Laketown and its place in the North are the focus of this Riddles in the Dark episode.   Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert talk about the political and socioeconomic situation of Laketown in this episode of Riddles in the Dark. What kind of relationship does Laketown (and the Master)  Read more »

Dissecting the first trailer of Movie #2 on  Riddles in the Dark! The first trailer for The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug was released at 1 pm Eastern time on Tuesday June 11, and the Riddles in the Dark co-hosts convened within hours to discuss it. The result: Nearly three hours to go through a two-minute  Read more »

“No Holds Bard” on Riddles in the Dark Digest #2.06 Once again, your tireless co-hosts Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz discuss analyst and listener responses to Riddles in the Dark 2.06. What will Bard do once the Dwarves reach Laketown? Will he help them or hinder their quest? And what about the smoking dolly? We  Read more »

Figuring out Movie 2 on a bonus episode of Riddles in the Dark Digest Trish Lambert welcomes Breana Melvin, winner of last years Riddles in the Dark riddle game to talk about Movie 2.  Breana compiled all of Peter Jackson’s public videos (prior to release of the first movie trailer) about The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug,  Read more »

Considering the start of #2 on Riddles in the Dark! Who can spend just under an hour and half pondering how a movie might begin? When the movie is one of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit installments, it is Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen and his Riddles in the Dark co-hosts Dave Kale and Trish Lambert. How will  Read more »

“Who Let the Dwarves Out?” on Riddles in the Dark Digest #2.05 Your co-hosts Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz once more sort through analyst and listener responses to Riddles in the Dark 2.05. How will Bilbo get the Dwarves out of the Elven King’s prison in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug? Will he have help  Read more »

Riddles in the Dark Digest 2.04: “Legolas to the Rescue….or Not” on Riddles in the Dark Digest #2.04 Your friendly co-hosts Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz once more sort through the responses to Riddles in the Dark Episode 2.04. How will Thorin and the dwarves meet up with the Mirkwood elves  in The Hobbit: Desolation  Read more »

Talking Dol(Guldur)itics on Riddles in the Dark! Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen, Dave Kale and Trish Lambert meander around Sauron’s precincts, considering topics they had agreed not to discuss in this episode (like the Battle of Dol Guldur). They finally make it to Azog and how he and his “little” boy will appear in Jackson’s second Hobbit movie.  Read more »

We are visiting Laketown on Riddles in the Dark! Bard. James Bard. Well, okay, maybe not. Still, it looks like the bowman will be a Middle-earthian Man of Mystery in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. Tolkien Professor Corey Olsen along with co-hosts Trish Lambert, and Dave Kale review Peter Jackson’s “sneak peak” webcast and consider  Read more »

Riddles in the Dark Digest 2.03: “Black Spiders and White Harts” on Riddles in the Dark Digest #2.03 Trish Lambert and Laura Berkholtz wonder about the elves dwelling in Mirkwood. Are they living at peace? In strife? Are they using magic to keep out the evil that is spreading throughout Mirkwood? Or are they just  Read more »