ends in this tale.
• Even in the penultimate paragraph, Tolkien nods at Bilbo’s luck… if luck you call it!

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Member comment: Maybe the Arkenstone’s DID influence the Battle of Five Armies?
• Member comment: The deeper meaning of “Bilbo the Magnificent”.
• What one thing did we discover in this extremely deliberate reading of The Hobbit?

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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 History of The Hobbit
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

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 saw in the movies. In this episode, we dig into Tolkien’s penultimate chapter, “The Return Journey,” unpacking the emotional aftermath and story-shaping consequences of the war that changed Middle-earth.

We also explore:

• Why Beorn’s sudden intervention was more than just another “eagle rescue”—and what Tolkien draws from the real definition of berserkers”.
• Thorin’s final moments and his transformation from gold-obsessed king to the Dwarf who names Bilbo “child of the kindly West” — did he earn that change?
• The fate of Fili and Kili—Tolkien originally spared them in his draft… and why he changed that.
• What the actual division of treasure reveals about Dwarven honor, claims, and leadership
• How Tolkien uses this chapter to quietly set the stage for The Lord of the Rings and fill out the wider world of Middle-earth

Plus, we tackle the bigger questions:

• Did Bilbo’s “betrayal” actually make things worse?
• Why is Bilbo so eager to leave—has the Baggins/Took conflict finally resolved?
• And what’s up with the mysterious “three parts” of the goblins wiped out in battle?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What the untold story of Beorn’s descendants and their wild realm could have been—and how Tolkien left open the door for new adventures
• The evolution of Bilbo as a character: has he truly found peace between Took and Baggins?

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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 History of The Hobbit
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

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 on the page to its chaotic portrayal in the extended film edition. How do armies materialize so suddenly, and does Tolkien set the stage well enough for the goblin onslaught?

Check out the Battle of the Five Armies Map!

We also explore:

• Tolkien’s battle tactics vs Peter Jackson’s video game tactics.
• Why did Bilbo chooses the Elven King’s side?
• Trying to make sense of Peter Jackson’s battle map vs Tolkien’s map.
• Tolkien’s knowledge of medieval warfare.
• Is Thorin’s charge from the gate truly enough to change the tide of battle?

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Whether the goblin army’s sudden arrival is really “earned” in the story, or if Tolkien’s plotting gives us room to quibble.
• How small additions could have made the battle less sudden—should there have been hints via raven messenger?
• Where would a talking Raven fit into The Lord of the Rings.

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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 History of The Hobbit
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

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 they should be!

We also explore:

• Bilbo’s crowning “honest” achievement.
• Bard as Faramir?
• Dain’s Dwarven special forces arrive!
• What exactly were those dark clouds that shadowed the commencement of battle.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• What “going home” for Bilbo may really entail.
• We count the amount of talking animals in Lord of the Rings vs. The Hobbit.
• Where would a talking Raven fit into The Lord of the Rings — we give our detailed thoughts.

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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 History of The Hobbit
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

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 clearly as war looms? Or maybe he just wants to get home!

We also explore:

• Did you know this chapter originally had a different title?
• Why EXACTLY did Bilbo give up the Arkenstone (and his part of the Treasure)?
• The morality of giving away the Arkenstone: is it just, betrayl, or is there a greater good?
• Gandalf’s ability to say enough to encourage and hope, but not let them off the hook for their involvement.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• The most satisfying way to read The Hobbit: as it’s own non-Middle-earth story, as a LOTR prequel, or somewhere in the middle?
• How annoyed Jonathan is when fans force The Hobbit into precise MIddle-earth lore.

🔗 Episode Links
The History of The Hobbit
The Annotated Hobbit
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 History of The Hobbit
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