Hey there, fellow travelers! Welcome to The Tolkien Road, episode 385! In this bonus episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll continue through the Prologue to The Lord of the Rings by exploring the sections “Concerning Pipe-weed” and “Of the Ordering of the Shire”! As we discovered in the last episode, the Prologue to The Lord of the Rings contains matter…

Hey there, fellow travelers! Welcome to The Tolkien Road, episode 384! In this bonus episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll be talking about HOBBITS, and specifically, the history and culture of hobbits. We’ll do so by exploring the first part of the Prologue to The Lord of the Rings, “Concerning Hobbits!” Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea …

Welcome to Episode 17 of DO NOT BE HASTY - I'm calling this one "Sméagol and Déagol". "The Ring went into the shadows with [Gollum], and even [Sauron], when his power had begun to grow again, could learn nothing of it." In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we continue through The Fellowship of the Ring's chapter The Shadow of the Past, as Gandalf re…

Welcome to Episode 16 of DO NOT BE HASTY - I'm calling this one "The Powers of the Ring". In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we continue through The Shadow of the Past, as Gandalf leads us on a deep dive into the history and lore of the Rings of Power! SECTION START: “Ah!” said Gandalf. “That is a very long story.” SECTION END: “But at last I can …

Hey there, fellow travelers! Welcome to The Tolkien Road, episode 381! In this bonus episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll be considering this highly important and controversial question: WHAT DID TOLKIEN SAY LORD OF THE RINGS WAS ABOUT? We’ll do so by exploring Tolkien’s Foreword to the Lord of the Rings. Or should I say…Fore-WORDS! Indeed, the first …

Welcome to Episode 15 of DO NOT BE HASTY - I'm calling this one "The Fiery Letters". 'Hold it up!' said Gandalf. 'And look closely!' As Frodo did so, he now saw fine lines, finer than the finest pen-strokes, running along the ring, outside and inside: lines of fire that seemed to form the letters of a flowing script. They shone piercingly bright, a…

Welcome to Episode 14 of DO NOT BE HASTY - I'm calling this one "About That Ring, Frodo..." "'It would be a grievous blow to the world, if the Dark Power overcame the Shire; if all your kind, jolly, stupid Bolgers, Hornblowers, Boffins, Bracegirdles, and the rest, not to mention the ridiculous Bagginses, became enslaved.'" In this episode of DO NOT…

Welcome to Episode 13 of DO NOT BE HASTY - I'm calling this one "Sam at the Green Dragon"! "And I've heard tell that Elves are moving west. They do say they are going to the harbours, out away beyond the White Towers.' Sam waved his arm vaguely; neither he nor any of them knew how far it was to the Sea, past the old towers beyond the western border…

In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we’ll begin exploring The Shadow of the Past (Book 2, Chapter 2 of Lord of the Rings), by finding out what Frodo is up to as the lone master of Bag-End, and what is going on in the wider world beyond the borders of the Shire! This section begins with the words: “The talk did not die down in nine or even ninety-ni…

In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we hit the mailbag for your thoughts on The Lord of the Rings Book 1, Chapter 1, A Long Expected Party.And by the way, you guys delivered BIG TIME! While we won’t be able to get to nearly everything you wrote in the YouTube comments, on our Patreon page, and elsewhere, we’re going to hit some great stuff from a l…

"My father bestowed immense pains on the creation of The Lord of the Rings, and my intention has been that this record his first three years of work on it should reflect those pains." - Christopher Tolkien, Return of the Shadow, Foreword In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, we undertake our inaugural MATHOMS episode as we explore heretofore neglecte…

Hey there, fellow travellers! Having just completed our 9 episode leg through Chapter 1 of Lord of the Rings, Greta and I are taking this week and next week off as we prepare for our Mailbag and Mathoms episodes and the beginning of our dive into Chapter 2, The Shadow of the Past! I just want to say - I hope you all are enjoying this journey as muc…

"Good-bye now! Take care of yourself! Look out for me, especially at unlikely times! Good-bye!" - GANDALF In this episode of Do Not Be Hasty, we complete our journey through Lord of the Rings Book 1, Chapter 1, A Long Expected Party! After the commotion of the “day after” at Bag-End, Frodo is able to finally enjoy some peace and quiet - until Ganda…

"You'll live to regret it, young fellow! Why didn't you go too? You don't belong here; you're no Baggins - you - you're a Brandybuck!" In this episode of Do Not Be Hasty, we continue through Lord of the Rings Book 1, Chapter 1, A Long Expected Party! With Bilbo having hit the Road, Frodo is left to clean up the mess. He’ll discover that sometimes b…

Gandalf: "Go away and leave it behind. Stop possessing it. Give it to Frodo, and I will look after him." In this episode of Do Not Be Hasty, we continue through Lord of the Rings Book 1, Chapter 1, A Long Expected Party! Herein, Bilbo finally hits the road, and Frodo finds Gandalf waiting for him at Bag-End with an important assignment. Join us! EX…

In this episode of Do Not Be Hasty, we continue through Lord of the Rings Book 1, Chapter 1, A Long Expected Party! As Bilbo sneaks back to Bag-End and prepares to leave the Shire once and for all, Gandalf confronts him about the Ring, and an ugly argument ensues. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Melkor27 - KG …

In this episode of Do Not Be Hasty, Bilbo delivers his unforgettable birthday speech and shocking surprise, as we continue through Lord of the Rings Book 1, Chapter 1, A Long Expected Party! We’ll take time to consider every detail of his speech, and do the math on the most memorable line of them all: "I don't know half of you as half as well as I …

In this episode of DO NOT BE HASTY, Bilbo’s birthday festivities begin, as we continue through LORD OF THE RINGS Book 1, Chapter 1, A LONG EXPECTED PARTY! We’ll take time to envision the layout of the party field, and consider the variety of entertainments and meals that made it one of the greatest birthday celebrations of all time! This section be…

Tolkien Reading Day 2024 is upon us, and boy do we have a curve ball for you! What do Tolkien and Quentin Tarantino have in common? Apparently more than you'd think! Greta and I watched Tarantino's 2019 film "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" twice this week, and found some fascinating synchronicities with Tolkien's own vision of fairy tales from "On …

Welcome to Episode 367 of The Tolkien Road, or Episode 3 in the Do Not Be Hasty - reckoning! In this episode, we'll explore Gandalf's arrival at Bag End with fireworks in tow, and his subsequent discussion with Bilbo about his party, plans, and upcoming joke. Perhaps most importantly, we'll answer that important question: just HOW BIG were Gandalf'…

In this episode, we grab a pint with Sam's dad at the Ivy Bush as we resume our exploration of Lord of the Rings Book 1 Chapter 1 A Long Expected Party by considering the section from “Twelve more years passed…” to “...this very month as-is.” The bulk of this section concerns Hamfast Gamgee, aka The Gaffer, and his conversation with other Shire-fol…

With this episode, we begin a new journey, as we return to The Lord of the Rings for something epic (in scope) and Entish (in pace). Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/jpQhFfCvyL0 WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-99625727 LISTEN AD-FRE…

With Sauron having been defeated and disembodied at the end of the Second Age, and a time of peace settling in upon the free lands of Middle-earth, how do we arrive at the events of The Lord of the Rings, some 3,000 years later? The account we’ll be looking at in this episode is taken entirely from Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, and descr…

With Elendil and his sons having founded Arnor and Gondor after the downfall of Númenor, Sauron wastes little time in launching an assault upon them, his aim to conquer the free lands of Middle-earth once and for all! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/FTBb9K…

In this episode, we’re approaching the END of our journey through the Fall of Númenor as we explore the founding of Arnor and Gondor after the downfall of Númenor. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/XCeXZeKhSi4 WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com…

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring Ar-Pharazôn’s assault on the Blessed Realm and the great cataclysm that brings Númenor to it’s tragic end. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/Df8hMWPfFDQ WATCH AD-…

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring Sauron’s tenure there, his devious and depraved works, and Isildur’s heroic moment. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/gUQyPV08UZk WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/p…

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the rise of Ar-Pharazôn, Númenor’s last King, AND his attack upon Sauron. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/buIaEjcCD4Y WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/po…

In this episode, we learn of the reign of Tar-Palantir, the penultimate King of Númenor, who sought to return the land of Gift to its ancient ways. We’ll also learn of the rise of his nephew Pharazôn and the beginning of the abominable reign that ultimately leads to the downfall of the Land of Gift. Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea wi…

In this episode, we’re taking a quick break from The Fall of Númenor to review the new edition of The Letters of JRR Tolkien, released just last week! Join us! EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - SaberSystems - Melkor27 - KG WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/QGBSygzWEFk WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/935253…

Hey there, fellow travelers! I was recently a guest on the Exploring Tolkien podcast from TheOneRing.com. We had a great discussion looking at some of the changes in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films and asking the question: Are we OK with these changes? Some of the issues we discussed include: Do Men Want Power MORE THAN Immortality? Did Jac…

In the last episode, we considered the decreasing reign and lifespans of the rulers of Númenor in the late third millennium of the Second Age, and the root causes of their decline. In this episode, we pick up where we left off, with the death of Tar-Ardamin, the first N ruler to live less than 300 years, and the taking of the sceptre by his son, Ar…

In this episode, we’ll explore key events during the reign of Tar-Ancalimon, as well as briefly review the reigns of several Númenorean rulers that followed. We’ll learn of Númenor’s increasing spiritual and moral decay and the increasingly contentious power situation in the once peaceful island kingdom. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/…

In this episode, we’ll explore the events attributed to the year 2251 of the Second Age. Those events are: Death of Tar-Atanamir; Tar-Ancalimon Takes The Sceptre; Rebellion and Division of the Númenóreans begins; About this time the Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, Slaves of the Nine Rings, First Appear. We’ll see how the increasing Númenorean anxiety toward…

In this episode, we consider the reign of Tar-Atanamir, the 13th ruler of Númenor. We learn here that Atanamir was given the epithet “The Great”. Yet we also learn that he was given another - “The Unwilling”. I have to admit, it’s not entirely clear to me why Tar-Atanamir deserved to be called “The Great”, though I will explore that issue in this e…

The War of the Three Rings is over! With Sauron’s armies destroyed, Middle-earth is at peace. However, Middle-earth’s peace brings with it a new threat - Númenorean Empire! In this episode, we’ll consider the events spanning the years of SA1731 thru SA2029, as Númenor spreads its influence over Middle-earth - and the Shadow spreads its influence ov…

With Sauron’s invading armies having been pushed back from the Grey Havens and subsequently routed at the Battle of Tharbad, the Dark Lord is on the run! In this episode, we’re looking at the next series events, those of the year SA1701. Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/par3Y0ph_9s WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-vi…

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring Sauron’s full scale invasion of Eriador and the subsequent counterattack of the Númenoreans. When we left off, things were looking pretty dire for the Elves of Eriador against the army of Sauron. In this chapter, we’ll continue our exploration of Sauron’s War Aga…

With this episode, the War of Sauron Upon The Elves (what we might also call the War of the Three Rings) begins. And given the relative length of the next 3 chapters, as well as their unified theme, I decided to combine them into this one episode. The chapters we’ll be looking at are: - 1693 - War of the Elves and Sauron Begins. The Three Rings Are…

In this episode, we're continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor with "c1600 - Sauron Forges The One Ring In Orodruin. The Completes The Barad-dûr. Celebrimbor Perceives The Designs Of Sauron." Join us! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/vZyIucaQEjg WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-90163414 EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS…

In this episode, we're continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor with "c1590 - The Three Rings Are Completed In Eregion"! WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/1tsKulWfUBk WATCH AD-FREE » https://www.patreon.com/posts/ad-free-video-of-88290129 EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: - Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien - John R - Jacob Lockham - John H - Melkor27 - KG…

The full title of this chapters is "c1500 - The Elven Smiths Instructed By Sauron Reach The Height Of Their Skill. They Begin The Forging of the Rings of Power."In this episode, we discuss the nature of Sauron's "gifts" to the Noldor, and how their nature and past makes them particularly prone to Sauron's malevolent plot.Join us as we discuss! WATC…

In this chapter, we find rumors of Sauron beginning to unveil his plot. In fact, it’s even debatable what Sauron’s “plot” was from the beginning! Even so, Gil-galad and Elrond refuse to treat with him, though the Elven-smiths of Eregion are won over. All the while, the Númenoreans begin to make permanent havens in Middle-earth (and that's a bad thi…

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the chapter 1075 - TAR-ANCALIMË BECOMES THE FIRST RULING QUEEN OF NÚMENOR. Having covered the life and significance of one of Númenor’s most important rulers, Tar-Aldarion, we now turn to a rather brief description of the reign of his daughter: Tar-Ancalimë, the …

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring the chapter c1000 SAURON CHOOSES MORDER. After our deep dive in to the story of Númenor’s pivotal 6th king, Tar-Aldarion, we return now to Sauron, and take a look at the founding of Mordor and the building of Barad-dûr. WATCH THE VIDEO » https://youtu.be/Lkjvn-3A…

This chapter concludes the era of Aldarion, one of the most important kings in the history of Númenor. As we learned in the last episode, his father, Tar-Meneldur, chose to turn the rule of Númenor over to Aldarion earlier than was normal, due to a letter from the Elven High-King Gil-galad. asking for Númenor’s aid amidst the increasingly dire situ…

This chapter continues the story of Aldarion, destined to be Númenor’s 6th King. While it begins with the wedding, long-expected, of Aldarion and Erendis, it concludes with many events unexpected, including word from Gil-galad to the King of Númenor regarding “ a new shadow arising in the East”. This is a long chapter dense with nuance and characte…

Over the next 3 episodes in our Fall of Númenor series, we’ll return to the story of Aldarion, whom we met 2 episodes ago. Aldarion is the son of Tar-Meneldur and the expectant heir to Númenor's throne. But as we will learn, he is a man torn between a deep longing for the sea and his destiny as Númenor’s king. We have in fact covered this story bef…

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by exploring the year SA750, when Eregion was founded by the Noldor. 750 years into the Second Age, things are relatively peaceful. Númenor’s benevolent influence is extending into the lands once ruled by Morgoth’s minions, and there is little news of war or misery. However, …

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor by exploring The Voyages of Aldarion, the grandson of Vëantur, and future King of Númenor. While we don’t have any narratives from the Second Age on the scale of Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or even some of the greater legends of The Silmarillion, we do have the better part…