Category Archives: A Song of Ice and Fire

VoK 95: WolfCast – “First of His Name” (S04E05 Review)


Vok Littlefinger troll

Welcome to this week’s Wolfcast in which Bina007 is lost beyond the wall and all the wolfpups will have to fend for themselves. Helping you to fight away the hours of boredom is Alix(Aiwendil), Peter(Shellfish), Imogen.OB, Patrick the Tall and Nadia as our lead host. It is generally an episode of nitpicks, giggles and crackpot theories, but even so we managed to go on for 90 minutes with an 30 minute aftershow.

The aftershow begins at 1h31m and covers the implications for there only being three more Bran chapters for the show; The physiology of the children of the forest; The mystery of who is spying on our shownotes; If it is possible to conquer Westeros with 10.000 men; Eurovision And Made In Chelsea.

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire

Credits:
Edited by Ser Patrick the Tall, greatfully using images and sounds from the glorious Monty Python and Roy Dotrice’s narration of aSoS.

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VoK 94: KrakenKast – “First of His Name” (S04E05 Review)


KingTommen

THE KRAKEN STRIKES BACK! Aussie & Asia-Pacific vassals Duncan (Valkyrist), Jessica (jesicka309), Bing (Shoeshiner), Tony (The Reader), Joseph (Ciao_Gamer), and Tanja (Scilens) review the fifth episode of Game of Thrones’ fourth season, entitled “First of His Name.”

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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KrakenKastKrakenKast typically records on Tuesday at 7:00pm (AEST) / 10:00am (GMT).

This time is meant to cater for Australian and Asian-Pacific fans, but everyone is welcome. Just let us know on the “Call to Arms” thread HERE, if you’d like to join us for an episode.

VoK 92: DragonCast – “Oathkeeper” (S04E04 Review)


tommand_nod

This week the Vassals attend a sacred White Walker initiation ritual, bid farewell to Brienne and Olenna Tyrell, then receive common tongue tutoring from Missandi. HBO’s Game of Throne Season 4 Episode 4 “OathKeeper” directed by Michelle MacLaren and written by Bryan Cogman.

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Dunk and Egg novellas, as well  as all aired episodes of HBO’s Game of Thrones. It does not cover published spoiler chapters for The Winds of Winter.

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (fortytwo)
Hosts: Alias, clauidusthefool, easttexasdirewolf , Pod’s Plight, inkasrain, silvaubrey and Fortytwo.
Intro Background score is Topher Mohr and Alex Elena ‘s Festival
Outro Music is Mark Neil’s 11_strANGE_Ls

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VoK 91: WolfCast – “Oathkeeper” aka It’s Different (S04E04 Review)


Tom Meier's Darkworld miniature of Brienne of Tarth.

Tom Meier’s Darkworld miniature of Brienne of Tarth.

Welcome to this week’s Wolfcast in which Bina007 gets sentimental over Jaime-Brienne; Alix (Aiwendil) flips tables about the Jon-Bran reveal; Nadia wonders what happened to Brienne’s helm; Bing (Shoeshiner) enjoys people learning to read; Peter (Shellfish) gets angry with Jon for leaving Longclaw lying around; and Patrick mutters ‘it’s different’ as his heart is broken.

The aftershow begins at 1h17m and covers the implications for the culture of white walkers of the final scene; whether show King’s Landing is more like Rome or Byzantium; and, er, Made In Chelsea.

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire

Credits:
Edited by Bina007 lovingly using images and sounds from the glorious Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

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[Googledoc] Evidence of the Stark-Other intermingling

VoK 90: DragonCast – “Breaker of Chains” (S04E03 Review)


sassy_septon2

This week the Vassals attend Professor Tywin’s Kinging 101. They are joined by a sassy septon, a thieving hound and a frequently urinating Daario (he should see a doctor). HBO’s Game of Throne Season 4 Episode 3 “Breaker of Chains” Directed by Alex Graves and written by Benioff and Weiss.

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Dunk and Egg novellas, as well  as all aired episodes of HBO’s Game of Thrones. It does not cover published spoiler chapters for The Winds of Winter.

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (fortytwo)
Hosts: Alias, clauidusthefool, MockingBird, easttexasdirewolf , Pod’s Plight, inkasrain and Fortytwo.
Intro Background score is Topher Mohr and Alex Elena ‘s Mother’s Son
Outro Music is Mark Neil’s 11_strANGE_Ls

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VoK 89: WolfCast – “Breaker of Chains” aka Flipper of Tables (S04E03 Review)


images

Welcome to this week’s remarkably calm and silly Wolfcast review of The Breaker of Chains, in which Shellfish (Peter) decries the lack of krakens in Denmark; the Podcast Bard (Jed) advocates the use of Molestown condoms; Patrick The Tall baptises Middlefinger “Petyrphile”;  Nadia flips all kinds of tables; Imogen.OB suspects the Nordic contingent’s knowledge of Molestown brothels; Regula Roone (Seif) wonders if we will see Satin and Bina007 wonders what FTWard’s problem is with potatoes.

If you just want to get to the discussion of the notorious Jaime-Cersei crypt scene, it starts at 1h17m.  The unusually long and gag-free aftershow begins at 1h41m. It is surprisingly earnest and covers everything from Westerosi religion to the importance of direwolves to the Stark children to the nature of Bloodraven and more besides.

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire

Credits:
Edited by Bina007 lovingly using images and sounds from the glorious Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

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[Other-In-Law Map] As referenced in the aftershow

VoK 88: KrakenKast – “Breaker of Chains” (S04E03 Review)


CerceiJoffrey
THE KRAKEN SURGES ON! Aussie & Asia-Pacific vassals Duncan (Valkyrist), Jessica (jesicka309) and Bing (Shoeshiner) review the third episode of Game of Thrones’ fourth season, entitled “Breaker of Chains.”

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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KrakenKastKrakenKast records every Tuesday at 7:00pm (AEST) / 10:00am (GMT).

This time is meant to cater for Australian and Asian-Pacific fans, but everyone is welcome. Just let us know on the “Call to Arms” thread HERE, if you’d like to join us for an episode.

VoK 87: DragonCast – “The Lion and the Rose” (S04E02 Review)


dwarf_bow

This week the Vassals are invited to King Joffery and Queen Margery’s Wedding feast, long may they reign. Ungrateful guests they are,they critique the table decorations, the food and the entertainment. HBO’s Game of Throne Season 4 Episode 2 “The Lion and the Rose” Directed by Alex Graves and written by GRRM.

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Dunk and Egg novellas, as well  as all aired episodes of HBO’s Game of Thrones. It does not cover published spoiler chapters for The Winds of Winter.

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (fortytwo)
Hosts: Alias, Asha Greatjoy, clauidusthefool, MockingBird, easttexasdirewolf , BarrelRoll42 and Fortytwo.
Joffery Tribute Background score is Silent Partner’s Every Step
Outro Music is Mark Neil’s 11_strANGE_Ls

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Links:
Sansa’s Missing Jewel

VoK 86: WolfCast – “The Lion and the Rose” (S04E02 Review)


JAMIE_WOLFCAST

Welcome to the WolfCast review of Game of Thrones s4e2 aka The Lion and The Rose aka The Purple Wedding. In this episode grievous harm is done to inanimate objects; Shellfish gives us his Vogue Westeros report on Bridal Fashions; Nadia flips all sorts of Pakistani tables when Jaime doesn’t don a gauntlet; Imogen.OB  asks whether the show has done a disservice to its female characters; Aiwendil asks whether there has ever been a good father in Westeros; and Bina007 gives everybody abandonment issues.

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Dunk and Egg novellas, as well  as all aired episodes of HBO’s Game of Thrones. It does not cover published spoiler chapters for The Winds of Winter.

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[Feminism Article] Link to the article referenced in the podcast.

VoK 85: KrakenKast – “The Lion and the Rose” (S04E02 Review)


CerceiMaegery
THE KRAKEN RISES …a week late, and a tentacle short, but still. Aussie & Asia-Pacific vassals Duncan (Valkyrist), Jessica (jesicka309), Tony (The Reader), and Bing (Shoeshiner) review the second episode of Game of Thrones’ fourth season, entitled “The Lion and the Rose.”

Warning: Contains spoilers for all published books in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire

Disclaimer: Please note that VOK does not condone the illegal downloading of television shows. The discussion of piracy in this episode was meant to be light-hearted rant regarding the lack of available options for Australian and Asian viewers. Thanks 🙂

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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KrakenKastKrakenKast records every Tuesday at 7:00pm (AEST) / 10:00am (GMT).

This time is meant to cater for Australian and Asian-Pacific fans, but everyone is welcome. Just let us know on the “Call to Arms” thread HERE, if you’d like to join us for an episode.

VoK 84: DragonCast – “Two Swords” (S04E01 Review)


dany_drogon

In this Inaugural DragonCast edition the crew review HBO’s Game of Throne Season 4 Episode 1 “Two Swords” Directed by DB Weiss, written by Benioff and Weiss. Vikram (Fortytwo) is joined by Zach(Alias), Michal(inkasrain), Shane(EastTexasDirewolf), Paul(Pod’s Plight), Michael(LordPrims) and Greg(claudiusthefool).

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (Fortytwo)
Manwoody Tribute Background Music is John Deley’s Busted
Outro Music is Mark Neil’s 11_strANGE_Ls

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VoK 82: WolfCast – “Two Swords” (S04E01 Review)


game-of-thrones-season-4-arya

Vassals of Kingsgrave will be providing not one but two, count ’em, two review episodes of Game of Thrones Season 4 per week, sharing the views of our podcasters on both sides of the Atlantic.  The series’ kicks off with Wolfcast – our European and Asia-Pac hosts’  take on episode 1, Two Swords, in which we discuss how it’s not cool to melt the family sword; how far we’d go for a piece of chicken; and giant He-Man hands.

Podcasters: Bina007, Nadia, Shellfish (Peter), Saad164 (Saad), Aiwendil (Alix), BarrelRoll42 (Jon), Regula Roone (Seif).

Credits:
Edited by Bina007.

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VoK 80: Game of Thrones – Pre-Season 4 Speculation


game-of-thrones-season-4-key-art

Vikram (Fortytwo) is joined by Brook (Asha Greatjoy) and Grey(claudiusthefool) to go over the Production/Featurette videos, Trailers and casting news and get psyched for the upcoming Season 4 of HBO’s Game of Thrones premiering April 6th 2014

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (Fortytwo)
Outro Music was Ramin Djawadi’s Night’s Watch from Game of Thrones Original Soundtrack.

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Show Notes @ Google Docs

VoK 79: Mercy (The Winds of Winter – Sample Chapter)


TitanOfBraavos
Join the Vassals for a spoiler-filled discussion of the latest teaser chapter from George R.R. Martin’s The Winds of Winter: Mercy. Duncan (Valkyrist), Bina (Bina007), Zach (Alias), Eddie (Teddard), Michal (inkasrain), and Nadia (in all worlds!) discuss bleeding out, aging up, moral culpability, psychotic breakdown and other cheerful happy endings.

Credits:
Edited by Bina007 and Valkyrist, with music excerpts from the amazeballs Elvis Costello and Talking Heads.

Update: A cleaner version of the audio has been uploaded 🙂

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Links:
Mercy (chapter text)
VoK 61: The Winds of Winter (Preview Chapters)

VoK 78: Full Cast(le) Recording #2 – Beware of Flying Babies


In the second installment in the “Full Cast(le) Recording” series, the Vassals of Kingsgrave ascend the auditory stage to perform a dramatic reading of Jaime VI from A Feast for Crows.

Stick around after the curtain falls to hear the vassals discuss the chapter, debate the sanity and circumstance of Brynden Tully, and inevitably wind up debating the various deviations of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

2:00 – Chapter Reading
31: 40 – Aftershow Discussion

Cast:
Michal (inkasrain) – Narrator
Katie (Lady Griffin) – Jaime Lannister
Peter (Shellfish) – Brynden “Blackfish” Tully / Lyle “Strongboar” Crakehall
Leigh (LordManderBlee) – Edmure Tully / Forley Prester
Zach (Alias) – Daven Lannister
Eddie (Teddard) – Emmon Frey / Ryman Frey
Brooke (Asha Greyjoy) – Genna Lannister / Person Who Calls After Jaime / Queen of Whores
Paul (Pod’s Plight) – Karyl Vance / Spearman
Thomas (FTWard) – Addam Marbrand / Clement Piper
Amanda (middlecyclone) – Singer / Walder Rivers / Norbert Vance
Dan (witless chum) – Edwyn Frey

Crew:
Michal (inkasrain) – Host
Katie (Lady Griffin) – Editor

Credits
“The Rains of Castamere” Harp Cover by Harp Twins Camille and Kennerly
“The Rains of Castamere” Instrumental by Ramin Djawadi

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VoK 76: Metanarrative in the Game of Thrones (Part 2) – Martin and Tolkien (audio essay)


Robert_Rhaegar
In this followup episode to VoK 23, Valkyrist continues to look at postmodern theory in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. However, where part 1 dealt with the story and characters, part 2 focuses on structure, and how Martin’s fantasy texts contrast with the more traditional writing of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Contains spoilers for all published books in A Song of Ice and Fire

Credits:
Written and Edited by Valkyrist
Music from HBO’s Game of Thrones soundtrack

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Links:
The Postmodern Condition: A Report on the Understanding of Knowledge (by Jean-François Lyotard)
VoK 23: Metanarrative in A Game of Thrones (Part 1)

VoK 75: The Hedge Knight (by George R. R. Martin)


hedgeknight1

The Vassals raise their pavilions at Ashford Meadow to discuss The Hedge Knight, the first story in George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg series of novellas. Topics include the role of smallfolk in Westeros and the main story, knights and knighthood, how coinage and the economy of Westeros functions, the age old question of who has a right and claim to rule, and why fahrenheit is better than celsius. Zach (Alias), Bina (Bina007), Vikram (FortyTwo), Amanda (MiddleCyclone), Michael (Mordion), Leigh (LordManderblee) and Nadia (Nadia) also consider various theories that the story has spawned and how they relate to the A Song of Ice and Fire world at large.

Credits:
Edited by Zach (Alias)
Music excerpts taken from the soundtrack of HBO’s Game of Thrones, composed by Ramin Djawadi

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Links:
Legends (The Hedge Knight)
The Hedge Knight Graphic Novel
Legends II (The Sworn Sword)
The Sworn Sword Graphic Novel
Warriors (The Mystery Knight)

VoK 72: Interview with Remy J. Verhoeve (author of “Waiting for Winter”)


WaitingForWinter
In this episode, Valkyrist interviews author and blogger, Remy J. Verhoeve, about his new book – Waiting for Winter: Re-Reading “A Clash of Kings,” Part I. Topics covered include: the politics of the A Song of Ice and Fire fandom; fresh insights and lingering mysteries in book 2; and the culture of “fan theorizing” that Martin’s series has inspired.

Due to equipment problems, the audio quality is not the best, but it has been cleaned up as much as possible. The episode also features several cameo appearance’s from Remy’s infant son.

Warning: Contains #SPOILERS# for all published books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, as well as the 2005 film Oldboy (???)

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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Links:
Waiting for Winter: Re-Reading “A Clash of Kings,” Part I (Amazon)
Stormsongs (Remy’s Blog)
Jaime, Azor Ahai & the God of War

VoK 71: Jean Cocteau Cinema (Q & A)


jean_cocteau

Travis (travisotraviso from the forums) went to one of the Game of Thrones showings at GRRM’s Jean Cocteau Cinema in Sante Fe, and talks through the experience with Brian (Ikswarum). Travis went on the night where Maisie Williams visited, and he plays the audio from the Q&A sessions that George and Maisie held. Hear about Maisie’s dream role, what she learned most during filming, and her thoughts on which character has most influenced Arya. GRRM shares the experience that inspired Tyrion’s loss of nose, and stick around for the after show, where Travis and Brian stumble through understanding the “Pop Vinyl” figures.

Credits:
Edited by TravisoTraviso

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VoK 61: The Winds of Winter – Preview Chapters (by George R. R. Martin)


TheWindsOfWinter
Cold winds rise as the Vassals dive into the first 8 preview chapters of George R. R. Martin’s The Winds of Winter. Jon Vikram (fortytwo), Bina, Duncan (Valkyrist), Nadia and Zach (Alias) as they discuss the Battle of Winterfell, the Siege of Meereen, and Aegon’s Second Landing.

Before going through the chapters, however, the hosts have a general debate over what constitutes a spoiler in contemporary culture. After that, its wild, unmitigated book 6 speculation (and the occasional bit of intelligent analysis).

Due to the episode’s length, each segment has been time-stamped with a short musical cue:

3:23 – “Spoilers” in Pop Culture
32:15 – Theon I
1:00:23 – Tyrion I & II
1:12:25 – Victarion I
1:37:52 – Barristan I & II
2:13:58 – Arianne I & II
3:00:55 – ????

Warning: This episode contains spoilers for the sixth (unpublished) book in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire.

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist
Various tracks owned by The Walt Disney Company, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment.

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Links:
Theon I (full reading) [released Dec 2011]
Victarion I (partial reading) [recorded Mar 2012]
Arianne I (full reading) [released Jan 2013]
Barristan I (full reading) [published Oct 2013]
Summaries for Unreleased Chapters