May 3, 2012
Episode 76: The Ghost of Harrenhal
Episode 76 for the week of April 29th, in which we review the fifth episode in the second season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Kyle and Amin are joined by FTWard and Lex from our forums. It is an episode filled with technical difficulties, and a multitude of other guest hosts joining from our forums near the end of the second hour.
Note: For the text transcript of this episode, check out the forum thread.
58 Comments, Comment or Ping
Lord Littlefinger
FIRST!
May 3rd, 2012
Queensmoot
The audio and technical difficulties weren’t so bad! That was a really fun episode and I laughed aloud more than once!
Thanks guys!!
May 3rd, 2012
Matt
Nice, another Davos fan, woot
May 3rd, 2012
Usurpationblitz
Nope, I guess I’ll have to figure out a way to actually call the number to get my question answered. It wouldn’t be so bad if I trusted cell phones and used one, but I have raised above that fear yet. = (
Despite all the troubles, it was a good episode. It really picked up near the end. Thanks everyone for taking the time to entertain us.
May 3rd, 2012
Kyle
Wasn’t going to answer it this week sir because I was the only one really there. Mimi was gone. Ashley was gone. Amin was….well half there. I figure you want all the hosts to answer so twas not the week.
May 3rd, 2012
Usurpationblitz
Yeah, I know. I have some medical issues and I feel like I get ignored a lot. It’s something I’m working on. I’m happy that you waited for the whole crew, I want to hear their opinions as well.
May 3rd, 2012
Ranjitb
I hope there was at least *some* bowl-of-browning, and not a lemon cake circle jerk fest.
Can’t wait….
May 3rd, 2012
Lex
It was fun being on the ‘cast. But I think we skirted dangerously close to circle jerk territory, a few times. Probably my fault; I’m really just a squeeing fanboy at heart.
May 3rd, 2012
Lord Littlefinger
Villains? Bad guys? What the fuck series/shows have you been read/watching?
May 3rd, 2012
Lex
Man, Amin’s technical difficulties in the second hour are actually pretty funny. XD
Amin: “Tr…grgnb…asj….adg…..jlh…gbrnk..”
Kyle: “Hmm. That was a good one, Amin.”
May 3rd, 2012
Usurpationblitz
With one minute Amin, now I know what it’s like to be Charlie Brown and the gang.
BTW, and I’m sorry that I forgot, who is the one that “started” the Podcast war? I want to assassinate donkeys too. I think I made it quite clear two weeks ago how much I hate those f’n people. >=(
May 3rd, 2012
Linecom1
you can take all the credit bro, i don’t want it………
May 6th, 2012
Lady Griffin
Thoughts:
1. Potatoes? Seriously, dude? That’s a thing that bothers you?
2. Polliver/Tickler/Chiswick = interchangeable. We lose Arya’s freakout in Season 3, but the torture wasn’t as drawn out as it was in the books.
3. People who don’t want to believe Brandon slept with Ashara seem to think a) being a Stark is the same as having integrity, or b) a man can’t be a womanizer and a good person. I don’t see the connection between Brandon having an affair with his brother’s crush and being a douche. On the flip side, his Starkness doesn’t prevent him from being a douche.
4. If Asha was Theon’s brother people would think she was total badass. Because she’s a woman who doesn’t let anything get under her skin, they write her off as a bitch.
May 3rd, 2012
FTWard
Responses,
1. Starchy tuber indigenous to the New World. Mostly. It is.
2. Not even close to interchangeable. We lose three books worth of catharsis. No big deal.
3. a) Never an argument I raised. b) Again not me. I am completely agnostic on Brandon’s douchieness as well.
4. Bull shit. I raise objection at Kyle’s characterization of Margaery as a “bitch”. The implication that Asha is written off because of her gender or that fandom does not consider her a badass is inaccurate.
May 4th, 2012
Lady Griffin
1. So many nights spent awake…..potatoes.
2. Given the casual viewers’ memory-span, having Arya attack a minor character two seasons down the line screaming “WHERE IS THE BROTHERHOOD,” is baffling. Needle is a strong enough visual cue that Arya killing Polliver to get it back could easily take the place.
It’s not the catharsis we get in the book, because HBO Arya’s issues with the torture are marginalized compared to Book Arya’s. HBO Arya’s catharsis or lack thereof will not be the same as Book Arya’s.
3) A general statement. Who are you again?
4) Ditto.
May 4th, 2012
Lord Littlefinger
FTWard:
What do you mean the aduiance wants Dany to come to Westeros? She can stay in Meereeen forever for all I care.
May 4th, 2012
FTWard
Lord Littlefinger,
Was not me.
Poor Meereernese. I hope she dies a suitably heroic death in Westeros.
May 5th, 2012
Clark
Is it just me or is there a very low volume creaking door sound in the background throughout the episode?
May 3rd, 2012
Lex
Haha, I know! I thought I was imagining it at first…
May 3rd, 2012
Kyle
I think it might have been the chair I was sitting in.
May 4th, 2012
Exodus
I kept hearing it and I was hoping someone was going to make a comment on it lol.
May 4th, 2012
Linecom1
I knew I wasnt crazy, although it may not be part of the ‘official brandon theory’. there is speculation that jon snow’s parents are, in fact, brandon and ashara:
http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Jon_Snow/Theories#Ashara_Dayne
May 3rd, 2012
lane
i think the halfhand was from a different castle on the wall. maybe each caste has a 1st ranger and a leader of the caste (castle black being benjen stark and mormont (and the over all leader))
May 3rd, 2012
brynden
You are right. The Halfhand was from the Shadow Tower. And you are right a second time. Every castle has its commander (Cotter Pyke -> Eastwatch, Denys Mallister -> Shadow Tower) and a “first ranger”.
Nevertheless as Jeor Mormont was “the” Lord Commander of the NW, Benjen Stark was “First Ranger” – a title that is specifically given to one officer (most likely stationed at Castle Black). In the time of the expedition there was no “First Ranger” because Mormont refused to name one, still thinking Benjen is alive. I think Jon later on also does not name one. Otherwise I’m sure Mormont would have named Halfhand.
May 4th, 2012
lane
one more quick thought to anyone who noticed… It would have been amazing for renly and Cat to have talked about “sooo is ser Barristan with your son? he’s not here with me, he’s not with joffery, i thought he may go to a true king, blah blah blah…he must be with stannis then…etc” that would have been really great if they plan on Barristan going over to dany this season. any thoughts?
May 3rd, 2012
PointyFingarz
It started out slow and awkward in the beginning, but it got gradually better with more hosts joining in and with Amin gone 95% of the podcast due to his morse code connection, i thought you guys would call it after 20 mins, and im glad you didin´t because it turned out to be gr8 ep.
May 4th, 2012
Kadayi
Technical difficulties aside enjoyed the podcast. Surprised no one mentioned how when Arya first sees Jagen in the corridor he is walking with his helmet and yet when she gets down the stairs his helmet is on top of the barrel. I thought it was a nice way of subtly hinting that he is not all that he appears, which is added to with the Ticklers head being all the way round.
Albeit I enjoyed her standoff with Tywin, I did feel that she maybe held his gaze a little too long. I’m not too sure he’d necessarily stand for defiance from a servant. Still a suitably reptilian performance from Mr Dance.
Albeit the Qarth stuff was a little heaved handed, I think the key point both with the falling out between her handmaidens and the Dothraki arguing over the golden peacock was about emphasizing the extreme differential between the cultures and their values. Plain truth of the matter is the Dothraki might be loyal to Dany, but their nomad attitudes are at odds with her larger ambitions.
Agreed with the comment about Brienne and Cat becoming BFF was a little rushed (It could of waited an episode or two).
Also I hope there’s more Tyrion and Lancel in future episodes.
Interested to see what they do with Margaery and Loras now, and whether they turn up again this season in some capacity.
May 4th, 2012
Jeremy
I agree about the Jaqen-helmet thing. I thought it was odd at first, but then I thought that not having him acknowledge her as he passed, only to somehow know that she was there, know where she was going, and somehow get there before her is a subtle hint at his abilities.
May 4th, 2012
Jason
That’s hilarious that Lex pointed out that some people think Qarth is a next generation Star Trek episode. Actually, it reminded me of every next generation episode I have seen.
May 4th, 2012
Lord Littlefinger
What do you mean the aduiance wants Dany to come to Westeros? She can stay in Meereeen forever for all I care.
May 4th, 2012
Mathos
Either FTWard or Lex (sorry guys, didn’t catch which one) mentioned that he thought Melisandre had made another shadow baby in DwD. Did he mean that Mel was ‘trying’ to make one with her attempted seduction of Jon, or that she actually sent one out (possibly after Roose Bolton). Anybody know anything about this?
May 4th, 2012
Lex
That was FTWard. I’m curious about this as well.
May 4th, 2012
FTWard
Yeah that was me.
From Davos II ACoK
“Panting, she squatted and spread her legs. Blood ran down her thighs, black as ink. Her cry might have been agony or ecstasy or both.”
From Melisandre I ADwD
“The red priestess shuddered. Blood trickled down her thigh, black and smoking. The fire was inside her, an agony, an ecstasy, filling her, searing her, transforming her.”
This is after her seduction of Jon & Ghost in the preceding Jon chapter and in the Melisandre chapter Mance describes dreams not dissimilar to the nightmares Stannis has post shadow copulation.
Not certain who the target would be. I assume not Little Walder. ?
May 5th, 2012
Mathos
Thanks for the reference, that’s some sharp reading. I would assume that whatever target she might be after would have to be south of the wall due to the spells of protection on the wall. Also, the previous two examples seem to show that the shadow babies have a limited range. Of course, that’s just my speculation.
May 6th, 2012
Exodus
Great episode guys. It really picked up there in the end. At the beginning it seems like there were a few awkward silences.
May 4th, 2012
Lex
I think we were just trying not to talk over anybody / give people a chance to say something. My first podcast; never realized how tricky/hard it is! I have a new respect for the crew.
May 4th, 2012
FTWard
Couldn’t agree more. I talked over Lex once and felt like shit about it. Much respect for the Crew and all guests.
May 5th, 2012
Kyle
This is what happens with unedited episodes. Amin had a tricky job editing this one because his audio kept dropping in and out, but eventually that became part of all the fun and jokes near the end of the episode. So does he edit out all his incomprehensible talk or does he not? I’m not sure, but I think that’s why he released this episode unedited. And with unedited episodes there are certainly going to be awkward silences.
May 5th, 2012
Exodus
Wasn’t really a complaint, just more of an observation. Like I said, it was a great episode. I love all the episode. I’m a maintainer so this is my kind of humor. 🙂
It’s frustrating listening sometimes because I always feel like I want to say something in the middle of it. Then I realize that it’s a recording and you can’t hear me. I’m going to end up being one of those old people yelling at the TV.
May 5th, 2012
Kyle
Haha! I used to do the same thing. Yelling at the computer. Damn they can’t hear me!
May 5th, 2012
Linecom1
theyre actually pretty good at cutting the pauses out through the editing process. remember for the episode reviews, the hosts are literally watching the show in the background so sometimes there are pauses as they are watching the show progress. what they usually do is go back and cut out those silent moments so that the podcast sound much more connected and seamless. in this case the podcast was posted completely unedited so it sounds much more disjointed. i underestimated the value of their editing process and its obviously much appreciated
May 5th, 2012
Krakenpuffcerial
Diggin’ the guest hosts.
May 5th, 2012
Exodus
Congrats to all the guest hosts who made it onto the podcast!
/jealous
May 5th, 2012
earlp
Shocking lack of Mimi on this episode.
Although I missed her and Ashley I still enjoyed it, good job from the new guest hosts
May 5th, 2012
nemui
Re. your take on “Valyrian stone”, it’s just a silly scene meant to replace some sort of impressive glittery CGI treasure scene. Xaro hacking at stone using a steel sword is magnificently pointless.
(I was waiting for him to point out how this super-door is set inside a wall made of Valyrian plaster…)
May 6th, 2012
Ash
finally listened to the episode.
laughed my ass off at the complete clusterfuck in the middle.
and since no one asked about me, i was at an anime con :/
drunken video to follow
May 8th, 2012
Lex
I asked, but it was pre-show. 🙂
May 8th, 2012
Kyle
You got asked about twice Ash. Two different hot dudes were wondering where you were.
May 8th, 2012
FTWard
I just assumed it had something to do with my restraining order
May 9th, 2012
Linecom1
i asked about you ash……..but it was cut out i believe……….maybe it was after they stopped recording, but i def. asked about you……..
May 9th, 2012
georgewow
I am a big fan of eps where you guys pull in different guest hosts as it goes on. And while polished shiny podcasts are fine and dandy, I prefer this kind.
May 10th, 2012
Drudenfusz
I think George R.R. Martin didn’t let the people in books eat potatoes, because it’s kind of medieval setting, and in medieval Europe we had no potatoes (that was brought to us after the new world was discovered, and it took centuries before it was any common here).
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