The Tolkien Professor

325: SilmFilm 2-14: Episode 10 – The Kinstrife

December 5th, 2016  |  1 hr 59 mins

In Episode 10 of the season, we bring Fingolfin and Fëanor into conflict – finally revealing Fëanor for the jerk he really is.

324: SilmFilm: BONUS! SilmFilm Special: The Season 2 Frame

November 19th, 2016  |  2 hrs 19 mins

323: SilmFilm 2-13: Episode 9 – Finally! The Flippin’ Silmarils!

November 12th, 2016  |  2 hrs 37 mins

After a season and a half, we’re finally ready to introduce the things at the center of the story: the Silmarils! Plus, we get ready for the next episode, where the central conflict of the season will come to a head.

322: SilmFilm 2-12: Episode 8 – Everybody Loves Fingolfin

November 6th, 2016  |  2 hrs 25 mins

By the eighth episode of the season, we are getting ready for a bit of a twist as we prepare for the trial of Melkor and shift towards the real conflict of the season.

321: SilmFilm 2-11: Episode 7 – Spirit of Fire (aka The Silmarillion needs more Rap Battles)

October 13th, 2016  |  2 hrs 9 mins

This episode focuses on the Noontide of Valinor, and in particular on the growth in Fëanor’s skill as a master smith, with lots of foreshadowing of him smithing with the red glow of forge-fire on his face.

320: SilmFilm 2-10: Episode 6 – Finwë has a lot of reproductive work to do

October 13th, 2016  |  2 hrs 20 mins

In the sixth episode of Season 2, we work out the details of Fëanor’s birth and the death of his mother Miriel, establishing parallels between the two and laying the foundation’s for Fëanor’s doom.

319: SilmFilm 2-09: Episode 5 – The Enemies and The Surfer Elves

September 12th, 2016  |  2 hrs 19 mins

In this session, we revisit the Thingol and Melian story, take a hard look at Sauron’s posse, and map out the structure of Season 2, Episode 5, which focuses on the arrival of the Noldor and Vanyar.

318: SilmFilm 2-08: Episode 4 – The Avari (The Unwilling)

August 30th, 2016  |  2 hrs 7 mins

In the fourth episode of Season 2, we show the developing power struggle between Gothmog and Mairon, and the return of Lenwë to the Avari.

317: SilmFilm 2-07: Episode 3 - DeGreat DeBate

August 19th, 2016  |  2 hrs 7 mins

Episode 3 of Season 2 will focus on the debate amongst the elves about whether to remain in Middle-earth or head over to Valinor.

316: SilmFilm 2-06: Episode 2 – “Don’t Get in the Van, Elwë!”

August 4th, 2016  |  2 hrs 11 mins

In the second episode of Season 2, the Elvish ambassadors take a trip to Valinor.

315: SilmFilm 2-05: Episode 1 – Crisis in Cuivienen

July 25th, 2016  |  2 hrs 1 min

Discussion and outline of the first episode of Season 2, starting with Arwen’s frame story, which leads into the story of the awakening of the elves on the shores of Cuivienen.

314: SilmFilm 2-04: Linguistics, etc.

July 11th, 2016  |  2 hrs 15 mins

Discussion about the linguistics of the Silmarillion, the continuing the Big Picture stuff for Season 2, and the sundering of races, as well as material culture and other markers.

313: SilmFilm 2-03: The Elves

June 27th, 2016  |  1 hr 53 mins

Today is the day we talk about the Elves – how they came to be and their divisions.

312: SilmFilm 2-02: Episode Calendar

June 10th, 2016  |  2 hrs 11 mins

Deciding on general outline for season 2 – not in detail, as we will map out episode-by-episode plots later.

311: SilmFilm 2-01: Brainstorming

May 25th, 2016  |  2 hrs 3 mins

Discussing the big-picture overview of the season, starting with the the awakening of the Elves at Cuivienen (from their point of view) and ending with the Darkening of Valinor.

SilmFilm 1-20: Script Outlines

May 12th, 2016  |  2 hrs 5 mins

We bring on some additional panelists this week to discuss script outlines and fill in the holes left in our episodic discussions. Guest panelists include Karita Alexander, Brian Fattorini, Nick Palazzo, and Marie Prosser.