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Some months ago, a certain other Lord of the Rings-ish TV show prompted some fans to say, “Now we’re really going to appreciate The Hobbit film trilogy!” But after that certain other show, we saw little appreciation. Mostly the fans wanted to criticize that certain other show. Some of us never stopped appreciating The Hobbit films. That’s why we feel so alone in a company of Dwarves who really seem to hate that series. Today our special guest returns for some friendly sparring about the trilogy, whose first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, released ten years ago this week!

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Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: Calor by J. J. Fischer
2. The Gift of Dragons by Rachel A. Greco
3. Infernal Fall by Bryan Timothy Mitchell

Explore the complete Podcast Sponsors page.

Returning with ‘Rilian’ of NarniaWeb’s Talking Beasts podcast

• Rilian and Stephen met on the NarniaWeb forum back in the mid-2000s.
• Rilian’s podcast, also with GlumPuddle, is now known as Talking Beasts.
• They explore Narnia books and films, interviewing scholars and actors.
• For example, Samuel West and Ben Barnes, who have both played King Caspian.
• In 2020, Rilian joined us to lament The Voyage of the Dawn Treader film.
• In 2021, we also reminisced about The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).

1. How did we track The Hobbit films’ development?

2. What did we think about An Unexpected Journey?

3. Do fans really hate The Hobbit parts 2 and 3?

Com station

• People are still talking about when to play Christmas music, the best and worst.
• Many more Guild heroes and other listeners had Christmas music takes.

In the Guild, Mr. Roboto clarified his position on one classic tune:

My list, mentioned in the podcast, was for Christmas music written by Jewish people. I’d like to make it very clear that I do not endorse “Santa Baby” or approve of any version of the song.

Similarly, “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog” was the unfortunate choice of an Episcopal bishop for his investiture. He was easily persuaded that he could be “relevant” to the “coffee- house Christian set” by having a folk guitarist play “Stille Nacht” and sing it in German.

Fantasy author Catherine Jones Payne said:

Santa Baby is the worst and it’s not close.

Andy Sheehan observed:

Last Christmas by Wham! is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

Sarah Daniels said:

Worst? And so This is Christmas by John Lennon. One of the most depressing songs ever. Best? Tough call, but I’d have to say for me it’s a split between The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole and Christmas Time is Here from The Charlie Brown Christmas special. I myself like to wait until Thanksgiving to play Christmas music…otherwise I get burnt out on it.

Karl D. Swenson added:

Easy one: Santa Claus is coming to town by Bruce Springsteen makes me cringe every time. . . .

“HEY MAN! YOU GUYS ALL-YOU GUYS ALL BEEN GOOD THIS YEAR?”

*CROWD RESPONSE*

“AAAW THATS NOT MANY NOT MANY…”

Lorehaven mission log

• Josiah’s article last week: How to Discern Moral Christian Fiction Without Expecting Sermons
• The Gift of Dragons review last week
• Power Play review this Friday (link will go live then)

Next on Fantastical Truth

We’re preparing for the end of our 2022 podcast season. Between this year and the next, Zack and Stephen will enjoy a two-week break. First, however, we should open one last present. What’s inside? With all due respect for amazing toys, we’d like to talk about useful gifts we received but still remember years later. In the words of C. S. Lewis’s Father Christmas, which “tools, not toys” at Christmas helped you grow as a person?