The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion can be a tough read. There are all new locations, all new characters, death, destruction, and disaster! But getting through it is well worth it!
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3. Ainulindalë – The Silmarillion – 1
Why is music so important? Are the Valar really transgender? Join Michael, Dan, and Jonathan as they begin the long journey through The Silmarillion with the first chapter, Ainulindalē.
4. Valaquenta – The Silmarillion – 2
In the second chapter of The Silmarillion, Valaquenta, Michael, Dan, and Jonathan test their knowledge with “All that is Gold, Does Not Glitter”, decide that Varda should’ve dated Melkor, and explain that Tolkien was a true flat-earther!
Quenta Silmarillion
5. Of the Beginning of Days – The Silmarillion – 3
With the stage set for enormous battles between Melkor and the Valar, Jonathan, Michael, and Dan dive into “Of the Beginning of Days”.
6. Of Aulë and Yavanna – The Silmarillion – 4
Jonathan is gobsmacked that the dwarves are ACTUALLY the firstborn! The guys also discuss the ins and outs of Aulē’s relationship with Yavanna, and how Yavanna’s hopes for eagles in her trees is dashed by Manwë.
7. Of the Coming of the Elves – The Silmarillion – 5
Jonathan poses some trivia questions to Michael and Dan, Michael puts together a great diagram to explain ALL the different types of elves, and we confirm the existence of female orcs!
9. Love Makes You do Stupid Things – Of Thingol & Melian / Of Eldamar – The Silmarillion – 6
Reading Of Thingol and Melian, Dan realizes that love can make you do stupid things, then wonders what in the world is going on in Of Eldamar and the Coming of the Eladië.
10. Fire and Greed – Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor – The Silmarillion – 7
This week, Jonathan quizzes Dan and Michael on some important numbers, Dan sees similarities between the two big characters, Jonathan realizes Melkor was a nice guy, and Michael takes a deeper look at Fëanor’s fire.
11. The Road to Hell – Of the Silmarils – The Silmarillion – 8
As we dive further into Fēanor’s story and the Silmarils, Dan realizes that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
12. Morgoth’s Arachnophobia – Of the Darkening of Valinor – The Silmarillion – 9
This week we dive right in and get deep into Ungoliant, what she does, who she might be, and how even Morgoth fears her.
13. Burn the Ships – Of the Flight of the Noldor – The Silmarillion – 10
In “Of the Flight of the Noldor”, the ill choices of Fëanor are finally brought to bear as we watch the grievous opening to a long and tearful tale.
17. The Wisest Elves – Of the Sindar – The Silmarillion – 11
In this episode, we look at the OTHER elves–the ones who never left Middle-earth for Valinor. These elves created the fairest dwelling that has ever been east of the sea, worked with the Dwarves, and shielded themselves from Morgoth.
21. The First Sunrise – Of the Sun and Moon – The Silmarillion – 12
In “Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor”, Tolkien taps into a grander myth of Middle-earth and returns to the two trees of Valinor to explain how the sun and moon were made.
23. Toxic Masculinity or Inscrutable Men – Of Men – The Silmarillion – 13
In Chapter 12 of The Silmarillion, “Of Men”, Tolkien gives us the first glimpse into Man-Elf relations–and it wasn’t all toxic at first (just incsrutable!).
24. Middle-earth’s Game of Thrones – Return of the Noldor – The Silmarillion – 14
With Chapter 13 of The Silmarillion, Tolkien tells us Of The Return of the Noldor, revealing that the houses of Feanor, Fingolfin, and Thingol are the ORIGINAL Game of Thrones!
25. Doomsday and Dragons – Return of the Noldor, Part 2 – The Silmarillion – 15
Tolkien sets out the pieces of Middle-earth’s chess board, putting the characters in their proper places before the doomsday of Fëanor’s unspoken realization bears down on all the players… and we get our first glimpse of a Middle-earth dragon!
26. This Map is HELL – Of Beleriand – The Silmarillion – 16
Location and placement were incredibly important to Tolkien–so important that an entire chapter of The Silmarillion is dedicated to who is where! Let’s decipher it together…
27. He’s an Angry Elf | Of the Noldor – The Silmarillion – 17
As Turgon builds the city of Gondolin in secret, the bitter seeds of distrust between the Noldor and the Sindar find fertile ground. Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan in this discussion of Chapter 15!
28. Tolkien’s Disney Princess!? – Of Maeglin – The Silmarillion – 18
Is Aredhel really a Disney princess!? What about this Dark Elf, Eöl — even though, as we find out, his name is not the first time Tolkien uses the capital “D” Dark Elf title!
29. When Elves met Men – Of the Coming of Men, Part 1 – The Silmarillion – 19
Do elves regard men as enemies? Foes? Invaders? How did the elves treat men the first time they met them? Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they look at how the Noldor (surprisingly) treated men VERY differently than the Sindar!
31. Middle-earth’s Actual Strong Woman – Of the Coming of Men, Part 2 – The Silmarillion – 20
Who is the REAL “strong” woman in Tolkien’s Middle-earth? Why do men fear elves? Death really weirds-out the elves… and why we measure our lives in milestones, and elves do not!
32. There is a Tempest in Him – The Fall of Fingolfin – The Silmarillion – 21
We delve into the first half of Chapter 18, “Of the Ruin of Beleriand and Fall of Fingolfin”, taking a long look at this valiant elf’s hopeless assault on Morgoth… an elf who ACTUALLY HAS A TEMPEST IN HIM, and not the dust devil in The Rings of Power’s Galadriel.
33. Sauron’s Great Entrance – The Ruin of Beleriand – The Silmarillion – 22
Sauron makes his big entrance into Middle-earth in this chapter, and does some serious damage to the elves and men. But Morgoth still seems to underestimate his foes.
34. Tolkien’s Greatest Joy – Of Beren and Luthien Intro – The Silmarillion – 23
Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures…
35. Tolkien’s Real Alpha Male -Of Beren and Luthien Part 1 – The Silmarillion – 24
The story of Beren and Luthien is the beating heart of Tolkien’s entire Middle-earth. It’s one of the first two stories he wrote (while serving in World War 1), and was directly inspired by moments he spent with his not-yet-wife, Edith.
36. Middle-earth’s Real Power Couple – Of Beren and Luthien Part 2 – The Silmarillion – 25
The story of Beren and Luthien takes a dark turn with death and cruelty, but also reveals a more fairy tale side with all the shape-shifting, magic, and a talking dog!
38. Morgoth’s Kaiju-Wolf – Of Beren and Luthien Part 3 – The Silmarillion – 26
eren and Luthien’s tale isn’t just a love story, it’s the apex of events that sets the rest of the history of Middle-earth into motion.
39. Middle-earth’s Rambo – Of the Fifth Battle – The Silmarillion – 27
Tolkien holds nothing back when the races of Middle-earth decide to take on Morgoth. There’s treachery, gore, rage, victory, defeat–pretty much what Game of Thrones tried to be.
43. The Worst Hero – Of Túrin Turumbar, Part 1 – The Silmarillion – 28
The tale of Túrin Turambar is one of the great stories of Middle-earth. But Túrin isn’t really a hero–he makes bad decisions and runs from them. He refuses forgiveness. He ignores wise advice.
44. Captain Foolhardy! – Of Túrin Turambar, Part 2 – The Silmarillion – 29
The footsteps of doom overtake Túrin. But is his doom his own fault, or do we find Morgoth to blame?
45. Real Middle-earth Bling – Of The Ruin of Doriath – The Silmarillion – 30
Morgoth’s curse over Hurin and the Curse of Mandos over the Noldor come join forces and end up destroying the the oldest elven kingdom from the inside out.
47. The Sea is Always Right! – Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin – The Silmarillion – 31
Join Jonathan, Michael, and Dan as they discuss Ulmo’s influence, Turgon’s pride, Maeglin’s treachery, and the Tolkien’s rule on fighting Balrogs!
49. Elven genetics! Race-baiting! Half-elf lies! | Of the Voyage of Eärendil – The Silmarillion – 32
Michael, Dan, and Jonathan finish the first age of Middle-earth! We see the final destruction that Fēanor's Silmarils wrought, how Ēarendil's desperate hope drove him to Valinor, and determine that--no--Elrond and Elros are not ACTUALLY half-elven! Join us in our...
Akallabêth
50. Rings of Power Got it ALL WRONG – Akallabêth, Part 1 – The Silmarillion – 33
We reach the 2nd age of Middle-earth, and with it are compelled to bring up The Rings of Power — and how they got even the basics wrong!
51. Liars and Junkies of the 2nd Age – Akallabêth, Part 2 – The Silmarillion – 34
We finish up the Akallabêth this week talking about religion in Númenor, if the Valar gave up governing Arda (and for how long), and if men of Númenor are addicted to the light of Valinor.
Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
55. The Chuck E. Cheese of Middle-earth – Of the Rings of Power, Part 1 – The Silmarillion – 35
Many of us endured Amazon's Rings of Power show last year... and now we've finally reached that part of The Silmarillion. Of course, here we actually talk about the Rings more than they were featured in the show for those, erm, amazing 5 minutes. This week we take...
56. Make Tolkien Great Again – Of the Rings of Power, Part 2 – The Silmarillion – 36
** Use the code "GREAT" at https://shop.theonering.com to get $2 off anything! ** It's hard to believe, but this week we finish "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"--the last chapter of The Silmarillion! We talk about the the truth and beauty of Middle-earth (and...
Recap
57. This is the (raw) Meat – The Silmarillion – A Final Look – The Silmarillion – 37
High beauty, strong women, and the meat of Middle-earth!