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

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion gets a visit from newly-knighted Ser Bronn. Bronn lacks bedside manner and takes Tyrion step-by-step through how Tyrion has lost everything he’s built while in King’s Landing. Tyrion then has an equally unpleasant conversation with his father, where Tywin holds nothing back about why Tyrion will never be lord of Casterly Rock. Simon and Mackelly find something interesting t...

Send us Fan Mail Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry make their way north from Harrenhal, in hopes of reaching the safety of Riverrun. The trip won’t be an easy one, as they avoid the roads in favor of the cover the rugged terrain provides. Arya’s worried about being hunted by Roose Bolton’s men, but gets some help from an old friend. Simon and Mackelly saddle up for the ride. Chapter Review: Arya Stark and...

Send us Fan Mail Catelyn Stark is confined to her father’s chambers for freeing Jamie Lannister, there she stumbles upon a family secret. Simon and Mackelly muse upon the butterfly effect. Chapter Review: Desmond Grell and Utherydes Wayn have the tricky task of punishing their Lord’s daughter for her treasonous act of freeing Jamie Lannister. She both makes it harder for them (by being entirely un...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime takes a river cruise down the Red Fork with family and friends. Well, not  exactly. He's been freed by Cat but still in shackles, having vowed to send Sansa and Arya home in return. Things go smoothly, until they don't. Only Brienne's smarts and strength save the trio from recapture. Simon and Mackelly pull the oars. Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister has been fr...

Send us Fan Mail Chett’s plan to murder the Night’s Watch leadership is defeated by the arrival of the White Walkers. Simon and Mackelly check the temperature. Chapter Review: Chett is trying to convince his canine charges to follow some bear prints. The Night’s Watch badly need some food. The dogs are not interested. Chett and his companions discuss the plan to murder Lord Commander Jeor Mormont...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, Mackelly and Simon sit down with Elio M. Garcia and Linda Antonsson. Elio and Linda are the co-authors, along with George R.R. Martin, of the well-known “A World of Ice and Fire” and the soon-to-be-released “Rise of the Dragon.” They’re also the founders of the incredibly popular westeros.org. Some of the topics we discuss include: How did Elio and Linda c...

Send us Fan Mail Bran and company are hiding in the crypts of Winterfell. They venture out to find the castle destroyed and Maester Luwin mortally wounded. Mackelly and Simon sort through the debris. Chapter Review: Bran Stark sees and smells the destruction of Winterfell through the eyes of Summer. He’s been in wolf form for three days, but Osha, Hodor, Rickon and the Reeds are waiting for, and o...

Send us Fan Mail Jon and Qhorin cannot escape the pursuing wildlings. The Halfhand orders Jon to yield to the wildlings, to infiltrate, and to never forget his vows. Jon proves his loyalty by killing Qhorin, with considerable help from Ghost. Simon and Mackelly mourn his passing. Chapter Review: Qhorin Halfhand has sent Ebben on ahead with the fastest horse, and Stonesnake by foot separately, with...

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion recovers from the wounds he sustained in the Battle of the Blackwater. He’s horribly disfigured and having wild fever dreams. Mackelly and Simon sniff the boiled wine. Chapter Review: Tyrion dreams of death and carrion. He is in a dungeon with other dying men. In his dream, he is mouthless and the city gates are barred to him. He lies in his own filth and seems to have no h...

Send us Fan Mail Theon is surrounded. Ser Rodrik Cassel has amassed Northern forces to surround and retake Winterfell. At the 11th hour, Theon is saved by Reek, who has brought hundreds of Bolton men. But Reek wants more than just Theon’s good wishes. Simon and Mackelly weigh the treacheries. Chapter Review: Maester Luwin advises Theon Greyjoy to yield Winterfell. Ser Rodrik Cassel has brought per...

Send us Fan Mail Sansa watches as Tywin Lannister takes control in King’s Landing. The Tyrells fully embrace the new alliance, the Lannisters dole out rewards to loyalists, punish their enemies, and pat themselves on the back. King Joffrey drops her for another, putting Sansa on cloud nine. But Dontos brings her crashing back to earth. Simon and Mackelly try to break her fall. Chapter Review: Sans...

Send us Fan Mail Arya sits in as the Freys express concern about King Robb’s chances of success, now that House Tyrell has joined with House Lannister. She unknowingly learns her impending wedding is off. And she escapes Harrenhal for Riverrun with Gendry and Hot Pie. Simon and Mackelly saddle up for the ride. Chapter Review: Arya Stark blends into the background of Lord Roose Bolton's chambe...

Send us Fan Mail Daenerys fends off proposals of marriage and trade from Xaro Xhoan Daxos and accepts his insistence that she leave both his home and Qarth. She's given a deadly gift from a stranger but is saved by new friends bearing good news. Simon and Mackelly pack their bags for Pentos. Chapter Review: Xaro Xhoan Daxos tells Daenerys Targaryen that she's worn out her welcome in Qart...

Send us Fan Mail Sansa overhears disquieting news of the battle, has a run-in with Sandor Clegane, and learns from an elated Ser Dontos Hollard that the battle has turned as reinforcements have arrived from the east in the form of the Tyrells, Tywin Lannister, and somehow Renly Baratheon. Simon and Mackelly mourn the missed opportunities. Chapter Review: Lancel Lannister brings news of the battle....

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion rides at the point of a flying wedge, clearing the King’s Gate of the enemy. Success in battle and the admiration of his men infects him with battle fever. He leads his men to clear a bridge of ships. Death nearly comes at the hand of his own Kingsguard. But before the death blow falls, he’s saved by an unlikely hero. Simon and Mackelly applaud young Pod. Chapter Review: Ty...

Send us Fan Mail Sansa sits with Cersei as the queen gets both news of the battle and becomes increasingly drunk. Sansa's heart almost stops when Cersei says she knows of Sansa’s treasons in the godswood. Finally, Cersei reveals that Ser Ilyn Payne is there to remove their heads, if Stannis should take the castle. Simon and Mackelly scan the room for exits. Chapter Review: Sansa Stark sits ne...

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion surveys the wildfire destruction on the Blackwater Rush. King Joffrey gleefully prepares to fire a new type of projectile from the trebuchets. And the Hound refuses to return to the fighting outside the walls. In the end, Tyrion leads the sortie to defend the King's Gate himself. Simon and Mackelly tremulously reach for their helmets. Chapter Review Tyrion Lannister wa...

Send us Fan Mail Davos sails into Blackwater Bay with Stannis’ giant fleet. He has some misgivings, but initially the battle goes to plan. However, a series of barges full of wildfire sail into the fleet and all is lost. Davos is thrown overboard but is being drawn into the burning mess that is gathering on Tyrion’s great chain. Simon and Mackelly pick through the flotsam. Chapter Review: Davos Se...

Send us Fan Mail Sansa bounces around the Red Keep, as the battle starts beyond the city's walls. She prays for everyone, even Tyrion and the Hound. She draws the line at Joffrey. She meets Shae and takes her place in the Red Keep with Cersei, the other women and children, and Illyn Payne. Simon and Mackelly load the trebuchets. Chapter Review: Sansa Stark speaks with Tyrion Lannister before...

Send us Fan Mail Theon's nightly nightmares often revolve around his lies, deceits, and the atrocities he's committed. His sister Asha shoots him straight about his dire situation in Winterfell. He refuses to heed her advice and puts his last bit of hope on the shoulders of Reek. Simon and Mackelly raise their eyebrows in skepticism. Chapter Review: Theon Greyjoy wakes from another bad d...

Send us Fan Mail Cat tries to come to terms with the news of Bran's and Rickon’s deaths. She visits Jamie Lannister who defends his decision to kill the King and break his oath, but goes too far when he belittles Ned Stark. Cat calls for Brienne’s sword. Mackelly and Simon quickly buy up pine boxes in Riverrun. Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark listens to the citizens of Riverrun celebrate the vi...

Send us Fan Mail Tyrion learns that Bran and Rickon Stark are dead. Cersei reveals that she has caught his “little whore.” But Tyrion’s sophistry has worked, and she’s captured the wrong woman. Tyrion promises grim vengeance against his sister. Mackelly and Simon mourn the death of sibling detente. Chapter Review: Lord Varys reveals that the Greyjoys have killed the Stark boys. Tyrion Lannister is...

Send us Fan Mail Jon and company head into the Frostfangs. Jon spies on the wildlings through Ghost's eyes. Ghost is hurt, but Qhorin is happy that they’ve seen enough and they high-tail it back toward the remainder of the Night's Watch. Simon and Mackelly throw another log on the campfire. Chapter Review: Jon Snow speaks with Qhorin Halfhand as they continue to climb through the Skirlin...

Send us Fan Mail Sansa meets with Ser Dontos who has nothing useful, the Hound who is particularly ugly toward her, and Cersei who warns Sansa that love is weakness and she should reserve it for her children, because she won’t get much from her intended Joffrey. Simon and Mackelly feel for Sansa and her plight. Chapter Review: Sansa Stark rendezvous with Ser Dontos Hollard in the Red Keep’s godswo...

Send us Fan Mail Jon and Co. climb the Skirling Pass into the Frostfang Mountains. They spot wildling lookouts and after a harrowing nighttime climb they capture a wildling girl. Qhorin orders Jon to kill the girl but Jon can't do it and lets her go. Simon and Mackelly discover the real reason the pale-blue t-shirts are our best-selling merch. Chapter Review: Qhorin Halfhand’s crew sees the l...