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★★★★★

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14 reviews

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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 the Lorehounds Network. Find us and all our affiliates at https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds

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Check latest episodes from Rings and Rituals podcast

The Eagle and the Sceptre - S02E03 - Rings & Rituals

2026/09/30

Join the Conversation on the Lorehounds Community Discord: https://discord.gg/thelorehounds Contact Us: Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above: http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Where the Stars Are Strange - S02E02 - Rings & Rituals

2026/09/23

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: https://discord.gg/thelorehounds Contact Us: Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above: http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elven Kings Under the Sky - S02E01 - Rings & Rituals

2026/09/21

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: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Meet Nevermind the Music

2024/09/10

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 Music https://thelorehounds.com/podcast/nevermind-the-music Get in touch: [email protected] Find them on Instagram @nevermusicpod Links to the Lorehounds’ Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The Rings of Power - S01E01 - A Shadow of the Past - Rerelease

2024/07/30

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 where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected]. Links to Network Affiliates and Discord linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Season 1 Feedback

2024/07/24

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 [email protected]. Links to Network Affiliates and Discord linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

BONUS: The Music of The Rings of Power with John Lorehound

2024/07/10

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 uses to differentiate the peoples of Middle-earth. 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 [email protected]. Links to Network Affiliates and Discord linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Alloyed - S01E08

2024/06/26

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 delight: Sara discusses alchemy in the making of the Elven rings. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The Eye - S01E07

2024/06/12

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 Feedback. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Udûn - S01E06

2024/05/29

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] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Partings - S01E05

2024/05/15

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 define. Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

The Great Wave - S01E04

2024/05/01

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 Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Adar - S01E03

2024/04/17

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 enthusiastically about Nienna. And we have feedback – yay! Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Adrift - S01E02

2024/04/03

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 Rite of Sigin-Tarâg! Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

A Shadow of the Past - S01E01

2024/03/20

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 to: [email protected] You can also leave us a voicemail through our website, or record a voice note on your smartphone and send it to the email address above http://thelorehounds.com/contact Rings & Rituals is part of the Lorehounds Network Find us, our community Discord, and all our affiliates at: https://linktr.ee/thelorehounds Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Podcast reviews

Read Rings and Rituals podcast reviews

5 out of 5

14 reviews

★★★★★

MaureenDNYC 2024/06/26

Great way to look at ROP through the lens of ritual

A great way to learn more about Tolkien’s world building! Tolkien scholars Marilyn and Sara share their insights about various rituals in each episode...

★★★★★

Langerated 2024/06/15

Top tier

Excellent podcast for Tolkien aficionados

★★★★★

b.l.h.h2 2024/05/27

New Perspectives

This podcast is fantastic. The hosts are knowledgeable, funny, and entertaining. Hugely interesting to rewatch ROP through this lens. I have a totally...

★★★★★

bror 2024/04/12

Loving the in-depth look!

Really fascinating and super interesting! The hosts are great, very knowledgeable!!

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