Pop Medieval Episode 32: In Mother Russia…They Include Tom Bombadil

Pop Medieval Episode 32: In Mother Russia…They Include Tom Bombadil

Author: Pop Medieval April 18, 2021 Duration: 37:57
We lost our minds earlier this month when Russia’s 5TV uploaded a two-part Soviet television adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. This performance, once believed lost to time by scholars who knew of its existence, comes from 1991, at the tail-end of the Soviet Union. Now, both parts are up on YouTube for the world to watch. It’s time to pack a thermos of borscht and set forth on an adventure toward Mount Doom on a mission of perestroika! Doc and Nina discuss the performance as both a scholar of Soviet/post-Soviet History and a defender of the performing arts (respectively). They’ll start off by giving the low production value a context, work their way through the mournful Russian folk music, puzzle about the frigid weather in the Shire, and, of course, discuss Tom Bombadil. Nina is on a quest for Soviet propaganda and Doc will also answer the question: is The Lord of the Rings an allegory for WWII? Warning: bad Russian accents and worse Soviet jokes lie within. Show notes: Part One of the performance: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vquKyNdgH3s) Part Two of the performance: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLevCLNnLmg) The Guardian article: (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/05/soviet-tv-version-lord-of-the-rings-rediscovered-after-30-years) Recommendations The Pyramid Collection (https://www.pyramidcollection.com/) Beowulf: Prince of the Geats (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455348/) Have a recommendation for us? Send Doc and Nina and email at podcast at profawesome dot com!

Ever wondered why medieval history feels like a dusty textbook but the movies set in that era are so thrilling? Pop Medieval bridges that gap with a sense of adventure and a lot of laughs. Hosted by Dr. Richard Scott Nokes and his co-conspirator Nina MacNamara, this podcast digs into the real stories behind our fascination with the so-called dark ages. Each episode feels like a quest, whether they’re tracking down historical treasures, unraveling the complexities of events like the Black Death, or dissecting the monstrous creatures that haunt medieval lore and modern screens. The conversation is lively, accessible, and packed with insights you won’t find in a lecture hall. It’s for anyone who’s ever loved a medieval film or game but wanted to know where the fantasy ends and history begins. By blending rigorous education with genuine curiosity and humor, this series makes the distant past feel immediate and wildly entertaining. Tune in to Pop Medieval for a fresh take that proves learning about the past doesn’t have to be a chore-it can be an absolute blast.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 59

Pop Medieval
Podcast Episodes
Pop Medieval Ep 7: Robin, Robin, Robin Buckets o’ Gold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:37
Mov-ember continues! This time, Doc and Nina look at the Robin Hood 2018 adaptation, starring Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx and feature a butt-load of strange arrow physics and a cart-chase scene. We have to specify this…
Pop Medieval Ep 6: We’re About to Go Feast Mode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:04
Mov-ember has been temporarily pre-empted due to the Thanksgiving holiday so Doc and Nina can bring you this very special food-themed episode of Pop Medieval. This one's all about a certain fast-food restaurant and their…
Pop Medieval Ep 5: To Hell with Hellboy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:35
Welcome to Mov-ember! The next three episodes will be dedicated to Medieval-themed movies, so get ready to have some fun watching a movie then listening to two dorks talk about it afterward (because THAT'S never been don…
Pop Medieval Ep 4: The Kingdom is Full of Zombies BONUS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:18
Doc and Nina continue their discussion about Kingdom. Spoiler warning – this episode discusses the ending of the series, so if you haven’t seen the show, you may want to skip this episode!
Pop Medieval Ep 4: The Kingdom is Full of Zombies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:20
For our super-sized Halloween episode, Doc and Nina leave medieval Europe and head to Joseon-era Korea to discuss the 2019 Netflix show, Kingdom. It is part medieval history, part conspiracy thriller, and a whole lot of…
Pop Medieval Ep 3: A Thing about Kennings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:30
You “podcast-listeners” don’t know a “thing” about our next episode! First, Doc explains to Nina the origin of the word thing. Then, listeners get a crash course in kennings and their use in Old English poetry. Finally,…
Pop Medieval Ep 2: The Staffordshire Hoard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
Imagine this: you're metal detecting in a field in the English countryside and suddenly, your sensors go off. You've just stumbled upon the largest medieval treasure in Europe! This is the Staffordshire Hoard and 2019 ma…
Pop Medieval: Pilot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:02
Hwæt! Thanks for listening to our inaugural episode of Pop Medieval! We’re proud of our efforts with this project as this has been a while in the making. We’ve got some fun episodes planned, so we hope you subscribe on a…