Ep. 47: Pomp and Ned's Bold Stance

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Finding a job in the real world can be tough after graduation, but on the bright side for Jon, the Night's Watch already has one prepared. On the unfortunate side, it's as a steward, which was not the role he wanted. Sam and Pyp help bring him back to earth and realize that it could be an even better role than he imagined.

Meanwhile, Ned first defies Renly, and then Littlefinger, who both try to tell him that he cannot support Stannis for the Iron Throne in wake of Robert's death. Andrew and Manu delve into Ned's choice, as well as some of the details behind the Night's Watch scenes, like Jon once again not realizing his privilege. At least he has Sam. We all have Sam.

• Register for Con of Thrones (in 3 weeks!) with the discount code "Manu"
• iTunes link

Ep. 46: Titles, Titles Titles

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Welcome, friends, to the last moments of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. A dying Robert shares some final words with Ned Stark, who must then dwell on his death briefly with Varys and Barristan Selmy.

Immediately after this scene, Dany tries to convince Drogo to sail across the Narrow Sea to take the Iron Throne for his future son, Rhaego. Drogo is unmoved, but a later assassination attempt on Dany by a wine seller at the market might very well change his mind. Jorah decides to ignore the royal pardon he receives from Varys and intervenes, saving Dany

• Not a Cast on the complex relationship between Joffrey and Robert
• Joffrey defends Robert to Tywin
• "A dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest"
• Register for Con of Thrones with the discount code "Manu"
• iTunes link

Ep. 45: Littlefinger III

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On the latest podcast, Andrew and Manu grapple with one of Game of Thrones' most explicit examples of sexposition to date with Littlefinger's monologuing and then talk about the positives of one of the show's better original scenes -- Theon trying to intimidate Osha before Luwin shuts him down. Jon also gets some bad news about his uncle. More on that later.

Lots of show notes for this one, so try to check those out!

• An example performance of the famous opening soliloquy from Richard III; also a site where Sir Ian McKellan explains it
• Alt Shift X on the rumored Northern Conspiracy
• Not a Cast on the difference between how George R.R. Martin writes Wildlings vs. the Dothraki
• Our season 7 reviews
• Register for Con of Thrones with the discount code "Manu"
• iTunes link

Ep. 44: Title Quote Siren!

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Andrew and Manu celebrate the 7th nameday of the Game of Thrones TV series by beginning the 7th episode of that fateful first season! This episode is called "You Win or You Die," and Cersei not only says the name of the episode in her scene with Ned Stark discussing her children -- she also says the name of the show! Exciting times, to be sure.

Before all that though, we are introduced to the intimidating Lannister family patriarch, Tywin, who dresses down the normally unflappable Jaime in the first scene of the episode. Stay tuned at the end for Manu talking about his upcoming Con of Thrones appearance.

• Tywin talks to Arya about his father, Tytos; also see Tywin's narration about Tytos in the "History & Lore" feature
• Register for Con of Thrones and go see Manu over Memorial Day weekend!
• iTunes link

Ep. 43: Viserys Gets His Crown

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It's time to close the book on "A Golden Crown," so it's also time for Andrew and Manu to close the book on one Viserys Targaryen, who overplays his small hand and ends up dead at Khal Drogo's hands from a molten gold crown present. Whoops!

In the two other scenes, Theon grudgingly has to bid Ros adieu since she is heading south to King's Landing, and Ned has his "eureka!" moment about Joffrey's parentage when telling his daughters that they must leave the city. This podcast is not from the mouths of babes, but hey! It's a podcast. Enjoy.

• Compare the scene settings between Ros & Theon's goodbye and Jaime & Brienne's fight
• Thrones "History & Lore" feature on the origins of House Baratheon
• Follow Andrew's MLB.com writing on Cut4 in 2018; articles will also be listed weekly at his own site
• iTunes link

Ep. 42: Bronn v. Vardis

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Official business is definitely afoot in the penultimate podcast of "A Golden Crown." Standing in for Robert, Ned responds to reports of chaos in the Riverlands with the bold move of calling for the Mountain's head and for Tywin to come to court. Bronn then fights for Tyrion's life against Ser Vardis in The Vale and Joffrey gives a Lannister necklace to an extremely smitten Sansa.

Andrew and Manu discuss the ramifications of Ned's power play, compare the trial by combat to the book, and marvel at the beginnings of sassy Sansa with her septa.

• "Not a Cast" on Septa Mordane in Arya I, A Game of Thrones
• Watchers on the Wall on Sansa's hair & wardrobe
• iTunes link

Ep. 41: These Are My Confessions

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Sit down, kick back, and listen to Andrew and Manu on Tyrion Lannister getting a meeting with Lysa Arryn through Mord and the majesty of his "confession." A little bit of the history of trial by combat is also mentioned, as is Robert Baratheon's fateful hunt and his confrontation with Renly about just how good those "good ol' days" were.

Take it away, Dinklage.

• The highly-recommended "Not a Cast"
• "Binge Mode" on trial by combat
• Patton Oswalt's Tyrion-esque "Parks & Rec" filbuster
• iTunes link