It’s the end of our journey. Before we diminish into the

Your hosts have reached a point where they're ready for these books to wrap up and they get the sense that Tolkien feels the same way too. Despite perhaps feeling a little rushed to a happy ending (for now - dun dun dunnnn), Clara and Aaron do find some interesting things to talk about, especially the start of the Fourth Age and where they would vacation in Middle Earth. Plus, Clara does a really good Enya impression.    

Frodo and Sam have finally made it to Mordor and all we have to say about it is that these orcs are catty! They gossip! They steal! They lie! They cheat! They may not like each other, but at the end of the day, if you step to their head Mean Girl, they'll collectively make your life hell. Oh, and also, they'll steal your beautiful clothing and even though we know they spend every weekend cruising the Mordor Mall.

If by debate you mean Gandalf calmly and eloquently lays out a plan for what the gang's next move should be then, sure, this episode is about a debate. But, it's probably more about how Aragorn is a good king because he actually has a gang to even talk about these things with. And how Sauron is bad because he doesn't. Ironic since he has a servant named The Mouth of Sauron (whom we meet in this episode) and you kind of have to assume that guy never stops talking. Much like your beloved co-hosts.    

It's a big milestone – episode 50! In honor of the occasion, Denethor decides he's going to burn this city, burn this city rather than cede control. All this dramatic self-immolation leads Clara and Aaron to pose some questions about being a king in this mixed-up world of Middle Earth. Can we say that there is a political philosophy lurking beneath the surface of the book and just how prescriptive is it? What does it mean that Tolkien refers to Denethor as a "political" leader? And why, after hundreds of pages, is it that Aragorn's finally allowed to be funny?      

We are moving right along with this second-to-last book of the trilogy and stuff is happening! The Riders of Rohan meet a noble savage and pretty much save Minas Tirith's bacon (good news for any hungry Hobbit). Eowyn stabs a really bad guy (but Aaron won't judge you if you're into him *sexually*). And Theoden turns into a god, even though Aragorn arrives on the scene after three days of disappearance which sounds like an oddly familiar plot line. Huh. Wonder why.

Clara and Aaron play Denethor’s advocates in this episode, rightfully appreciating, if not defending, one of Tolkien’s most interesting characters since Turin. Being complicated is fascinating, what can we say? This episode’s other fascination, the Púkel Men, is far less complicated, but your hosts love them all the same. Plus, Grond is back! And did you know “grond” means “ground” in Dutch? What incredible things we learn.   

The king is returning and so are Clara and Aaron with another juicy episode (almost as juicy as that infamous tomato Denethor eats in the movie version of this part of the book). Your hosts cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing the arrival of Pippin in Minas Tirith, hobbit ages, ghost kisses, and how thirsty Eowyn is for Aragorn. We also find out what Merry would have sounded like if he were played by Jimmy Stewart. Plus, Clara and Aaron learn the meaning of the word “wain” and are surprised to find out it has nothing to do with Wayne Newton or Damon Wayans, Jr.       

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We've spoiled this episode at least a dozen times in the run up, but she's finally here, folks. Shelob is ready to make her grand, noisy entrance. She creaks, she belches, she squelches right into our hearts. Just kidding, she's pretty disgusting and if you want to know what's interesting about her, just listen to our Ungoliant episode because they're honestly the same thing. We're not phoning it in, we're just telling the truth. And on that note, Aaron and Clara are finished with The Two Towers.    

Email us! [email protected] 

Instagram: @songsandtalespod