10 episodes

Every week, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Pater’s Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, 2001 New Line Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks.

Not Another F**king Elf: A Lord of the Rings Character Guide cbray

    • TV & Film
    • 5.0 • 6 Ratings

Every week, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Pater’s Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, 2001 New Line Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks.

    Shadowfax, Lord of Horses

    Shadowfax, Lord of Horses

    That is one of the Mearas! Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell? He is the Lord of all horses: Shadowfax, the world’s greatest hovercraft inspo. Gandalf’s equine BFF discussed for over an hour? Sure, why not - it’s the tenth and last episode of the first series of Not Another Elf!
    Every week in this podcast, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Peter Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks. 
    The podcast will return for more in-depth Lord of the Rings character analysis in series 2. Subscribe so you don’t miss out.

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan

    Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan

    Shieldmaiden of the Mark, White Lady of Rohan, Lady of Ithilien - and certainly not a dry-nurse. In episode nine of in-depth Lord of the Rings character guide Not Another F**king Elf, we're saluting Eowyn, aka Dernhelm, hero of the Battle of Pelennor Fields.
    Every week in this podcast, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Peter Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks.

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Merry Brandybuck

    Merry Brandybuck

    Pipeweed aficionado, squire to a king, ringleader of a conspiracy... it can only be the one and only Meriadoc Brandybuck. In this week's episode of in-depth Lord of the Rings character guide Not Another F**king Elf, we're going back to the Old Forest to assess Merry's leadership skills, and Paul remembers an old Radio 4 sitcom called Stockport, So Good They Named It Once. 
    Every week in this podcast, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Peter Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks.

    • 50 min
    Theoden, Lord of the Mark

    Theoden, Lord of the Mark

    I know your face... it's Theoden Horsemaster, King of Rohan, Lord of the Mark. In this week's episode of in-depth Lord of the Rings character guide Not Another F**king Elf, we're asking where the f**k was Gondor when the Westfold fell?
    Every week in this podcast, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Peter Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks.

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Saruman of Many Colours

    Saruman of Many Colours

    He’s the bad boy of the wizarding world! He’s Darkside Gandalf! He’s Saruman of Many Colours, and he is fabulous. We're summoning the forces of Isengard in this week's episode of in-depth Lord of the Rings character guide Not Another F**king Elf, where every week, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Peter Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks.

    • 1 hr 13 min
    Bombadil

    Bombadil

    Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow! He may not have made it into the films, but he sure made it into our podcast. But what is he? Hobbit saviour Tom Bombadil takes centre stage for this week's episode of in-depth Lord of the Rings character guide Not Another F**king Elf.Every week, Paul Ridd and Catherine Bray look at a character’s place in Tolkien’s mythos, their place in pop culture, literature and adaptations. We look at Peter Jackson’s adaptations, Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings (1978), the 1979 Mind’s Eye radio adaptation, Return of the King (1980) from Rankin-Bass, the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation, and the 1990 Rob Inglis and 2020 Andy Serkis audiobooks.

    • 1 hr 2 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
6 Ratings

6 Ratings

TeaAndChocolate ,

Great show!

I love the deep dive into LOTR. The hosts are funny and fun. Great show, would love to hear more episodes!

allison's about to ,

Please, more episodes!

I have never written a podcast review, despite being a listener of various pods for years. Please make more episodes. Love your approach, personalities, wealth of knowledge, and, of course, the Page- Off. I’m not even a Tolkien scholar- I just sought out backstory after re-watching the Peter Jackson movies and starting the new Amazon series.
Well done, you two, on all the work so far- please make more!

BSKNYC ,

A fun hang w clever Tolkien nerds!

I have enjoyed the approach that Catherine Bray and Paul Ridd take here. In each episode, they look at the 5 or 6 dramatic interpretations of LOTR over the years, so it's rather 'actor' focused. But it's charm is in the tone of two thoughtful, critical minds, musing over the work, without claiming any particular expertise. It may sound too unfocused, but it works due to their wit and opinionated erudition. Plus, I've learned several amusing British idioms, like ‘early doors’ and terms like ‘RP’. (The title comes from a famous Tolkien story about his writer's group, the Inklings.)

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