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This Week on the Podcast: All of our hopes of a Jaime hostage situation are for naught. He made it back to his evil sister, fraught from watching his men die, and with dragon breath still in his hair. We all love to love Jaime, but he is an utter fool when it comes to Cersei. He is also terrified of her. We all should be.

All is not a soul-crushing Lannister make-out session, we still get a (convenient) Tyrion and Jaime reunion. The two negotiated an armistice, because of course they did.

Politically due North, Littlefinger is playing our darling Arya like a fiddle. It's sad really. The Stark girls don't understand how much their own house means to one another. If they did, their alliance could be ice solid. Except, they don't know what we know. It's maddening.

What is also frustrating is how Samwell, our faithful informant at the Citadel, emotionally glazes over a High Septon's diary entry about performing an annulment for Rhaegar, and marrying him to someone else at the same time in a secret ceremony in Dorne. You guys. This means Lyanna and Rhaegar were wed. Jon Snow is legitimate AF.

Missendai does everything. Arya learned from no one. Jon sees Dany's good heart. The Queen is gone. Chaos is a ladder. Lanister BBQ, anyone?

This Week on the Podcast: Ice and Fire. Dying in a strange country. Out-of-the-closet twincest. Trigger warning by the Godswood. The long game of justice. Olenna plays her final card.

The second episode, Stormborn, kicked the door down with swift elaboration on Azor Ahai.

Wut?

That's the Song of Fire and Ice's version of Jesus that is going to send the Night King and his army of the dead to somewhere very, very warm. This is huge in the theory land of book fandom, like R+L = J big. At some point soon, Dany and John will meet. Fangirl hearts are pitter pattering everywhere, this episode of the podcast included.

Just as high as the episode takes us, it also thoroughly grosses us out. Thanks again Citadel and your witchy ways. Then when you think you're going to vomit, it washes you over with joy and sorrow when we see Nymeria again. Yes. That's her.

We frequently imagine that we have somehow built up a tolerance to the reckless highs and lows to Game of Thrones, and that's the narrative's magic if there ever was one – because we haven't.

Now it's time to listen to us get all up in our feelings about all these things, too:

• Verys and Dany confrontation
• Red Priestess and her dangerous prophecy
• Jaime & Tarly
• Balerion the Dread, Cersei and her mad scientist
• Olenna and clever men
• Greyworm & Missendai 4eva
• ARYA KNOWS ABOUT JON! AND SHE WENT HOME!
• Greyscale is gross AF
• Sansa is finally queen, but somehow, we end up down one
• Fucking Theon

As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section and we will discuss on the next podcast.

It's the beginning of the end, and it feels like it. For Game of Thrones, that's a good thing because the middle was really hard. We've been punished enough, and now it's time for some payoff. Arya seems to be our one-way ticket to instant gratification picking up her murder tour left off and killing every fucking Frey in the house. It's great. Here's to hoping our favorite Stark keeps the upper hand. Beric Dondarrion, Thoros of Myr and the Hound talk of resurrection. They really dig into the details. BUT FOR WHAT!? If Arya is exacting some kind of analog for Lady Stoneheart's revenge, then why do they keep on about coming back from the dead? What does it mean, nerds? Our other lone lady wolf, Sansa is as strategic as ever and without apology. Her agency is a stark contrast to seasons past (you see what I did there?), and it is refreshing. As the clans in the North come together to battle Winter and the Night King, Sansa is still playing the game of thrones. Let's hope the twisted ways of Kings Landing don't pollute the Stark family reunion. Still, we get my favorite line of the episode as Sansa interrupts Littlefinger's continued attempts at manipulation. Alas, the shiniest North star continues to be Lady Mormont as she turns gruff, filthy, violent men into submissive toddlers. I am pretty sure she is the one with all the magic. Yo, Night King, come at her, bro! We also got to see… The book thief Euron Greyjoy channeling his best Douche Tormund's twinkle eyes Blackberry wine & Ed Sheeran Logs burning and zombies walking "Wun Wun" Walkers Blood on the pages, guts on the table A bald cunt and a top knot That Catspaw dagger Mothafuckin' Dragonstone We're so happy to have the band back together and we hope you are too. What did we miss? What do you hope to see this season? Tell us your great theories for the future of Westeros! We'll respond to your comments and questions on the next show.

Listen via the player below, subscribe for free on iTunes or through these other options, includingthe official mobile apps.

In an exquisitely orchestrated series of unexpected events, we are left sated and curious. Who knew Game of Thrones could still surprise us? And even after reading fan theory upon fan theory, (sound, thorough theories) the show still managed to take us into uncharted territory while confirming the most popular GoT theory of all… R+L=J.

I think we all knew that to be true, but it certainly feels validating to see it on screen. A Song of Fire and Ice surely has more than one meaning, but the key players are Dany and Jon. Sidenote, baby Jon is just as brooding as resurrected Jon. Cute.

Jon's parentage is an important reveal, but the true twist of the episode is the face-off at Riverrun as Arya Stark fed Walder Frey his sons, looked him square in his dispicable face, and killed him exactly how her mother was killed. And then she smiled.

I am forced to face the reality that Lady Stoneheart was a heavy-handed Red Herring that gave us her psychopath second daughter to exact the revenge we know is due. I didn't expect it, but I am at peace with that turn of events. I have long-loved Arya, and this feels good. That does not make me any less wrong. So, you know what that means, right?

Yeah, I sing Justin Bieber on this episode because watching Firefly would have been way harder. I am sorry. Listeners of past episodes understand why this had to happen.

Beyond the giant elephants of Jon and Arya, the finale served up…

• The greatest costume Cersei has ever worn • Scary little birds • Wineboarding • Confessions of a mad queen • A library to end all libraries • The reflecting pool at Dorne • Unnerving passages of time • Sansa's impeccable evolution • Lady Mormont is the best campaign manager EVAR

The Winds of Winter was a phenomenal episode, and gave us much to discuss. I hope you stick around for the entire show as we recap the episode, recall moments that led up to these, and conject about what's to come. Oh, and you know we read all of your comments, too.

Now that the season is over, our magical nerd trinity wants to hear from you about what you'd like us to cover next. BUT, not before you sound off about the Winds of Winter in the comments.

Thanks for listening, talk at you soon… you beautiful nerds.

_________

Follow Dana on Twitter Find Vanessa at: Girls Gone Geek Follow Pete on Twitter

You can listen to the full episode via the embedded player on this page, or simply subscribe for free on iTunes or through your favorite podcatcher app.

Also Available On: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, iTunes, Direct Download or through your favorite podcatcher app.

The face-off between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton, after a series of unequivocal gut punches in favor of the bad guys, filled my heart with kind of hope and anticipation typically reserved for child birth. So, when HBO Now decided to fucking crash at 9:00 pm EST on Sunday night, I (and the entire Twitterverse) had a Cersei-sized tantrum.

I cleared my cache. Logged out. Logged back in. Rebooted my device. Rebooted my wireless router. Uninstalled. Reinstalled. Refreshed. To no avail. HBO Now was down for over two hours, and as much of a First World Problem as that is, I was goddamn pissed off.

All I could do was tweet my nerd rage. I also had to tell Dana and Peter that I couldn't record the podcast that night. We collectively apologize for the podcast being up a bit later than usual. Blame HBO Now. As a consolation prize, here are some hilarious tweets. #ichooseviolence

I did finally get to watch the episode at about midnight, and OMFG!

Historically, Game of Thrones saves the best bits of its seasons for last. In this case, the creators of the show outdid themselves. Battle of the Bastards may be the most well-crafted episode of the series to date. I was blown away.

• There is some serious lady power on the rise: Dany, Yara and Sansa are on FIRE! • Who else is shipping Dany and Yara, btw? • Can we talk about Lady Mormont's exquisite resting bitch face? • Poor Davos • Tormund and Smalljon, though • Piles and piles of bodies • Jon Snow is a killing machine • Ramsay does one, last incredibly shitty thing • Sansa's smile made it all worth it

There is only one thing that could make this season better, and her name is Lady Stoneheart. Let's all pray to the Seven Gods and the Lord of Light for her ghastly reveal in the season finale or else I might actually quit the show.

OK. Maybe I won't quit the show, but there better not be any wildfire laying around if she doesn't show up. #burnthemall

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to leave your comments, questions or fan theories in the comment section below – and we will respond to them on the next show.

See you next week, nerds! _________

Follow Dana on Twitter Find Vanessa at: Girls Gone Geek Follow Pete on Twitter

You can listen to the full episode via the embedded player on this page, or simply subscribe for free on iTunes or through your favorite podcatcher app.

Warning: This podcast contains spoilers for the Game of Thrones episode, "No One."

Last night's Game of Thrones episode – entitled, "No One" – did little by way of providing many surprises, but did do a lot to delight fans.

After the awful and hate-inducing fifth season, which was spoiled by — in descending order of offensiveness — misogyny, nihilism and brooding, this season (so far) has been largely about making the show actually fun to watch again.

Go figure.

The sins of the past are not yet forgiven, but "No One" was another step in the right direction, as we see:

• The triumphant return of Daenerys and Drogon…and in just the nick of time
• Arya regain her name, identity an purpose
• The Faith lose their heads…literally
• The Hound get revenge for losing his bestie
• Tyrion launches a new comedy troupe with Grey Worm and Missandei

Of course most of the season has been leading up to the main event, which will be next week's episode – appropriately nicknamed "The Bastard Bowl" – in which we'll finally see Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton face off over the fate of Winterfell.

With only 2 episodes remaining in Season 6, the weekly podcast crew of Dana, Vanessa and Peter return to wax poetic on all things Game of Thrones.

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to send your comments, questions or fan theories to dana (at) stimulated boredom (dot) com – or leave them in the comment section below – and we will respond to them on the next show!

Follow Dana on Twitter Find Vanessa at: Girls Gone Geek Follow Pete on Twitter

You can listen to the full episode via the embedded player on this page, or simply subscribe for free on iTunes or through your favorite podcatcher app.

Warning: This podcast contains spoilers for the Game of Thrones episode, "The Broken Man."

Well, it was bound to happen. In a fast-paced season in which we've enjoyed some incredibly satisfying episodes, we were given a slower and somewhat lighter episode of Game of Thronesthis week with, "The Broken Man."

Not to say that Arya getting her stomach aerated and the Hound returning from the "dead" weren't notable, it's just that comparatively speaking there just wasn't a lot of story movement this week.

We were introduced to some compelling new characters – and had one of them taken away almost as quickly as they were introduced. Jon builds an army. Cersei get's dissed, hard, and Sansa has to ask for help from the one person she doesn't want to.

I'm a bit under the weather this week, so I'll leave all of the fascinating discussion of "The Broken Man" episode to the podcast, as we continue to dissect every Game of Thrones episode this season within moments of their airing, including comparison to the books, online fan theories, and our own speculation about where the season is headed.

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to send your comments, questions or fan theories to dana (at) stimulated boredom (dot) com – or leave them in the comment section below – and we will respond to them on the next show!

Follow Dana on Twitter Find Vanessa at: Girls Gone Geek Follow Pete on Twitter

You can listen to the full episode via the embedded player on this page, or simply subscribe for free on iTunes or through your favorite podcatcher app.

Warning: This podcast contains spoilers for the Game of Thrones episode, "Blood of my Blood."

For a Game of Thrones episode titled "Blood of My Blood," there was surprisingly little blood.

We saw the return of Benjen Stark (aka: Cold Hands), and caught a glimpse of the Mad King's death. We also witnessed some sneaky political maneuvers by the High Sparrow, who seemingly check-mated the Lannisters and Tyrells.

Arya Stark remembers her name – and where she buried her sword, Needle; and we meet Samwell Tarly's dad, who won't be winning any "Father of the Year" awards anytime soon.

"Oh, and have you met my dragon?" – Daenerys to the Dothraki

"Blood Of My Blood" represents a number of turning points for the season – especially for Dany and Bran – as we begin to step into new and uncharted territory for the series.

The Game of Thrones podcast crew of Dana, Vanessa and Peter dig deep into the fan theories that turned out to be true, and speculate about where the remainder of Season 6 is heading.

However, we all agree that it was yet another great episode this season, and (thankfully) not as traumatic as last week's.

Also Discussed:

• We're reminded that Walder Frey is still alive and needs to be killed, violently
• Edmure is also alive and being used as a pawn…but to what end?
• Jaime and Brienne are headed to the Riverlands – and Vanessa is positively giddy over the prospect of Lady Stoneheart's possible arrival onto the show
• Sam grows a pair and steals a Valyrian steel blade from his prick of a father
• Arya is seemingly out of that spooky death cult and is, hopefully, going to make her way back to Westeros with her list of names and trusty Needle in hand

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to send your comments, questions or fan theories to dana (at) stimulated boredom (dot) com, and we will respond to your email on the next show!

Follow Dana on Twitter Find Vanessa at: Girls Gone Geek and on Twitter Follow Pete on Twitter

You can listen to the full epsode via the embedded pliayer on this page, or simply subscribe for free on iTunes or through your favorite podcatcher app.