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Rings of Power Season 2 is almost here and Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Mike Schramm preview the new season; their reflections on season 1; hopes and fears for the second; and the themes of friendship, loyalty, valor, and redemption that the show embraces.

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Inklings! Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Alix Murray discuss literary friends J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, how their shared experiences and academic careers led to the Inklings and how that friendship shaped Narnia and Middle Earth.

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Of the Sindar, Sun and Moon, and Men. Thomas Salerno, Patrick Mason, and Jeff Haecker discuss the next part of the Silmarillion in their ongoing deep read series, and discuss the themes of light vs. dark, life and death, and the gift of mortality.

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Before the upcoming big budget Hollywood film was announced, there was a fan film about the hunt for Gollum, and Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason dive in to discuss it. Plus lots of discussion of upcoming Middle Earth-themed media.

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Continuing their walk through the Silmarillion, Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason discuss the tragic kinslaying and the oath that would bring doom to Middle Earth as well as the themes of pride, betrayal and the consequences of your actions.

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Much of modern culture was influenced by Tolkien’s writings and Star Warsis no different. Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason are joined by Kathryn Laffrey to discuss all the ways that Tolkien’s ideas, characters, and plots have influenced Star Wars.

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Continuing their dive into the Quenta Silmarillion, Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason discuss Melkor’s corrupting influence, Fëanor’s tragic complexity, and the symbolism of Ungoliant’s darkness and hunger as they set the stage for the entire First Age.

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The trilogy ends! Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Alix Murray finish their discussion of the Peter Jackson LOTR trilogy, diving deep into the themes of sacrifice, courage, resilience, and more, while comparing how the films differed from original book and the film’s lasting impact.

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The theme for Tolkien Reading Day 2024 is Service and Sacrifice, so Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Patrick Mason shares their favorite quotes from Tolkien’s works on the subject, concluding that nearly the whole Legendarium is on that topic.

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Awakening. Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Pat Mason continue their walk through the Silmarillion, covering the creation and awakening of Elves, origins of orcs, the first binding of Morgoth, and themes of power, sacrifice, and morallity.

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So much happens in Peter Jackson’s film verison of The Two Towers. Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Alix Murray discuss the film’s portrayals of Faramir and Theoden; the themes of hope, unity, and despair at Helm’s Deep; and the changes made from the book.

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Continuing their discussion of The Silmarillion, Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason discuss the beginning of the Quenta Silmarillion and the themes of fate, free will, creation, and destruction within Tolkien’s universe.

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We gave Patrons the opportunity to ask our Tolkien experts Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, Mike Schramm, and Patrick Mason their related questions and made the answers available exclusively to Patrons first and the later to the whole audience. This time the questions cover the origin and fate of the wizards, where the Entwives went, and what part of Tolkien’s stories they would change.

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Focusing on Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring, Jeff Haecker, Thomas Salerno, and Alix Murray share their experiences of the film; highlights, including Boromir’s redemptive death; its cultural impact; controversies about changes from the books; and more.

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Over 23 years Tolkien wrote a series of letters from Father Christmas to his children. Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason discuss their experiences of the letters; Tolkien’s whimsical, playful side; his devotion as a father; and the enduring magic of his imagination.

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Tolkien’s Silmarillion begins with the Ainulindale and Valaquenta and so Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Patrick Mason begin the first part of a conversation about these two stories, on Middle Earth’s creation, the balance of good and evil, immortality and free will, and more.

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Examining Tolkien’s Elves and Dwarves, Thomas Salerno, Mike Schramm, and Jeff Haecker discuss their mystical and earthly natures; portrayals in media; their rich backstory in “The Silmarillion;” symbolism in their relationship—elves reflect beauty; dwarves, greed; their history of conflict and cooperation, especially in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” where Gimli and Legolas’s friendship exemplifies their potential harmony.

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Explore the theological and philosophical themes concerning good, evil, and power, as reflected in the One Ring’s symbolism. Thomas Salerno, Jeff Haecker, and Mike Schramm discuss the influences of Tolkien’s work on modern fantasy, highlighting the Ring’s evolution from a plot tool to a symbol of power and corruption, paralleled in modern takes on sin and redemption. The Ring’s symbolic narrative rooted in Judeo-Christian themes signifies a timeless struggle between power’s allure and the redemption found in its renunciation, showcasing Tolkien’s enduring impact on the genre and moral discourse.

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One of the first film versions of Tolkien’s work, Rankin Bass’s animated The Hobbit continues to delight. Thomas Salerno, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jeff Haecker discuss the virtues of the adaptation and the differences from its more famous brethren.

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Not all Middle-Earth movies are big-budget Hollywood productions. Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, and Jeff Haecker review the fan-made LOTR film “Born of Hope” and discuss the bittersweet tale of Aragorn’s parents Arathorn and Gilraen.