Peter Jackson changed Gandalf, Sam, and Merry and Pippen for The Lord of the Rings films -- but how much did he change them, and was it worth it?

How Peter Jackson Changed the Wizard, the Pranksters, and Frodo’s Best Bud

Exploring Tolkien is a weekly show that dives deep into JRR Tolkien and all the ages of Middle-earth.  Jonathan Watson and Michael Grumbine are your hosts as they read through Tolkien’s works, interview other Tolkien enthusiasts and authors, and critically examine how Tolkien’s world is being treated by mega-corporations like Amazon.com and Warner Bros.

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Listen as Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan discuss their relationship with Peter Jackson, what it took to get through years of filming, and how working on Lord of the Rings changed them!

An Interview with Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dominic Monaghan (Merry)  – 2003 Roundtable Interviews

The films brought us a dark and evil Bree -- but Tolkien calls it "friendly" and "familiar"!

Bree’s Dark Turn

Dropping the Barrow-downs removes one of the most important callbacks in the final Battle of the Pelennor Fields before Minas Tirith.

Should The Lord of the Rings Films have kept the Barrow-downs?

Tom Bombadil is a polarizing figure in Middle-earth. Some hate him, some love him. Peter Jackson decided to completely avoid that discussion and simply excise him from the film.

Tom Bombadil is NOT important? Tolkien said it!

The first REAL dangers outside of the Shire were cut from the films... but did that decision improve them?

How Peter Jackson Changed the Wizard, the Pranksters, and Frodo’s Best Bud

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