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AB5: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
07/09/2026
AB5: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
The journey through Middle-earth comes to an end. In Episode 5 of AudiYOOObooks, JD and Mallory finish J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary trilogy with The Return of the King. After working through The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, they discuss whether Tolkien sticks the landing and whether this finale earns its reputation as one of the greatest endings in fantasy. The conversation covers Aragorn's rise to kingship, Éowyn's expanded role in the novel, Faramir, Denethor, Frodo and Sam's final journey to Mount Doom, Gollum's role in the destruction of the Ring, and the controversial Scouring of the Shire. They also compare Andy Serkis and Rob Inglis as audiobook narrators, discuss Tolkien's themes of mercy, hope, and providence, and rank every book in the trilogy. ⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We assume you’ve already read or listened to the book. If you’ve finished the book and want to spend a little more time unpacking it, this episode is for you. Book discussed: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien Audiobook narrator: Andy Serkis / Rob Inglis
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