For the SEASON 2 FINALE, we discuss book 4, chapter 10, "The Choices of Master Samwise", the final chapter of The Two Towers. Thanks for an amazing season! We'll be back for Season Three: "The Return of the King" in Spring, 2026!

Conversation Topics

The battle between Sam and Shelob

Sam's transformation into the true Ring bearer

The emotional weight of Frodo’s presumed death

The significance of language, translation, and elvish tongues

Orc hierarchy, names, and the humanization of the enemy

The symbolism of the ring’s increasing power

The chapter’s narrative style and Tolkien's portrayal of suffering

The poor tale of Uftak's betrayal

The setup for The Return of the King and season three

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro and season finale celebration

02:50 - Recap of Shelob’s Lair (Chapter 9)

04:40 - Sam’s fight with Shelob: anger, courage, and violence

09:10 - Sam channels elvish language, invokes light

12:04 - Sam takes Frodo’s gear, becomes the lone Ring bearer

16:30 - Final ascent, surrounded by orcs, ring on finger

20:44 - Orc captains’ banter, insights into Mordor’s military state

24:44 - Orc discussion of Frodo’s body, Sam’s exhaustion

27:46 - The orc hierarchy and their views on Shelob

30:58 - Orc discovery of Frodo, Sam’s near-breakdown

36:08 - The impenetrable doors, Sam’s desperate attempt to rescue Frodo

37:48 - Reflection on Shelob as a creature and the emotional ambivalence

43:17 - Shelob’s POV, her instincts, and Tolkien’s storytelling mastery

47:30 - Physicality of Shelob’s attack and Sam’s resilience

49:11 - Frodo’s presumed death, Sam’s heartbreak

55:22 - The overarching war effort, the fate of Middle-earth

59:56 - Reflection on Frodo and Sam’s leadership, and key themes1

:02:10 - Language translation, the ring’s influence

1:09:34 - Uftak’s story, the brutalities of orc life

1:11:51 - Orcs’ perception of Frodo as “precious”

1:13:38 - The “Shelob’s Venom” drink

1:20:42 - Season finale thoughts, foreshadowing for The Return of the King

1:22:24 - Announcing the next season, gratitude, and closing notes

Todays "Food for Thought": Shelob's Venom Cocktail

After Sam stabbed Shelob, she had green ooze coming from her eye and left a trail of green-yellow slime. I thought it would be fun to drink it. I know it's not the same as her venom but oh well, it makes a better name! I was inspired by an "Ecto Cooler" cocktail that had the right color. Going off that recipe, the base of the drink was a tangerine/orange juice. To make it green, I added blue curacao, which conveniently happens to be orange-flavored. It turned green, but not green ENOUGH, so I did add some food coloring.

-Tangerine/orange juice

-Blue curacao

-Vodka (or any clear liquor)

-Green food coloring

-Club soda/citrus flavored seltzer

I made small shooters for the podcast, but you could play with proportions to make a larger cocktail. Start with about half a glass of juice, then add enough blue curacao to get it pretty green. Add food coloring until you're happy with the color. I used thick gel food coloring and mixed it with gin to thin it and make it pourable. At this point, the drink is very weak, so add as much liquor as you would like to strengthen it. It's also pretty sweet, so I cut it with some seltzer to lighten it up a bit.

Cheers!

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Content Warning: Explicit

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