Like a toddler at the dinner table, we've saved the most unpleasant bit for last. Listen in as Sara, James, and Alan return to finish their report cards for Amazon: will the show get passing marks? With discussion of the visuals, music, and act

025 – Lofty Ambitions

Dec 24th, 2022 1h 6m

You decide if the episode title applies to S1 of The Rings of Power, or our attempt at a season-ending report card! Sara, Alan, and James return to discuss the high (and low) points of the first season of Amazon’s efforts to bring Tolkien’s Mid

024 - Astrophysics to Elvish Apartments: An Interview with Ramsey Avery

Dec 3rd, 2022 37m 9s

We get eight answers to one question, learn how Rivendell inspired Eregion's inspiration of Rivendell, and talk about some of the differences between Morgoth and Sauron. Alan, Sara, and James welcome Ramsey Avery — Production Designer for The R

023 - Dragons, Balrogs, and Trolls, Oh My: An Interview with John Howe

Nov 18th, 2022 36m 9s

We learn how a boar's skull inspired the snow troll, talk about the rich visual beauty of Tolkien's descriptions, and learn why reading The Two Towers first can still work out alright! Alan, James, and Sara welcome John Howe — acclaimed Tolkien

022 - Sand By Me: An Interview with Plains of Yonder

Oct 29th, 2022 54m 36s

The sea monster makes an appearance, we discuss the imperfection of perfection, and get a scoop on one of the symbols in those glorious opening credits! Alan, James, and Sara are joined by the incredibly-talented and wonderfully kind folks from

021 - There's Something About Halbrand

Oct 15th, 2022 1h 49m

Celebrimbor learns how to do more with less (thanks to the help of a friendly low man), the cultists put all their eggs in the wrong Stranger-basket, and Galadriel finally does a background check. Alan, Sara, and James discuss the final episode

020 – Missing Persons

Oct 8th, 2022 1h 38m

Our old friend, Celeborn, makes an appearance, even if it's on a Second Age milk carton; Durin IV finds himself un-princed, and we hear some lovely Quenya from a tall Stranger in the Grove. James, Sara, and Alan discuss the seventh episode of T

019 – The Return of the King?

Oct 1st, 2022 1h 33m

Adar leads his children on a righteous quest for a well-deserved homeland, Arondir plays Jenga in the watchtower, and the writers quote Tolkien directly! Sara, Alan, and James discuss the latest episode of Rings of Power, observing that it does

018 – Silmarils Don't Grow on Trees

Sep 24th, 2022 1h 38m

Elendil shows tough love, Poppy sings a pretty song, Theo makes nice with Arondir, and Pharazôn schools Kemen. James, Sara, and Alan offer their mid-term grades for their most promising student, wonder why Waldreg would call Adar "the Abhorred"

017 – Fathers and Sons

Sep 17th, 2022 1h 27m

We let the story of Númenor wash over us, as we dive deep into the lore, and try not drown in all the sea-related puns about the Great Wave. We engage in admiration of Galadriel's headstrong attitude, observation of Pharazôn's manipulations, an

016 – Revenge of the Chihuawarg

Sep 10th, 2022 1h 36m

James, Sara, and Alan just can’t stop talking about the beauty and majesty of Númenor - or the mediocre CG of that angry puppy warg. Speculation abounds on Halbrand, and we are all a bit troubled by the Harfoots’ casual Darwinism. All this, plu

015 – Manwë Wants a Word

Sep 6th, 2022 2h 18m

Sara and James join Alan as the new co-hosts of The Rings of PowerWrap-up, just in time to spend hours discussing the two-episode premiereof the Amazon adaptation! From the destruction of little Galadriel’spaper boat (we see you, sons of Fëanor

014 – Foundations: Harfoots & Orcs

Aug 27th, 2022 58m 16s

We conclude our series of foundational episodes with a couple of, uh, shorter entries. First up, a deep dive into what we know of the history of the Harfoots (and other Hobbit folk) in Middle-earth, a people of much greater diversity than you m

013 – Foundations: Dwarves

Aug 20th, 2022 47m 5s

Our third foundational episode on the lore of Middle-earth is all about the Dwarves! Join us as we explore the mysterious and secretive history of the Khazâd from their creation by the Vala Aulë all the way down to their early friendships and

012 - Foundations: Men

Aug 13th, 2022 55m 30s

In our second foundational episode covering the lore of Tolkien's legendarium, we review the history of Men — humans, not males — in Númenor and Middle-earth! Catch up with us on the origins of Men, their story through the First Age, and the va

011 - Foundations: The Elves

Aug 6th, 2022 1h 7m

With the series premiere less than a month away, we begin our series of foundational episodes to catch you up on the lore of Middle-earth up to the beginning of The Rings of Power! In this week’s episode, we cover the milllennia-long history of

010 - The Elves Take San Diego

Jul 31st, 2022 1h 40m

Alan gives a recap of his experience at San Diego Comic-Con, from catching up with old friends, to lunch with the cast, to the awesome reveals of Hall H! And of course, we break down the trailer released at SDCC complete with creepy bad guys, c

009 - How About a Heads Up Next Time, Amazon?

Jul 30th, 2022 53m 43s

Alan and Shawn finally break down the teaser that dropped on July 14, while they were both on summer vacations (oops!). Galadriel puts Elrond in his place with Middle-earth’s greatest “you idiot” look, and we may be seeing the discovery of mith

008 – A Shooting Star Is Not a Star

Jul 17th, 2022 43m 28s

We unpack the new trailer dropped on Amazon Prime Video on July 6, with a first look at some new characters — and a better look at some previously seen ones — as Middle-earth observes the falling meteor. Alan falls on his sword at the appearanc

007 – Goodliness of Speechcraft: An Interview with Leith McPherson

Jul 9th, 2022 49m 42s

Word-nerds rejoice as Alan and Shawn welcome our first guest to The Rings of Power Wrap-up: show dialect coach Leith McPherson! We speak to Leith about her time on Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit films and her experiences on the new series, the unde

006 – Empire Strikes First

Jul 2nd, 2022 1h 7m

Alan and Shawn catch up on the last few weeks of Rings of Power news from Empire magazine and elsewhere online, including the mysterious tower, our first look at Orcs, and the much-maligned sneak peek at Celebrimbor. The promise of practical ef

005 – Reasons For Hope

Jun 10th, 2022 44m 56s

Alan and Shawn reveal details about their conversations with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay at the Amazon event in London last month. From citing Tolkien's letters and understanding 'the core of the original' to the importance of avoiding allegor

004 – An Unexpected Party!

May 9th, 2022 7m 25s

We talk about our unexpected invitation from Amazon Prime Video to attend a sneak peak of footage from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and to meet the showrunners in London, England!

003 – Who Is the Meteor Man?

Feb 19th, 2022 50m 59s

Alan and Shawn work their way through a new Q&A from the showrunners, including speculations on the mysterious meteor man - who is sadly not Major Tom (Bombadil) Coming Home.

002 – Who Are You?

Feb 14th, 2022 1h 9m

The guys dive into a shot-by-shot analysis of the new trailer that Amazon released during yesterday's Super Bowl, and provide an in-depth discussion of the Vanity Fair exclusive that released late last week, here in the second episode of The Ri