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A Scene of Ice and Fire

The Game of Thrones podcast that examines the show scene by scene with Andrew (@MearnsPSA) and Manu (@ManuclearBomb).
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Now displaying: 2017
Aug 29, 2017

The last episode of season 7 is here! Andrew and Manu go through "The Dragon and the Wolf." There's the case for Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as season MVP for his outstanding work as Jaime Lannister (particularly as he left Cersei), Tyrion's brilliant showdown with Cersei, his reaction to Jon & Dany's likely doomed pairing, the converging of sides at the Dragonpit, Sansa & Arya bringing Littlefinger down at Winterfell, Bran & Sam discussing the monumental "Aejon" reveal, Lord of the Rings comps, and more.

Thoughts on season 8 possibilities are also sprinkled in throughout as we try to get a sense of where Thrones might go next. The long night is coming. Thanks for following along with us throughout season 7!

Aug 22, 2017

Andrew and Manu experience the rollercoaster penultimate episode of season 7, "Beyond the Wall." There's banter and character beats between the Wall's Magnificent 7 (specifically Jon and Tormund, and Jon and Jorah), the horror of the ice bear battle, Beric's future, the concept of siring, the group's desperation to survive on the frozen island, Benjen's role, and Jon's decision to bend the knee.

Also discussed: The complications behind Dany's potential successor, the frustrating Winterfell plot, Sansa's intentions with Brienne, and the Night King raising Viserion. It's a trip.

Aug 17, 2017

In "Eastwatch," Jon assembles his Magnificent Seven Dream Team and bonds with Drogon, Tyrion hatches a crazy-ass plan, Gendry returns, Jaime suffers wayward travels and sibling troubles, Gilly makes a stunning discovery in Oldtown, Sam's frustrations with the maesters mirror real-world comparisons, and Sansa and Arya have a disconcerting spat.

There's a ton of table-setting here, but Andrew and Manu are ready to tackle it.

Aug 9, 2017

Andrew and Manu watch "The Spoils of War" and talk about all the conflicts on Drogon's field of fire -- namely the gradually building pay-offs, Tyrion's anguish, and the camera following compelling characters like Jaime and Bronn throughout. Then, they go up to Winterfell, where they deal with the repercussions of Arya's long-awaited return, Bran's odd interactions with Littlefinger and Meera, and the subsequent familial reunions, before wrapping up with Jon and Dany's discoveries at Dragonstone.

Aug 1, 2017

Andrew and Manu review "The Queen's Justice," as Tyrion coordinates Jon and Dany's long-awaited meeting, the show expertly misdirects with the Casterly Rock and Highgarden battles, and if the effects of Cersei's victory mean Operation: Engage Dragons. They also discuss Jon and Dany's supernatural elements, Jaime's internal conflict, Bran's unsettling reaction to Sansa at Winterfell, theories about Sam and Jorah, and... #LittlefingerShowerthoughts (the less creepy ones, anyway).

Jul 25, 2017

It's time to talk the second episode of season 7, so Andrew and Manu discuss Euron's manic sea battle (specifically Theon's trauma and Yara's reaction), Dany and Tyrion's decision-making regarding invasion strategy, Jaime's efforts to convince Randyll Tarly to join Cersei's side, Arya's interactions with Hot Pie and Nymeria, Sam's attempts to cure Jorah, political infighting in the North, and Melisandre's surprising meet-up with Dany and company.

Needless to say, Euron wasn't being subtle when he told his brother, "I am the storm."

Jul 18, 2017

The 7th season of Game of Thrones has arrived! Andrew and Manu review the episode with thoughts on various parts, like Arya's show-stealing cold open and its implications, Sam's conversation with the Archmaester at the Citadel, the Jon/Sansa Karstark-Umber debate, the Hound's soul-search with the Brotherhood at the home of the family he left to die in season 4, the #rebranded Euron, Jaime coming to terms with Cersei's growing delusion (what dynasty??), and Dany's silent entrance to Dragonstone. 

They also discussed Bran's vision of the undead army and his arrival at the Wall, as well as episode 2 hype (NYMERIA?!). Yes, Ed Sheeran briefly came up, too. We have very tepid takes.

Jul 14, 2017

Even though this podcast episode takes place just before "The Wolf and the Lion," there is plenty of Stark vs. Lannister in this one alone. Andrew and Manu talk as Cersei tries to figure out Ned's game in King's Landing and Cersei forces an arrest on a recently-arriving Tyrion at the Inn at the Crossroads. The latter is an especially juicy scene, so away we go.

Season 7 full-episode reviews are up next!

Jul 10, 2017

Long episode for Andrew and Manu this week, as they watch Dany stand up to Viserys, Jorah talk to her about him, and Littlefinger explain the origins of Sandor Clegane's scars. Along the way, they delve into House Baelish's past and discuss whether or not Littlefinger knew that Gregor Clegane would kill Ser Hugh (#rip).

Jun 28, 2017

Andrew and Manu return to the Wall, where Jon does what he can to get his fellow Night's Watch recruits to stop hassling Sam, whether they like it or not. This does not go over well with Alliser Thorne. Along the way, they discuss Ghost in the books vs. the show, the bastard names of the Seven Kingdoms, and Thorne's delightful dip into cannibalism on a previous ranging. Yay!

Jun 22, 2017

The Game of Thrones crew dropped a second trailer for season 7, so Manu and Andrew had to talk about it. As the hashtags say, winter is here. Exult in the fire of Beric Dondarrion's flaming sword with us.

Jun 15, 2017

Andrew and Manu follow Ned's best dude, Jory Cassel, around as he tries to get Ser Hugh to talk to him, travels with Ned to meet Gendry and Tobho Mott, and then has a chat with Jaime. So much to do, so little time (both in the podcast and in Jory's life #oops). Manu shares some cool insight on knighthood and King Robert's bastards, as well.

Jun 8, 2017

Ned has a chat with Maester Pycelle after a Small Council meeting about what Jon Arryn was investigating and how he was doing it. Unfortunately, "The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms" is not the most thrilling book to analyze. ("A ponderous tome.") Then, Samwell Tarly explains his super-fun father Randyll to Jon Snow. Needless to say, Randyll will not be receiving Father's Day cards.

Jun 1, 2017

"Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" resumes with Jorah talking to Dany about why his wife (Lynesse Hightower) left him, Viserys trying to get Doreah hot with some dragon lore, and Sansa taking a brief break from boy-crazy feelings to realize the significance of the throne room. And yes, Manu did say "MY WIFE" in the Borat voice. It was obligatory.

iTunes link

May 25, 2017

Season seven will come far down the line for this podcast, but since the trailer just came out, we had to talk about it a little bit! This was originally going to be attached to a full podcast episode, but for convenience's sake, we made it its own thing.

Bring on the chaos of the Great War.

Show Notes

May 22, 2017

The podcast's 27th episode coincides with the beginning of Game of Thrones episode no. 4, "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things." Fittingly, Andrew and Manu see the leading cripple (Bran), bastard (Jon), and broken things (Tyrion and Theon). Another "broken thing" makes his debut, as Samwell Tarly comes to the Wall to join the Night's Watch. He has, uh, work to do.

iTunes link

May 18, 2017

Andrew and Manu finish off "Lord Snow" with scenes at the Wall and King's Landing, where Jon and Tyrion part ways, while Arya meets her new "dancing master," Syrio Forel. Plenty to go into with the implications of Tyrion's visit to the Wall, and much more, so let's get to it.

Show Notes

May 12, 2017

Andrew and Manu talk about the penultimate scenes of "Lord Snow," where Daenerys learns that she is pregnant, Jorah suspiciously runs off after hearing the news, and Dany tells Drogo that it's a boy. No, there doesn't seem to be much to base it off other than Dany's word, but science is overrated. It is known.

Show Notes

May 10, 2017

The podcast returns from a mini-break! It's the finale for Benjen as we know him, but he goes out in style. First, he talks Jon down from his claims of being ready for a ranging, educating him on the Night's Watch code. Then, he knocks some sense into Tyrion for not taking the Watch seriously enough before trudging off into the snowy plot-filled night beyond the Wall. Godspeed, my man.

iTunes link

Apr 27, 2017

In the words of Robert Baratheon, "WE'RE TELLING WAR STORIES." Robert, Jaime, and the newly-introduced Ser Barristan Selmy talk about their first kills, and Andrew and Manu delve into how their tales reflect their personal histories. Then Viserys oversteps his boundaries on the Dothraki Sea, resulting in him getting owned. Normal day.

HBO recently released photos from season 7 too, so we briefly touched on them. 

iTunes link

Apr 19, 2017

Ned receives news of Bran's recovery and goes to talk about it with Catelyn, who just arrived in King's Landing. Minor shenanigans ensue! The Lannisters have also learned of Bran's fate too, so they fret about it. SERENITY NOW.

Show Notes

Apr 11, 2017

Andrew and Manu chill at the Wall with Jon Snow, Tyrion, and company. We get our introductions to Jeor Mormont, Pyp, Grenn, and Alliser Thorne's "BASTUHD" yell. It's truly a wonderful time. Well, maybe not for Jon, but as Tyrion says, he's just being dramatic.

Show Notes

Apr 7, 2017

Andrew and Manu continue with "Lord Snow" as Bran hears ancient Westeros stories from Old Nan and grumbles to Robb about his legs. Meanwhile, Catelyn Stark and Rodrik Cassel arrive in King's Landing but both Littlefinger and Varys know that they suck at being sneaky. Drama ensues.

So ready for some lore? Let's go.

iTunes link

Apr 2, 2017

Ned Stark and Cersei Lannister have chit-chats with their kiddos, to... shall we say, differing ultimate effects.

Show Notes

Mar 29, 2017

Andrew and Manu officially reach episode 3, "Lord Snow," where Ned Stark and company arrive in King's Landing, or as Ned previously referred to it, "that rat's nest they call a capital." Ned has to endure some of his least favorite parts of the rat's nest immediately, as Jaime Lannister gives him shit and he meets the Small Council, allowing the audience to be introduced to Petyr Baelish, Varys, Renly Baratheon, and Maester Pycelle. (At least Ned likes Renly.) Anyway, there are a lot of mini-character profiles in here, so away we go.

iTunes link

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