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

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

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/

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  

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***

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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

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

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

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/

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/

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/

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

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

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

.