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Podcast: Exploring Tolkien
Episode: 146. Dragonslayer! Wait... who's this guy? - The Hobbit #31
Description: You’d think the death of the dragon is is the climax of The Hobbit… right? In this chapter, Tolkien gives us action, destruction, and the rise of a new unlikely hero. We look at Bard’s big moment, the politics of Laketown in crisis, and what Tolkien’s original idea for Smaug’s demise actually entailed. , we geek out on Hobbit facts, Tolkien’s fondness for enchanted gems, and the curious significance of talking birds.
We also look at:
How Bard came out of nowhere, and whether the films were right to introduce him sooner
All those ta...