Shire Reckoning is a twice-weekly podcast dedicated to the work of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. Join Alastair Stephens every Sunday for the latest from the Shire, and accompany our Fellowship every Tuesday evening as we study Tolkien's work in a welcoming, unhurried journey through the most influential fantasy stories of all time.
This week, we leave behind the hobbitry of the Third Age and consider one of the greatest of Tolkien's stories: Beren And Lúthien. How does this story help us understand all of the relationships in Tolkien's work, romantic and otherwise? Did we lose something essential when Tevildo became Sauron?
You can find the video version of this podcast by clicking here (https://youtu.be/X_saZVbXlFc); the slides are available by clicking here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1we6T53GxyWiMPtLZSggD1mylBMO5YRun/view?usp=sharing).
Show Notes:
Beren and Lúthien (https://bookshop.org/p/books/beren-and-l-thien-christopher-tolkien/ab53f4afc99de329?ean=9780063376403&next=t)
The Children of Hurin (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-children-of-h-rin-j-r-r-tolkien/33e2126986381724?ean=9780547086057&next=t)
The Fall Of Gondolin (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-fall-of-gondolin-j-r-r-tolkien/d3cc1382f83f3444?ean=9780358131458&next=t)
The Complete History of Middle-earth (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-complete-history-of-middle-earth-box-set-three-volumes-comprising-all-twelve-books-of-the-history-of-middle-earth-christopher-tolkien/09666d091481e04f?ean=9780358381747&next=t)
Stars And Swords (https://starsandswords.com/)
Shire Reckoning is a Next Word (https://patreon.com/NextWord) production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord (https://patreon.com/nextword).
Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@ShireReckoningPod), Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/shirereckoningpod.bsky.social)and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shirereckoningpod/).
Music by Corvus (https://pixabay.com/users/theromancrow-42411874/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=194076) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=194076).
9 Apr 2026
The Hobbit 22: Death By Comedic Misadventure
This week, we leave the Mountain and return to the Hill in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Is this film a good film? A good sequel? Does Jackson deliver on the promised conflicts? Is there a worse sequence than the goat-powered chariot ride?
Show Notes:
The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies (2014) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2310332/)
Shire Reckoning is a Next Word (https://patreon.com/NextWord) production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord (https://patreon.com/nextword).
Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@ShireReckoningPod), Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/shirereckoningpod.bsky.social)and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shirereckoningpod/).
Music by Corvus (https://pixabay.com/users/theromancrow-42411874/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=194076) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=194076).
26 Mar 2026
The Hobbit 21: Cartoon Physics
This week, we battle some audio goblins to consider the complicated structure and style of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Is there an internal tension between the Fairy Tale and the Tolkien Lore? Can great performances save a film? Who needs convection anyway?
The video version of this session is available by clicking here (https://youtu.be/BZLc_OBXVVA); the slides are available for download by clicking here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RNhpPaISAvRkCk9hQviKAkgtb-Dt7IPE/view?usp=sharing).
Show Notes:
"We Bring You A Special Announcement" (YouTube) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMHh4L2626A&t=190s)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170358/)
Shire Reckoning is a Next Word (https://patreon.com/NextWord) production. For bonus episodes and to support the show, visit Patreon.com/NextWord (https://patreon.com/nextword).
Follow Shire Reckoning on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@ShireReckoningPod), Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/shirereckoningpod.bsky.social)and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shirereckoningpod/).
Music by Corvus (https://pixabay.com/users/theromancrow-42411874/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=194076) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=194076).
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