In Search of the Crystal Skull Episode 14: The Hobbit

In this episode of In Search of the Crystal Skull, Arun and
Patricia venture out into a new themed month: Fantasy Month! They
begin with the 1977 animated TV adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's
novel The Hobbit produced by Rankin/Bass and Topcraft. A hobbit
named Bilbo Baggins is called in by a wizard named Gandalf to
join alongside 13 dwarfs to help defeat a dragon named Smaug who
had stolen their treasure and driven them away from their home at
the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo, unsure if he's able to partake in a
huge task, is convinced by Gandalf that he's the "burglar" they
need for their quest. 


When it first aired on NBC, it was praised by critics for being
faithful to the book in 90 minutes with it being an easy story
for kids to get involved in as well as fans of the source
material. However, some critiques over the years brought up its
pace, constant songs, and uneventful journey, especially to those
who are more familiar with the Lord of the Rings films directed
by Peter Jackson. It currently has a rating of 69% on Rotten
Tomatoes. Did Arun and Patricia begin their journey to Fantasy
Month with an epic start or a mediocre path? Listen and find out.