In the final episode of Riddles in the Dark (really), Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert go over the extended edition of the final film in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy. Emotions run high as they consider the tying up (or not) of loose ends and the various arcs that may or may not have worked.
Jan 24, 2016•2 hr 9 min•Ep 302•Transcript available on Metacast Subtitle: If you have a Balrog, you don’t need a cat. In which we start to link together all of the subplots and develop the first multi-episode story arc.
Jan 18, 2016•2 hr 2 min•Ep 301•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 9, we begin to look at the downfall of various Ainur, setting the stage for the three rebellions that happen over the rest of the season: Aulë’s rebellion, Mairon’s (Sauron’s) rebellion, and Ossë’s rebellion.
Jan 12, 2016•2 hr 54 min•Ep 300•Transcript available on Metacast In the eighth episode of Season 1, we focus on the Two Trees, showing how they help to beautify Valinor – and instill jealousy and devious plans in Melkor.
Jan 09, 2016•2 hr 44 min•Ep 299•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s session, we come up with a new tagline for the SilmFilm Project: “It’s better than Jackson could have come up with.” Also, we talk about the establishment of Valinor and provide a view of the Valar settling into their new homes.
Jan 05, 2016•2 hr 2 min•Ep 298•Transcript available on Metacast Dec 26, 2015•2 hr 3 min•Ep 297•Transcript available on Metacast After wrapping up some loose ends from the previous session, we shape episode 6 into something of a “whodunit” murder mystery, with the victims being the Lamps of the Valar.
Dec 05, 2015•2 hr 54 min•Ep 296•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode 5, we discuss the decision to create the lamps and the introduction of Tulkas
Dec 05, 2015•2 hr 6 min•Ep 295•Transcript available on Metacast In the fourth episode of Season 1, we determine how Melkor meets the other Valar and focus on the end of the Ainulindalë and Iluvatar’s conversation with Ulmo.
Dec 05, 2015•2 hr 5 min•Ep 294•Transcript available on Metacast We continue to discuss central themes of the season, in particular focusing on Melkor – including what the heck to call him (as well as others who experience name changes in The Silmarillion, like Sauron).
Oct 19, 2015•2 hr 59 min•Ep 293•Transcript available on Metacast Today we are figuring out the content of the frame story and the Silmarillion story for episode 2 and how to tie it all together.
Oct 19, 2015•2 hr 51 min•Ep 292•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time to discuss the Music of the Ainur, one of the most thought-provoking and beautiful stories Tolkien wrote. This is a central core concept that, while it’s detached from the “main” story of The Silmarillion, it’s always there in the background.
Oct 02, 2015•2 hr 48 min•Ep 291•Transcript available on Metacast We continue our discussion about the overall narrative of Season 1, as well as focus on the elements of the frame story that will encompass the show.
Sep 02, 2015•2 hr•Ep 290•Transcript available on Metacast We will begin by discussing the overall plot of the first season and the major events that we want to occur during the season, including the Music of the Ainur, creation of Arda, the making of the Two Lamps, and the arrival of the Valar.
Aug 26, 2015•2 hr 55 min•Ep 289•Transcript available on Metacast Adaptation has been a topic that has intrigued many Mythgardians, including Signum University President Corey Olsen (also known as The Tolkien Professor). From music and art to film to The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) video game, the inspiration that the works of J.R.R. Tolkien have offered continues to be of interest to Corey and his podcast listeners. In a recent Tolkien Chat, Corey took on another sort of adaptation: the new Middle-earth Lore Series. A brainchild of Joel “Andang” Shepherd...
Aug 12, 2015•43 min•Ep 288•Transcript available on Metacast In the final episode in this season, we will attempt to lay out a map for the whole show, season by season.
Jul 24, 2015•2 hr 50 min•Ep 287•Transcript available on Metacast We will continue tackling big issues, including chronology, language style and use of narration.
Jul 13, 2015•2 hr 45 min•Ep 286•Transcript available on Metacast We will discuss some of the critical issues that will lay the foundation of the adaptation, including character depiction, music and magic.
Jun 20, 2015•2 hr 54 min•Ep 285•Transcript available on Metacast We will explain what we are doing and what we are not doing in this project. We will explain the general framework of our episodes and give a high level overview of what we will cover in Season 0. We will conclude the episode (as we will conclude all our episodes) with a question for listeners to discuss in the forum prior to a final decision at the start of the next episode.
Jun 09, 2015•2 hr 58 min•Ep 284•Transcript available on Metacast In the Lord of the Rings Online, Mythgard gathers at Ales and Tales to celebrate Gondorian New Year and the 7th Anniversary of the Lonely Mountain Band kinship. Corey's talk is on Frodo and Sauron at the Cracks of Doom: What Were They Thinking?
Apr 18, 2015•1 hr 12 min•Ep 283•Transcript available on Metacast In the final episode of a long journey there and back again, Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert wind up the riddle run-through for Year 3. It's all over but the score tabulation, and we say farewell to Riddles in the Dark. But the road goes ever on, and our intrepid threesome are gearing up to launch a new podcast series--focused on adapting The Silmarillion to screen.
Apr 03, 2015•2 hr 10 min•Ep 282•Transcript available on Metacast The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Trish Lambert and Dave Kale discuss three of the six "leftover" riddles that needed more discussion. Final decision by listener vote.
Feb 15, 2015•2 hr 37 min•Ep 281•Transcript available on Metacast The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Trish Lambert and Dave Kale conduct a lightning round of the Year Three riddles and conundra to arrive at final answers. Those that stumped the group will be discussed in more detail in the next episode.
Feb 04, 2015•2 hr 46 min•Ep 280•Transcript available on Metacast The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Trish Lambert and Dave Kale share their thoughts about The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Dec 25, 2014•3 hr 8 min•Ep 279•Transcript available on Metacast The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen offers his own reactions, observations and insights about the third installment of Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit in this well-attended and highly interactive debrief.
Dec 25, 2014•2 hr 3 min•Ep 278•Transcript available on Metacast In the second ending to the Riddles in the Dark series, The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert wrap up their speculations about the third Hobbit movie
Dec 24, 2014•3 hr 53 min•Ep 277•Transcript available on Metacast The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert go over more of the information that has been released prior to the launch of the third Hobbit movie
Dec 21, 2014•2 hr 9 min•Ep 276•Transcript available on Metacast The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert considered the extra footage included in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition. This was broadcast as the final segment in the Mythgard annual fund raising webathon in early November
Nov 30, 2014•3 hr 37 min•Ep 275•Transcript available on Metacast The Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert are happy to finally be able to dig into material being released for the third Hobbit film
Nov 27, 2014•3 hr 45 min•Ep 274•Transcript available on Metacast Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Trish Lambert and Dave Kale are relieved to finally have material to consider for the third Hobbit movie.
Nov 06, 2014•2 hr 11 min•Ep 273•Transcript available on Metacast