Ep. 59: The North Remembers Ned

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After several months of hiatus, Andrew and Manu are back and finally ready to wrap up season 1 of "Game of Thrones" by kicking off their discussion of the thrilling finale, "Fire and Blood."

Despite the episode title, there are no Targaryens to discuss just yet. We pick up immediately where "Baelor" left off with Ned Stark's execution and Yoren's scramble to get the dazed Arya out of King's Landing. This segues to the theme of this week's podcast, which is essentially how each Stark family member (aside from Jon) reacts to Ned's death.

We see Bran & Rickon learning the truth in visions before hearing the official word from Maester Luwin, Catelyn & Robb sharing in pure devastation in the Riverlands, and Sansa's quiet suffering at court in King's Landing before the shit Joffrey forces her to stare at Ned's head on a spike. (Immediately after needlessly having Marillion's tongue ripped out. Great guy.) It's at least a strong moment of personal strength from Sansa.

It's good to be back and diving into all this, so enjoy!

• Listen to Manu's recent appearance discussing "The Queen's Justice" (season 7, episode 3) on The Night's Cast ...
• ... then go back and listen to our podcast on that episode from when it aired in August 2017!
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Ep. 58: The Joffrey-Littlefinger Conspiracy

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Andrew and Manu hit a true watershed moment in the history of television with the finale of "Baelor," where Ned Stark is stunningly executed right after his son, Robb, wins the Battle of the Whispering Wood and takes Jaime Lannister captive. Yowza.

Along the way, Manu brings up a theory that he's discussed on Twitter before with Malora Hightower: the decision to behead Ned was not just Joffrey's violent instinct but also an idea planted by Littlefinger himself. There's more evidence to this than you might think, so take a listen.

This all-timer features some excellent character work by Sean Bean, Michelle Fairley, Maisie Williams, and many others, so let's get right into it.

• Not discussed on the podcast, but worth noting: Jaime talks to Olenna Tyrell about learning from Robb's trick and using it later on at Highgarden in season 7
• Alan Sepinwall's review of "Baelor" at the time of its release captures the shock of Ned's death to pretty much everyone except book readers
• Director Alan Taylor visually breaks down the scene of Ned's execution
• Okay yeah, we need at least one Ned death reaction video
• iTunes link

Ep. 57: Tyrion, Tysha, and Tywin

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It's the penultimate podcast on the penultimate episode of season 1. Andrew and Manu watch as Tyrion learns that he and his Hill Tribes pals will be on the front lines for the upcoming Battle of the Green Fork, which forebodes a dismal fate.

Chagrined, Tyrion consoles himself by playing drinking games with Bronn and Shae, the sex worker the sellsword brought to him. Tyrion grows fond of Shae's sass, but she does force him to tell the awful story of his marriage to Tysha and how Tywin reacted to his son marrying a commoner. Manu helps delve deeper into Tyrion's background, and how it both defines his character & the slight divergence between the books and the show going forward.

The episode doesn't actually show the Battle of the Green Fork, but the aftermath tells us what we need to know -- the mighty Tywin has been fooled by the young wolf.

• Bilbo's 111th birthday roll call vs. Tyrion's Hill Tribes roll call
• iTunes link

Ep. 56: Dany's Doomed Desperation

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Andrew and Manu stick to Essos for a few scenes, as Daenerys scrambles to 1) Keep the ailing Drogo alive and 2) Retain some semblance of control over the quickly dissenting Dothraki. Drogo has fallen from his horse and no longer commands the respect that he once did among the likes of his bloodrider Qotho, so their loyalty to the Khaleesi will not last for long.

The tension boils over when Dany turns to the witch Mirri Maz Duur in a desperate hope to save Drogo's life. She goes against Dothraki custom (and Jorah's advice to run) by asking Mirri to use blood magic to save him, and they revolt.

Along the way, the show uses some super-creepy aesthetics to make the setting even more unsettling. (RIP Drogo's horse, gone far too gruesomely.) So let's talk about it!

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Ep. 55: "Love is the Death of Duty"

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Andrew and Manu travel to the Wall in "Baelor" through the eyes of Jon Snow. Since he saved Lord Commander Mormont, the Old Bear gifts him the Valyrian sword Longclaw, a Mormont family heirloom. They talk about the sword and Alliser Thorne, and afterward, Jon learns from Sam that Robb Stark is marching south.

Conflicted, Jon is summoned by Maester Aemon, who has a heart-to-heart with him in which he explains his Targaryen roots and the similar hardships he faced watching from the Wall as his house fell to ruin during Robert's Rebellion.

Every word from the late Peter Vaughan is chilling and moving, so we try to give this moment its due. It's incredible and chalk full of connections to the story writ large. Let's get to it.

• Jon talks with Jorah about Jeor Mormont and tries to give him Longclaw back in season 7 (which we also touched upon in our podcast recap of that episode)
• Helpful video with graphics explaining the Targaryen family tree (Note: The show simplifies it by skipping a generation and making the Mad King the son of Maester Aemon's younger brother Aegon the Unlikely, rather than the grandson)
• Once more: Manu's appearance on the "Not a Cast" podcast discussing Bran IV
• Just watch the scene with Maester Aemon and Jon again. It's too perfect.
• iTunes link

Ep. 54: The Creepy Crossing Guard

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Andrew and Manu have finally made it "Baelor," one of the most transcendent episodes of TV from this decade (and maybe ever). Appropriately, they start off with Varys' second visit to Ned Stark in the black cells of King's Landing, as the Master of Whisperers tries to convince him to support Joffrey to save Sansa.

Then, it's off to the Riverlands, where through his mother Catelyn, Robb enters into negotiations with the nefarious Walder Frey. We're introduced to the creepy environment of the Twins, and Manu provides some of House Frey's history and Walder's background with Cat's father, Hoster Tully.

Robb is presented with ominous terms, as he must agree to marry one of Walder's daughter to cross. He does so, but yeah, that doesn't work out well for him once he goes back on his promise.

• Manu's appearance on the "Not a Cast" podcast discussing Bran IV
• One Perfect Shot: Fire lighting Ned's eyes
• Andrew's Always Sunny-themed Catelyn/Walder Frey tweet
• Jaime Lannister's rebuttal to Catelyn about all the conflicting vows you have to take
• iTunes link

Ep. 53: Valyrian Prequel and the Pointy End

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A mere month after the Game of Thrones spin-off about The Long Night was announced (and discussed), another one is in the news! It's not official yet, but check out this Watchers on the Wall story about another Thrones series: "Empire of Ash," directed by Max Borenstein about the Doom of Valyria.

Andrew and Manu chat about the rumored details behind the prequel and also briefly touch on the update about the Long Night spin-off possibly going into production in October. Then, it's back to "The Pointy End," which came to its own pointy end in a series of scenes: Tyrion & the Hill Tribes meeting Tywin in the Lannister camp, Robb showing his mettle when a scout interrupts his War Council, and King's Landing, where Barristan Selmy is unceremoniously dismissed from the Kingsguard and Sansa begs for her father's life.

Tywin & Tyrion's oh-so-complicated relationship is explored, as are the Hill Tribes, Barristan's great respect, the Lannisters quietly orchestrating Sansa's request, and the show's subtleties with wine, furtive glances, camerawork, and more.

Away we go! Next up is "Baelor." Get hyped.

• In advance of Manu's appearance on the "Not a Cast" episode about AGOT Bran IV, our older episode on when Tyrion presents Bran with his saddle design in the show
• Jorah & Tyrion traveling through Valyria
• Ozzy Man reads the alluded epic tale of Barristan's escape from King's Landing
• iTunes link