Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie

Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Seventeen

Join Maggie and Cam as they slash and debate their way through the Battle of the Five Armies. This chapter brings everything to a head – Bilbo's character regression, the recent consolidation of magic back into Gandalf, and Thorin's emotional turmoil regarding the treasure of Erebor. This episode explores the duality of light and dark in this story as well as the more nuanced, political, global perspective we've developed since reaching the Lonely Mountain. We deep dive into a theory Cam presents about Gandalf's transcendent role in this chapter and the hints of his cosmic power.

During our Second Breakfast, we discuss Peter Jackson's devastating World War I documentary They Shall Not Grow Old and consider its implications for his on-screen battles. Cam expands on Maggie's question about retellings from last week to include gender and cultural differences.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Sixteen

Join Maggie and Cam as celebrate Gandalf's return and analyze Bilbo's parlay with the enemy. The hobbit's character growth seems to have come full circle in this chapter, but the idea of regression continues to dominate the narrative. This episode explores the magical hierarchy of Middle-earth and the loyalty / disloyalty of Bilbo's gamble with the Arkenstone. Maggie questions and explores the chapter's many Game of Thrones precursors and Cam continues to develop his theory about Tolkien's parentheticals. We also talk about birds.

During our Second Breakfast, Cam talks about the elements of Elizabethan drama that appear in this chapter and Maggie leads a discussion on retellings and adaptation.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Fifteen

Join Maggie and Cam as they head back into the Lonely Mountain – and Thorin's mind. This episode explores the psychological trauma of the dwarves' displacement now that they are trapped inside their old home. We investigate Tolkien's fondness for birds – from the eagles to the ravens and the traitorous thrush. The treasure of Erebor introduces a new perspective on greed in the story and we analyze the concept of regression in relation to the dwarves' fears and Bilbo's renewed obsession with food.

During our Second Breakfast, we discuss grief, failure, and isolation through comparisons to The Shining and Peaky Blinders.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Fourteen

Join Maggie and Cam for this discussion of a very pivotal chapter. A dragon is dead, and the survivors are grumbling. This episode explores the book's hard shift into politics and a global perspective. Maggie continues to develop her theory about 'greed' in light of recent events and Cam's disappointment with Smaug's death leads to a debate about narrative expectations and subversion.

During our Second Breakfast, Maggie extends her thoughts about duality into ancient Egyptian art and we talk about what's left in the story without our fire-breathing villain. Cam also references The Walking Dead half a dozen times during the episode.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Thirteen

Join Maggie and Cam as they triumphantly return to the books to talk about magic and ghosts. This episode explores the unnerving similarities between the Ring and the newly introduced Arkenstone. We continue our discussion on the power of sight in Middle-earth amid a chapter blanketed in darkness. Cam offers three working theories about the Ring's power and influence as a magical object, and Maggie meditates on the concept of "home" in this story.

During our Second Breakfast, we respond to one critic's strangely abstract praise of The Hobbit as being a "flawless masterpiece". Maggie suggests that Jude Law should play young Gandalf in the Amazon show.

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Discussion of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [Extended Edition]

Join Maggie and Cam in this special episode, where they question the narrative implications of having Benedict Cumberbatch voice every character in the movie. We discuss the nature of evil and the strange, incestuous relationship between Smaug, Sauron, and the Necromancer. This episode also explores the parallels between the Ring and the Arkenstone, as well as the many callbacks within this movie and the series so far. We also try to figure out who the real villain of the prequel trilogy is - Smaug or Azog? In the face of Maggie's lukewarm reaction to the movie, Cam mounts a spirited defense of it as his favorite Middle-earth film.

During our Second Breakfast, we discuss adaptation and disappointment through the lens of the post-Sorkin years of The West Wing, and Maggie reflects on this year's Reading Rush.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Twelve

Join Maggie and Cam as they finally meet a dragon. Smaug's arrival provokes an extended, heated debate about pride and self-preservation. This episode explores the similarities between Smaug and Gollum as isolated mountain-dwellers who challenge Bilbo and complex characters in their own right. Tolkien pushes us to reexamine the concept of invisibility in the story as well, in addition to our ideas of greed, heroism, and corruption.

During our Second Breakfast, Cam draws parallels to a true crime docuseries that reignited his love of provocative, complicated art.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Eleven

Join Maggie and Cam as they finally reach the Lonely Mountain. This episode explores a short chapter that is loaded with symbolism and existential meditation. Callbacks and teasers echo across a bleak landscape. We deep dive into them all and offer some theories about outsider grief and visual storytelling. Cam evolves his Creature of the Week theory.

During our Second Breakfast, we consider the roots of this chapter in the film genres of horror and Westerns.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Ten

Join Maggie and Cam on their weekend getaway to Lake-town. This episode explores the dwarves' relationship with fate and legend, as well as the politics of non-intervention embodied by the Master of Lake-town and the King of the Wood-elves. Songs are weaponized to exploit nostalgia and heroism while quiet greed, calculation, and apathy threaten to derail the dwarves' mission. Cam complicates the idea of "evil creatures" in this world and Maggie defends Tolkien's lengthy nature descriptions.

During our Second Breakfast, Maggie extends her discussion about fate and legend with a comparison to Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles.

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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Nine

Join Maggie and Cam as they fight off drunken Wood-elves and stuff each other into barrels. This episode explores Bilbo's motivations and subconscious as he works to rescue the dwarves. Tolkien pushes us to reevaluate our "food and shelter" theory from last week. We also debate the power of the ring as both a practical tool and a narrative device. Cam leads a discussion about faith, magic, and luck.

During our Second Breakfast, we consider George Lucas' objectives in making Star Wars, inspired by the documentary "Empire of Dreams".

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