History of Westeros

  • Home
  • Episodes
  • Valar Rereadis
    • AGOT
    • ACOK
    • ASOS
    • AFFC
    • ADWD
  • Donate
  • Patreon Supporters
  • Websites
    • Art of Ice and Fire
    • Games of Ice and Fire
  • About
  • Facebook Group

Why We Love: The Animals of ASOIAF

A live roundtable discussion centered around selected favorite animal-related quotes, plus an Ice & Fire Con ’18 chat! Ash is joined by Lady Gwyn (Radio Westeros), Haley (The Manimals & DrinkingGOT), Chloe (Drunk ASOIAF (and History), Ice & Fire Con) & Tara Lynne (The Geekiary, Ice & Fire Con).

The king was in no mood for more argument. “Enough, Ned, I will hear no more. A direwolf is a savage beast. Sooner or later it would have turned on your girl the same way the other did on my son. Get her a dog, she’ll be happier for it.” – AGOT, Eddard III

“Her son was attended by his kittens. As she watched the cats frolic about his feet, Cersei felt a little better. No harm will ever come to Tommen whilst I still live. She would kill half the lords in Westeros and all the common people, if that was what it took to keep him safe.” – AFFC, Cersei VIII

He always slept better with the great white wolf beside him; there was comfort in the smell of him, and welcome warmth in that shaggy pale fur.” – ACOK, Jon VII

Filed Under: Blog, Episodes Tagged With: animals, arya stark, audio, balerion the cat, cats, cersei lannister, daenerys targaryen, direwolf, dogs, dragons, ghost, jaime lannister, jon snow, lady, nymeria, sansa stark, ser pounce, tommen baratheon, video

Game of Thrones: S7E01 – Book to Show & Show Only Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMHytpfSQhY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s25NYCqxK4k&t=7385s

After the long night, err, wait, we have a great new GoT episode to review! Sean and Aziz discuss Game of Thrones with no book spoilers in the first episode, then Ash & Aziz are rejoined by Radio Westeros for Season 7! We’ll take some live questions while comparing the books to the show. Even with the show this far past the books, there’s still a lot to say…

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: archmaester ebrose, arya stark, ash, audio, aziz, beric dondarrion, bran stark, cersei lannister, daenerys targaryen, euron greyjoy, game of thrones, jaime lannister, missandei, samwell tarly, sandor clegane, sansa stark, sean, the hound, thoros of myr, tyrion lannister, video

Game of Thrones: Pre-Season 7 & Con of Thrones LIVE Q&A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6_yUYSDApI

Sean, Aziz & Ashaya chat about Season 7 and Con of Thrones 2017! Click on the Acast player below to view the screencaps and photos referred to in this episode, otherwise go to the YouTube version. You can also find our full Con of Thrones album at our Facebook page here.

Drogo He Didn’t (Daenerys & The Targaryens!)
The Manimals
You’re Welcome Filks from Ice & Fire Con
Clegane Rap Battle from Ice & Fire Con

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: arya stark, audio, brienne of tarth, cersei lannister, con of thrones, daenerys targaryen, ellaria sand, euron greyjoy, jaime lannister, jon snow, podrick payne, s7, sand snakes, sansa stark, season 7, theon greyjoy, tyrion lannister, varys, video, yara greyjoy

Game of Thrones Season 7 First Trailer Reveals!

The Game of Thrones season 7 trailer is here – here are some first impressions from Aziz on some of the most telling bits of information.

Dragonstone Gates Open

It appears to be a peaceful submission, the castle taken without a fight. Given her dragons, I’d surrender too.

Dany at Home

Daenerys sits on the high seat at Dragonstone. The men opening the door and guarding her on either side appear to be Dothraki.

Grey Worm is Ready!

Grey Worm is ready! Note his new silver Targaryen badge. It will help us find him amidst the chaos when his facemask is on.

Grey Worm Fights

Case in point re: his new insignia… We can tell this is Grey Worm because of it! This Lannister man he’s facing has no chance, we’re thinking.

Unsullied Storming In!

No Grey Worm here that we can see, but we wonder what Lannister site this is (note the sigils and “L”. It could be King’s Landing, or less likely, Casterly Rock.

Melisandre at Dragonstone!

Melisandre at Dragonstone! The previous shot makes it clear that it’s her. We can’t tell who that is coming up the long walkway, but if Davos is one of them…

Dany & Tyrion view the Painted Table

Dany & Tyrion view the Painted Table at Dragonstone.

The Painted Floor

Cersei and Jaime one-up Daenerys’ puny Painted Table with the Painted Floor. Ok, it’s a tapestry, but still, it’s huge, and awesome.

Jorah's Arm

Jorah appears to be held in prison, probably at Dragonstone. Clearly him due to the greyscale.

New Field of Fire!

Other shots seem to show that they are facing a Lannister army. It doesn’t look like Dany is on Drogon, but it is hard to tell. It looks like Jorah leading the charge in the bottom right… Dany may forgive him? Or at least allow him to fight. Or maybe that isn’t actually him.

Ellaria & Yara

Ellaria and Yara making out. Alrighty.

Ship Ablaze

Greyjoys fighting others in a boarding action while flames roar. What shield is that in the upper right? Another shot shows Theon on a flaming ship, so this could be the same scene, meaning that Theon is somewhere in this chaos.

Bridge at Pyke

Appears to be fighting across a rope bridge, which means it is probably Pyke. A battle at Pyke! Interesting…

Arya Heading North?

Looks like Arya is heading North, unless winter has hit the South (certainly possible!)

King in the North & Council

Jon is joined by Sansa and Davos at the high table. Littlefinger far to the left, Lyanna Mormont near the front behind a large man. Tormund can be seen as well, and probably the top of Brienne’s head in front of Sansa.

Jon Snow & Littlefinger in the Crypts!

Jon Snow slams Littlefinger into a wall while in the Crypts of Winterfell! (recall when Ned did this to him in King’s Landing?) Possibly he’s just been given some news about his real parents.

Jon & Tormund running

Jon, Tormund and others are running from something. They appear to be beyond The Wall.

Surrounded by foes and snow

Possibly related to Jon & Tormund running away, this group of 12-13 men in heavy snow appear to be surrounded and making a stand. Seems likely the foes around them are not among the living…

 

Filed Under: Blog, News Tagged With: arya stark, cersei lannister, daenerys targaryen, davos seaworth, dragonstone, game of thrones, grey worm, jaime lannister, jon snow, littlefinger, lyanna mormont, melisandre, petyr baelish, sansa stark, season 7 game of thrones, tormund giantsbane, tyrion lannister, unsullied

The Life of Joanna Lannister

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwNc6NvVLYM


When considering his mother Joanna Lannister, Tyrion thinks: “It all goes back and back, Tyrion thought, to our mothers and fathers and theirs before them. We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us”

That’s true, Tyrion! Which is a big part of why we made an episode on your mother. Our latest contains a long look at the political setting during her life, which included Tywin’s rise as Hand, Aerys’ crowning, Summerhall, the Rains of Castamere, the War of Ninepenny Kings (her father led the Westerlands army) and more. Of course we also take a look at her personality and relationships with other powerful people, and of course consider “interactions” with the Mad King, and certain parentage theories.

Credits
Our introduction and the Westeros and Essos maps were created by Michael Klarfeld (Klaradox), with the cyvasse pieces created by dutchmogul. Check out the episode on YouTube or the Acast player below to see those images, as well as the newest art of Mazzalicartho, by Azany.

The primary topics in this episode:

Part 1 – The Joannameta
Part 2 – Early Years
Part 3 – From the Rock to the Red Keep
Part 4 – The Princess and the Queen… and the King
Part 5 – The Lioness In Her Den
Part 6 – A Coat of Gold, a Bed of Blood
Outro

In 263 AC, after a year as the King’s Hand, Ser Tywin married his beautiful young cousin Joanna Lannister, who had come to King’s Landing in 259 AC for the coronation of King Jaehaerys II and remained thereafter as a lady in-waiting to Princess (later Queen) Rhaella. The bride and groom had known each other since they were children together at Casterly Rock.” – TWOIAF

“In those days, his father had been Aerys’s Hand, and many people said that Lord Tywin Lannister ruled the Seven Kingdoms, but Lady Joanna ruled Lord Tywin.” – ASOS, Tyrion V

“…though she turned a blind eye to most of the king’s infidelities, the queen did not approve of his “turning my ladies into his whores.” (Joanna Lannister was not the first lady to be dismissed abruptly from Her Grace’s service, nor was she the last).” – TWOIAF

“Though Tywin Lannister was not a man given to public display, it is said that his love for his lady wife was deep and long-abiding. “Only Lady Joanna truly knows the man beneath the armor,” Grand Maester Pycelle wrote the Citadel, “and all his smiles belong to her and her alone. I do avow that I have even observed her make him laugh, not once, but upon three separate occasions!”” – TWOIAF

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: aerys targaryen, audio, cersei lannister, house lannister, jaime lannister, joanna lannister, rhaella targaryen, tyrion lannister, tywin lannister, unnamed princess of dorne, video

ASOIAF Dreams and Dreamers, plus Q&A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOJ_7qIzahg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyxjRgAzGnE


An episode dedicated to all kinds of ASOIAF dreams and dreamers, whether mundane or magical. Green dreams, wolf dreams, dragon dreams, dreams of guilt, fever dreams… and an accompanying Q&A to go with it, answering all the burning (and freezing) questions sent us regarding the last episode.

Credits
Our introduction, and the awesome new Essos map were created by Michael Klarfeld (Klaradox), with the cyvasse pieces created by dutchmogul. Check out the episode on YouTube or the Acast player below to see those images, as well as art by Ed Scheer.
The Reader (Martin Lewis of Echoes of Ice and Fire).

The primary topics in this episode:

Part 1 – Dreams of the Past
Part 2 – Dreams of the Present
Part 3 – Dreams of the Future
Part 4 – Dreams Out of Time
Outro

“There’s different kinds,” he said slowly. “There’s the wolf dreams, those aren’t so bad as the others. I run and hunt and kill squirrels. And there’s dreams where the crow comes and tells me to fly. Sometimes the tree is in those dreams too, calling my name. That frightens me. But the worst dreams are when I fall.”
– ACOK, Bran V

That night Sansa dreamt of Joffrey on the throne, with herself seated beside him in a gown of woven gold. She had a crown on her head, and everyone she had ever known came before her, to bend the knee and say their courtesies. – AGOT, Sansa IV AGOT

“He knew nothing of his mother; Eddard Stark would not talk of her. Yet he dreamed of her at times, so often that he could almost see her face. In his dreams, she was beautiful, and highborn, and her eyes were kind.” – AGOT, Jon III

“They are children, Sansa thought. They are silly little girls, even Elinor. They’ve never seen a battle, they’ve never seen a man die, they know nothing. Their dreams were full of songs and stories, the way hers had been before Joffrey cut her father’s head off. Sansa pitied them. Sansa envied them.” – ASOS, Sansa II

“That night Catelyn slept fitfully, haunted by formless dreams of her children, the lost and the dead.” – ASOS, Catelyn I

“She had no time for sleep, with the weight of the world upon her shoulders. And she feared to dream. Sleep is a little death, dreams the whisperings of the Other, who would drag us all into his eternal night. She would sooner sit bathed in the ruddy glow of her red lord’s blessed flames, her cheeks flushed by the wash of heat as if by a lover’s kisses. Some nights she drowsed, but never for more than an hour. One day, Melisandre prayed, she would not sleep at all. One day she would be free of dreams. Melony, she thought. Lot Seven.” – ADWD, Melisandre

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: arya stark, audio, bran stark, bran's dreams, catelyn stark, cersei lannister, daenerys targaryen, daeron the drunkard, davos seaworth, dreams, eddard stark, green dreams, jaime lannister, jojen reed, jon snow, maester aemon targaryen, melisandre, ned stark, q&a, quaithe, sansa stark, shireen baratheon, stannis baratheon, teora toland, theon greyjoy, tyrion lannister, video, wolf dreams

House Dayne: Part 1 – Characters


Aziz & Ashaya break down the major characters from House Dayne. Theories, background and predictions!

Thanks to Lucifer Means Lightbringer of Astronomy of Ice and Fire for the quotes!

The primary topics in this episode:

  1. Overview: Stereotypes/Archetypes
  2. Part 1 – The Meta History of House Dayne
  3. Part 2 – Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning
  4. Part 3 – Ashara Dayne: Tragedy, Conflict & Mystery
  5. Part 4 – The Current Daynes of Starfall
  6. Part 5 – The Sword of the Evening
  7. Outtro
  8. Trivia

“The finest knight I ever saw was Ser Arthur Dayne, who fought with a blade called Dawn, forged from the heart of a fallen star. They called him the Sword of the Morning, and he would have killed me but for Howland Reed.”

“Men call me Darkstar, and I am of the night.”

“He wondered what Ser Arthur Dayne would have to say of this lot. “How is it that the Kingsguard has fallen so low,” most like.”

“The Prince of Dragonstone had never trusted him as he had trusted Arthur Dayne. Harrenhal was proof of that. The year of the false spring. The memory was still bitter.”

“And these were no shadows; their faces burned clear, even now. Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, had a sad smile on his lips.”

There was Little Lord Lazyeye, Squire Squishlips, one I named the Whale That Walks, that sort of thing. The only one who was even halfway presentable was young Baelor Hightower.”

“The Dornishmen who had come to court with the Princess Elia were in the prince’s confidence as well, particularly Prince Lewyn Martell, Elia’s uncle and a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard. But the most formidable of all Rhaegar’s friends and allies in King’s Landing was surely Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning.”

“She is stronger than I am. The realization chilled him. Robert had been stronger than him, to be sure. The White Bull Gerold Hightower as well, in his heyday, and Ser Arthur Dayne.”

“Continuing the most ambitious and imaginative epic fantasy since The Lord of the Rings The action in Book Four of A Song of Ice and Fire begins the day after the end of A STORM OF SWORDS. While the remaining northern lords war endlessly with each other and the ironmen of the isles attack the Dreadfort, Sansa becomes a skilled player in the game of thrones with Littlefinger as her mentor, Arya a skilled assassin, and Bran a magician and shapeshifter of great power. All seek to gain revenge for the death of their parents and Robb Stark, whose head was cut off and replaced with the head of his direwolf. Valar morghulis. All men must die, and wolves, too. Danerys trains her growing dragons and learns from Barristan the secrets of her father, her brother Rhaegar, and other matters that will culminate at Starfell. And Jon Snow is the nine-hundredth-and-ninety-eighth lord commander of the Night’s Watch. The Wall is his. The night is dark, and he has King Stannis to face. The cold wind is rising, and still there are inhuman powers gathering in the north.”

[separator type="top"]Content[/separator]

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: aerys targaryen, allyria dayne, arianne martell, arthur dayne, ashara dayne, audio, barristan selmy, beric dondarrion, darkstar, edric dayne, elia martell, gerold dayne, house dayne, jaime lannister, jon snow, myrcella baratheon, oberyn martell, starfall, video, vorian dayne

The Shadow of Summerhall: Aerys & Rhaegar (spoilers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbgMl0LgNn0

This episode delves deep into Aerys, Rhaella, and Rhaegar Targaryen, as well as other characters who were impacted by Summerhall. There’s talk of how the Mad King could wreak havoc on the Seven Kingdoms even now…though our main focus is, of course, the Aftermath of Summerhall. Why didn’t it work? Who tried to capitalize on the instability? What impact did the event have on the survivors? What impact does it have on the current ASOIAF storyline?

The primary topics in this episode:

  1. The Day After
  2. Jaehaerys Ascends, Blackfyres Descend
  3. Aerys Ascends, Madness Descends
  4. Dragons in the Shadow
  5. Rhaegar, Who Thought Himself So Wise
  6. The Mad King’s Revenge

“Once it takes fire, the substance will burn fiercely until it is no more.”

“…many of the accounts written of Harrenhal speak of his hysterical laughter, long silences, bouts of weeping, and sudden rages.”

“Drawing on his father’s plans, His Grace put aside his grief, called his lords bannermen, and resolved to meet the Ninepenny Kings upon the Stepstones, choosing to take the war to them rather than awaiting their landing on the shores of the Seven Kingdoms.”

Your grandsire commanded it. A woods witch had told him that the prince that was promised would be born of their line.”

 

“High in the halls of the kings who are gone, Jenny would dance with her ghosts.”

 

“It was a prince that was promised, not a princess. Rhaegar, I thought… the smoke was from the fire that devoured Summerhall on the day of his birth, the salt from the tears shed for those who died. He shared my belief when he was young, but later he became persuaded that it was his own son who fulfilled the prophecy, for a comet had been seen above King’s Landing on the night Aegon was conceived, and Rhaegar was certain the bleeding star had to be a comet. What fools we were, who thought ourselves so wise!”

 

“It was the shadow of Summerhall that haunted him, was it not?” “Yes. And yet Summerhall was the place the prince loved best.”

 

“He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire.”

[separator type="top"]Content[/separator]

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: aerys ii targaryen, aerys targaryen, audio, barristan selmy, brandon stark, davos seaworth, duncan the tall, ghost of high heart, jaehaerys ii targaryen, jaime lannister, jenny of oldstones, joanna lannister, lyanna stark, maester aemon targaryen, post traumatic stress disorder, prince that was promised, ptsd, pyromancers, rhaegar targaryen, rhaella targaryen, rhaelle targaryen, rickard stark, shaera targaryen, steffon baratheon, summerhall, the mad king, tywin lannister, video, wildfire

TV Discussion: Game of Thrones S04E06 (spoiler free)

S04E06

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf35Nv7795I

Another week, another episode of History of Westeros!

Ashaya, Aziz and Sean discuss the exciting events of S04E06 of Game of Thrones.  As always, we illuminate the backstory and explain the subtleties, keeping you prepared for the next episode and beyond! The end of the episode contains our spoiler discussion, as well as our discussion of the preview.

Sean is an Unsullied TV viewer whose unspoiled perceptions are quite the contrast to HoW’s thorough Game of Thrones education, and this makes the review unique. Sean is an insightful reviewer who first joined us in our Red Wedding discussion episode, and has been our previous three Season 4 episodes: episode 1, episode 2, episode 3, episode 4 (spoiler free), episode 4 (spoilers), and episode 5.

Well, strictly speaking, I didn’t do the thieving. 

 

I wish I was the monster you think I am. I wish I had enough poison for the whole pack of you. I would gladly give my life to watch you all swallow it.

 

The most noble child the gods ever put on this good earth.

Every scene (and there were a lot) of S04E06 is discussed, what we liked and didn’t like, noting interesting but non-spoiler comparisons to the books. As usual there is special attention paid to hidden detail and backstory.

Be sure to check out our forum, which is newly launched, and introduce yourself there, as well as discuss podcast and TV show episodes. Please rate and review us on iTunes as well if you have the chance!

The absence of desire leaves one free to pursue other things.

[separator type="top"]Content[/separator]

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: asha greyjoy, audio, braavos, cersei lannister, daenerys targaryen, davos seaworth, drogon, hizdahr zo loraq, iron bank, jaime lannister, littlefinger, mace tyrell, oberyn martell, petyr baelish, pycelle, ramsay snow, reek, salladhor saan, sansa stark, shae, stannis baratheon, theon greyjoy, tycho nestoris, tyrion lannister, tywin lannister, varys, video

TV Discussion: Game of Thrones S04E04 (spoiler free)

S04E04

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuRT6FNGAP0

Another week, another episode of History of Westeros! Actually, another two episodes of History of Westeros, as we have a separate spoiler filled episode this week due to how much we had to talk about! View part 2 here.

Ashaya, Aziz and Sean discuss the exciting events of S04E04 of Game of Thrones.  As always, we illuminate the backstory and explain the subtleties, keeping you prepared for the next episode and beyond!

Sean is an Unsullied TV viewer whose unspoiled perceptions are quite the contrast to HoW’s thorough Game of Thrones education, and this makes the review unique. Sean is an insightful reviewer who first joined us in our Red Wedding discussion episode, and has been our previous three Season 4 episodes: episode 1, episode 2, and episode 3.

I will answer injustice with justice.

 

That was me knocking your ass to the dirt with your own hand.

 

Goodbye Brienne.

Every scene (and there were a lot) of S04E04 is discussed, what we liked and didn’t like, noting interesting but non-spoiler comparisons to the books. As usual there is special attention paid to hidden detail and backstory.

Be sure to check out our forum, which is newly launched, and introduce yourself there, as well as discuss podcast and TV show episodes. Please rate and review us on iTunes as well if you have the chance!

If I have to take one more leisurely stroll through these gardens, I’ll fling myself from the cliffs.

[separator type="top"]Content[/separator]

Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: alliser thorne, audio, barristan selmy, bran stark, brienne of tarth, bronn, burn gorman, cersei lannister, daenerys targaryen, ghost, grenn, grey worm, hodor, jaime lannister, janos slynt, jojen reed, jon snow, jorah mormont, karl tanner, littlefinger, locke, margaery tyrell, meera reed, meereen, missandei, night's king, olenna redwyne, olenna tyrell, others, petyr baelish, podrick payne, queen of thorns, rast, roose bolton, samwell tarly, sansa stark, ser pounce, tommen baratheon, tyrion lannister, video, white walker

Next Page »

Search Episodes!

Follow us:

The Thrones Effect (chapter by us)

The Great Castles of Westeros: An Unofficial Guide by Joe Buckley

The Unofficial Guide to Game of Thrones by Kim Renfro

Shire Post Mint's ASOIAF coins

Fire and Blood

Illustrated A Game of Thrones

Illustrated A Clash of Kings

Illustrated A Storm of Swords

Game of Thrones: The Storyboards

Join us on Patreon to receive a custom title, early access to episodes & more!

PayPal Donations

Amazon Shopping:
Amazon (all countries)!
Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks Try LISTENING to ASOIAF! Two free book downloads plus a 30 day subscription for $0 (Audible trial)
Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

Conventions
Ice & Fire Con 2021 - we will be there! Buy your membership and include us as your referral to help the show, at no additional cost.
Con of Thrones 2021 - we will be there! Buy your membership using code HISTORY and get 5 dollars off, while helping generate free tickets for other listeners.

RSS RSS Feed

  • Aziz vs. ADwD Epilogue (2016)
  • Valar Rereadis: ADWD - Part 19 of 19
  • Valar Rereadis: ADWD - Part 18 of 19
  • When Giants Roamed... (w/Crowfood's Daughter)

Aziz & Ashaya’s Recommendations!

The Dunk & Egg Collection
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Other Short Stories in Westeros
The Rogue Prince (Prince Daemon)
The Princess & The Queen
The Book of Swords (Sons of the Dragon)

Maesters' Hotlist
The World of Ice & Fire (Kindle)
The Lands of Ice & Fire
ASOIAF Boxed Set
A Hymn for Spring (Tower of the Hand, includes an essay on Harrenhal by us!)

Art
ASOIAF 2020 Calendar
ASOIAF 2021 Calendar
The Art of A Song of Ice and Fire
The Art of A Song of Ice & Fire: Vol. 2

Games!
Risk: Game of Thrones Board Game
AGoT: The Board Game 2nd Edition
Monopoly: Game of Thrones
Crusader Kings II
4D Game of Thrones: Westeros Puzzle

Game of Thrones on TV
Seasons 1-7 Blu-Ray Box Set
Season 7 Blu-Ray
Season 6 Blu-Ray
Get Someone Started With S1
Start Your Free Trial of HBO with Prime Video Channels

Non-ASOIAF Books Recommended by GRRM & us!
The Last Wish - Book 1 of The Witcher
The Last Kingdom - Book 1
The Accursed Kings - Book 1
The Expanse - Book 1

© Copyright 2013-2020 History of Westeros · All Rights Reserved · Created by Ash @MeereeneseKnot ·