PODCAST · tv
Rings and Rituals
by Marilyn R. Pukkila & Sara Brown
Tolkien scholars Marilyn R. Pukkila and Sara Brown explore the rituals woven throughout The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, analyzing what each ceremonial moment reveals about Middle-earth's cultures, their values, and the storytelling choices of showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne.Ritual is everywhere in Tolkien's world, from the sword-drawing ceremonies of the Noldor to the migration rites of the Harfoots, but it rarely gets the focused analytical attention it deserves. Marilyn and Sara bring genuine academic grounding to their close readings, drawing on anthropology, religious studies, and decades of Tolkien scholarship to ask the questions that matter: What is the design of this ritual? What is its intent? What does it reveal about the culture performing it?Whether you are a longtime devotee of Middle-earth lore or coming to The Rings of Power fresh, Rings and Rituals offers a perspective on the series that you will not find anywhere else.Rings and Rituals is part of
Episodes
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Halls of Stone - S02E05 - Rings & Rituals
Sara revels in dwarves, even in the midst of their dilemmas, Marilyn treasures the shrine of Nienna, the oldest shrine in Númenor, and both grieve over its desecration, agreeing that Kemen is a broken wart of a human being. They see symbols of seeds everywhere, retch metaphorically over Annatar‘s...
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Eldest - S02E04 - Rings & Rituals
Galadriel chafes under Elrond’s command, Isildur confronts a feisty woman and a slimy surprise, the Stranger finds a goat-herder, and Nori and Poppy find — more Harfoots? Sara and Marilyn compare rituals of hospitality —or not — and greeting. They also explore a few cultural dining practices.…
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The Eagle and the Sceptre - S02E03 - Rings & Rituals
In this episode, colors take on political significance, Númenoreans and Pelargir folk show grief in various ways, Annatar finds that some dwarves are harder to deceive in others, and Berek finds Isildur, who in turn finds Estrid. We also learned that even the best – planned coronations may have...
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Where the Stars Are Strange - S02E02 - Rings & Rituals
Where the Stars Are Strange - S02E02 In episode two, Sara and Marilyn find rituals of remembrance, reconstitution, repair, and dramatic revelation. They also wish that Elrond would listen to Círdan's humble wisdom. Join the Conversation on the Lorehounds Community Discord:...
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Elven Kings Under the Sky - S02E01 - Rings & Rituals
Marilyn and Sara returned for another season of Rings and Rituals! After a quick catch-up, they discuss a failed coronation, a lengthy re-embodiment, wanderings in the desert, and the promises and perils of a new creation with dubious origins. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to:...
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Meet Nevermind the Music
Calling all music fans! The Lorehounds network’s first music podcast, Nevermind the Music, is officially launching on September 10 – where two friends and academics filter their appreciation of music through the frameworks of psychology, music theory, and irreverent humor. Check out Nevermind the...
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The Rings of Power - S01E01 - A Shadow of the Past - Rerelease
Marilyn and Sara spend time with the Noldor, comparing the ritual of the warrior Elves returning home to Valinor with Arthurian imagery, questioning the practice of carving memorials on living trees, and noting contrasts between Elves and Harfoots. Questions or comments? Visit us at our website...
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Season 1 Feedback
Sara and Marilyn respond to the many notes, observations, queries, and compliments (yes, we did leave those in!) from listeners which hadn’t yet been addressed. Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to...
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BONUS: The Music of The Rings of Power with John Lorehound
Marilyn is joined by John from the Lorehounds Podcast to analyze the music of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. They discuss the powerful motifs of Bear McCreary, the influence of Howard Shore over the Middle-earth universe on screen, and the various ancient music traditions the show…
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Alloyed - S01E08
Sara and Marilyn discuss the recent teaser for season two and the announcement that a certain actor won’t be returning for it, compare the Harfoot and Númenorean conceptions of death, celebrate the powers of libraries and archives, and ponder the nature of a certain gift–giver. And a special...
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The Eye - S01E07
Marilyn and Sara note that Poppy has a new song, Galadriel has some new introspection (and a big reveal about her past), Elrond introduces a new concept: “save it for the other side“, and Theo has a new crush. They also request listener feedback before July 9 for the series’ final episode of...
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Udûn - S01E06
Sara and Marilyn put a few pins in some key conversations and ask: Do Elves chant on their way to battles? How different are Orcs from Humans? And which kingdoms were, according to Galadriel, saved by humility? Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected]…
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Partings - S01E05
Marilyn and Sara discuss Númenorean military rituals and speculate on their expandable “just add water” horses which pack the holds of their ships so nicely. They also do a deep dive into Tolkien’s conceptions of magic (magia and goetia) in honor of the Hissy Sisters, who are quite difficult to...
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The Great Wave - S01E04
Sara and Marilyn marvel over the voice of Disa, which can make even stone weep, the ritual culture of Orcs (who usually make others weep for rather different reasons), and the ways that contrasting oaths may reveal what is sacred to a person or a culture. And they have even more feedback! Contact...
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Adar - S01E03
Marilyn and Sara ponder the absolutes in cultural affirmations, the transformations of symbol systems as cultures change, and the astonishing appearance of ritual behavior in Orcs. Marilyn points out the ritual which inspired this entire podcast project, and Sara (unwisely?) encourages her to wax...
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Adrift - S01E02
Sara and Marilyn reflect on the competitive and cooperative natures of the Dwarves, the communal and conforming behaviors of the Harfoots (with one notable exception), and the illuminating observations of Celebrimbor in Episode 2 of “Rings and Rituals”. Even Amazon Ads got into the spirit of the...
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A Shadow of the Past - S01E01
Marilyn and Sara spend time with the Noldor, comparing the ritual of the warrior Elves returning home to Valinor with Arthurian imagery, questioning the practice of carving memorials on living trees, and noting contrasts between Elves and Harfoots. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails…
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Preface: Beginnings
Sara and Marilyn introduce themselves and their experiences with Tolkien. They then discuss the forms and functions of ritual, and describe how they will examine each ritual in each episode of the series and what it tells viewers about the cultures of the practitioners. Finally, they demonstrate...
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Preview: Introducing Rings & Rituals
Marilyn R. Pukkila talks with David & John from the Lorehounds to introduce Rings and Rituals: a new podcast analyzing the rituals portrayed in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Marilyn will be joined by Dr. Sara Brown of Signum University for this 9 episode series that will examine the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Tolkien scholars Marilyn R. Pukkila and Sara Brown explore the rituals woven throughout The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, analyzing what each ceremonial moment reveals about Middle-earth's cultures, their values, and the storytelling choices of showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne.Ritual is everywhere in Tolkien's world, from the sword-drawing ceremonies of the Noldor to the migration rites of the Harfoots, but it rarely gets the focused analytical attention it deserves. Marilyn and Sara bring genuine academic grounding to their close readings, drawing on anthropology, religious studies, and decades of Tolkien scholarship to ask the questions that matter: What is the design of this ritual? What is its intent? What does it reveal about the culture performing it?Whether you are a longtime devotee of Middle-earth lore or coming to The Rings of Power fresh, Rings and Rituals offers a perspective on the series that you will not find anywhere else.Rings and Rituals is part of
HOSTED BY
Marilyn R. Pukkila & Sara Brown
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Rings and Rituals have?
Rings and Rituals currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Rings and Rituals about?
Tolkien scholars Marilyn R. Pukkila and Sara Brown explore the rituals woven throughout The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, analyzing what each ceremonial moment reveals about Middle-earth's cultures, their values, and the storytelling choices of showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D....
How often does Rings and Rituals release new episodes?
Rings and Rituals has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Rings and Rituals?
You can listen to Rings and Rituals on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Rings and Rituals?
Rings and Rituals is created and hosted by Marilyn R. Pukkila & Sara Brown.
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