The Lord of the Rings at 25: The Cultural Impact of the Trilogy
To mark the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings, Bob and Brad are joined by Zach Johnston for a wide-ranging retrospective on why this trilogy still endures, and why revisiting it now feels different than it did the first time around.
Rather than re-reviewing the films beat by beat, the conversation looks at how Fellowship, Two Towers, and Return of the King function as a single, unified story; how their craft and restraint have allowed them to age with uncommon grace; and how their themes of friendship, sacrifice, authority, and moral clarity land differently decades later. Along the way, the hosts share personal touchpoints, from marathon viewings of the Extended Editions to introducing the films to a new generation, and reflect on what the trilogy reveals about growing older alongside art that was once formative.
The episode also wrestles with adaptation choices, the balance between spectacle and discipline, and why Peter Jackson’s trilogy remains a cultural reference point in an era of endless franchises. More than a nostalgia trip, this is a conversation about legacy: what lasts, what deepens with time, and why The Lord of the Rings still feels like a singular cinematic achievement.
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