A Cast of Kings - A Lord of the Rings Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E07-E08 - 'The Eye' & 'Alloyed' Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim finish their watchthrough of The Rings of Power season 1 with episodes 7 and 8, “The Eye” and “Alloyed”.

Was the Sauron reveal better than we remember? Why does the Harfoot storyline still not work? And how do we feel about season 1 as a whole? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Buy Kim Renfro's book about Game of Thrones
https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Read Kim's recaps on Decoding TV https://www.decodingtv.com/
Check out Jessie Earl's YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/@JessieGender1
Subscribe to listen to the podcast: http://podcast.decodingtv.com
Support the podcast: http://decodingtv.com
Follow Decoding TV on Instagram: http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow Decoding TV on Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv

#lordoftherings #returnoftheking #ringsofpower

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E05-E06 - 'Parting' & 'Udûn' Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim continue their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 5 and 6 of season 1.

In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim finally start their watchthrough of The Rings of Power season 1, continuing with episodes 5 and 6, “Parting” and “Udûn.”

Does Rings of Power big battle episode land the spectacle? Does the Rings of Power actually add interesting Elvish lore to Tolkien? And why don’t we care about all the mystery boxes? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

THE NERD NAD VIDEO ON ANDY SERKIS'S DIVERSITY COMMENTS - https://youtu.be/RaIhOEy85aw?si=H0ocivuBA-Fs0TWM

Buy Kim Renfro's book about Game of Thrones
https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Read Kim's recaps on Decoding TV https://www.decodingtv.com/
Check out Jessie Earl's YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/@JessieGender1
Subscribe to listen to the podcast: http://podcast.decodingtv.com
Support the podcast: http://decodingtv.com
Follow the podcast on Instagram: http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow the podcast on Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv

#lordoftherings #returnoftheking #ringsofpower

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E03-E04 - 'Adar' & 'The Great Wave' Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim continue their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 3 and 4 of season 1.

In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim finally start their watchthrough of The Rings of Power, beginning with the first two episodes, “Adar” and “The Great Wave.”

Does The Rings of Power give Númenor the justice it deserves? Why does the show work better on a second watch than on a first watch? And are the proto-Hobbits really that bloodthirsty? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Watch video versions of the podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@acastofkings
Buy Kim Renfro's book about Game of Thrones
https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Check out Jessie Earl's YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/@JessieGender1
Support the podcast: http://decodingtv.com

#lordoftherings #returnoftheking #ringsofpower

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E01-E02 - 'A Shadow of the Past' & 'Adrift' Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim finally begin their watchthrough of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 1 and 2.

In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim finally start their watchthrough of The Rings of Power, beginning with the first two episodes, “A Shadow of the Past” and “Adrift.”

Is Galadriel really a girlboss elf? Did they change too much of Lord of the Rings lore? And is there still some magic to be found now that we know where its going? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Buy Kim Renfro's book about Game of Thrones
https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Read Kim's recaps on Decoding TV https://www.decodingtv.com/
Check out Jessie Earl's YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/@JessieGender1
Subscribe to listen to the podcast: http://podcast.decodingtv.com
Support the podcast: http://decodingtv.com
Follow the podcast on Instagram: http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow the podcast on Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv

#lordoftherings #returnoftheking #ringsofpower

'War of the Rohirrim' Was Better Than Anyone Gave It Credit For Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim jump into the forgotten gem that is the animated Lord of the Rings movie, The War of the Rohirrim.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim jump into the animated Lord of the Rings movie, The War of the Rohirrim, and discuss if it's an overlooked gem or a forgettable piece of tie-in content.

How did Helm’s Deep get its name? What did this movie add to Lord of the Rings lore? Was this film worthy of Tolkien’s legacy? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Links:

Email us at acastofkings(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Subscribe to Decoding TV on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@decodingtv
Follow us on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@acastofkings
Buy Kim Renfro’s book about Game of Thrones - https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Follow this podcast on Instagram - http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow this podcast on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything - http://www.decodingeverything.com/

'The Hobbit' Had a Heart Buried Beneath a Hoard of Hollywood Bloat Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim jump into Peter Jackson’s much-maligned The Hobbit trilogy and find that it might have a heart buried deep in the mountain of its Hollywood bloat.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim jump into Peter Jackson’s much-maligned The Hobbit trilogy, including An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies, and find that it has a heart buried deep in the mountain of its Hollywood bloat.

Why is Thorin almost a great parallel to Aragorn? Why did these movies both add, and change, from the book? What almost made these movies work despite themselves? Did we like the Ed Sheeran song? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Links:

Email us at acastofkings(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Subscribe to Decoding TV on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@decodingtv
Follow us on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@acastofkings
Buy Kim Renfro’s book about Game of Thrones - https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Follow this podcast on Instagram - http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow this podcast on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything - http://www.decodingeverything.com/

'The Return of the King' Might Be Underrated (feat. Katelyn Burns) Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim are joined by journalist and LOTR superfan Katelyn Burns to discuss Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Extended Edition.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl are joined by journalist and LOTR superfan Katelyn Burns to break down their entire thoughts on the classic film, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Extended Edition.

How does the book change the army of the dead? Why are the multiple endings actually ok? How do we feel that they cut the Scouring of The Shire? And is Return of the King actually the most underrated of the trilogy? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Links:

Email us at acastofkings(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Subscribe to Decoding TV on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@decodingtv
Follow us on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@acastofkings
Buy Kim Renfro’s book about Game of Thrones - https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Follow this podcast on Instagram - http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow this podcast on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything - http://www.decodingeverything.com/

'The Two Towers Is a Flawed but Brilliant Middle Chapter (feat. Lindsay Ellis) Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl are joined by author and YouTuber Lindsay Ellis to break down their entire thoughts on the classic film, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Extended Edition.

Does Helm’s Deep hold up as one of the most cinematic battles in film history? Why is Gollum so damn adorable? And why does Lindsay really dislike the film’s version of the ents? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Links:

Subscribe to Lindsay Ellis's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG1h-Wqjtwz7uUANw6gazRw
Email us at acastofkings(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Subscribe to Decoding TV on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@decodingtv
Follow us on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@acastofkings
Buy Kim Renfro’s book about Game of Thrones - https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Follow this podcast on Instagram - http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow this podcast on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything - http://www.decodingeverything.com/

Why 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings' Still Feels Like Magic Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim begin the journey through Middle-Earth with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl break down their entire thoughts on the classic film, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Why is The Shire so memorable? Does Boromir still hold up as a great character? And why is Aragorn so damn sexy? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Links:

Email us at acastofkings(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Subscribe A Cast of Kings on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@acastofkings
Follow us on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@acastofkings
Buy Kim Renfro’s book about Game of Thrones - https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Follow Decoding TV on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@decodingtv
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything - http://www.decodingeverything.com/

Bonus Ep: House of the Dragon Season 3 Post-Mortem (feat. News/Your Questions) Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Jessie and Kim discuss the entirety of Season 3 of House of the Dragon.

In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl break down their entire thoughts on the third season of House of the Dragon.

Was Rhaenyra’s turn to madness truly earned? Was the battle of Tumbleton as satisfying as we wanted it to be? Did the show handle the killing of the fantasy pope well? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Links:

Email us at acastofkings(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Subscribe to Decoding TV on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@decodingtv
Follow us on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@acastofkings
Buy Kim Renfro’s book about Game of Thrones - https://parents.simonandschuster.com/9781982116415
Follow this podcast on Instagram - http://instagram.com/decodingtv
Follow this podcast on Tiktok - http://tiktok.com/@decodingtv
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything - http://www.decodingeverything.com/

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