Arya Stark-"You said we'd meet again." Melisandre-"And here we are, at the end of the world." Tune in for the build up everyone has been waiting for! Who lives? Who dies? Is there an "Afterwards"? The Riddikulus Crew breaks down one of the most pivotal episodes in the entire Game of Thrones series. Find out what we liked about it, what we didn't like and what we would have changed given the chance. This is one you don't want to miss, Winter has finally come for Winterfell. Melisandre-"What do we say to the God of Death?" Arya Stark-"Not today."
"I know death, it's got many faces, I look forward to seeing this one" - Arya Stark. The Final Countdown begins as The Riddikulus Crew launches into the series ending season of Game of Thrones! In this installment, we tackle the plots, full circle moments, questions and debates of the first two episodes in Season 8. We start with the largest army the world's ever seen making it's way through the Winterfell gates at long last. Will the North accept them? Or will there be conflict? Many of our fan favorites have long awaited reunions for the first time in years and in a few cases, the first time since The Song of Ice and Fire began. The army of the dead continue their march south with their one and only goal: To erase the memory of mankind from the planet. There is Dragon to forge and weapons to make for the fight against the enemy that doesn't tire and can only be killed by three resources, Valyrian Steel, Fire and Dragonglass. Daenerys is trying her best to earn the respect of Sansa and the Northerners who are skeptical of the Dragon Queen, while Jon has to defend his decision to give up his crown. Sam tells Jon a shocking truth in the Stark crypts, but how will Daenerys react when Jon tells her? Battle plans are made and everyone is taking their last hours to enjoy the calm before the storm. Will our heroes set aside their differences for the upcoming war? Or will pettiness, jealousy and pride put the entire existence of mankind at risk? Find out with us here as we are turning the final corner in this arc because as Bran said "“We don't have time for all this. The Night King has your dragon. He's one of them now. The Wall has fallen. The dead march south.”
“ I assume you’re here to bend the knee?” Daenerys asks Jon Snow expectantly. Jon Snow replies “I am not.” Season 7 conclusion begins in suspense as Jon Snow and Ser Davos arrive at Dragonstone to meet with Daenerys Targaryen. Upon their arrival, Varys and Melisandre have a conversation about each other’s future in Westeros. “Oh I will return dear spider. One last time. I have to die in this strange country just like you.” Melisandre tells Varys knowingly. Jon and Daenerys converse for the first time and Jon tells her and Tyrion about the army of the dead. They argue and trade facts about history and loyalties with neither backing down. “So many men have tried to kill me, I don't remember all their names. I have been sold like a broodmare. I've been chained and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith. Not in any gods. Not in myths and legends. In myself. In Daenerys Targaryen.” Daenerys boasts to Jon. Varys interrupts this interaction with grave news about the Greyjoys and the Sand Snakes. At King’s Landing Euron Greyjoy brings Cersei the priceless gift he promised. Euron and Jaime have a less than friendly interaction while Cersei gets her revenge for Myrcella’s death. Cersei meets with Tycho Nestoris from the Iron Bank of Bravos and they discuss the Lannister. Back at Dragonstone Tyrion and Jon talk of the White Walkers with Jon asking Tyrion if he believes him. “I trust the eyes of an honest man more than I trust what everyone knows.” Tyrion says in response. Jon asks Daenerys to allow him to mine the dragonglass. While in Winterfell, Sansa is growing into her own and making executive decisions as the Lady of Winterfell. Meera brings Bran to Winterfell and Sansa and Bran see each other for the first time since Season 1. Bran tries to describe to Sansa the role of the Three-Eyed Raven in unsettling fashion. In the Citadel, Jorah Mormont has been cured of Grayscale and is ready to return to his Queen. Meanwhile, the Unsullied take Casterly Rock only to find out they were tricked. High Garden falls to Jaime and the Lannister army, Olenna drinks the poison and gives Jaime a confession. Jaime leads his army back to King’s Landing with all of High Gardens’s gold and harvest crops. Meanwhile, Cersei gets an interesting proposition from Tycho. In Winterfell, Petyr Baelish approaches Bran where he finds that even with all of his wits, he can’t fool someone who literally knows everything. Arya arrives in Winterfell for the first time since Season 1 and reunites with her sister and brother, and Bran gives Arya an important gift. Back at Dragonstone, Jon shows Daenerys the dragonglass and some interesting hieroglyphics that provide evidence to the existence of the Night King. Daenerys learns of latest failure at Casterly Rock and is ready to burn it all down. Before she makes a decision, she asks Jon his advice to which he tells her “If you use them to melt castles and burn cities, you’re not different. You’re just more of the same.” In Winterfell, Arya and Brienne have an epic spar while at Dragonstone, and Jon and Theon see each other for the first time since Jon left for the Night’s Watch. Randyll Tarly informs Jaime and Bronn that all of the gold is safely secured in King’s Landing, but that relief is short lived as Daenerys arrives to show them who the real Queen is. Upon her return to Dragonstone, an old knight pledges himself to her once more, and Tyrion devises a plan to make Cersei believe in the threat to the North. In Winterfell, Sansa is tempted by The Northern houses. Tyrion meets with Jaime to convince him to have Cersei agree to armistice, and Ser Davos collects an old friend from Flea Bottom. In the Citadel, Gilly comes across perhaps the most important discovery in Maester Maynards’ records, while Arya in Winterfell makes a shocking discovery of her own. At The Wall, the A-Team of Westeros go beyond to bring back a wight. After dangerous encounters with creatures of the dead, Jon and company catch a wight only to be surrounded by the Night King and his army. Is this the end for them? Or will someone come to save the day? If they do survive, will Cersei have a change of heart when presented the proof or was it all for naught? The Night King adds the most dangerous ally to his army, while in Winterfell, the Stark sisters rid themselves of a dangerous ally of their own. Bran and Sam together fit the final pieces together about Jon’s true lineage, while two relatives are rocking the boat. Meanwhile unbeknownst to anyone except the men holding The Wall at Eastwatch By The Sea, Winter is officially coming to Westeros. Take a dive with the Riddikulus Crew into the conclusion of Season 7 in our 3 and ½ hour special as things begin to come full circle, while other questions are raised. Where does Jon Snow go from here? In the words of Bran Stark “He’s never been a bastard, he’s the heir to the Iron Throne.”
(full circle moment discussed by Josh in "Season 7 Conclusion Review"
"Leave one wolf alive and the sheep are never safe." Arya says chillingly as she gets revenge for the Red Wedding at long last. "When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers. Tell them Winter came for House Frey." Season 7 comes out of the gate hot as House Frey meets its long awaited demise. Bran beyond The Wall sees the Night King and the army of the dead advancing. Meera and Bran arrive at the Night's Watch and tell Edd to send a raven of the looming peril. Jon Snow at Winterfell tells the northern houses about dragonglass and needing as many able bodied fighters as possible. The Wildlings become the Night's Watch at Eastwatch By The Sea, Sansa and Jon disagree about the future of two great houses and Cersei sends Jon a letter telling him to go to King's Landing and bend the knee or suffer the same fate of all traitors. In King's Landing, Cersei and Jaime argue over how to handle the threat to them on all sides. High Garden to the West, Dorne to the South, Dragonstone to the East and Winterfell to the North. Euron Greyjoy attempts to make an alliance with Cersei which she declines. Euron tells her that he will not return until he brings her a "priceless gift" to make her reconsider. Meanwhile, Sam is still at Oldtown working in the Citadel with the Archmaester, Brienne is training Podrick at Winterfell and we get an unexpected cameo from a certain Irish singer! Arya learns that the Great Sept of Baelor was destroyed and that the men she is sitting with were charged with keeping the peace because they heard there was trouble with the Freys at the Twins. They ask Arya why she's going to King's Landing to which she relies "I'm going to kill the Queen." While this is going on, the Hound has to face a mistake from the past. Thoros of Myr has the Hound look into the flames and the Hound sees a vision. Back in Oldtown, We see the Catspaw Dagger in the old archives of the citadel and learn its double use and Sam realizes where the living can find as much dragonglass as needed. A certain grayscaled hero makes his appearance right before we see the Dragon Queen arrive at Dragonstone in Westeros for first time. Daenerys asks "Shall we begin?" Daenerys and her advisers make plans for her next move and she is skeptical of Varys. "Swear this to me Varys, if you ever think I'm failing the people, you won't conspire behind make back. You'll look me in the eye as you have done today and you'll tell me how I'm failing them." Daenerys tells him. Varys responds "I swear it my Queen." to which Daenerys replies "and I swear this, if you ever betray me, I'll burn you alive." Melisandre arrives and we learn a certain loophole to the prince that was promised from Missandei and Melisandre urges Daenerys to summon Jon Snow. Daenerys agrees, but adds a required addendum to the summons. In King's Landing Cersei is trying to manipulate and gain as many allies as possible while Jaime specifically attempts to gain Randyll Tarley's alliance from Olenna Tyrell. Sam meets the grayscaled man and realizes who it is, Qyburn has a plan for Daenerys' dragon's while Daenerys' war council has a plan of it's own. Grey Worm and Missandei share a passionate goodbye, we learn what the name for a Song of Ice and Fire was initially intended to be and Sam disobeys a direct order from the Archmaester. Arya sees an old friend at an inn which causes her to change her mind and go North to Winterfell instead of South to King's Landing. Jon receives letter from Sam detailing where Jon can find all the dragonglass he needs and Jon makes an executive decision. Ellaria and Yara have a steamy interaction right before their ship is attacked. Euron shows his true prowess as a warrior and naval commander, killing two Snakes and taking a Greyjoy captive. Keep it rolling with us here at the Riddikulus Crew as we are winding down on this epic Game of Thrones arc. We are in the deep waters now as we have gotten to the point of no return with the only seasons left being the most hotly debated ones that Benioff and Weiss wrote without any books to lean on. As Melisandre warns us in Season 7 Episode 2, "The Long Night is coming. Only the prince who was promised can bring the dawn."
"Tell your man to step aside or there will be violence." says Lancel Lannister. Cersei Lannister replies "I choose violence." Season 6 and “A Dance With Dragons” conclude in spectacular fashion as we evaluate episodes 8, 9 & 10. Brienne and Jaime Lannister lay eyes on each other for the first time since Jaime gave her his sword to find and protect Sansa Stark, King Tommen outlaws Trial By Combat and Brynden the Blackfish refuses to give up Riverrun. Over in Essos, the Masters of Astapor and Yunkai take advantage of Daenerys' absence and launch an all out assault on Meereen. At Riverrun a common foot soldier has to make a choice to either take commands from the man who reformed their army and took back Riverrun from the Frey's, or to take commands from the rightful Lord of Riverrun with a proverbial knife to his throat. Will he make the right choice? The Hound gets his revenge on the strangers who butchered the villagers he had been staying with and meets up with some familiar faces. In Bravos, the Waif corners Arya to kill her once and for all, but only one is accustomed to fighting in the pitch black. Jaquen H'ghar follows the blood trail to the Hall of Faces and makes a shocking discovery as to who's face has been added to the Hall. He turns to Arya and says "Finally a girl is no one." Arya replies "A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell and I'm going home." Back in Meereen, Daenerys returns to her city being under attack and has vengeance on her mind. "I will crucify the masters, I will set their fleets afire, kill every last one of their soldiers and return their cities to the dirt." she declares while getting the debrief from Tyrion. Tyrion talks her down and to do it his way. They meet with the Masters and there is a misunderstanding as to whom is surrendering. Daenerys tells the Masters "We obviously didn't communicate clearly, we're here to discuss your surrender not mine." before taking flight with Drogon and destroying the Masters fleet and armies. At Winterfell, there is a parlay between the Northern houses that have sided with the Ramsay Bolton and the Northern houses/Wildlings that have sided with Jon Snow. Ramsay chides Jon and tells him "There's no need for a battle, get off your horse and kneel." to which Jon replies "You're right, there's no need for a battle, thousands of men don't need to die. Only one of us. Let's end this the old way, you against me." Ramsay doesn't take the bait and tells Jon "I keep hearing stories about you bastard, the way the people in the North talk about you, you're the greatest swordsman that ever walked. Maybe you are that good. Maybe not. I don't know if I'd beat you, but I know my army will beat yours." Jon returns the verbal spar "Aye you have the number, but will your men want to fight for you when they hear you wouldn't fight for them" which draws Ramsays ire to Jon's satisfaction. With Meereen back under control, Yara and Theon attempt to make a pact with Daenerys for the Iron Islands. Rickon Stark runs for his life in vain, the Battle of the Bastards commences. Jon receives aid from an unsuspecting ally. Ramsay's story comes full circle. In Kings Landing, the High Sparrow and others prepare for Cersei and Loras' trial. King Tommen tries to attend but his way is barred by Ser Gregor. Margaery tries to convince the High Sparrow something is wrong, but his arrogance leads them to a fiery surprise. Tommen finds out what happened and takes his own life. The Frey's have a banquet feast celebrating the retaking Riverrun with the Lannister army and Jaime openly questions Walder Frey's importance to his face. Sam arrives at the Citadel and is permitted access to the Library. Ser Davos in Winterfell confronts Melisandre about Shireen's fate in an emotional explosion and Daario Naharis learns that he will not be joining Daenerys and her army to Westeros. Arya exacts her revenge on the Frey's for the Red Wedding as things start to shift in the Stark's favor finally. Bran received safe passage to the Wall from a long lost undead Uncle and we learn there is magic in the Wall that keep the army of the dead at bay. Bran goes into a vision and we learn the truth of a certain "bastard". while Jon Snow holds a meeting in the great hall of Winterfell where the Northern houses bestow the same title upon him as they did Robb Stark. With all members of the royal family dead in Kings Landing except one, she takes the crown for herself and Daenerys is finally on her way to accomplish what she has set out to do since Season 1. Join us for this bombshell conclusion of Season 6 as the Riddikulus Crew breaks down the key points, raises questions and debates topics. As Tyrion tells Daenerys, "You're in the great game now, and the great game is terrifying."
