In Search of the Crystal Skull Episode 14: The Hobbit

In this episode of In Search of the Crystal Skull, Arun and Patricia venture out into a new themed month: Fantasy Month! They begin with the 1977 animated TV adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit produced by Rankin/Bass and Topcraft. A hobbit named Bilbo Baggins is called in by a wizard named Gandalf to join alongside 13 dwarfs to help defeat a dragon named Smaug who had stolen their treasure and driven them away from their home at the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo, unsure if he's able to partake in a huge task, is convinced by Gandalf that he's the "burglar" they need for their quest.  When it first aired on NBC, it was praised by critics for being faithful to the book in 90 minutes with it being an easy story for kids to get involved in as well as fans of the source material. However, some critiques over the years brought up its pace, constant songs, and uneventful journey, especially to those who are more familiar with the Lord of the Rings films directed by Peter Jackson. It currently has a rating of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes. Did Arun and Patricia begin their journey to Fantasy Month with an epic start or a mediocre path? Listen and find out.