<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives!</a>
Túrin Turambar has officially abandoned the protection of Doriath, choosing instead to live as an outlaw among murderers and cutthroats. In our breakdown of the first part of Chapter 6 of The Children of Húrin, we explore Túrin’s tragic descent into darkness, his absolute refusal to live under anyone else’s law, and how a deadly “accident” turns him into the captain of the Wolf-Men.
We also look at:
<ul>
<li>How Túrin’s slaying of Forwëg perfectly mirrors the tragedy of Saeros in Doriath. Ú</li>
<li>The fascinating real-world Anglo-Saxon history behind Tolkien’s “Wolf-Heads.”</li>
<li>The exact moment in the lore where Tolkien paused writing The <a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://www.theonering.com/the-silmarillion/" title="Silmarillion" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="96">Silmarillion</a> to start The Lord of the Rings.</li>
<li>Túrin’s Toll & Titles: Adding new names and fresh victims to our running tally!</li>
<li>Plus, a quick “look” of the Rings of Power DVD release and great news about J.R.R. Tolkien’s favorite pub reopening.</li>
</ul>
In our extended episode (available for members who’ve downloaded the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Exploring Tolkien app</a> and at <a href="https://theonering.com/members">https://theonering.com/members</a>), we get into:
<ul>
<li>Is Túrin good? We debate his morality and choices</li>
</ul>
🔗 Episode Links 
 <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Get the Exploring Tolkien App!</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4vQ6moV">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3P8en81">The Story of Kullervo</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4cMreVg">The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4u9YzAt">Unfinished Tales</a>
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast 
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455">Subscribe on Apple</a> 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/053v5PsgtE8TmMiXXAyThG">Subscribe on Spotify</a> 
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Get the Exploring Tolkien App</a> 
<a href="https://www.theonering.com/member">Get the Extended Podcast</a>
🔍 If You Like Tolkien 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3x0kbHh">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/49ZkSiA">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k"> The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3c8R0Ic">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf">The Atlas of Middle-earth</a> 
<a href="https://shop.theonering.com/listing/make-tolkien-great-again-tw">Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat</a>

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives! Túrin Turambar has officially abandoned the protection of Doriath, choosing instead to live as an outlaw among murderers and cutthroats. In our breakdown of the first part of Chapter 6 of The Children of Húrin, we explore Túrin’s tragic descent into darkness, his absolute refusal to live under anyone else’s law, and how a deadly “accident” turns him into the captain of the Wolf-Men. We also look at: How Túrin’s slaying of Forwëg perfectly mirrors the tragedy of Saeros in Doriath. Ú The fascinating real-world Anglo-Saxon history behind Tolkien’s “Wolf-Heads.” The exact moment in the lore where Tolkien paused writing The Silmarillion to start The Lord of the Rings. Túrin’s Toll & Titles: Adding new names and fresh victims to our running tally! Plus, a quick “look” of the Rings of Power DVD release and great news about J.R.R. Tolkien’s favorite pub reopening. In our extended episode (available for members who’ve downloaded the Exploring Tolkien app and at https://theonering.com/members), we get into: Is Túrin good? We debate his morality and choices 🔗 Episode Links Get the Exploring Tolkien App! The Children of Húrin The Story of Kullervo The Silmarillion Unfinished Tales 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Spotify Get the Exploring Tolkien App Get the Extended Podcast 🔍 If You Like Tolkien The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook) The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book) The Silmarillion The Children of Húrin The Atlas of Middle-earth Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives!</a>
Túrin Turambar has officially abandoned the protection of Doriath, choosing instead to live as an outlaw among murderers and cutthroats. In our breakdown of the first part of Chapter 6 of The Children of Húrin, we explore Túrin’s tragic descent into darkness, his absolute refusal to live under anyone else’s law, and how a deadly “accident” turns him into the captain of the Wolf-Men.
We also look at:
<ul>
<li>How Túrin’s slaying of Forwëg perfectly mirrors the tragedy of Saeros in Doriath. Ú</li>
<li>The fascinating real-world Anglo-Saxon history behind Tolkien’s “Wolf-Heads.”</li>
<li>The exact moment in the lore where Tolkien paused writing The <a href="https://www.theonering.com/the-silmarillion/" title="Silmarillion" rel="noopener noreferrer">Silmarillion</a> to start The Lord of the Rings.</li>
<li>Túrin’s Toll &amp; Titles: Adding new names and fresh victims to our running tally!</li>
<li>Plus, a quick “look” of the Rings of Power DVD release and great news about J.R.R. Tolkien’s favorite pub reopening.</li>
</ul>
In our extended episode (available for members who’ve downloaded the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exploring Tolkien app</a> and at <a href="https://theonering.com/members" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://theonering.com/members</a>), we get into:
<ul>
<li>Is Túrin good? We debate his morality and choices</li>
</ul>
🔗 Episode Links 
 <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Exploring Tolkien App!</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4vQ6moV" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3P8en81" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Story of Kullervo</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4cMreVg" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4u9YzAt" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unfinished Tales</a>
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast 
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455" rel="noopener noreferrer">Subscribe on Apple</a> 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/053v5PsgtE8TmMiXXAyThG" rel="noopener noreferrer">Subscribe on Spotify</a> 
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Exploring Tolkien App</a> 
<a href="https://www.theonering.com/member" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Extended Podcast</a>
🔍 If You Like Tolkien 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3x0kbHh" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/49ZkSiA" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k" rel="noopener noreferrer"> The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3c8R0Ic" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Atlas of Middle-earth</a> 
<a href="https://shop.theonering.com/listing/make-tolkien-great-again-tw" rel="noopener noreferrer">Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat</a>

171. Forsaking Elves for Outlaws : Children of Húrin #8

<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives!</a>
In this episode, we explore an incredibly rare event in Tolkien’s legendarium: a formal Elven trial. We examine King Thingol’s judgment of Túrin after the death of Saeros, uncovering how law, evidence, and mercy operate in Doriath. We also look at:
<ul>
<li>How Mablung’s testimony and Nellas’s surprise appearance shifted the king’s verdict.</li>
<li>The evolution of Thingol’s character since his harsh treatment of <a class="wpil_keyword_link" title="Beren" href="https://www.theonering.com/tolkien-encyclopedia/beren/" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="95">Beren</a>.</li>
<li>Túrin’s growing list of titles and his first official toll.</li>
<li>Why The Rings of Power repeating “the very” over 30 times highlights poor writing.</li>
</ul>
In our extended episode (available for members who’ve downloaded the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Exploring Tolkien app</a> and at <a href="https://theonering.com/members">https://theonering.com/members</a>), we get into:
<ul>
<li>User comments on Beleg’s sword choice</li>
<li>Son of Mowen vs Son of Húrin</li>
<li>Why writers like Damon Lindelof fundamentally misunderstand how to adapt source material — particularly when it comes to what fans ACTUALLY want.</li>
</ul>
🔗 Episode Links 
 <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Get the Exploring Tolkien App!</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4vQ6moV">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3P8en81">The Story of Kullervo</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4cMreVg">The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4u9YzAt">Unfinished Tales</a>
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast 
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455">Subscribe on Apple</a> 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/053v5PsgtE8TmMiXXAyThG">Subscribe on Spotify</a> 
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594">Get the Exploring Tolkien App</a> 
<a href="https://www.theonering.com/member">Get the Extended Podcast</a>
🔍 If You Like Tolkien 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3x0kbHh">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/49ZkSiA">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k"> The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3c8R0Ic">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf">The Atlas of Middle-earth</a> 
<a href="https://shop.theonering.com/listing/make-tolkien-great-again-tw">Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat</a>

Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives! In this episode, we explore an incredibly rare event in Tolkien’s legendarium: a formal Elven trial. We examine King Thingol’s judgment of Túrin after the death of Saeros, uncovering how law, evidence, and mercy operate in Doriath. We also look at: How Mablung’s testimony and Nellas’s surprise appearance shifted the king’s verdict. The evolution of Thingol’s character since his harsh treatment of Beren. Túrin’s growing list of titles and his first official toll. Why The Rings of Power repeating “the very” over 30 times highlights poor writing. In our extended episode (available for members who’ve downloaded the Exploring Tolkien app and at https://theonering.com/members), we get into: User comments on Beleg’s sword choice Son of Mowen vs Son of Húrin Why writers like Damon Lindelof fundamentally misunderstand how to adapt source material — particularly when it comes to what fans ACTUALLY want. 🔗 Episode Links Get the Exploring Tolkien App! The Children of Húrin The Story of Kullervo The Silmarillion Unfinished Tales 🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Spotify Get the Exploring Tolkien App Get the Extended Podcast 🔍 If You Like Tolkien The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook) The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book) The Silmarillion The Children of Húrin The Atlas of Middle-earth Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Exploring Tolkien App to listen to every episode, a Tolkien calendar, the latest news, and member exclusives!</a>
In this episode, we explore an incredibly rare event in Tolkien’s legendarium: a formal Elven trial. We examine King Thingol’s judgment of Túrin after the death of Saeros, uncovering how law, evidence, and mercy operate in Doriath. We also look at:
<ul>
<li>How Mablung’s testimony and Nellas’s surprise appearance shifted the king’s verdict.</li>
<li>The evolution of Thingol’s character since his harsh treatment of <a title="Beren" href="https://www.theonering.com/tolkien-encyclopedia/beren/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Beren</a>.</li>
<li>Túrin’s growing list of titles and his first official toll.</li>
<li>Why The Rings of Power repeating “the very” over 30 times highlights poor writing.</li>
</ul>
In our extended episode (available for members who’ve downloaded the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Exploring Tolkien app</a> and at <a href="https://theonering.com/members" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://theonering.com/members</a>), we get into:
<ul>
<li>User comments on Beleg’s sword choice</li>
<li>Son of Mowen vs Son of Húrin</li>
<li>Why writers like Damon Lindelof fundamentally misunderstand how to adapt source material — particularly when it comes to what fans ACTUALLY want.</li>
</ul>
🔗 Episode Links 
 <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Exploring Tolkien App!</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4vQ6moV" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3P8en81" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Story of Kullervo</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4cMreVg" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/4u9YzAt" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unfinished Tales</a>
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast 
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/window-on-the-west/id1625960455" rel="noopener noreferrer">Subscribe on Apple</a> 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/053v5PsgtE8TmMiXXAyThG" rel="noopener noreferrer">Subscribe on Spotify</a> 
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploring-tolkien/id6759834594" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Exploring Tolkien App</a> 
<a href="https://www.theonering.com/member" rel="noopener noreferrer">Get the Extended Podcast</a>
🔍 If You Like Tolkien 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3x0kbHh" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/49ZkSiA" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3a7wE0k" rel="noopener noreferrer"> The Silmarillion</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3c8R0Ic" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Children of Húrin</a> 
<a href="https://amzn.to/3lzsIIf" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Atlas of Middle-earth</a> 
<a href="https://shop.theonering.com/listing/make-tolkien-great-again-tw" rel="noopener noreferrer">Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat</a>

170. Tolkien’s Only Courtroom Drama : Children of Húrin #7

With Christmas in just a couple of days, we turn our attention from The Hobbit to a long-hidden Tolkien gem: his 1936 Christmas poem, “Noel.”

153. The Christmas Eucatastrophe (and is The Lord of the Rings a Christmas movie?)

We wrap up The Hobbit with “The Last Stage” and reflect on Bilbo’s road home -- including the tra-la-la-lally elves of Rivendell.

152. Tolkien Ties up EVERY Loose End (we’re done!) – The Hobbit #37

The aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies reconciles Bilbo to Thorin and gives us a completely different Elvenking than what you saw in the movies

151. Eagles Didn’t Win the Battle – The Hobbit #36

Did Tolkien "earn" The Battle of the Five Armies, or is the surprise enough to justify its existence?

150. Tolkien’s Battle Tactics – The Hobbit #35

149. Bilbo’s Honest Betrayal – The Hobbit #34

We look at Chapter 16 of The Hobbit, where Bilbo makes his most controversial choice-—handing the Arkenstone over to Bard and the Elvenking.

148. Bilbo Doubles Down on Burglary – The Hobbit #33

Thorin shrugs off Bard's 3 reasons for having a claim to the treasure... is Thorin really gold-sick? Or does the elves presence affect him?

147. Is Thorin Gold-Sick or Just Sick of the Elves – The Hobbit #32

You'd think the death of the dragon is is the climax of The Hobbit... right?

146. Smaug’s Hydrophobia – The Hobbit #31

Smaug is gone, so the Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach their treasure--but Bilbo makes a choice to REALLY become the burglar when he sees the Arkenstone.

145. Is the Arkenstone a Silmaril? – The Hobbit #30

Smaug is finally fully revealed as Bilbo finally comes face-to-face with the unassessably wealthy dragon

144. Never Laugh at Live Dragons – The Hobbit #29

The bi-weekly podcast for serious Tolkien fans. Hosts Jonathan Watson and Michael Grumbine of TheOneRing.com (the internet’s longest Tolkien community since 1999) read through The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and every Age of Middle-earth — chapter by chapter. Plus conversations with artists, creators, and scholars–and honest commentary on what Hollywood keeps getting wrong about Tolkien’s legacy. 160+ episodes.

Share Exploring Tolkien

Sign up to save your podcasts

Exploring Tolkien

Exploring Tolkien episodes

About Exploring Tolkien

More shows like Exploring Tolkien

The Tom Woods Show

The Tolkien Road

The Andrew Klavan Show

The Ancients

Gone Medieval

Morning Wire