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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