What does it actually take to arm an army of 500 extras, balance a Valyrian steel blade for Jon Snow, or design a weapon that tells a family’s entire 500-year history in a single frame? ⚔️

This week on Once Upon a TV Time, we are pulling back the curtain on the visceral, brutal, and beautiful world-building of Westeros. We are joined by the legendary Tommy Dunne—the Weapons Master responsible for designing, forging, and managing every single weapon, shield, and piece of artillery across all 8 seasons of Game of Thrones.

In this behind-the-scenes episode, we explore:📐 The Weapons Master's Journey: How Tommy got his start in the film industry and what drew him to the craft of weaponry.

📜 From Script to Steel: The intense collaborative relationship between weapons masters and stunt coordinators when building high-end fantasy dramas.🐺 Forging Westeros: A deep-dive into how Tommy physically brought to life the unique designs of iconic blades like Ice, Needle, Oathkeeper, and Heartsbane.🫅 Character Extensions: How weapons like Joffrey’s blade were intentionally engineered to tell a story about the character holding them.

Whether you're a hardcore A Song of Ice and Fire lore nerd, a film student, or just obsessed with the intricate craft of prestige television, this conversation will completely change how you watch your favorite shows.

💬 LET'S TALK TV: We want to hear from you! If you were stepping onto the battlefield of Westeros, which of Tommy's iconic blades are you taking with you? Cast your vote in the comments! 👇

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:

• Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews!
• Submit Your Favorite Show: Want us to cover a specific high-end drama next? Drop your suggestions in our social media comments!

🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL:

• Cover art: ⁠Agathe Pompon⁠
• Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay
• Game of Thrones Audio Clips: Copyright HBO (All rights reserved)

#GameOfThrones #TommyDunne #WeaponsMaster #BehindTheScenes #OnceUponATVTime #Westeros #PrestigeTV #Filmmaking #JonSnow #AryaStark

"How do you build and furnish a world as vast, ancient, and expensive as Middle-earth? 🏰✨"

Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot pulls back the curtain on one of the most visually breathtaking series in television history: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Joining her is the brilliant set decorator Tina Jones, the creative force responsible for breathing physical life into the legendary realms of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Tina takes us deep inside the production design process of a billion-dollar television show, sharing the exclusive stories of how massive scripts are translated into tangible, living environments. Whether you are a die-hard Tolkien fan, an aspiring filmmaker, or a lover of prestige television, this episode is a masterclass in the art of visual storytelling.

In this masterclass episode, we explore:

• 📐 The Set Decorator's Journey: How Tina got her start in the film industry, what drew her to set decoration, and her essential advice for aspiring industry professionals.

• 📜 From Script to Set: The intense collaborative relationship between set decorators and production designers when building high-end fantasy dramas.

• 🧝‍♂️ Building Middle-earth: A deep-dive into how Tina physically brought to life some of the most iconic, intricate sets of The Rings of Power Season 2.

• 🎬 The Prestige TV Challenge: The staggering logistics and unique creative pressures of working on a studio production of this massive, unprecedented scale.

📱 CONNECT WITH US:

• Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews!
• Submit Your Favorite Show: Want us to cover a specific high-end drama next? Drop your suggestions in our social media comments!

🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL:

• Cover art: Agathe Pompon

• Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay

• The Rings of Power Audio Clips: Copyright Amazon Studios / MGM (All rights reserved)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Proudly Featured: Once Upon a TV Time was recently featured on the Made in Scotland podcast series! Check out their incredible show highlighting Scottish creators and industry voices here: Made in Scotland.

Our regular programming continues soon with an exclusive, deep-dive interview with The Rings of Power set decorator Tina Jones!

Follow Once Upon a TV Time on ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews!

"How do you design a haunted house that doesn't actually look scary? 🚪👁️"

Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot steps inside the grand, twisting corridors of prestige horror alongside acclaimed production designer Patricio Farrell.

Patricio is the creative mastermind responsible for building the hauntingly majestic sets of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House. If you’ve ever been mesmerized by the unsettling architecture, the hidden ghosts in the woodwork, or the infamous Red Room, this episode pulls back the curtain on how director Mike Flanagan's terrifying world was constructed from the ground up.

In this masterclass episode, we explore:

• 📐 The Architecture of Fear: Patricio's unique creative journey and the background that shaped his design philosophy.

• 👻 The Anti-Cliche Haunted House: The brilliant, psychological concepts behind creating a space that feels grand and beautiful rather than stereotypically spooky.

• 🎬 The Hill House Blueprint: How a physical set was engineered to act as a literal character in the Crain family's tragic story.

📱 CONNECT WITH US:

• Follow Once Upon a TV Time on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated on all upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and artisan interviews!

🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL:

• Cover art: Agathe Pompon

• Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay

• The Haunting of Hill House Audio & Music: Copyright Netflix and The Newton Brothers (All rights reserved)

"Why did an island full of smoke monsters and mystery permanently change television fandom? 💨✈️"

Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot explores the massive, cultural phenomenon of television fandoms with Blake Larsen, the brilliant podcast producer and content creator over at Mary & Blake Media.

Together, they are booking a return ticket on Oceanic Flight 815 to dive deep into the legacy of Lost. Blake breaks down his own journey into becoming a hardcore "Lostie," why passionate fan communities are the true lifeblood of any great TV show, and the exact episode that changed everything for him.

In this deep-dive episode, we explore:

• 🗺️ The Making of a 'Lostie': How a single show created a new blueprint for how we consume television.

• 🤝 The Power of the Fandom: Why fan communities aren't just viewers—they are an essential force that can shape a show's legacy.

• 🎬 The Catalyst: A close look at the specific, jaw-dropping Lost episode that permanently hooked Blake.

🎙️ DISCOVER MORE SHOWS:Obsessed with television commentary? Head over to maryandblake.com to explore the incredible lineup of TV-related podcasts produced by Blake and his wife, Mary!

📱 CONNECT WITH US:

• Follow Once Upon a TV Time on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL:

• Cover art: Agathe Pompon

• Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay

• Lost Audio Clips: Copyright ABC (All rights reserved)

• Lost Soundtrack Music: Copyright Michael Giacchino/Universal Music (All rights reserved)

"How do you paint the world of Westeros before it even exists? 🎨⚔️"

Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot steps into the design studio of prestige television with acclaimed concept artist Kieran Belshaw.

Kieran is one of the brilliant visual minds responsible for mapping out the look, feel, and scale of both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. If you’ve ever marveled at the grand architecture of King's Landing, the dark halls of Dragonstone, or the sheer scale of the Red Keep, this episode pulls back the curtain on how those iconic locations were born.

In this episode, we explore:

• 📐 The Canvas of Westeros: The intense creative process behind designing the legendary castles and landscapes of the Seven Kingdoms.

• 🎨 The Stigma of Concept Art: What it actually takes to succeed as a Hollywood concept artist (and the skills you really need).

• ⏳ Bridging the Eras: The artistic evolution of going from the grit of Game of Thrones to the golden age architecture of House of the Dragon.

👁️ VIEW THE ARTWORK:Want to see the exact paintings and sketches we discuss in this episode? Check out Kieran's breathtaking portfolio on his website and follow his work on Instagram.

📱 CONNECT WITH US:

• Follow Once Upon a TV Time on⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠.

🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL:

• Cover art: Agathe Pompon

• Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay

• House of the Dragon Audio Clips: Copyright HBO (All rights reserved)

"How do you survive a real cavalry charge without getting trampled? 🐴⚔️"

Welcome back to Once Upon a TV Time! In this episode, host Marine Perot dives deep into the mud and chaos of Westeros with legendary stunt performer Jonathan Cohen⁠.

Jonathan took the hits on the front lines of Game of Thrones, and today he’s taking us directly inside the claustrophobic madness of the "Battle of the Bastards." If you've ever wondered how the most visceral battle in television history was actually pulled off safely, this behind-the-scenes masterclass is for you.

In this episode, we break down:

• 🎭 The Stunt Myth: Debunking the biggest misconceptions about what it takes to be a professional stunt performer.
• 🛡️ Inside the Shield Wall: What it’s actually like to stand down a charging wall of horses.

• 🥶 Surviving the Elements: The miserable, bone-chilling weather conditions of Northern Ireland that made the battle look so brutally real.

• 🎬 The Stunt Double Life: The intense logistics and coordination hidden within cinematic chaos.

📱 CONNECT WITH US:

• Follow Once Upon a TV Time on Facebook⁠, ⁠Threads⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠.
• Follow Jonathan Cohen ⁠here⁠.

🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL:

• Cover art: Agathe Pompon⁠

• Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay

• Additional Soundtrack Music: Ramin Djawadi (All rights reserved)

• Audio Clips: Copyright HBO (All rights reserved)

"How a 19th-century frontier doctor became a global television phenomenon. 🏔️🩺"

Welcome to the premiere episode of Once Upon a TV Time! To kick off the podcast, host Marine Perot is joined by a true television icon: Beth Sullivan, the creator, writer, and executive producer of the beloved classic, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Together, they are rewinding the clock to the 1993 pilot episode to uncover how this groundbreaking series defied all network expectations and captured the hearts of millions. Plus, Beth drops an exclusive inside look at a massive "what if" project that will leave fans reeling.

In this premiere episode, we dive into:

• 💡 The Genesis: What it took to bring Dr. Michaela Quinn to life.

• 🎭 Casting Chemistry: The behind-the-scenes story of how Jane Seymour and Joe Lando were perfectly matched as Michaela and Byron Sully.

• 🎬 Setting the Stage: The crucial thematic elements, historical realities, and character dynamics that had to be established in the pilot.

• 🍿 The 2020 Reboot Secrets: What the unproduced Dr. Quinn reboot Beth Sullivan developed would have actually looked like—and the potential for a Dr. Quinn indie movie!

📱 CONNECT WITH US:

• Follow Once Upon a TV Time on⁠ Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

🎨 CREDITS & LEGAL:

• Cover art: Agathe Pompon
• Music & Sound Effects: Pixabay
• Dr. Quinn Music & Audio Clips: Copyright William Olvis and CBS (All rights reserved)