Ranked #1
#16—“The Council of Elrond” (Part II)
#16—“The Council of Elrond” (Part II)
As the Council of Elrond winds to a close and Frodo Baggins submits himself to a heart-wrenching task, the Heads reflect... Read more
14 Sep 2017
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Ranked #2
#75—“Homeward Bound”
#75—“Homeward Bound”
This episode—a favorite of Simon and Garfunkel fans—features an insightful lectio divina discussion on trauma, both phys... Read more
6 Sep 2019
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Ranked #3
#01—“A Long-Expected Party”
#01—“A Long-Expected Party”
And we’re off! Join us for a lively discussion of fireworks, pipe-weed, and the social norms of Middle-earth. Comments a... Read more
1 Jun 2017
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Ranked #4
#70—“The Land of Shadow”
#70—“The Land of Shadow”
This chapter was not poorly named: it is all description of the landscape of Mordor, with comparably little plot movemen... Read more
24 Jul 2019
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Ranked #5
#48—“The Window on the West”
#48—“The Window on the West”
This chapter makes up for its shortness in plot with its rich philosophical discussion on military force, its responsibl... Read more
22 Aug 2018
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Ranked #6
#41—Book Three Recap Episode
#41—Book Three Recap Episode
We made it through Book Three! Join us as we recollect and reminisce on what has happened to some (but not all!) of the ... Read more
25 Apr 2018
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Ranked #7
#68—Book Five Recap Episode
#68—Book Five Recap Episode
Having finished Book 5, we’ve made it to another Recap Episode, where anything can happen! Among other matters, we discu... Read more
10 Apr 2019
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Ranked #8
#49—“The Forbidden Pool”
#49—“The Forbidden Pool”
Our protagonists are in the Moon country of Ithilien, which becomes clearer in this chapter than ever before. The Moon i... Read more
29 Aug 2018
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Ranked #9
#47—“Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit”
#47—“Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit”
This chapter offers many (too many?) kinds of plants, and Nathan leads an analysis of the role of heather in this landsc... Read more
15 Aug 2018
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Ranked #10
#44—“The Taming of Sméagol”
#44—“The Taming of Sméagol”
The Tolkien Heads make a dramatic return from their summer hiatus by turning what might seem an uneventful chapter into ... Read more
25 Jul 2018
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Ranked #11
#69—“The Tower of Cirith Ungol”
#69—“The Tower of Cirith Ungol”
We start our first Book Six episode with a philosophical discussion on Orcish language and the possibility of an Orcish ... Read more
17 Jul 2019
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Ranked #12
#74—“Many Partings”
#74—“Many Partings”
In this chapter, in many ways a counterpart to “Many Meetings” (Bk. 2, Ch. 1), we encounter various manifestations of th... Read more
28 Aug 2019
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Ranked #13
#04—“A Short Cut to Mushrooms”
#04—“A Short Cut to Mushrooms”
This week, we follow the Hobbits on a shortcut that ends up making for a long delay. Special guest Angela leads a discus... Read more
21 Jun 2017
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Ranked #14
#71—“Mount Doom”
#71—“Mount Doom”
Finally, Mount Doom! You can practically hear the bubbling and frothing of lava out of rocky fissures in the distance as... Read more
7 Aug 2019
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Ranked #15
#21—“The Mirror of Galadriel”
#21—“The Mirror of Galadriel”
After the Fellowship is tacitly “tempted” by Lady Galadriel, Frodo and Sam peer into her watery mirror. The Heads—with P... Read more
19 Oct 2017
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Ranked #16
#42—Interview: Bill Fliss, Tolkien archivist
#42—Interview: Bill Fliss, Tolkien archivist
It finally happened: The Tolkien Heads traveled all the way to Milwaukee to meet with Bill Fliss, the archivist at Marqu... Read more
2 May 2018
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Ranked #17
#02—“The Shadow of the Past”
#02—“The Shadow of the Past”
The road goes ever on, and ours is just beginning. No turning back now! This week, the Heads delve into dark secrets per... Read more
8 Jun 2017
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Ranked #18
#03—“Three is Company”
#03—“Three is Company”
This week we find ourselves amidst many endings and many beginnings. Host Chris is away on a journey of his own, and in ... Read more
14 Jun 2017
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Ranked #19
#22—“Farewell to Lórien”
#22—“Farewell to Lórien”
As our Fellowship drifts away from Lothlórien—or is it Lothlórien that drifts away from the Fellowship?—the Heads focus ... Read more
26 Oct 2017
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Ranked #20
#38—“Flotsam and Jetsam”
#38—“Flotsam and Jetsam”
In this chapter we learn what happened—retold by Merry and Pippin—at the Battle of Isengard. We explore the Huorns a bit... Read more
4 Apr 2018
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