Blind Guardian's "Nightfall in Middle-earth" is a concept album based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Silmarillion". I explore the lyrics of each track and explain how they relate to Tolkien's work. I provide background information about events, chara

2 - Aragorn: Exploring Sauron's Fear of a True King

Feb 19th, 2024 39m 35s

Aragorn is the great hope for Middle-earth in the Third Age, one of Sauron's greatest enemies. But why would an immortal Maia fear a mortal Man? This episode is an exploration of Aragorn's lineage and unique place in the world. It is an attempt

1 - Exploring Gil-galad's Confusing Parentage & History

Jan 8th, 2024 30m 58s

Gil-galad, the last High King of the Noldor, is a prominent figure of Middle-earth's Second Age. But he is also mysterious. How is it we can ask where he came from or who his father is and have multiple answers and explanations? This episode is

S2E02 - Númenor: The Downfall of a Kingdom

Oct 11th, 2023 1h 11m

The Downfall of Númenor is more than the destruction of the Kingdom itself in the year 3319 of the Second Age. It is the decline of a civilisation through a growing shadow that took centuries to envelop the Númenóreans. This episode explores th

S2E01 - Sauron: The Death of a Dark Lord

Aug 11th, 2023 48m 31s

What happened to Sauron after the destruction of the One Ring? Death? Diminishment? What is the difference between these terms? Can he return to trouble Middle-earth? These are some of the questions I will attempt to answer in this episode, alo

S1E10 - The Problem of Gil-galad's Parentage

Mar 31st, 2023 18m 53s

J.R.R. Tolkien's legacy is his Legendarium; decades worth of material we can read across books published during his life and after his death. The scope of the Legendarium is enormous but it is not perfect and complete. Inconsistencies exist, as

S1E09 - The Fellowship of the Ring: Tolkien's Themes

Feb 26th, 2023 47m 1s

Scholars, critics, and readers of The Lord of the Rings have identified and discussed many of its themes in the decades since its publication. This episode is my take on several themes I read into Tolkien's most popular work. It focuses on the

S1E08 - The Dark Lords of Tolkien: A Hopeless Conflict?

Jan 1st, 2023 33m 27s

Middle-earth suffered under two Dark Lords: Morgoth and Sauron. In a world where it is known that Eru exists, why do these Dark Lords fight what appears from the outside to be a hopeless conflict against the forces of good? Having been created

S1E07 - The Council of Elrond & The One Ring

Dec 18th, 2022 32m 45s

In The Lord of the Rings, the decision to attempt a journey to Mount Doom in order to destroy the One Ring of Sauron did not come easily. Many options are discussed during The Council of Elrond. In this episode, I explore the suggestions made b

S1E06 - The Naivety and Growth of the Hobbits

Nov 7th, 2022 19m 39s

Gandalf the Grey has a long history with the Hobbits dating back to before the events of The Hobbit. Did they ever stop to think of what he was? How did the innocent and unsophisticated Hobbits view Wizards or even the immortal Elves beyond the

S1E05 - The Unnatural Upbringing of Fëanor

Oct 12th, 2022 22m 41s

Fëanor is the most infamous of all Elves and one of the most controversial figures in Tolkien's Legendarium. Instead of exploring the creation of the Silmarils or his stay in Mandos, I aim to explore his unique upbringing. From the death of his

S1E04 - The Nature of the Balrogs of Morgoth

Sep 19th, 2022 24m 10s

The Dread Servants of Morgoth originated as Maiar, being of the same kind as the likes of Sauron, Gandalf, and Eönwë. They are known as corrupted spirits of fire, fallen Maiar, Demons of Power, and exist as a distinct group in their own right.

S1E03 - The Marring of Arda and Morgoth's Ring

Aug 21st, 2022 24m 24s

Just as Sauron concentrated his power in the One Ring, Morgoth dispersed his power into Arda itself. What does this mean for Morgoth and the inhabitants of Middle-earth? How does this relate to the breaking of the designs of the Valar in the Ma

S1E02 - The Servants of Aulë: Sauron & Saruman

Jul 9th, 2022 38m 30s

Two of the most prominent figures of evil during the events of the Lord of the Rings are The Dark Lord Sauron and the Wizard Saruman. Both of these figures were once servants of the Vala Aulë. Is it a coincidence that they both once served the

S1E01 - The Witch-king: The Fallen Wizard of Númenor

Jun 21st, 2022 27m 48s

The first episode of this new Tolkien-focused Podcast focuses on the development of the Witch-king of Angmar over the course of Tolkien's writings. Did you know that the Lord of the Nazgûl, the Witch-king, was once written as a Wizard from Núm

Rate