Game of Thrones, Season 8, Episode 1 Questions!
Added 2019-04-15 17:19:24 +0000 UTC
Hello boys and girls!
How was the meal that Game of Thrones provided you all? Tasty? Delicious? Bland? Spicy? Hot? ... Salty? As some of you might know, we are doing a quick-ish episode analysis podcast episode after each week's episode, and we wanted to solicit you all for questions. We may not be able to answer every one, but we'll try! Regardless, we'd love to hear what you all thought and what queries you all might have for us!
Much love,
Emmett and Jeff
Comments
Is Rhaegal now Jon's dragon? If any Targ history is relevant, once a dragon has a rider, they have a connection that lasts until one or the other dies. So now Dany's title is more accurately Mother of Drogon LMAO
ZOMB13J3SUS
2019-04-21 13:32:54 +0000 UTCHey guys! Hope you enjoyed the episode surprisingly I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Anyway I’m curious about Brans motivations with him being the 3EC now, why does he think it’s important that Jon knows of his parentage?. Did he send an angry Sam down to Jon on purpose to create a wedge between Jon & Dany? It’s interesting to see what’s Brans reasoning in all this especially given the fact he said there was no time for formalities when Jon & Co showed up at Winterfell. One thing I really really enjoyed which Joemagician brought up on Twitter was the parallels with Sam pushing Jon to make his claim on the Iron throne, similarly to how Tyrion manipulated Faegon, Alicent Hightower with Aegon II, or even Bittersteel & Fireball with Daemon. All of these somewhat unwilling could be kings being pushed by people the people they trust who have agendas. However one difference is that show-Jon does have a better claim than Dany unlike all the previous rebels, and he will avoid pushing his claim in my opinion. I’d be really interested to hear your opinions on this topic!
Adam Greene
2019-04-16 11:06:50 +0000 UTCMissed other questions: Wtf is Arya’s new weapon? Why is it going to be badass? How jealous will Jon be? And when will she bone gendry? ❤️ P.s This podcast and you both kick ASOIAF ass
Fiona Piper
2019-04-16 09:51:16 +0000 UTCHi guys. Hope you’ve recovered from delving into a Westeros where the one true king is already dead 😭. I mostly liked the episode, hated Jon riding daddy and (since Arya is my spirit animal) LOVED her and Jon at the heart tree. Couple of questions: I saw Shakespeareof thrones picture linking the symbol of the WW with the targ sigil and loved it. Since I am ugly and wrong I really feel there is something more behind their march on Westeros than a mere faceless/empty force of ultimate destruction. I know the CotF use this symbol as well and wondered if they might be on their way to wipe out any final remenants of them. Wondered if you guys had any thoughts on it?
Fiona Piper
2019-04-16 09:48:34 +0000 UTCI have never liked show Dany. But the full on mean girl is just a turn off. The book version always struck me as someone who was only harsh if the situation called for it.
Veronica Diall
2019-04-16 00:46:48 +0000 UTCHey gents, I got a bit of a show vs. book question regarding something that I might have mistaken after watching last night's episode. Before I go any further, let's just keep in mind the show and books diverged on different paths a long time ago (even though I'm immensely curious to see how similar the end results are for both). So, last night little Ned Umber is killed by the White Walkers and if I'm not mistaken, he was the last Umber alive in the show's universe. Now let's duck over to the books' universe, and look at House Umber. The Greatjon is in a dungeon at the Twins, his son died at war, and his two elderly uncles are acting as castellans for him back up north. They both have had heavy foreshadowing towards impending deaths, either Hother inside Winterfell or Mors at the Battle of Ice. I can't recall any other Umbers during the main book series' timeline, so my question is this: Did the show perhaps unknowingly and unintentionally give away the overall fate of this house in the books? Maybe I'm just too far out on a limb speculating on this one?
Keith Johnson
2019-04-16 00:14:59 +0000 UTCHarry Strickland has a penis face, yes or no? Now that I’ve got your attention, I really liked this episode and I think nostalgia really got the better of me watching the characters reunite. My biggest problems are Jon just jumping on Rhaegal like it was nothing and also the lack of urgency for the pending battle with the white walkers. Like the wall is down and non sleeping zombies are on the march and Jon and Dany are joyriding? The walkers realistically should have been there already. Like how tf is are tormund and beric getting to winterfell prior to the undead army?? I’m thinking maybe they’re killing most of the north to add more to their army so winterfell will be a definitive win? Would love to hear your thoughts on it. Also on whether you think Harry Strickland has a penis face because I don’t know why but that guys a noob
Keriann Dengos
2019-04-15 23:42:36 +0000 UTCHey guys last thing. Did it seem to you that Jon gained control of Rhaegal halfway through the flight? He seemed to get comfort And bank left to land. In the post show the show runners mentions being a place where he used to hunt
Sir Way of Course
2019-04-15 22:15:39 +0000 UTCDaenerys should not have been so smug about having Jon attempt to ride Rheagal. All that she knows points to that being a potential death sentence for Jon. There is no reason, other than they sniffed at him once or twice, that she should have thought that would have worked. It was careless when they should have been hurrying preparing for the imminent arrival of the WW. That should have felt like a heavy and satisfying moment, instead it felt unearned. It was out of order. They could have had him ride Rheagal in episode 2, as they were working through his identity and what that meant for them and the war and the realm. Then it would have been more satisfying for the story. Overall, I really enjoyed the episode, but this is bothering me A LOT. What do you think?
Christina Dilsdale
2019-04-15 22:00:06 +0000 UTCDo you feel the tone of the episode was right? For me it was too flippant, and too unhurried. Nobody in the North acted in any great rush, which a zombie army mere days’ march away might demand, and many characters delivered insincere and knowing comments which didn’t feel earned. We were cursorily told rather than shown that holding the North/Vale/Dothraki/Wildlings/Unsullied together politically and militarily would present a constant stream of minor difficulties (right, Jeff?). The scene with Tyrion, Varys, and Davos could have had the same one-liners, but delivered while they were rushing around Winterfell solving problems in rapid-fire West-Wing style, and it would have felt *urgent*.
Hunding
2019-04-15 21:45:44 +0000 UTCI didn’t think Bronn would have an very relevant arc but it seems he does and it actually intrigues me he may play a bigger role in the end game. The show has done a good job of seeding Bronn’s friendship with Tyrion and Jamie while he also open and often reminds them it’s about the gold the castles and the women. I feel Cersei sending him to kill who seem to be the only friends he’s ever know is an interesting test of character for Bronn and I’m honestly not sure which way he will go. It can be a true redemption for his character (though one may question if he feels he needs redemption, him being unapologetically who he is) or it can end in tragedy with him killing one or both of them unexpectedly. Is he bitter that the Lannister’s haven’t paid there debts? Or do the bonds he built out weigh a wagon of gold. As he once told a would be Queenslayer “only I get to kill you”.
Sir Way of Course
2019-04-15 21:36:08 +0000 UTCHi! I've been pretty sure - like you - that the series is about Jon and that it will end with Jon winning (and if it still exists, on the throne), while Dany will die in the final battle and thus making the ending bittersweet. HOWEVER, after seeing the last episode, I have an uneasy feeling that another ending might be possible: What if Jon tells Dany about his claim to the throne, and she acts on that information by betraying and killing him in some way? It would be a parallel to Ned telling Cersei about his knowledge of the true heir to the throne, and Cersei removing him from the game to secure power for herself. In this scenario, Dany wins the throne by betraying Jon just when the war against the others is won - Jon dies and she lives happily ever after. This ending is also bittersweet, because we will have a huge fan favorite winning the throne, but in a way that makes the victory feel hollow and undeserved to the reader. You are very talented at pointing out when people's theories are wrong and lacking in esthetic qualities - can you please tell me why this theory falls within that category? Sincerely, Kompe, Northern lord of potatoes and bacon
Kompe
2019-04-15 21:23:49 +0000 UTCHey fellas love your work. I am seeing all the feedback from last nights episode and I’m seeing a portion of the fandom divided over Sansa (shocker). I can see valid points in her distrust of Dany. Feeding the army and dragons may be an issue. And seeing Jon in love at a time of war would surely giver her Robb/Talisa vibes. My question to the Sansa support team would be “ ok so Jon returns with a crown but no armies, no dragons and possibly another enemy, now what?” Everyone is criticizing Jon’s decisions while putting forth not even a whisp of an alternative. Is there an argument to be made that there is an alternative? Maybe Arya is right and since Sansa is “the smartest person she’s ever met” she will outwit the walkers somehow ? Maybe?
Sir Way of Course
2019-04-15 21:20:10 +0000 UTCWhat were the Tyrion spoilers in this episode?I’m staying off r/freefolk this season
Guy Incognito
2019-04-15 20:56:30 +0000 UTCDoes this theory that Sansa gets kidnapped have legs?
Azor Ahai Five
2019-04-15 20:45:08 +0000 UTCHave you heard about the Tyrion spoiler A Storm of Spoilers spoke about? What’re your thoughts?
Azor Ahai Five
2019-04-15 20:44:10 +0000 UTCDo you think that conversation between Varys, Tyrion and Davos where Varys tells Tyrion and Davos, "nothing lasts" while gazing at Jon and Dany could be a subtle foreshadowing about their fates, or atleast the fate of one of them?
Ajith Suresh
2019-04-15 20:27:04 +0000 UTCIs Rhaegal bonded to Jon now? Should a conflict occur between Jon and Dany, would he fight against his mother?
Patricia Berger
2019-04-15 20:13:11 +0000 UTCStrongly seconded.
Christopher Compton
2019-04-15 20:12:03 +0000 UTCOh, I missed this and asked basically the same question further down. Yeah why the hell is the Golden Company even named, let alone its leader?
Christopher Compton
2019-04-15 20:11:02 +0000 UTCWhat are your moods as you look ahead? My guess is chipper and reasonably optimistic (emmett) and facetiously disinterested (jeff), but after last night I feel downright pessimistic about the rest of this season, and I can’t put my finger on why. Some moments made me feel feelings (basically every hug Jon hugged) but nothing... resonated?
Christopher Compton
2019-04-15 20:08:40 +0000 UTCWhy on earth is Harry Strickland a named character? Why is he a handsome Jaime clone? Does it mean something thematically? Will he have a major plot role? WTH?
Christopher Compton
2019-04-15 19:57:27 +0000 UTCAlso Bran sat there all fuckin’ night just waiting to stare down Jamie? I mean I understand but wow the petty.
Geoff Bock
2019-04-15 19:56:29 +0000 UTCHow quickly after he made that “joke” about Varys were you thankful that the Tyrion spoilers were real?
Geoff Bock
2019-04-15 19:55:41 +0000 UTCWhen Sam eyed Bran across the yard right after learning about his father and brother, I was so excited because I thought Sam was gonna call him out on being omniscient but withholding information. It would’ve been nice to see some kind of in-universe acknowledgment of how off-putting Branbot is, buuuut then DnD immediately shut down any meaningful emotional interaction between characters and use the opportunity to instead ham-handedly prod the plot forward with “IT IS TIME.” Wanted to see how you felt about that, and how confident you are in the Bran-Jaime interaction next episode not being similarly flat (I personally don’t think DnD understand how seeing Bran affected would be more meaningful than Bran being all “it was meant to beeee” or something).
Samuel Kane
2019-04-15 19:45:10 +0000 UTCWHERE ARE MY ELEPHANTS (saving CGI budget for ice spiders?)
Zack Newman
2019-04-15 19:29:01 +0000 UTCWho is Sandor gonna murder with Chekov's badass dragonglass axe
Zack Newman
2019-04-15 19:28:30 +0000 UTCWhere the fuck is Robin Arryn and who is protecting him????
Zack Newman
2019-04-15 19:24:01 +0000 UTCI've been quick to dump on the show, but that was very enjoyable. Better than anything from season 6 or 7.
Craig Mulvey
2019-04-15 19:22:46 +0000 UTCJorah just waltzes back into the North, no questions asked?
Zack Newman
2019-04-15 19:19:35 +0000 UTCJust something really quick that I thought about last night: The Ned Stark, then Robb's unborn child, then the Umber boy. Is everyone named Ned in the show doomed? If we meet a new Ned before series end, can we just assume we will watch that person be slaughtered merciless? Thanks for all the great work!
Lord Jake, Assistant (to the) Hand of the King
2019-04-15 19:10:29 +0000 UTCAre the dragons eating less because they don’t like the cold weather? Or because of the pervasive magic of the Night King? What was up with Drogon staring down Jon while he was smooching Dany? What weapon was Arya asking Gendry to make for her? Thanks guys 😘
Emilee A.
2019-04-15 18:50:38 +0000 UTCIs it me or does Harry Strickland look like Jamie in season 1? Will Cersei fall in love with him? Also, shout out to Theon for killing the writer of the episode(Dave Hill) for letting Jon ride a dragon with very little build up on non targaryean dragon riders...
Breesus Christ
2019-04-15 18:34:36 +0000 UTCAre they really going to parallel Sansa to Cersei - I hate it! Is Euron going to be of any use to the plot whatsoever or have they included him for comedy value?Finally, am I being oversensitive to feel annoyed that the show runners can't be bothered to get their facts straight in the Behind the Show episode - stating that Dickon Tarley was Sam's older brother. I feel like it's a bit of a snub to serious watchers & readers to not know that or to get it right 🤷
Lady Dayne the Twighlight Star
2019-04-15 18:20:08 +0000 UTCI'm hoping it somehow indicates ice spiders. I have absolutely no evidence for this, other than the fact that the spiral contains eight "legs", and that there have been scattered references to Others & ice spiders in the text.
Ser Gluten Frey
2019-04-15 18:19:11 +0000 UTCThis isn't really an episode-specific question, but how do you guys feel about having the ending of ASOIAF spoiled for you by the show? I love watching GoT, but I'm mad I won't get to find out the endgame from GRRM himself. I feel robbed. Even if I decide not to watch this season, there's just no way to log on to Twitter or walk into work without being spoiled and that really pisses me off. The only minor comfort I have is that D&D have diverged so far from the books that there's really no way the TV finale will look or feel anything like the book finale. I know ASOIAF is going to be so much richer and more rewarding, but I'm not sure how I'll feel reading TWOW, knowing the fate of Jon or Dany or the realm. Can you help me feel less sad about this?
Randee
2019-04-15 18:18:20 +0000 UTCQuick first impressions: 1) liked the almost -first-person view of dragon-riding. That was cool. 2) I think that scene would have worked better after Jon was told of his parentage as his confirmation of it. 3) All of Sansa's saltiness just seems like a bad soap opera. I know the show needs conflict to make drama, but this feels poorly done.
Septon Eastwood of Introvert Isle
2019-04-15 18:13:42 +0000 UTCConsidering the NK moves to attack Winterfell, shouldn’t Bran already know? Do you think we’re going to get anymore Bran visions this season? Why won’t the show use him for anything other than as a ladle stirring a huge shitty pot!?
Azor Ahai Five
2019-04-15 17:58:49 +0000 UTCHey guys, love your podcast. It's become a highlight of my week to listen to the Amen Brothers discuss all things ASOIAF. I just wanted to know what your predictions are with how Bran's reunion with Jaime is going to pan out. I for one, am a bit disillusioned with the D&D's creative decision to make Bran seem like a humourless robot so it would be interesting to see if that persona melts away when Bran meets Jaime and all of his boyhood dreams of becoming a knight are brought to the surface as he sees the one responsible for his fall. But that's just me hoping. Curious to know what you guys thoughts are and keep up the great work.
Aslan Christbeard
2019-04-15 17:54:43 +0000 UTCNow that we’ve seen the symbol a few times: what is with that spiral symbol? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Azor Ahai Five
2019-04-15 17:53:36 +0000 UTCWhat do you guys think is up with the weapon Arya wants Gendry to make for her (no, not THAT sword lol)?
Leslie Cowan
2019-04-15 17:52:38 +0000 UTCA bit bland I feel, I’m not sure I really have questions apart from what’s the point of Yara’s story now? The Queen May need an island refuge where the WW can’t go? Doesn’t she have one of those already? I donno, maybe dragonstone?
Bword
2019-04-15 17:46:42 +0000 UTCI think it's interesting that you have multiple perspectives on Jon and Daenerys' relationship. You have Davos who wants them to get married and rule together, someone like Varys or Tyrion who sees their relationship as something tragic or dangerous, and someone like Sam or maybe even Sansa who would hope for Jon to press a claim over Daenerys. The show's definitely setting up Jon and Daenerys to go through relationship struggles. Do you think one side wins out over the other? To they make love? War? Do they both just die so it's all moot?
WootGorilla
2019-04-15 17:39:06 +0000 UTCSansa's "What do dragons eat anyway?" sounded so much like Cersei that it felt like deja vu. As someone who kind of downplayed Sansa's role in the upcoming season since she's more politically focused and not front line fighting the Others, I'm curious as to your guys' thoughts on how you see her story shaping up this season. Will she get a head to head conflict with Cersei for a chance to factor in the demise of her evil-mentor for the second straight season? Just thinking out loud here mostly, but I feel like her story would feel a bit incomplete without a final Cersei interaction.
fp
2019-04-15 17:26:49 +0000 UTC1st: where the fuck is ghost! 2nd: a dragon eats whatever the fuck it wants! Sick burn by dany. 3rd: make tyrion smart again! 4th: bran: NK has res’d your dragon, breached the wall and is on his way to kill us all! Dany: crickets chipping... 5th: after waiting all this time and only having 6 episodes left i feel like its paramount we spent what little time we have left with the show to focus on the real story, Bronn doing bronn things!!!!!!!
Ser Fif Whoresbane
2019-04-15 17:24:54 +0000 UTCi enjoyed the episode although i still have my issues with the narrative that d&d continue to put forth and i find it incredibly lazy most times. now, that my bitching is done, how likely is it that we could possibly see a mini version of the dance of the dragons between jon and dany once the white walker threat is dealt with(if you feel like answering, what episode do you guys think the white walker threat will be dealt with). i feel like the first half of the season will be dedicated to the walkers and the second half will be about who sits on the iron throne and with jon now bonded to rhaegal, there are two claimants to the iron throne, each has a dragon and jon is aegon the sixth like faegon in the in books, so i had the passing thought they may include some form of the dance of the dragons. as always, thanks for your time and the wonderful work you do on the podcast.
Jacob Baker
2019-04-15 17:24:16 +0000 UTCDo you guys see Sam taking a prominent role in Danys downfall or rift between her and Jon?
The Prince that was Fresh
2019-04-15 17:23:03 +0000 UTCWhen will Quentyn show up with his red sword of heroes to bring back the dawn?
Matt Lucas
2019-04-15 17:21:30 +0000 UTCWhat other Season 1 parallels do you think we might see in the coming episodes?
Christopher Compton
2019-04-15 17:21:26 +0000 UTC
