054 - "The Last Debate"... Marching Straight into Mordor?

This week we discuss book 5, chapter 9: The Last Debate from "The Return of the King". The battle is won, but the war definitely isn’t. This week, the fellowship finally gets the story of Aragorn and the Army of the Dead before Gandalf gathers the leaders of the West for one last, slightly suicidal strategy session. We talk ghost armies, Legolas discovering the sea, Aragorn coming into his own, Sauron’s greatest weakness, and why marching directly toward Mordor might actually be the only plan left. Plus, Laura turns the Shadow Host into extremely alcoholic ghost Jell-O shots, which goes about as well as you’d expect.Conversation TopicsLegolas and Gimli reunite with Merry and PippinThe story behind Aragorn and the Army of the DeadHow the Corsairs of Umbar were defeatedWhy Aragorn released the OathbreakersThe themes of hope and fear in The Last DebateWhy Gandalf says they can’t defeat Sauron by forceAragorn’s decision to march on the Black GateThe plan to distract Sauron while Frodo finishes his missionAragorn finally comes into his own as kingHow Tolkien’s World War I experience influenced this chapterTimestamps00:00 Welcome to Chapter 9: “The Last Debate”03:24 Tolkien finally fills in the missing pieces of the battle05:33 Legolas and Gimli head into Minas Tirith to find the hobbits09:30 Legolas hears the call of the sea15:35 Aragorn’s desperate race toward Minas Tirith22:38 Aragorn captures the Corsair fleet28:48 The Last Debate begins30:24 Gandalf explains why Sauron cannot be defeated by force37:29 Aragorn makes the call: they’re marching on Mordor41:08 7,000 soldiers against the might of Mordor43:06 Aragorn is finally coming into his own52:07 The important question: How exactly do ghosts run?1:05:10 Aragorn releases the Army of the Dead1:09:45 Where is Faramir during all of this?1:14:42 Food for Though1:19:02 Next week: “The Black Gate Opens”1:23:22 What happens to Fool of a Took after LOTR?This weeks "Food for Thought": The Shadow Host Jello ShotsThis week we honor the good work of the Shadow Host by making jello shots in their likeness. Or something.1 6-oz packet blue jello1 packet unflavored gelatin1/2 cup vodka (I used Everclear because I ran out of vodka and regretted it... we ALL regretted it)1/4 cup Gordon's strawberry gin1/4 cup ginger beer1 cup hot waterIn a medium-sized bowl, bloom the gelatin in the liquor/ginger beer mix. Add hot water and jello packet. Pour into a shallow dish and refrigerate for 3-5 hours. Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut your army out. Add candy eyes (they will not stick) and a toothpick sword! I added a small amount of edible glitter and a drop of black food coloring to make them less neon blue. ----------------------------------------------------Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed todays episode, give us a like and subscribe and share this video with someone who likes The Lord of the Rings. Content Warning: ExplicitSupport the pod on Youtube! @FoolofaTookPodcast Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/foolofatookpodcast/)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@foolofatookpodcast) Original music for the show composed by Chris NewhardGot a question? Email us [email protected] the fools on IG:Chris (https://www.instagram.com/chrisnewhard)Robbie Jean (https://www.instagram.com/robbiejean815)Pat (https://www.instagram.com/rolling.seas2023)Laura (https://www.instagram.com/kennylaura525)Listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fool-of-a-took-podcast/id1770780731)Listen on Spotify Link (https://open.spotify.com/show/0e3myYq2eUbKMMtiV7qAl7)