Silmarillion 2026 » Episode 12 » Chapter 8 » Of the Darkening of Valinor (EP287 REVISITED)

In the latest episode of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore Chapter 8, “Of the Darkening of Valinor.” Chapter 8 brings us to the great catastrophe of the Blessed Realm. What happens in this chapter sets in motion tidal waves of tragedies whose effects are felt, for good and for ill, down to the years of Frodo’s journey.Join us as we discuss!LINKS:Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0287SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroad.com/silmguide/sg11Watch This Episode: https://youtu.be/1JbIgPaPkM0Watch Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125953670Listen Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64940466Shop True Myths Press: https://truemythspress.com/Join the Fellowship of the Road: https://patreon.com/tolkienroadRead Tolkien's Requiem - Concerning Beren and Lúthien: https://tolkiensrequiem.com/Read Tolkien's Overture - Concerning the Music of the Ainur: https://tolkiensoverture.com/Read Tolkien's Tragedy - Concerning Númenor, the Rings of Power, and the Second Age: https://tolkienroad.substack.com/p/tolkiens-tragedy-pt-1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through the Fall of Númenor by exploring Sauron’s full scale invasion of Eriador and the subsequent counterattack of the Númenoreans. Join us!Watch On YouTube » https://youtu.be/D13ydcT42OcAd-Free Video » https://www.patreon.com/posts/90982103Ad-Free Audio » https://www.patreon.com/posts/90981634Episode Webpage » https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0350/Helpful Links:take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)listen to TOLKIEN’S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everonbuy Tolkien’s Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/buy Tolkien’s Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/read Tolkien's Tragedy » https://tolkienroad.substack.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In the latest episode of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore Chapter 7, “Of the Silmarils & the Unrest of the Noldor.” What are the Silmarils and what is their significance? We finally reach the answer to these questions in Chapter 7, learn of the intrigue surrounding them, and how their existence becomes a curse for the Blessed Realm.Join us as we discuss!LINKS:Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0286SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroad.com/silmguide/sg10Watch This Episode: https://youtu.be/KW2gfIX3cCAWatch Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125474858Listen Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64594970Shop True Myths Press: https://truemythspress.com/Join the Fellowship of the Road: https://patreon.com/tolkienroadRead Tolkien's Requiem - Concerning Beren and Lúthien: https://tolkiensrequiem.com/Read Tolkien's Overture - Concerning the Music of the Ainur: https://tolkiensoverture.com/Read Tolkien's Tragedy - Concerning Númenor, the Rings of Power, and the Second Age: https://tolkienroad.substack.com/p/tolkiens-tragedy-pt-1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

With this episode, the War of Sauron Upon The Elves (aka The War of the Three Rings) begins! And given the relative length of the next 3 chapters, as well as their unified theme, I decided to combine them into this one episode.Watch On YouTube » https://youtu.be/DnI07pSeqXQAd-Free Video » https://www.patreon.com/posts/90407864Ad-Free Audio » https://www.patreon.com/posts/90406553Episode Webpage » https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0349/Helpful Links:take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)listen to TOLKIEN’S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everonbuy Tolkien’s Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/buy Tolkien’s Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/read Tolkien's Tragedy » https://tolkienroad.substack.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In the latest episode of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore Chapter 6, “Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor.” With Melkor having been imprisoned, Valinor enters a long era of peace. To Finwë, High King of the Noldor, a son is born: Fëanor, the “Spirit of Fire”, whose destiny is bound up with the fate of many. And all the while, a perilous shadow grows upon the Blessed Realm…Join us as we discuss!LINKS:Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0284SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroad.com/silmguide/sg09Watch This Episode: https://youtu.be/JlOJNE0mBE0Watch Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124936793Listen Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63972750Shop True Myths Press: https://truemythspress.com/Join the Fellowship of the Road: https://patreon.com/tolkienroadRead Tolkien's Requiem - Concerning Beren and Lúthien: https://tolkiensrequiem.com/Read Tolkien's Overture - Concerning the Music of the Ainur: https://tolkiensoverture.com/Read Tolkien's Tragedy - Concerning Númenor, the Rings of Power, and the Second Age: https://tolkienroad.substack.com/p/tolkiens-tragedy-pt-1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In this episode, we're continuing our journey through The Fall of Númenor with "c1600 - Sauron Forges The One Ring”, including the construction of Barad-Dûr and the response of Celebrimbor to Sauron’s actions.Watch On YouTube » https://youtu.be/vZyIucaQEjgAd-Free Video » https://www.patreon.com/posts/90163414Ad-Free Audio » https://www.patreon.com/posts/90163358Episode Webpage » https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0348/Helpful Links:take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)listen to TOLKIEN’S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everonbuy Tolkien’s Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/buy Tolkien’s Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/read Tolkien's Tragedy » https://tolkienroad.substack.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In latest episode of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore Chapter 5, “Of Eldamar & the Princes of the Eldalië.”With 3 groups of Elves - the Vanyar, Noldor, and Teleri - having arrived on the threshold of the Great Sea, they must make the final leg of their journey to the Land of the Valar, Aman, and will do so by extraordinary means. Once they arrive, they will establish their own kingdoms within the Blessed Realm.Join us!LINKS:Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0283SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroad.com/silmguide/sg08Watch This Episode: https://youtu.be/E8Bl86m5Y9kWatch Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124430840Listen Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63713802Shop True Myths Press: https://truemythspress.com/Join the Fellowship of the Road: https://patreon.com/tolkienroadRead Tolkien's Requiem - Concerning Beren and Lúthien: https://tolkiensrequiem.com/Read Tolkien's Overture - Concerning the Music of the Ainur: https://tolkiensoverture.com/Read Tolkien's Tragedy - Concerning Númenor, the Rings of Power, and the Second Age: https://tolkienroad.substack.com/p/tolkiens-tragedy-pt-1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In this episode, we continue our journey through The Fall of Númenor as we discuss the forging of the Three Elven Rings, as found in the chapter “c1590 - The Three Rings Are Completed in Eregion!”Watch On YouTube » https://youtu.be/IebxmG03nz8Ad-Free Video » https://www.patreon.com/posts/89693542Ad-Free Audio » https://www.patreon.com/posts/89693216Episode Webpage » https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0347/Helpful Links:take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)listen to TOLKIEN’S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everonbuy Tolkien’s Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/buy Tolkien’s Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/read Tolkien's Tragedy » https://tolkienroad.substack.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In episode 8 of our epic, chapter-by-chapter Silmarillion journey, we’ll explore Chapter 4, “Of Thingol and Melian.” With Melkor imprisoned in Mandos and the Elves on the way to the Blessed Realm, we pause to consider a BRIEF love story that lays the groundwork for a FAR MORE EPIC love story later in The Silmarillion. Join us!LINKS:Show Notes: https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0282SilmGuide Page: https://www.tolkienroad.com/silmguide/sg07/Watch This Episode: https://youtu.be/z1a3ELPMuqwWatch Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123934895Listen Ad-Free: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63380305Shop True Myths Press: https://truemythspress.com/Join the Fellowship of the Road: https://patreon.com/tolkienroadRead Tolkien's Requiem - Concerning Beren and Lúthien: https://tolkiensrequiem.com/Read Tolkien's Overture - Concerning the Music of the Ainur: https://tolkiensoverture.com/Read Tolkien's Tragedy - Concerning Númenor, the Rings of Power, and the Second Age: https://tolkienroad.substack.com/p/tolkiens-tragedy-pt-1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.

In this episode, we discuss Sauron's "gifts" to the Noldor, and how their nature and past makes them particularly prone to Sauron's malevolent plot.Watch On YouTube » https://youtu.be/1tsKulWfUBkAd-Free Video » https://www.patreon.com/posts/88290129Ad-Free Audio » https://www.patreon.com/posts/88290143Episode Webpage » https://www.tolkienroad.com/e0346/Helpful Links:take 10% OFF Tolkien Road merch at True Myths Press » https://truemythspress.com/discount/TENOFF (enter code TENOFF at checkout)listen to TOLKIEN’S WORKS for FREE » https://www.audibletrial.com/everonbuy Tolkien’s Requiem » https://tolkiensrequiem.com/buy Tolkien’s Overture » https://tolkiensoverture.com/read Tolkien's Tragedy » https://tolkienroad.substack.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-tolkien-road--5222755/support.