The Ghosts of Harrenhal: A Song of Ice and Fire Podcast (ASOIAF)

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion has an awkward dinner with Sansa then gets lost in Littlefinger’s financial books. He then has a family gathering filled with news of Robb Stark’s death and his family's involvement, as well as Tywin's plan for Gregor Clegane. Throughout it all, King Joffrey is rotten, but this time he attacks Tywin. That does not go over well. Mackelly and Simon ponder the punish...

Send us Fan Mail Arya and the Hound become aware of what might be going down inside the Twins. He gives her the brutal truth. They are attacked by three Frey knights. They survive because of his skills. But she still wants to see for herself. He stops her in less-than-gentle fashion. Mackelly and Simon give up trying to fix this poor broken child. Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane (AKA...

Send us Fan Mail Cat watches in horror as the Freys spring their trap. King Robb and many loyal northerners are cut down, and after she murders Lord Walder’s grandson, Cat is also dispatched. Simon and Mackelly rend their garments. Chapter Review: The music is terrible, the food unappealing, but Edmure Tully seems in love with his new bride Roslin - who maintains her rictus smile throughout. The d...

Send us Fan Mail Arya and the Hound arrive at the twins disguised as farmers bringing salt pork to the wedding. Arya keeps looking for a friendly face to reveal herself to, but it’s all strange sigils and strangers. It shouldn’t a be problem though - Clegane is determined to hand her over to her family personally. Mackelly and Simon join the revelry. Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane a...

Send us Fan Mail Cat and co arrive at the Twins to a frosty reception. Edmure is delighted by Roslin - she takes after her Rosby mother. Roose Bolton confirms some of the news from the north, shares more bad news, and tells a few lies. Simon and Mackelly get measured for our wedding bonnets. Chapter Review: Catelyn, Robb, and Edmure arrive at the Twins. A welcoming party of Freys is all-but attack...

Send us Fan Mail Jon returns to Castle Black to spread the word of the impending wildling attack. He discovers he was spotted riding with wildlings. Jon grapples with his feelings on Yigrette, while Maester Aemon repairs the damage the wildling arrow did to Jon’s leg. Finally, he gets news of some of his NIght’s Watch brothers' fate, from the Great Ranging. Simon and Mackelly hunt for a get-w...

Send us Fan Mail Arya and the Hound brave the rapids of the Trident. Arya tries many and varied ways to escape or kill the Hound, all without success. Eventually she discovers that their goals are more aligned than she thought. The Kingsroad awaits ahead, and beyond that, the Twins and Arya’s family. Mackelly and Simon buckle-up their life jackets. Chapter Review: Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane (AK...

Send us Fan Mail Sam and Gilly are lost, exhausted, and hungry. They find an abandoned wildling village for shelter but receive unexpected house guests. Sam wrangles the wight of an old friend. When all hope seems lost, a new friend emerges. Simon and Mackelly sing a song for the Stranger. (Really, we do.) Chapter Review: Samwell Tarly, Gilly, and Gilly’s baby come across a wildling village, on th...

Send us Fan Mail Cat rides through the rain to Edmure’s wedding venue. Along the way, she manages to offend both her brother and her son. Robb contemplates his heir, and his choice to fill the role until he has children isn’t one that Cat can get behind. We get confirmation about the fate of Balon Greyjoy. Finally, Robb unveils his plan to unseat the Iron Born from Moat Cailin. Chapter Review: Cat...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime heads south while Brienne stays a captive of Vargo Hoat. After a night’s sleep and a dream, his conscience pricked, he heads back to Harrenhal and saves Brienne from a terrible fate. Simon and Mackelly open their minds a tiny crack toward his redemption?! Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister leaves Harrenhal alongside Lord Roose Bolton. The pair split up and head in opposite dire...

Send us Fan Mail Arya and the Brotherhood Without Banners hear about the prophetic dreams of the Ghost of High Heart. Arya also hears news of her family’s history that shocks and angers her. Thoros of Myr’s vision halts their progress toward Riverrun. Finally, the Hound makes off with Arya. Mackelly and Simon fire up the search lights. Chapter Review: Arya Stark, Gendry, and the Brotherhood Withou...

Send us Fan Mail Daenerys surveys the Yunkish host awaiting her. She meets with, then offers deals and deadlines to, the leaders of the enemy force. She makes a possible new friend, berates an old one, and gets a history lesson about her brother Rhaegar. Simon and Mackelly ponder buyer’s remorse with sellsword armies. Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen surveys the host awaiting her own outside the...

Send us Fan Mail Jon and his wildling friends take cover from a storm in a ruined village and discover an old man. The men hear voices coming from the old tower in the lake. Jon refuses to kill the old man, and when a direwolf attacks the group, Jon flees on the man’s horse. Simon and Mackelly think maybe they heard "Hodor" coming from that tower. Chapter Review: Jon Snow, Yigrette, and...

Send us Fan Mail Bran, Hodor, and the Reeds take shelter in a tower in a lake. Strangers roll into the nearby abandoned village. Bran wargs into Hodor to shut him up. Mackelly and Simon break out the tin foil hats. Chapter Review: Bran Stark, Hodor, and the Reed siblings discover an abandoned village at the northern edge of the New Gift. A storm blows in and the buildings offer little shelter. But...

Send us Fan Mail Arya takes in a battle between the Brotherhood Without Banners and the Brave Companions. Gendry makes a big decision that upsets Arya. The Hound shows up out of the blue wanting his gold back but the Brotherhood has already spent it. Finally, Beric promises to return Arya to her family. Mackelly and Simon wonder if she can make it to her family in time to attend her uncle’s weddin...

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion is surprised to welcome the feared warrior Oberyn Martell, rather than his more placid brother Prince Doran, to King’s Landing. Oberyn is here for justice. Simon and Mackelly weigh up the chances. Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister leads a group of dignitaries to welcome and accompany the 300-strong delegation from Dorne across the Blackwater. All the major Dornish houses are...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime and Brienne share a bath. Jaime also shares a story that comes as a shock to Brienne. Later, they both dine with Lord Roose Bolton. The pair learn why Vargo Hoat cut off Jaime's hand, as well as what Roose plans to do with them both. It’s good news for Jaime, not so much for Brienne. Simon and Mackelly ask Jaime to please pass the prunes. Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister...

Send us Fan Mail Davos speaks the truth to king Stannis and is rewarded with his freedom and a promotion. Melisandre uses the blood (not all of it, thankfully) of Edric Storm to curse the false kings: Joffrey Baratheon, Balong Greyjoy, and Robb Stark. Mackelly and Simon hope that Robb’s string of bad luck is behind him. Chapter Review: Davos Seaworth is brought from the dungeons of Dragonstone by...

Send us Fan Mail Hoster Tully is laid to rest. Cat learns of Sansa’s marriage and Winterfell’s destruction. Lord Edmure Tully is unwillingly betrothed to Roslin Frey, while Lord Walder wants the king to come and apologize for ditching his daughter. Simon and Mackelly worry the Starks hopes continue to fray (pun intended). Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark watches as her father is laid to rest. Lord Ed...

Send us Fan Mail Arya and Co. finally meet Beric Dondarrion. He gives Sandor Clegane a trial-by-combat, which the Hound wins. But Dondarrion is dead for only a brief moment. Mackelly and Simon do a head-whip double-take with everyone else. Chapter Review: Arya Stark, Gendry, and their companions from the Brotherhood Without Banners reach a secret hideout where Thoros of Myr, Beric Dondarrion, and...

Send us Fan Mail Sam and the remnants of the Great Ranging find respite at Craster’s Keep. However, their host isn’t overflowing with generosity. Hunger and frustration eventually bubble over into mutiny. Sam finds himself without his friends but with two dependents, while the Others are set to enter stage right at any moment. Mackelly and Simon pack the diaper bag. Chapter Review: Samwell Tarly a...

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion has a busy day. He surveys post-battle repair needs, meets with Symon Silver Tongue, inspects two new family heirlooms, is told by his father to do the impossible, gets marital advice from his father, and participates in a discussion regarding the Night’s Watch. None of it is going to make his life any easier. Simon and Mackelly pour him a tall cup of Arbor Gold. Chapter Re...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime's loses his hand and his will to live. Brienne helps him restore one of the two. Jaime returns the favor by sparing Brienne from rape. The pair end up in Harrenhal, where Roose Bolton has Jaime's wound tended to. Simon and Mackelly grab the smelling salts. Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth are in the custody of the Brave Companions. Jaime has los...

Send us Fan Mail Jon Snow and his wildling associates get up-close and personal with the Wall. It’s a long, dangerous vertical journey, fraught with peril at every step. Jon ponders his future, and whether or not it includes Yigrette. Finally, he gets some of the intel he was tasked with acquiring. Simon and Mackelly wait for the ladder to be dropped. Chapter Review: Jon Snow sees no sign of Ghost...

Send us Fan Mail Arya and company ride into Stoney Sept. She finds some of her own kind and puts them out of their misery. She uses the powers of deduction to determine what’s unique about the inn she’s spending the night in. The next morning her prayers are mysteriously answered by the arrival of a Lannister prisoner. Mackelly and Simon light a candle to the Father. Chapter Review: Arya Stark, Ge...