TV & Film

Rings and Rituals

by Marilyn R. Pukkila & Sara Brown

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Latest episodes

S02E06 - Where Is He? - Rings & Rituals

October 21, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min

Marilyn and Sara examine rituals of trials (all–sorts) and home, and the testing of faith. We see parents and children who keep talking past each other, recognize that Pharazôn is walking on a path of seawater as the rituals of power-over…
Halls of Stone - S02E05 - Rings & Rituals

October 14, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min

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…
Eldest - S02E04 - Rings & Rituals

October 7, 2026 · 53 min

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…
The Eagle and the Sceptre - S02E03 - Rings & Rituals

September 30, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min

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…
Where the Stars Are Strange - S02E02 - Rings & Rituals

September 23, 2026 · 47 min

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…

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Elven Kings Under the Sky - S02E01 - Rings & Rituals

September 21, 2026 · 58 min

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…
Meet Nevermind the Music

September 10, 2024 · 6 min

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

July 30, 2024 · 1 hr 12 min

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…
Season 1 Feedback

July 24, 2024 · 1 hr 19 min

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

July 10, 2024 · 58 min

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…
Alloyed - S01E08

June 26, 2024 · 1 hr 41 min

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…
The Eye - S01E07

June 12, 2024 · 1 hr 25 min

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…

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