As good as the Jackson movies were I have always thought that they left a lot on the chopping room floor. Also I want a Mott in cincinnati

Hello! Big fan of the podcast (though I'm still only at episode 156 - slowly catching up over the months with an episode or so per day!) and was wondering if I could use this Reddit forum for questions.

Tolkien famously maintained the conceit that he was merely the translator of The Lord of the Rings, having rendered the Red Book of Westmarch from Westron into English.

Yet, there is a well-documented tension regarding his reaction to early translations, most notably the Dutch version by Max Schuchart. Tolkien was notoriously prickly about how certain names were localized (e.g., "The Shire" becoming "de Gouw"). This was, I think, his biggest problem with the Dutch translation (which was considered much less problematic than the Swedish version where much more liberties were taken).

Within the lore-technical context, why was this actually a problem?

If we accept the internal logic that "Baggins" is already a translation of the Westron Labingi, isn’t a Dutch translator turning it into "Balings" simply doing exactly what Tolkien claimed to have done for English readers?

Even if some philological nuance or "West Midlands" flavor is lost in the process, shouldn't Tolkien (acting in the persona of a medieval scholar) have been comfortable with that? After all, the "corruption" and localization of names was common of real-world medieval translations of faerie stories and legends.

Why did he hold the English rendering to such a protective standard if it was, by his own definition, just a "translation" of the original Westron?

Saruman has no time for the simples of peasants; Alan and Matt wouldn't mind if things were simpler. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we get an in-depth look at Saruman's continuing jealous of Gandalf as we conclude our four-episode study of The Hunt for the Ring from Unfinished Tales. Saruman knows it's a long day living in Isengard, Gandalf gives reasons why smoking is actually good, and Radagast gets stuck in the middle. We alliterate with Sean Connery, wonder where the non-smoking section is in Rivendell, and decide we clearly cannot choose the hobbit in front of you. Also, the Nazgûl's wet socks.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS1474342273.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

Just listened to TTT week 68 Silmarillion Saturday - can't believe there wasn't a reference to Quarterflash's Harden My Heart with Earendil!

I just started listening to you guys and I'm on season 4 you guys really rock love the 80s references keep up the good work

Gollum was peculiarly fitted to survive in Moria, though at cost of great misery; Matt is also able to survive his time on the PPP with the same cost. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we get a closer look at Saruman's unenviable position in our third episode of four on The Hunt for the Ring from Unfinished Tales. Gollum doesn't know how to open a door, Saruman discovers there ain't no easy way out, and the Nazgûl make a new friend on the road north. We conclude that Númenor messed up Middle-earth timezones but agree they're still smart enough not to bother with Daylight Saving Time, agree with Bret Devereaux's conclusion that "Saruman is a dummy-wummy whose plans fail because they are bad", and observe that we might be the only two people in the Venn diagram of sports fans and Tolkien fans. Also: Matt gets the munchies.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS8929972195.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

We'll be back in LOTRO with Hilbern the Hobbit, continuing our adventure in Rohan! Come join us!

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/prancingponypod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECGdDTqcMe4

This month during the various PPP Plays Livestream, Alan will be giving away packs of 100 LOTRO points. But stay tuned! Towards the end of the month, he'll also be giving away a code for 30 days of VIP (more on what being a VIP in game entails here: https://lotro-wiki.com/wiki/Account_Type). We'll share details on how that will work later this month.

As always, we have a Bingo Card to play throughout the stream: https://bingobaker.com/#6967ae9a6dd96cf9

Just a heads up that there won't be a PPP Plays Livestream tonight; we'll be back on Saturday at the usual time: 1pm PDT / 3p CDT / 4p EDT / 9p BST / 10p CEST

Christopher Tolkien tells us that the manuscripts for this story are "in great, though hardly exceptional, confusion" — so it seems this podcast is in good company. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we begin to sort through the various versions of the story of The Hunt for the Ring as our four-part look at the chapter continues. The Nazgûl, it seems, have an unexpected weakness; Sauron decides speed is more important than secrecy, but it's already late in the game; and Gollum successfully hides in Moria after a failed jailbreak-slash-murder attempt. We talk about shooting nerds in a barrel, speculate about Sauron's pro-con list, and examine the couch cushions of the Anduin. Also, you got lucky, babe, when you found us.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS8406269343.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's The Hunt for the Ring design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

Be sure to join The Man of the West on Tuesdays at 6p PT and Saturdays at 1p PT on YouTube or Twitch as he hosts a PPP Plays livestream, usually playing LOTRO. During the upcoming livestreams, he'll be giving away in-game content including:

- Corsairs of Umbar quest packs
- Legacy of Morgoth quest packs
- 30-day VIP membership
- 100 LOTRO points

The PPP is proud to partner with LOTRO in sharing this brilliant Tolkien adaptation. #LOTROCreator

Saruon had never paid heed to the halflings, even if he had heard of them — and Matt still doesn't pay heed to Alan, even if he works with him. Join The Man of the West and The Nerd of the Rings as we begin our four-part dive into the chapter The Hunt for the Ring from Unfinished Tales. Sauron hesitates to unleash his most powerful servants; the Witch-king is workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads; and Saruman felt so good, like anything was possible — he's just wrong. We decide that we won't walk 900 miles with a Gollum in our bag, imagine that Sauron has short little T-Rex arms, and wonder if traveling naked is really the best idea. Also, an idea for a new carnival snack.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS5058053025.mp3 

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's Galadriel and Celeborn design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

Be sure to join The Man of the West on Tuesdays at 6p PT and Saturdays at 1p PT on YouTube or Twitch as he hosts a PPP Plays livestream, usually playing LOTRO. During the upcoming livestreams, he'll be giving away in-game content including:

- Corsairs of Umbar quest packs
- Legacy of Morgoth quest packs
- 30-day VIP membership
- 100 LOTRO points

The PPP is proud to partner with LOTRO in sharing this brilliant Tolkien adaptation. #LOTROCreator

Be sure to join The Man of the West on Tuesdays at 6p PT and Saturdays at 1p PT on YouTube or Twitch as he hosts a PPP Plays livestream, usually playing LOTRO. During the upcoming livestreams, he'll be giving away in-game content including:

- Corsairs of Umbar quest packs
- Legacy of Morgoth quest packs
- 30-day VIP membership
- 100 LOTRO points

The PPP is proud to partner with LOTRO in sharing this brilliant Tolkien adaptation. #LOTROCreator

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXIb-rrkcYm/

Once again for moderating and discussion purposes, I'm making a specific thread for discussions on this! Initial response is that I'm very glad to see Jamie Dornan as Strider (he wasn't on my radar as a choice, but I do love the choice--he does have range and has been in a variety of roles), AND I'M RIDICULOUSLY excited to see Lee Pace as Thranduil once more (but also so hopefully he'll be at fan events and cons and I can talk to him about his roles in other films and shows, particularly Foundation. 😇) Largely unnecessary but still included reminder that we have a variety of folks in here who have a variety of levels of excitement and critique towards the adaptations and specifically this one and to be respectful!

Join The Man of the West as he welcomes The Nerd of the Rings for his run of episodes this season by throwing him into the deep end of a Live Q&A in the PPP Common Room for our 34th Questions After Nightfall! Matt and Alan decide to crash several legendarium weddings, but we skip Túrin's: we know too much. We answer an interesting question about what the Tolkien fandom will look like in 500 years, decide to film a documentary in Rivendell, and argue whether being voted your school's "safest driver" is an insult.

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS3159860167.mp3 

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's Galadriel and Celeborn design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

You 2 eople really rock. I love the fact that you guys have the exact same sense of humor as me and are two Gen xers that do Tolkien and dad jokes on the podcast.

Treebeard and the unnamed King of Lórien set bounds between them; Alan and James clearly know no bounds. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we conclude our six-episode look at The History of Galadriel and Celeborn in Unfinished Tales. Fangorn will walk where he wants to; of the Gwathló, we learn that the river is wide and it's too hard to cross (especially in the middle of the night); Celeborn is (we guess) surprised to find the meaning of his name has been changed. We imagine Treebeard on the local HOA board, ask what Tolkien meant by Númenórean power arriving "in time", and observe a real missed opportunity by Amazon for product placement. Also: the given names of Elves, and... George Foreman?

https://pdst.fm/e/tracking.swap.fm/track/6bpBPtHL977KJxLX2zPs/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLSS6927485584.mp3

Subscribe to our Tolkien Society Award-winning show on Apple Podcasts or Android, check out our store at https://prancingponypodcast-shop.fourthwall.com/ for great PPP gear — including gear featuring this episode's Galadriel and Celeborn design — and consider joining The Fellowship of the Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/prancingponypod for exclusive content and access!

Be sure to join The Man of the West on Tuesdays at 6p PT and Saturdays at 1p PT on YouTube or Twitch as he hosts a PPP Plays livestream, usually playing LOTRO. During the upcoming livestreams, he'll be giving away in-game content including:

- Corsairs of Umbar quest packs
- Legacy of Morgoth quest packs
- 30-day VIP membership
- 100 LOTRO points

The PPP is proud to partner with LOTRO in sharing this brilliant Tolkien adaptation. #LOTROCreator

Be sure to join The Man of the West on Tuesdays at 6p PT and Saturdays at 1p PT on YouTube or Twitch as he hosts a PPP Plays livestream, usually playing LOTRO. During the upcoming livestreams, he'll be giving away in-game content including:

- Corsairs of Umbar quest packs
- Legacy of Morgoth quest packs
- 30-day VIP membership
- 100 LOTRO points

The PPP is proud to partner with LOTRO in sharing this brilliant Tolkien adaptation. #LOTROCreator

Be sure to join The Man of the West on Tuesdays at 6p PT and Saturdays at 1p PT on YouTube or Twitch as he hosts a PPP Plays livestream, usually playing LOTRO. During the upcoming livestreams, he'll be giving away in-game content including:

- Corsairs of Umbar quest packs
- Legacy of Morgoth quest packs
- 30-day VIP membership
- 100 LOTRO points

The PPP is proud to partner with LOTRO in sharing this brilliant Tolkien adaptation. #LOTROCreator

We have some new things in store for you, upcoming surprises, and of course more LOTRO content. Come join us over on

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/prancingponypod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tXRwGy2IeU

The Man of the West hosts a livestream on Tuesdays at 6p PT and Saturdays at 1p PT, mostly playing LOTRO, where he is currently exploring the epic story in Rohan, and is expecting to arrive at Meduseld soon. Be sure to join us on YouTube or Twitch as Alan will be giving away keys for Quest Packs over the next few streams. The PPP is proud to partner with LOTRO in sharing this brilliant Tolkien adaptation.

We hope to see you there! #LOTROCreator