In this episode, Cersei gifts Sansa a dress for no nefarious reason whatsoever. Good guy Cersei. Who know!?

 

This week, we: 

 

- Examine how Cersei continues her manipulation of Sansa -- which Sansa suspects

- Take a close look at the Tyrell cousins, see how they work as a team and yet are still naive 

- Analyze Margaery's behavior closely

- See Littlefinger's manipulations and conspiracies via Dontos Hollard

- Talk about Sarah's book Hollywood Ending and whether we'll ever have a Game of Thrones viewing experience again

In this episode, Stefan Sasse joins us as Jon Snow meets giants, talks with Tormund, and barely escapes execution by getting laid. What a day.

 

This week, we: 

 

- Mosh furiously as giants arrive riding mammoths

- Take apart Tormund's satirical self-presentation through stories

- Laugh at Jon trying and failing to suppress his feelings for Ygritte

- Hold our breath as Jon just barely negotiates his survival with Mance

- Debate whether Tormund fathered Maege Mormont's children

In this episode, Catelyn did nothing wrong. Or did she? Or Robb?? Or Edmure??? Or all of them? That'll do.

 

This week, we: 

 

- Take stock of Catelyn's growing sense of dread

- Welcome Robb back to the narrative...

- ...before dropping the bomb of his wedding

- Analyze Catelyn's reaction to her baby boy getting married

- Break down the complex emotional dynamics among the Tullys as a whole

In this episode, Arya is chased, chases, reunites and is chased yet again.

 

This week, we: 

 

- Examine Arya's journey into the dark woods and how she's coping with the violence around her.

- Express some criticism of some of Arya's early ASOS chapters

- Get emotional over Arya and Harwin's reunion

- Check in with the BWB and find out their organizing principles

- Theorize that Lem Lemoncloak has a secret identity!

In this episode, Tyrion just can't quit Shae.

 

This week, we: 

 

- Compare and contrast Tyrion's rise in Clash with his fall in Storm

- Dig deeper into Varys' character as we see his quarters

- Shake our heads as Tyrion ties himself in knots over Shae

- Point out all the ways Tywin is reversing his son's policies

- Ask the big question: who's Varys' spy in Oldtown?

In this episode, Jaime and Brienne stop off at an inn, only to find it's full of shit in more ways than one.

 

This week, we: 

 

- Analyze the war through the lens of the Inn of the Kneeling Man

- Contrast the themes of freedom and trust running through these Jaime chapters

- Pick apart the negotiation over horses the NotAnInnkeep plans to steal back

- Dig deeper into how Jaime and Brienne push each other's buttons

- Analyze Jaime's dream of the Mad King 

In this episode, Davos tries to assassinate Melisandre despite his pneumonia. Take a sick day, Davos!

 

This week, we: 

 

- Return to Dragonstone, with all the gothic gloom that goes with it

- Analyze Davos' short-lived identity as a spiritual warrior

- Compare Davos' drive to kill Melisandre to Cressen...and Melisandre herself

- Give it up for Salladhor Saan, the voice of reason in this chapter

- Meet Edric Storm, aka the *real* reason Davos survived the battle

In this episode, Dany is sailing away, setting a course for the Slaver's Bay!

 

This week, we: 

 

- Analyze the sea and its meaning for Daenerys and Viserys

- Decipher the realities of Aerys II and Rhaegar along with Daenerys

- Introduce ourselves to the backstory of the Unsullied and get excited with Dany about them

- Remind ourselves why we hate Jorah Mormont.

- Theorize on the books and scrolls Rhaegar read that convinced him to put his books aside to become a warrior

In this episode, special guest Micah joins us as Jon Snow meets the wildling king Mance Rayder, who has just a few questions for our hero.

 

This week, we: 

 

- Praise George's beautiful imagery

- Break down Mance's introductory scene

- Analyze the layers of performance in Mance's character

- Dig into the minor characters Micah loves so dearly

- Ask the big question: is Mance Rhaegar? (No. But also yes.)

In this episode, Emmett is taking a well-deserved week off which means that Jeff will inflict himself upon you all by taking a look at the Five Year Gap and why it was bad. Also, you're a coward if you disagree with me.

 

This week, we: 

 

- Define what the Five-Year Gap was and how it came into existence

- Talk about all of the plots GRRM had in mind for a post-five year gap version of ADWD

- Talk about which characters the gap worked well for and which it didn't

- Argue that the Five-Year Gap was bad in many way

- Ask whether the Five-Year Gap is truly gone.