If you think we talk too much about one book, you should hear us go to town on a six-volume series. This episode has it all: righteous fury, both academic and personal, a potential drinking game to be made out of how many times we say “interesting,” Tolkien callouts, Serena Williams, and Rachel giving a mini-lecture about English history.

Also, spoilers.

Talking points: reconstruction vs deconstruction, an American in Middle Earth, from page to screen: violence against women, character assassination in adaptation, history as source material, lady knights, Strong Female Characters, #YouAin’tSlickGeorge.