Tolkien with Friends

Episode 42: Fire and Water

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 19:29:13 +0000

In this episode, we welcome Haley (aka @haleydegagne on TikTok) to discuss the chapter "Fire and Water" and the corresponding section of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy. Our discussion includes:

- Smaug's attack on Lake-town

- Bard's expanded role in the films

- The return of the talking thrush!

- And much more!

Episode 41: Not at Home

Sun, 04 May 2025 02:18:37 +0000

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome back one of our favorite people, Nic aka Fornost42, for kind of a special episode. We say “special,” because this chapter is effectively not in the movie. So join Andie and Nic as they dive into the chapter “Not at Home.”

Rings of Power: "Eldest" Deep Dive

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 01:49:07 +0000

Kali and Andie welcome Miranda (aka @exlibrismir) to the podcast and welcome back Emily (aka @silmaremily) to discuss every second of "Eldest," the fourth episode of season two of Rings of Power. In this episode, we discuss:

Who the standout characters are so far this season
Several moments taken directly from the Lord of the Rings books
How Andie would have improved the Barrow-wight scene
Theories about who the Stranger and Dark Wizard may be
Adar's quick appearance and what it could mean for his character

Be sure to follow Miranda here:

https://www.instagram.com/exlibrismir/
https://www.threads.net/@exlibrismir
https://www.tiktok.com/@exlibrismir

And Emily here:

https://www.instagram.com/silmaremily/
https://www.threads.net/@silmaremily
https://www.tiktok.com/@silmaremily
https://x.com/silmaremily

Rings of Power Vibe Check: Part Two

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 04:28:09 +0000

In this episode, Andie, Kelly (aka The Middle Page) and Kaia Kay continue their discussion of the first three episodes of season two of Amazon's The Rings of Power. They avoided spoilers in part one, but now they are covering the rest of their thoughts about the opening episodes of season two.

Don't forget to follow Kelly:

And Kaia:

https://www.instagram.com/kaiakayy/
https://www.tiktok.com/@kaiakays
https://www.threads.net/@kaiakayy

Rings of Power Vibe Check: Part One (No Spoilers)

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 23:38:48 +0000

In this special episode, Andie is joined by friends Kelly (aka The Middle Page) and Kaia Kay to discuss the first three episodes of season two of Amazon's The Rings of Power. Andie and Kelly recorded this while sick and Kaia dealt with our coughing and stuffy noses so we could get our thoughts out while they were still fresh.

We talk a little bit about our thoughts on season one before diving into how we're feeling about the beginning of season two.

Keep an eye out for Part Two, where we go a little deeper. While this episode has no spoilers, our next one will!

Don't forget to follow Kelly:

And Kaia:

https://www.instagram.com/kaiakayy/
https://www.tiktok.com/@kaiakays
https://www.threads.net/@kaiakayy

Bonus Episode: Checking In

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Hi there! In this short bonus episode, Kali and Andie check in to give a few updates about Tolkien with Friends, such as:

Why it has taken so long to release these Hobbit episodes
What's next for the podcast
How we get by with a little help from our friends

More soon!

Episode 40: Inside Information with @mylamalinalda

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 02:29:22 +0000

We’re excited to be welcoming back Myla to help us finish the extended edition of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and to discuss Chapter 12: Inside Information. In this episode, we discuss:

Andie's gripes about "The Desolation of Smaug”
Bilbo's approach to entering Erebor in the book vs the movie
Smaug, obviously
Thorin's "dragon sickness"
and more!

Be sure to follow Myla and her Tolkien collection:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endofbag
Myla's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylamalinalda
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mylamalinalda
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MylaMalinalda
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mylamalinalda

You can find Tolkien with Friends on:

Instagram: instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tolkienwithfriends
Twitter: twitter.com/tolkienfriends
Patreon: patreon.com/tolkienwithfriends

Episode 39: On the Doorstep

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:30:00 +0000

In this episode, Andie and Kali cover the chapter, "On the Doorstep," and it's comparable section of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy. This covers the point from when Thorin, Bilbo and company – more or less in the movie’s case – leave Lake-town to the moment when Thorin opens the secret door on the side of the mountain. The discussion includes:

Wait – how do we pronounce the dwarves names?
Taking a moment for the ponies of The Hobbit
When exactly is Durin's Day?
Gandalf, Thrain and Thrain's ring

Don't forget to connect with Tolkien with Friends on:

Instagram: instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tolkienwithfriends
X/Twitter: twitter.com/tolkienfriends
Patreon: patreon.com/tolkienwithfriends

Episode 38: A Warm Welcome with @SilmarEmily

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 05:59:23 +0000

In this episode, we discuss the chapter “A Warm Welcome” – and about 30 minutes of “The Desolation of Smaug” from the time Bard shows up until most of the dwarves leave Lake-town. Our discussion includes:

How Bilbo's "luck" guides the adventure
Lake-town's portrayal in the movies vs. the book
The prophecy on the return of the Durin’s Folk to Erebor
Tauriel as a moral compass

Be sure to follow Emily:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@silmaremily
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silmaremily/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/silmaremily/

You can find Tolkien with Friends on:

Instagram: instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tolkienwithfriends
X/Twitter: twitter.com/tolkienfriends
Patreon: patreon.com/tolkienwithfriends

Episode 37: Barrels Out Of Bond with @EstarGuarsTia

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Andie and Kali are joined by their friend Kari, aka @EstarGuarsTia, to talk about the chapter, “Barrels Out of Bond," and all the chaos that ensues during this section of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy. In this episode, we discuss:

Wood-elves and their love of the stars
Tauriel as a character
How Bilbo helps Thorin and Company escape from Thranduil's fortress
The insanity behind THAT rapids scene
Lee Pace as Thranduil
And how Ian McKellen can do no wrong as Gandalf

Be sure to follow Kari on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estarguarstia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/estarguarstia
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estarguarstia

You can find Tolkien with Friends on:

Instagram: instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tolkienwithfriends
Twitter: twitter.com/tolkienfriends
Patreon: patreon.com/tolkienwithfriends

Episode 36: Flies and Spiders

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Andie and Kali welcome designer and Tolkien collector, Myla (aka @MylaMalinalda) to the podcast to discuss the eighth chapter of the Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders," as well as the corresponding scenes from Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." In this episode, we cover:

How Mirkwood is described in the book vs what we see in the movie
What we learn about wood-elves in this chapter — and how that differs from Peter Jackson's depiction
Mirkwood's various creepy crawlies
How Bilbo's role is reduced
Our hopes for the future of adaptations

Be sure to follow Myla and her Tolkien collection:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endofbag
Myla's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylamalinalda
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mylamalinalda
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MylaMalinalda
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mylamalinalda

You can find Tolkien with Friends on:

Instagram: instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tolkienwithfriends
Twitter: twitter.com/tolkienfriends
Patreon: patreon.com/tolkienwithfriends

Episode 35: Queer Lodgings

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 22:11:56 +0000

In this episode of Tolkien with Friends, we're joined by Mary Clay Watt of That's What I'm Tolkien About, to discuss the chapter "Queer Lodgings" and the beginning of Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." Our conversation includes:

Thorin and Gandalf's "chance" meeting in Bree
Our frustration with the pacing in the Hobbit movies (like, please, can we take just one beat to enjoy Middle-earth?)
How Beorn is depicted in the book and the movie
Speculation on what Gandalf is really thinking
And much more!

Be sure to follow MC:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcturndownforwatt/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcwattsup
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mcwattsup

and her podcasts, That's What I'm Tolkien About:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tolkienaboutpod/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tolkienaboutpod
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tolkienaboutpod
Website: https://tolkienaboutpod.podbean.com/

and for our Star Wars fans, MC's latest adventure, Skywalk Before You Run:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skywalkbeforeyourun/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skywalkbeforeyourun
Website: https://skywalkbeforeyourun.podbean.com/

Episode 34: Out of the Frying Pan

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 01:10:00 +0000

After our unplanned hiatus, we are back with more of The Hobbit! In this episode, we are joined again by our friends Chris and Carlos of the Swolhirrim to help us cover the chapter "Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire" and the end of the movie, "An Unexpected Journey." We discuss:

Bilbo's reunion with Gandalf and the dwarves after finding the Ring
Wargs in the book vs the movies
Why can't Oin tell the difference between a thrush and a raven?
And much more!

Don't forget to follow the Swolhirrim:

- Instagram: instagram.com/the_swolhirrim/

- YouTube: youtube.com/@theswolhirrim9201

- TikTok: tiktok.com/@the_swolhirrim

You can find Tolkien with Friends on:

- Instagram: instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends

- Twitter: twitter.com/tolkienfriends

- Patreon: patreon.com/tolkienwithfriends

Episode 33: Riddles in the Dark

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 02:25:01 +0000

On this episode, we welcome Minhas (aka @MinhasMorgul) to help us discuss one of our favorite chapters, Riddles in the Dark. For this episode, we focus solely on the riddles scene from Peter Jackson's extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and chapter five. While the movie cuts back and forth between the dwarves and Bilbo, we stay with Bilbo and Gollum for the full episode. We discuss:

Whether or not Gollum is wearing pants or not
The riddles you may have missed if you've only seen the movie
Gollum's various interpretations over the years
Bilbo's pity for Gollum and how it's expressed in the book vs the movie

You can follow Minhas here:

https://www.tiktok.com/@minhasmorgul
https://www.instagram.com/minhasmorgul/
https://www.youtube.com/@minhasmorgul

And you can also join us on:

https://www.patreon.com/TolkienwithFriends
https://www.instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends/
https://www.youtube.com/@tolkienwithfriends
https://www.threads.net/@tolkienwithfriends
https://twitter.com/tolkienfriends

***PLEASE NOTE: This was recorded in February 2023, months before the recent SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. We do not seek to promote any stricken work. Rather, we are just friends coming together to compare works and discuss Tolkien***

Episode 32: Over Hill and Under Hill

Wed, 17 May 2023 04:26:06 +0000

In this episode, we are joined once again by Kelly (aka The Middle Page) to discuss chapter four of The Hobbit, “Over Hill and Under Hill,” and the corresponding section of Peter Jackson’s extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Our conversation includes:

· Parallels and references to Fellowship of the Ring

· The differences between the stone giants in the book and the movie

· How we feel about Peter’s interpretation of the goblins of Goblin Town

· And a wild Princess and the Goblin appears!

Don't forget to follow our lovely guest, Kelly:

And be sure to join us on Patreon to catch bonus segments of this episode that didn’t make the final cut: https://www.patreon.com/TolkienwithFriends

Episode 31: A Short Rest

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 22:48:58 +0000

In this episode, Kali and Andie dive into “A Short Rest,” which is chapter three of The Hobbit, and about 36 minutes of the extended edition of “An Unexpected Journey." This section is really where we start to get into bigger departures from the source material, while also weaving in more from the Appendices. Our discussion includes:

The smell of elves — and how the elves act in the movie compared to the book
A song about "a merry old inn"
Wargs as pets?
The White Council and the role it plays in the bigger picture

And don't forget to join Tolkien with Friends on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TolkienFriends
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TolkienwithFriends

Episode 30: Roast Mutton with Anna María

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 02:25:53 +0000

This week, @onlyannamaria joins us to discuss Roast Mutton, chapter two of The Hobbit and the corresponding part of "An Unexpected Journey!" In this episode, in addition to having a silly goose time, we discuss:

Bilbo's extreme politeness and lack of pocket-handkerchiefs
How Bilbo handles the troll situation in the book and the movie
The appearance of Radagast the Brown
At least one thing we would change about this part of the movie
And even a little bit of Appendix A from Return of the King

Be sure to follow Anna María on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/onlyannamaria
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyannamaria/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onlyannamaria

And don't forget to join us on Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content: https://www.patreon.com/TolkienwithFriends

Episode 29: An Unexpected Party featuring FanGirlMeegs

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 03:57:02 +0000

Join us and FanGirlMeegs as we officially kick off season two with the first chapter of The Hobbit and about the first 41 minutes of the extended edition of the movie, “An Unexpected Journey.” In this episode, we discuss:

How The Hobbit entered each of our lives
How the book is centered around Bilbo while the movie puts a lot of focus on the dwarves and their journey
How Bilbo's "Tookishness" comes out more in the book
The music of The Hobbit
And much more!

Be sure to follow FanGirlMeegs:

https://www.tiktok.com/@fangirlmeegs
https://www.instagram.com/Fangirlmeegs/
https://twitter.com/fangirlmeegs

And don't forget to subscribe and follow us as well:

https://www.instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends/
https://twitter.com/TolkienFriends
And we are now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TolkienwithFriends

Episode 28: Is it Canon? featuring The Swolhirrim

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:35:20 +0000

Having just finished the Lord of the Rings and now looking ahead to the Hobbit, we thought this would be a good time to tackle the concept of “canon,” particularly within Tolkien and other fandom spaces. Joined by Chris and Carlos of the Swolhirrim, we discuss canon, or "the official storylines and backstories invented by the creators of television shows, movies, and books," and how we approach “canon” in Tolkien’s legendarium.

Be sure to follow the Swolhirrim:

Instagram: instagram.com/the_swolhirrim/
YouTube: youtube.com/@theswolhirrim9201
TikTok: tiktok.com/@the_swolhirrim

Episode 27: The Recap of the Rings

Sat, 14 Jan 2023 22:31:02 +0000

In this episode, we're joined by our friend Anex Wilson to take a look back at all of our favorite moments in both the Lord of the Rings books and movies. We cover a lot of ground in this episode and spend about 2 hours discussing:

How Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings works as an adaptation
Our favorite moments from each of the three films
A few things we would have done differently
Our favorite things about the books

Soon we will be releasing episodes on The Hobbit, comparing Peter Jackson's second trilogy to Tolkien's novel. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Be sure to follow Anex on all his social media platforms:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anexwilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anexwilsonyt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fantasyannexe/

Episode 26: The End

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 02:55:18 +0000

In this episode, we're very excited to be joined by Lauren – yes THE Lauren of Lauren Does Cosplay and In the Reads – to help us close out the Lord of the Rings. We discuss the chapters “Homeward Bound,” “The Scouring of the Shire,” and “The Grey Havens," as well as the very end of the Return of the King film. Our discussion includes:

What's been going on in the Shire since our hobbits have been away
Saruman's end
Rebuilding the Shire
Saying goodbye to Frodo at the Grey Havens

Be sure to follow Lauren for more cosplay and nerdy greatness!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ldoescosplay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurendoescosplay/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/in.the.reads/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauren.does.cosplay

Episode 25: The Fellowship Breaks Again

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 18:39:45 +0000

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome back Amber (aka @critiquegeek on TikTok and Instagram) to the podcast. For today’s episode, we’re discussing the chapters “The Steward and the King” and “Many Partings." In the movie, these chapters are essentially reduced to Aragorn’s coronation and a little bit of Frodo narrating – however, several other things happen related to Aragorn becoming king and the last travels of our Fellowship, including:

Eowyn and Faramir falling in love
How the White Tree of Gondor is actually able to flower again
Their travels from Minas Tirith to Rivendell
Another appearance from Saruman

Episode 24: Of the Destruction of the Ring

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 01:21:00 +0000

We are very excited to welcome our good friend Kelly (aka The Middle Page) to discuss the chapters “Mount Doom” and “The Field of Cormallen" — which means we finally get to see the destruction of the One Ring and our Fellowship will be reunited again!

Now, you may notice that this episode was recorded a while ago (around the time that House of the Dragon was first releasing), but it leads into our conversation about dragons in Game of Thrones AND Middle-earth, so we kept it in. Tune in to hear more about Tolkien's dragons, Sauron brooding, Gollum's last act, and Sam and Frodo's reunion with the rest of the Fellowship.

Don't forget to follow our lovely guest, Kelly:

https://www.instagram.com/themiddlepage/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themiddle.page

Episode 23: The Land of Shadow Opens

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:08:50 +0000

This week, Kali and Andie welcome Sapphire Nyx to the podcast – who does an amazing Mouth of Sauron cosplay! It's very appropriate for this episode because we’re covering the chapters “The Black Gate Opens and “The Land of Shadow.” In this episode, we discuss:

The journey from Minas Tirith to the Black Gate
Aragorn's decision to let some soldiers go
Who is the Mouth of Sauron??
Sam and Frodo's narrow escape from Cirith Ungol

Be sure to follow Sapphire on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sapphire_nyx

Follow Tolkien with Friends at:

https://twitter.com/TolkienFriends
https://www.instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends/

Episode 22: The Houses of Healing and the Last Debate

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 00:46:26 +0000

This week, we’re excited to welcome back our good friend, Tim, aka The Bard of Arda on TikTok. In this episode, we are discussing the Houses of Healing and the Last Debate. Topics include:

Why is Aragorn in the Houses of Healing?
Merry dealing with the death of Theoden
Gandalf as a strategist
How Aragorn uses the palantir in the book vs the movie

Don't forget to follow our lovely co-host, Kali Cosplay:

https://www.tiktok.com/@kali__cosplay
https://www.instagram.com/kali.cosplay/

And our awesome guest and friend, Tim:

https://www.tiktok.com/@thebardofarda
https://www.instagram.com/tjohnmarco/

And if you aren't already following the podcast on social media, you can find us here:

https://twitter.com/TolkienFriends
https://www.instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends/

Episode 21: The Pyre and the Tower

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 03:33:00 +0000

In this episode, we welcome Kali Cosplay as co-host while Ahnna takes a break from podcasting to focus on the cutest addition to her family. Kali and Andie also welcome back Nic (Fornost42 on TikTok and Twitter) to discuss the chapters “The Pyre of Denethor” and “The Tower of Cirith Ungol.” Our conversation includes:

Denethor's last words
Gandalf having to choose between Faramir and Theoden
Sam's vision while carrying the One Ring — and how he snaps out of it
Frodo and Sam's reunion at Cirith Ungol

Of course, don't forget to follow Kali and Nic:

https://www.tiktok.com/@kali__cosplay
https://www.tiktok.com/@fornost42

And don't forget to join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/PDqRa7mamJ

If you'd like to follow Tolkien with Friends on social media, you can find us on Instagram and Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TolkienFriends
https://www.instagram.com/tolkienwithfriends/

Episode 20: The Rohirrim and the Pelennor Fields

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 02:22:36 +0000

In this episode of Tolkien with Friends, we are joined by Amber – who you probably know as CritiqueGeek on Tiktok and Instagram – to discuss the chapters “The Ride of the Rohirrim” and “The Battle of the Pelennor Fields." In this episode, we discuss:

The Woses or “the Wild Men" of the Drúadan Forest
How the movie portrayed parts of Eowyn's fight with the Witch-king and Theoden's death BETTER than the books
The significance of Merry's dagger
And Amber breaks the news to Ahnna that Eowyn and Faramir eventually get married 😅

We also have a small discussion on Rings of Power, but please note that this episode was recorded in August 2022 before the premier of the show!

Don't forget to follow Amber on TikTok and Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/critiquegeek/
https://www.tiktok.com/@critiquegeek

Episode 19: Shelob and Master Samwise

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 16:52:56 +0000

This week, we're joined by our good friend Iiris (aka @HobbitHotTakes on TikTok) to discuss “Shelob’s Lair” and the “Choices of Master Samwise." We also finish up the chapters "The Passing of the Grey Company” and “The Siege of Gondor." In this episode, we cover:

How the Army of the Dead look in the book vs. the movie
Tolkien's visceral description of Shelob's Lair
Sam's experience with the Ring
And we discuss if orcs are inherently evil after all

Episode 18: The Stairs, the Muster and the Company

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 23:25:24 +0000

In this episode, we're talking about the chapters "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" and "The Muster of Rohan" -- with a little bit of "The Passing of the Grey Company" and "The Siege of Gondor." Because of this, we cover almost an hour of the extended edition of Return of the King: from about 54 mins and 42 secs in to about an hour and 50 minutes and 47 seconds.

Our discussion includes:

Gollum's chance for redemption on the Stairs
How the lighting of the beacons in the book differs from the movie
Some of Eowyn's best lines that are cut from the film

Bonus Episode 2: What We Hope to See on Rings of Power featuring JoshTheComposer and Fornost42

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 00:54:27 +0000

With Amazon's The Rings of Power less than two weeks away, Andie hopped on a call with Nic (aka @Fornost42 on TikTok) and her husband Josh (@JoshTheComposer) to talk about what we expect to see and what we hope to see on the show. Tune in to this special bonus episode to hear more about:

A quick timeline of events for the Second Age
Possibilities for Numenor's storyline
What Lord of the Rings references we hope to see in the show
A few of our thoughts on the soundtrack and what it can tell us about the show

Episode 17: The Palantir and Minas Tirith

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 04:11:25 +0000

In this week's episode, we were joined by our friend Tim – who you may know as the Bard of Arda on TikTok (formerly @GlamdringFoeHammer). This episode covers the chapters “The Palantir” and “Minas Tirith” – which corresponds to the extended edition of Return of the King starting at about 18 and a half minutes in and ends at about minute 54 or 55.

Our discussion includes:

Pippin's experience with the Palantir in the book and movie
Where did the Palantiri come from?
Ahnna's first impression of Denethor
A few amazing lines from Gandalf that were cut from the movie

Be sure to follow Tim at https://www.tiktok.com/@thebardofarda and join us on Discord: discord.gg/PDqRa7mamJ

Episode 16: The Road to Flotsam and Saruman

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 23:22:54 +0000

This week, we're starting the extended edition of Return of the King —even though we are actually still in the Two Towers book. While we’re only covering about 18 minutes of the movie, this actually covers the time period from four chapters: "The Road to Isengard," "Journey to the Cross-roads," "Flotsam and Jetsam" and "The Voice of Saruman."

Topics from this episode include:

Ahnna's overall thoughts about the Two Towers movie
Differences in how Sam talks about rationing the lembas bread
Gimli and Legolas make plans to travel together after the war
How Saruman uses his voice to manipulate people
And more!

Bonus Episode: Trailer Roundup with Silmaremily, Kali__Cosplay and Fornost42

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 02:14:56 +0000

This past week has been crazy: With San Diego Comic Con came multiple trailers, including full trailers for House of the Dragon and Rings of Power. For this special episode, we are joined by some of our best friends from TikTok to discuss our thoughts on the trailers and what we think we can expect this fall from both of these shows.

Thanks again to Kali Cosplay (tiktok.com/@kali__cosplay, Nic Spencer (tiktok.com/@fornost42) and Silmaremily (tiktok.com/@silmaremily) for joining us!

Episode 15: An Unexpected Visit to Ithilien

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 02:04:32 +0000

Welcome to another episode of Tolkien with Friends where we finish up the Two Towers movie but leave several chapters on the table to be explored during Return of the King. This week, we finally get to see what happens in “Helm’s Deep,” plus the chapters “The Window on the West” and “The Forbidden Pool.” Technically, we also see half a second from “The Road to Isengard” and “Journey to the Cross-roads,” but we'll cover those more next time.

In this episode:

Andie talks through how she might change the Two Towers movie, given the chance
We (read: Ahnna) learn(s) how Faramir finds out about the One Ring
We also cover how Gimli saves Eomer at Helm's Deep, the different types of Men, and much more!

Episode 14: Of Herbs and Arwen and Aragorn

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 01:30:13 +0000

This week, we’re joined by Andie's good friend Savannah to talk about the chapters of “Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit,” plus 5 seconds of “Treebeard,” some significant changes to the first few pages of “Helm’s Deep,” and some of Arwen and Aragorn’s story from Appendix A! This corresponds to the extended edition of Two Towers between 1 hr 34 min in until about 2 hrs and 13 minutes-ish in. In this episode, we discuss:

How Sam treats Gollum in the books vs the movies
Was the warg fight really necessary??
Arwen and Aragorn's backstory
And, of course, we finally meet Faramir

Episode 13: The Black Gate and the Golden Hall

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 01:41:48 +0000

This week, we’re covering “The King of the Golden Hall” and “The Black Gate is Closed,” which corresponds to about 36 minutes of the extended edition of the Two Towers film, starting at 58 minutes and 11 seconds to about 1 hour and 34 minutes. In this episode, we discuss:

Treebeard's nod to Tom Bombadil in the movie
Our dislike for Gríma Wormtongue
How Theoden's transformation is different in the books
When Sam and Frodo's arrival at the Black Gate takes place

Episode 12: The Passage of the White Rider

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 01:53:12 +0000

In this episode, we are joined by KnewBettaDoBetta to talk about the chapters "Treebeard," "The White Rider" and "The Passage of the Marshes." Topics this week include:

Who is Sauron really?
How Gandalf escapes from the Misty Mountains after killing the balrog
How Gollum's knowledge and fear of Mordor ultimately helps the hobbits
What are the Dead Marshes?

For even more Tolkien lore, be sure to follow KnewBettaDoBetta on

TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@knewbettadobetta
Twitter at https://twitter.com/Knewbettadobet1
YoutTube at https://bit.ly/knewbettayoutube

And don't forget to join us on Discord at https://discord.gg/7DSDSGeV4S and to follow our good friend, Kali Cosplay (https://www.tiktok.com/@kali__cosplay), too!

Episode 11: Sméagol, Uruk-hai and the Riders of Rohan

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 23:50:00 +0000

This week, we’re covering the first 36 minutes and 23 seconds of the extended edition of Two Towers. This roughly – and I mean ROUGHLY – corresponds to the chapters the Riders of Rohan, the Uruk-hai and the Taming of Smeagol. In this episode, we discuss:

Parallels between Frodo and Aragorn
How the introduction of Gollum changes the dynamic between Frodo and Sam in the movies
Why Gimli is actually "rude" to Eomer when they first meet
Brave moments cut from Merry and Pippin's storyline

Episode 10: The Breaking of the Fellowship

Tue, 31 May 2022 02:33:25 +0000

In this episode, we wrap up the Fellowship of the Ring by covering the chapters "The Great River," "The Breaking of the Fellowship," and "The Departure of Boromir." We also discuss the latest House of the Dragon teaser trailer and any future Comic Con plans. Topics this week include:

Our hopes for future Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones merchandise
Aragorn's desire to go to Minas Tirith
How Frodo leaves the Company
Boromir's last words

Episode 9: The Fellowship Stays in Lothlorien

Sun, 15 May 2022 04:00:00 +0000

This week, we were joined by our friend Iiris (also known as @hobbithottakes on TikTok) as the Fellowship stops in Lothlorien for a little break. In this episode, we cover “Lothlorien” and go all the way through “Farewell to Lorien.” In the extended edition, this is starting at about 2 hours and 28 minutes in until 2 hours and 53 minutes into Fellowship of the Ring.

Our discussion includes:

The relationship between Dwarves and Elves — and how Gimli's interactions with Galadriel is a big step in the right direction
What Frodo and Sam see in the Mirror of Galadriel
Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship
And more!

Episode 8: From Rivendell to Khazad-dûm

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 04:32:57 +0000

In this week's episode, we are joined by our friend Sarah, who you may know as SEHolmes25 on TikTok. Together we tackle the chapters "The Ring Goes South," "A Journey in the Dark" and "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" (aka starting at an hour and 43 minutes into the Extended Edition of Fellowship and ending at about 2 hours and 28 minutes). We cover:

How Merry and Pippin were actually able to join the Fellowship
How Gandalf had wanted to travel through Moria all along
The first appearance of Gollum
The Balrog
Legolas and Gimli's friendship

Episode 7: The Council of Meetings

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Ahnna and Andie cover the chapters Many Meetings and the Council of Elrond – which corresponds to about twenty minutes into the movie, starting at one hour and 24 minutes. In these chapters, we see Frodo healing in Rivendell, are reunited with Bilbo, hear some more songs, and then meet with Elrond’s council to decide what they’re going to do about the Ring. We also discuss:

The release dates for Rings of Power and the new Game of Thrones show, House of the Dragon
An additional scene that we really wish we could have seen Christopher Lee perform
The power of The Shire

On Twitter? Follow us @TolkienFriends. On Instagram? Find us @TolkienWithFriends.

Episode 6: A Knife in the Ford

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0000

This week, special guest Kali Cosplay (@kali__cosplay on TikTok / @kali.cosplay on Instagram) joins us to talk about “A Knife in the Dark” and “Flight to the Ford” – which corresponds to approximately one hour and three minutes into the film until about an hour and 24 minutes in (if you’re watching the extended edition).We discuss everything from Kali's introduction to Tolkien, how the Nazgul "see," the introduction of Arwen and much more!

Kali also helps run a Discord server where fans can come together to discuss Tolkien! To join, visit discord.gg/PDqRa7mamJ. Our podcast and several other content creators have spaces in the Discord, so we look forward to seeing you there!

Episode 5: From the Old Forest to Bree

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Join us this week as we tramp through the Old Forest, meet Tom Bombadil, and finally make it to the Prancing Pony. We also welcome our friend Emily, known as @silmaremily on Twitter and TikTok, as we discuss social media and its effect on media literacy, the decision to cut Tom Bombadil from the films, Aragorn's character, and a whole lot more!

Episode 4: A Short Cut Unmasked

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

This week, we are covering the chapters “A Short Cut to Mushrooms” and “A Conspiracy Unmasked” and less than 10 minutes of the film (between minutes 46 and 57 of the extended edition of Fellowship). We discuss the fight between Gandalf and Saruman, Farmer Maggot and Tolkien's songs, and Andie's hope for a Witch-king of Angmar spin-off after Amazon's Rings of Power.

Episode 3: Shadow of the Company

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0000

In this week's episode, we cover the chapters "The Shadow of the Past" and "Three is Company", which roughly correspond with minutes 32 to 46 of the extended edition of Fellowship of the Ring. Our conversation kicks off with a discussion of the purpose of fantasy, which leads us to our discussion of Gandalf, Gollum and empathy, and how Lord of the Rings applies to today.

Episode 2: A Long-Expected Prologue

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 21:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we cover the prologue of Fellowship of the Ring and its first chapter, "A Long-expected Party." In the Fellowship of the Ring film, this equates to roughly the first 32 minutes of the extended edition. We cover everything from the Second Age to the different types of Hobbits to Bilbo's birthday party, so buckle up because this episode is a little unhinged!

Episode 1: The Role of Adaptations

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 03:33:09 +0000

We kick off the first episode of Tolkien with Friends by discussing the many ways adaptations have shaped how we see and interact with our respective fandoms, including Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Topics include:

Why we started the podcast
How we were introduced to Tolkien's works
The ways in which adaptations may affect our thoughts around our favorite fandoms
A few thoughts on Amazon's Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV show