What? Why? Who? Just a few questions we have about The Rings of Power. This is the tale of two shows, one is super fun, the other is the show we’re getting. But we won’t let the ash cloud rain on our parade! The buddy show that is Durin and Elrond’s friendship is still top tier entertainment. And finally, A.Ron and Jim unveil their Orc Voices.
A.ronduin and Jimgoth have gazed into a Palantír and saw your feedback. Tune in for a geologist’s review of those pesky pyroclastic flows. Which begs the question, what level of “doomed” do you need to be to NOT survive a natural disaster? Find out how Harfoots become the Hobbits. And the baby smack-down of the age is here, Baby Gandalf is coming for Baby Yoda.
John was joined by Aron from Bald Move to discuss orcs, Mount Doom, and their general feelings on the season. John received another audio diary from David with some thoughts on this episode. Then, Tolkien scholar Marilyn R. Pukkila and John discussed the themes of the Second Age and Tolkien’s approach to magic. Finally, Aron and John took on some listener feedback.
‘Tis an ill portent when Jimfiel deems another episode of TROP as a “Walking Dead” episode. But don’t worry, there are good things too! Galadriel is doing some bad guy stuff and Isildur seems like he’s vying for the role of Numenorean f-boi. A.Ronbrimbor ponders the questions, “Are the Numenoreans nearsighted? And which horse is Berek?” And yes, the show is still gorgeous.
Should epic fantasy shows have required homework? Well, not homework exactly, but should you need to do research to understand what’s going on? Is TROP suffering from the kind of writing that is coming for straight-to-streaming? Are we sure that there was only ONE meteor? And get an impromptu Age of Sail lesson from A.Ron.
John was joined by Jim from Bald Move to discuss Elrond’s father Eärendil the Mariner, the origins of Mithril, and John’s beef about the status of the Silmarils. John received a surprise audio diary from David with some thoughts on this episode. Then, Tolkien scholar Marilyn R. Pukkila and John discussed the Palantíri and their role in Tolkien’s legendarium. Finally, Jim and John took on some listener feedback before John hosted the “Spoilore” feedback segment of the Lorecast.
A.Rondork and Jimbella are here to tell you about the good moments and a few moments to grumble about. Some speeches come a bit short of Independence Day level of inspiration, but nothing comes close to the magic of the relationship between Elrond and Durin. When Galadriel isn’t writing checks she can’t cash, she and the other Elves seem to be operating in stark black and white. So where does that leave the characters? Find out in this episode of Dug Too Deep.
Feedback is coming in from all ends of the spectrum. Is Galadriel just a hot-headed teen who needs to cool off with 1,000 years of jail time? Or is this a good portrayal of a young Galadriel who will become the powerful and wise Galadriel in the movies? And if you watch picture-in-picture, don’t do it around Jim and A.Ron. They may go feral.
John was joined by Jim from Bald Move to discuss the Fallen Elves of the First Age and the origins of Dwarves. David made a surprise guest appearance from the Southlands to explain who owns which screen rights to Tolkien’s legendarium. Then, Tolkien scholar Marilyn R. Pukkila and John discussed the first few episodes of the new series. Lastly, Jim and John took on some listener feedback before John hosted the first “Spoilore” feedback segment of the Lorecast.
The dwarves are possibly the best part of this show. Who else wants to see a dwarf scale a rock face? Galadriel gets some sense knocked into her head between those prosthetic ears. But do the writers have the sense to write the nuances that political allegory requires? Follow along Galadriel’s journey as the OG horse girl makes her way through this (still) very beautiful show.