Find more on author Jared Stonefield and his works: https://www.jaredstonefield.com/ Philip brings on Jared Stonefield to compare Celebrimbor in the books and Celebrimbor in Rings of Power. They explore Celebrimbor's backstory, his role in crafting the rings, and how his character is portrayed differently in the show. Tune in for a deep analysis in…

Find More on J.F. Monroe and her book Series: Legacy of the Four: http://jfmonroebookshelf.com/ Philip brings on author J.F. Monroe to discuss the profound themes that make Lord of the Rings a masterpiece. Author J.F. Monroe shares her journey into Tolkien's world and how these themes influenced her own writing. The key points are the timeless stru…

Philip brings on Augustine Mørk Jessen from Denmark to discuss the profound influence of Nordic sagas on J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. The discussion explores the etymology of names, specific sagas like Beowulf and the Poetic Edda, and the depiction of strong female characters. Listeners will gain insights into how Tolkien wove ancient myths into …

Philip and cohost Matt explore the complex topic of what constitutes canon in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. They investigate various books such as The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and beyond, debating what makes certain elements canon and others not. They also discuss how adaptations, like Peter Jackson's films and the new Ring…

Philip hosts this episode solo, discussing the profound impact of J.R.R. Tolkien's Christian worldview on 'The Lord of the Rings.' He examines four key aspects: a sovereign hand, universal morality, good versus evil, and inner temptation and explains how the story of Middle-earth wouldn't have the same impact without these elements. Philip also ref…

Philip brings on cohost Matt Vandevort to discuss ‘The Fellowship of the Ring.’ Some key parts of the episode include lore differences between the book and movie, the omission of significant characters like Tom Bombadil and Fatty Bolger, and insights into divine intervention in Middle Earth. Reflecting on Peter Jackson's adaptations, the episode co…

Philip brings on Jared Stonefield to examine 'The Rings of Power' through the lens of viewership data and fan surveys. The discussion goes deeper into the show's reception, including variable opinions on its fidelity to Tolkien's lore along with detailed survey results that reveal fan satisfaction and criticisms of seasons 1 and 2, including expect…

Philip brings on Nathan Danneker to discuss The War of the Rohirrim: covering the movie's animation quality, character arcs, and faithfulness to Tolkien's lore. They evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the main characters, including Helm Hammerhand and Hera, and compare the film's portrayal to the original appendices. Additionally, they touch …

Philip brings on Ben Avery from the Strangers and Aliens Podcast to discuss the subtle biblical themes in Tolkien's works and how they compare to C.S. Lewis’s more explicit allegories. They also explore the challenges of representing Christ figures in fiction and share their thoughts on the Rings of Power series. Additionally, the conversation touc…

Philip and cohost Mark discuss Sauron's story in the lore and how that compares to his portrayal in The Rings of Power. They delve into Sauron's desire for control and his role as The Great Deceiver and how ordinary people's actions ultimately defeat evil in Middle-Earth, just like in our world. Tune in to learn more about SAURON. --- Facebook: @th…

Philip and cohost Mark Schaeffer discuss the Witch-king’s story, from Angmar to The Battle of Pelennor Fields, and his war on men along with the prophecy concerning his demise at the hand of two unsuspecting individuals. Tune in to learn more about Sauron’s first in command. -- Facebook: @thewhitecitypodcast LinkedIn: Business Page Instagram: @the-…

Philip brings on Josh Clingman to discuss their reasons for starting their perspective yet unanimous petitions against Amazon inserting risqué content into The Rings of Power (back then known only as Lord of the Rings on Prime). However, they quickly realize they have opposing viewpoints on ROP, a clear example of the polarized opinions on Amazon’s…

Philip brings on Rich Hasnip, chairman of the Malvern C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien Society, to discuss how the short story "A Leaf by Niggle" is an allegory on Tolkien's life. Rich also gives his critique on The Rings of Power, from the standpoint of an actor and playwright. Tune in to learn more about Tolkien's life. -- Facebook: @thewhitecitypodc…

Philip brings on Casey Scott delve into the character ofAragorn, exploring his role as the ideal man and his role in Middle-Earth. They compare aspects of Tolkien's books with Amazon's Rings of Power series and the difficulty with making such an adaptation. Further, they discuss thematicelements that make Tolkien's works timeless. --- Facebook: @th…

Philip brings on Jared Stonefield to discuss the controversial reception of Amazon's 'The Rings of Power' series. They address the widely reported 60% viewership drop and introduce a comprehensive questionnaire aimed at capturing a more nuanced perspective from both die-hard fans and casual viewers. The conversation dives deep into why Tolkien's Mi…

Philip brings on Alex Holmgren to discuss Elrond and his journey throughout Middle-earth. With his manyexperiences, Elrond grows into the quest giver, the counselor, and the advisor.A comparison is also made with how Elrond's portrayed in the Rings of Power.Tune in and learn something new about Elrond. Facebook: @thewhitecitypodcast Instagram: @the…

Philip and cohost Matt Vandevort discuss the timeline of thecreation of the rings of power including the true story behind the rings, who receivedthem and what was their purpose. Thecomparison is made with how Amazon has rewritten the story to create the ringsof power. Facebook:@thewhitecitypodcast LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-whit…

Philip and cohost Matt cover Tolkien's inspiration forGandalf and the wizard's journey throughout Middle-earth, from when he lands at the Grey Havens to commanding the defenses at Minas Tirith. A comparison is also made of Gandalf in the lore and Gandalf in ROP. Enjoy this complete synopsis of Gandalf's life. Facebook: @thewhitecitypodcast LinkedIn…

In this episode of The White City Podcast, Philip, along with co-host Mark and guests Jared Stonefield, Nathan Danneker, and Maverick Dickson from A Lost Plot podcast , extensively reviews the Season 2 finale of "The Rings of Power." The group dissects the tightly packed storylines such as Numenor, Eregion, the Dwarves, the Harfoots, and Isildur’s …

Philip brings back Jared Stonefield to discuss the Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7. There are some worldview similarities with the Sauron and Celebrimbor storyline but a grave difference with The Kiss between Galadriel and Elrond. Highlighted moments include a parallel between the battle of Eregion and the battle of Helm’s Deep, revelations about…

Philip brings back Nathan Danneker to discuss the 6th episode of The Rings of Power, Season 2. They explore multiple storylines including the dwarf and elf relations around Sauron, the harfoots and the stranger, and Sauron's manipulations. Other points of interest focus on the worldview coming from #ROP and the Stranger’s rambling storyline. Resear…

Philip brings on Jared Stonefield, who has a deep knowledge of the Middle-earth lore, to discuss ROP episode 5. This episode begins to ramp things up with Numenor, build on the relationship between Celebrimbor and Annatar, and show the beginnings of a dwarven ring's affect on King Durin III. This is a wholesome analysis on the Rings of Power. #lotr…

Cool scenes are rushed and too much time is given to cheesy plotlines. In this episode, Philip and Mark discuss the lore on screen for the first time, along with the moments that were great and the moments that need improvement. #theringsofpower #lotr #lordoftherings #tolkien #tombombadil #ents #entwife #amazonprimevideo #lore #rushed #rop 00:00 Ov…

There are lore accuracies and inaccuracies in The Rings of Power Season 2, Episodes 1-3. Philip and Mark will be discussing what they enjoyed and didn't enjoy about these epiodes and how impressed they were with the storylines, but what also let down. Furthermore, it appears there are changes in characters such as Gil-Galad and Galadriel. 00:00 Met…

The SDCC and Official Trailers for The Rings of Power Season 2 have come out and Philip and Mark give a breakdown and review of the trailers. They discuss the excitement around new characters like Tom Bombadil and the Entwives, the portrayal of lore characters, and major plotlines such as The Fall of Eregion and Sauron's deception. They also explor…

Philip brings on Nathan Danneker to discuss Rachel Maddow's reference to Lord of the Rings as a 'right-wing favorite' and how the conservative label misrepresents the iconic series. 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Learn About the Guest, Nathan Danneker 02:30 What Makes Lord of the Rings Special? 04:56 Fans from A Lot of Different Backgrounds Enjoy Lord of…

Philip, Matt, and Mark give their reactions and commentary on The Rings of Power Season 2 teaser trailer, discussing its general fantasy feel, potential storylines, and character portrayals. They express mixed feelings about the show's direction and quality, with specific critiques on writing and aesthetic elements. They also touch on adaptations i…

In this episode, Philip, Matt, and Mark talk about courage, most prevalently concerning Rohan. The horse riders are an unrelenting force fueled by ferocity and righteousness. Sam's faithful courage is also touched upon. 'What can men do against such reckless hate?' 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Rohan Doesn't Look Back 07:30 Defining Courage and Tolkien'…

Philip, Matt, and Mark discuss the different aspects that influenced Tolkien's work, such as his Christian worldview, historical and mythological inspirations, and timeless themes. They also explore Tolkien's unique ability to weave these elements together into compelling narratives that continue to captivate audiences. 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Set…

Matt and Philip dive deep into different characters’ varying resilience to the One Ring's influence in Tolkien's Middle-earth. Starting with the enigmatic Tom Bombadil, who remains unaffected by the Ring's power. The narrative then explores the ring's different temptations and impacts on characters like Galadriel, Sam, and other races of Middle-ear…

Matt and Philip delve into the theme of swearing oaths in J.R.R. Tolkien's works. They analyze the consequences of these oaths through characters such as Feanor and his sons, who swear to retrieve the Silmarils, and the Men of the Dead, who are bound by an oath to Isildur until released by Aragorn. The discussion explores the implications of sweari…

Philip and Matt bring on a guest, Albert, who advocates for a real Middle-earth that existed far back in our history. In so many words, Albert argues that Tolkien didn't realize he was writing on true stories.By Philip Dudt

Many fantasy authors have taken ideas from J.R.R. Tolkien, since he was an excellent story writer and a fabulous world builder. Christopher Paolini, the author of Eragon, mimicked Tolkien in language and maps but didn't do so well with quality of writing.By Philip Dudt

Many characters in Tolkien's work go through redemption, by their own actions , or by someone else's. Catholicism teaches penance, which focuses on what someone does to find forgiveness for their actions. In a way this makes sense why so many characters in The Lord of the Rings find redemption through their own ability. Does Galadriel go through re…

There are lessons to be learned from Tolkien's stories, but how practical are those lessons? Frodo's journey with the One Ring may be the most 'relatable' part of Lord of the Rings. It's just not easy to find commonality with a wizard or an elf. Here's our opinion on the matter.By Philip Dudt

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his books on Middle-earth from a Christian worldview, not necessarily because he wanted everyone to take that from his work, but because that's how he sees the world working. It isn't blatently obvious that The Lord of the Rings has Christian themes, but you don't need to look hard for them. Middle-earth is enjoyable to people …

Evidentally, Amazon could have done some things better in The Rings of Power season 1. Aspects of the first season, such as story telling and the main protagonist, could have been improved. The story line would have been improved by speeding up the pace and instead of Galadriel as the main chracter use Celebrian or Isildur. There are strategies tha…

There are three big influnces on Tolkien's writing. One is his Christian worldview, one is the epic poetry of the Medieval Ages, and the other would be his life experiences. We mill into the details about each of these very inspiring topics. Just remember, Tolkien isn't about allegory.By Philip Dudt

Epic fantasy would contain magic, dragons, beasts, and wizards, just to name a few things. Middle-earth isn't infested with magic, but along with the other worldly characters in the story you can tell it's very different from the world we live in today. Matt puts it well, 'They (Amazon) wanted to make a modern fantasy show set in the Lord of the Ri…

The Middle-earth lore can be dense and boring, so maybe this made it difficult for Amazon to create a show that really captivated the audience. On the other hand, what seems to stand out in The Rings of Power is the lack of truly good characters, truly evil characters, and characters who struggle with doing what is good or evil. Arguably, ROP only …

Misconceptions abound around how many fans watched The Rings of Power and thought the show worth watching. The poll created by Philip was meant to capture this idea, not necessarily how many fans watched all of the first season. The results may not be what you would expect, and maybe there’s something else to tell about ROP’s success/failure than n…

It's tough to tell a modern themed story in Middle-earth since the lore contains themes that are timeless. It's very unclear how many fans watched the show and would recommend it, so Philip started a poll to find out since A stat came out on the completion rate of the show. This poll hopefully speaks to whether fans thought the show would be worth …

Good leaders are people you want to follow. In the Rings of Power, Gil-galad seems a little harsh and Galadriel a little too kick butt. Maybe this just works for the show...? It's not exactly like the books, and a lot more Elven leaders are good.By Philip Dudt

There are basically two sides to the hope coin: hoping in yourself or hoping in someone else. It is very prevalent that Tolkien's characters put their hope in someone else (i.e. Frodo to destroy the One Ring). It isn't as clear about who the characters in The Rings of Power put their hope. Most of the time the players in The Rings of Power story mo…

Tolkien's family heavily influenced his writings which started with him creating stories for his kids which encouraged him to write more. The relationship between Tolkien and his wife Edith influenced the creation of the famous lovers in Middle-earth, the human Beren and the elf Luthien. Family relationships play a huge role in The Lord of the Ring…

Characters like Sauron chose the evil path from the beginning and might have a desire to do something good, but what makes him evil is that he never has a change of heart. Gollum is a character who constantly struggles with loving and hating the One Ring, which is all together evil. Galadriel is probably the most pure character in Tolkien's writing…

Miriel's blindness is unique to the show but has potential to create an interesting storyline. A Numenorian leader, who played an important role leading up to The Fall of Numenor, is missing from the ROP storyline. Will he appear, or will someone else usurp his role? With the addition of Elendil's daughter, Earien, drama will probably surmount with…

There is potential for Amazon to come up with some interesting storylines based off of some of the Numenorian leaders, such as Queen Regent Miriel, Pharazon, Elendil, and Isildur. Which characters, who have an important part to play in the books, will end up in The Rings of Power?By Philip Dudt

The problem of evil and how to respond to challenging situations is a pivotal part of Galadriel and Sauron's character development.By Philip Dudt

Controversy around the Rings of Power stems from whether themes in the show line up with themes in the books. The producers of the show have done a good job paralleling Galadriel's temptation by the ring in the Fellowship and her temptation by Sauron in the 8th episode.By Philip Dudt