Game of Thrones (from TeeVee)

It’s over. Turns out asking who ends up sitting on the Iron Throne was asking the wrong question. Someone goes Into the West but someone else is the true Frodo of this situation. Tyrion arranges some chairs. Fateful decisions are made. And we ponder the meaning of final episodes of TV series. Please join Jason and Brian as they search their feelings about “Game of Thrones” one last time before the end of the Game of Thrones Flashcast. <p>Host Jason Snell and Brian Hamilton.</p>

So it’s come to this, the climactic penultimate episode of “Game of Thrones.” Jason and Brian both enjoyed the spectacle while having some pretty serious thoughts about the character decisions the show is suddenly making. Jason has a not-so-wild theory about how the show will end. Brian climbs on top of a mountain of rubble and declares it his conspiracy corner. Jason invokes President Truman. We try to explain scorpion geometry. There’s a “Princess Bride” reference. (We’ll be back a day late next week for the final episode! See you then.) <p>Host Jason Snell and Brian Hamilton.</p>

This week we join the surviving characters to pause to honor a colleague and friend who has fallen on the road to the final episode—and along the way we send some strong words out to the Internet’s own horde of zombie trolls. Then we turn to the episode at hand, as the dead are burned, questions of what makes a good leader are debated, feelings are revealed, Arya gets an offer (and Hot Pie gets an implied job offer), some characters say goodbye, and more shocking deaths are witnessed. <p>Host Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton.</p>

So it’s come to this—the action-packed, movie-length, extremely dark Battle of Winterfell. After two episodes of character moments and table setting, how did we react to this massive action spectacle? One of our hosts hated it, one of them loved it, and the other felt quite mixed. Isn’t it weird to know that one major phase of this story is over? Did the amount of character death feel appropriate? Why does Bran love his stories so much? At least someone remembered to stick them with the pointy end. Alphabet soup all around! <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

It’s the eve of battle! Which means that everyone in Winterfell is a little bit on edge as they spend their time checking in with each other to see who’s still holding grudges about everything that happened in the first seven seasons. Jaime Lannister gets a full trial, while Theon Greyjoy gets away with a quick hug. Brienne of Tarth gets what she’s always wanted (although she’s always denied it), and Arya gets what she wants even though she’s never seemed that interested before. And we’re not talking about that cool new weapon. There’s a lot of talk about how everybody’s probably about to die, but that’s not until next week. For now, enjoy the big fire and Podrick’s singing voice. <p>Host Monty Ashley with Brian Hamilton and Kelly Guimont.</p>

It’s back! In this episode we discuss the final season premiere of “Game of Thrones.” A lot of people show up at Winterfell. There are more meaningful looks and facial expressions. Jon and Dany go on a magic dragon ride. Cersei compliments Euron’s arrogance. And Brian has a theory about how the show will end! Join us for this six-episode slide into oblivion. <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

We wrap up our rewatch of season 1 of “Game of Thrones” with a look at the aftermath of Ned’s death, how the centrality of Jon and Dany to the story are pretty obvious in hindsight, and the morality of Catelyn Stark’s beating a prisoner—even if the prisoner is Jaime Lannister and his family just killed her husband. And that final scene! It’s not nearly as impressive as we remembered it—which might be the most impressive thing about it, after all. See you next year! <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

Ned’s dead, baby! This is the big moment. Arya and Sansa witness Ned’s confession that he’s a traitor, and in the end it doesn’t matter—Joffrey says “off with his head.” Also, Jon has a conversation with the show’s most interesting character, Dany fails to deal with the impending death of Drogo, and Tyrion makes a lousy warrior. <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley.</p>

We continue our hindsight-tinged look back at season 1 with an episode that really sets you up to think that Ned might get away with all of this. Arya claims her first victim. Sansa just wants to be a pretty princess. Robb is on the move. Jon kills his first zombie. And Khal Drogo gets a cut that definitely won’t linger, nope, no sir. <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

Kelly Guimont joins us once again, this time to discuss the episode where it all goes south. (Though to be fair, from the perspective of the wildings, everything’s south.) Tywin guts a symbolic stag! The assorted rapists and friendless wretches of the Night’s Watch get a pep talk and take an oath! Drogo seriously khalsplains to Dany. Ros auditions for Littlefinger in the show’s most eye-rolling sexposition scene yet. And King Robert is dead, long live… uh, Ned, are you sure you want to make this bad decision? <p>Host Jason Snell with Kelly Guimont, Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

Kelly Guimont joins Brian, Monty, and Jason to discuss an action-packed first-season episode (with spoilers for the rest of the run of show, of course). In this episode, Tyrion participates in a SNL sketch that may lead to his death in one of many different ways, but instead he survives a Trial By Combat that seals this show’s ultimate character pairing: Tyrion and Bronn. Ros the prostitute heads south. Dany tries to cook an egg and eat a horse heart. Viserys gets what’s coming to him. And Jason, gray of hair, watches in horror as Ned very laboriously figures out that Joffrey is really a Lannister. <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Brian Hamilton and Kelly Guimont.</p>

Here’s where it all really gets started. The assassination of Jon Arryn leads the Starks and Lannisters into conflict. Varys and Littlefinger plot their individual plots, and joust with one another (verbally) while the Mountain and the Knight of Flowers joust with one another (literally). Robert and Cersei have a cold, clear conversation. And is killing Dany and her unborn child the right move for a thoroughly Peter Principled King Robert to make? We break it all down. (Spoilers for seasons 1-7 are inside. Don’t listen if you’re a first-time viewer!) <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley.</p>

Kathy Campbell joins Jason and Monty in our spoiler-filled rewatch of season one of “Game of Thrones.” In this episode, we stay on brand by frustrating pedantic fans with our utter failure to recall what Littlefinger is up to or why he had Jon Arryn assassinated. Also, it’s the triumphant debut of sexposition; debuts for Sam, Bronn, Gendry, and the three-eyed Raven; Arya stays true to herself; and we pay tribute to Ros, the hardest-working whore in Westeros. <p>Host Jason Snell with Kathy Campbell and Monty Ashley.</p>

Our (spoiler-filled) rewatch of Season 1 of “Game of Thrones” continues with the incredibly dense third episode, in which Ned arrives at King’s Landing, Jon arrives at Winterfell, and Dany finally realizes that she’s got way more authority than her stupid brother. <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

Our re-watch of the first season of “Game of Thrones” reaches its surprisingly key second episode, where Ned tells Jon he’ll explain his parentage later, Joffrey decides to have a bit of fun with the butcher’s boy, Dany gets some intimacy tips from a handmaiden, and the direwolves have perhaps the most screen time they’ll ever get. RIP Lady. (Note that if you’re looking for a spoiler-free look at “Game of Thrones”, this isn’t it. We discuss where the series is going up to the end of the penultimate season.) <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

Jason, Monty, and Brian fill the massive gap between seasons by going back to the beginning. Yes, it’s time for a re-watch of Season 1 of “Game of Thrones”, beginning with the pilot. Hey, that guy dies! So does she! But not him! Maybe we’ll remember what happens this time. (Note that if you’re looking for a spoiler-free look at “Game of Thrones”, this isn’t it. We discuss where the series is going up to the end of the penultimate season.) <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

Here we are, at the end of the abbreviated penultimate season of “Game of Thrones.” This week we’re talking about sibling bonds (and other, closer bonds between blood relatives), serious looks between characters who share histories, and things to do in Eastwatch when you’re dead. See you next year! Or the year after! Or whenever the show comes back! <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Brian Hamilton.</p>

In “Beyond the Wall,” Game of Thrones takes us - where else? - beyond the Wall. There’s lots of walking, talking, some more walking, and then a few things happen. No big deal. Meanwhile, down south, Arya reminisces about archery, Sansa does some Raven Reconnaissance, and Tyrion tries to rein in Dany. Plus, we make fun of a terrible Dana Carvey comedy, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert actors are confused for each other, and Monty makes the Yu-Gi-Oh! joke to end all Yu-Gi-Oh! jokes. <p>Host Monty Ashley with Brian Hamilton.</p>

Hey, it’s Gendry! Gendry’s back, everybody! Remember Gendry? He’s back! Okay, that’s probably something that’s going to pay off farther down the line. We also got to see Tyrion have a secret meeting with his brother Jaime, and they haven’t talked in a long time. And Jon Snow gathered up all the tough guys he could find and took them up north so he could grab Tormund Giantsbane and the surviving members of the Brotherhood of Fire and go marching north to kidnap a wight to show to Cersei Lannister. That’s the plan, anyway, but it’s probably going to break down into a bunch of fighting and screaming. The important part is that they looked real cool walking north from the Wall. Arya and Sansa are back to arguing with each other, but they’re doing it in an adult way, and it’s about whether they should be cutting people’s heads off. Arya is on the pro-decapitation side. <p>Host Monty Ashley with Kelly Guimont.</p>

This week on “Game of Thrones”, not very much happened. Oh, sure, Jon lured Daenerys down to the beach to look at his cave etchings. And Missandei explained to Jon and Davos why Daenerys has so many followers—and why the best rulers are the ones you choose. And there was a reunion of three Starks in Winterfell, as Sansa and Arya were reunited at last and were joined by their brother Bran and his awesome new dagger. Between getting beaten senseless, Pod reminded Brienne that a major part of her promise to Catelyn had finally been fulfilled. Arya revealed to everyone at Winterfell that she’s an incredibly dangerous fighter. Bronn reminded us why we love him. Sam’s dad reminded us why we hate him. Oh yeah, and then a Dothraki horde and some dragons showed up. I suppose we could talk about that too, if we have enough time… <p>Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Erika Ensign.</p>