The Rhetoric of Violence

About a week after the series finale of Game of Thrones, the dust started to settle on the ending we were given, and the conclusion we all hoped for. Much of this afterthought is decidedly different than the initial reactions on the last podcast and predominantly plagued with disappointment.

Share in our chagrin as we contemplate what could have happened, and what probably should have happened.

• The problem of the Three-Eyed Raven
• Sansa would have been a more interesting ruler
• John deserved far better
• Cersei deserved far worse
• Jumping the Night shark, and subsequent opportunities missed
• Tyrion was so much smarter before
• With great power comes great responsibility
• The Double D greed and rushing the end
• Juggernaut effect on the actors
• The Night King is just a guy
• The costumes and visuals are still the best of the best
• Thanks to the excellent costume and set designers! 

Game of Thrones may be over, but Stimulated Boredom is not. Stay tuned for more Dana, Pete, and V in your earholes just as soon as Dana negotiates his contract with baby Olivia. 

In the meantime, we’re accepting topic suggestions in the comments. 

Talk soon!

Game of Thrones is a fantastic journey through the multitude perspectives of its characters, and the series finale meant to resolve that journey somehow. After eight years, it’s hard to let go, and maybe it’s even painful to celebrate the resolutions that we did get shoe-horned into that 80 minutes.

However you may feel about Bran the Broken, the birth of democracy in Westeros, or the obliteration of the Iron Throne and our silver-haired Khaleesi with it, the visuals in the episode took the throne.

The series finale is beautiful. Jon passing Drogon in the ash. The red Targareyan sigil hanging on the ruin of King’s Landing. Arya and her wolf mast ship. Dany and the Drogon’s dragon wings!

We can ostensibly celebrate in its visual grandeur and crowning costume moments. We do that and explore a spectrum of thoughts and feelings about the narrative. Also, welcome regular listener and commenter to the show, Devan!

Devan and Pete make Dana and Vanessa look like n00bs while we figure out if we liked the episode or not.

• So many charred bodies
• That tension between Jon and Greyworm, woah
• Arya sneaks up on Jon, again
• Hope is the death of duty. Duty is the death of love.
• The table shrouded in destruction, then the table is “rebuilt”/0
• The unpolished Small Council
• Tyrion’s face, in all of the scenes
• Jon and Dany, they don’t get to choose
• Awkward for Edmure
• THE NORTH SECEDES! #sansa4eva
• The spin-off is definitely Jon, Ghost, and Tormund
• Guys, the Starks rule the world!

Thanks for tuning in with us for the last few seasons, we really appreciate it. It’s been a blast spending countless hours discussing every theory and listener comment, and we hope you’ll tune in for our next podcast series.

Speaking of which, what should that be? Let us know in the comments!

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It’s happening. It’s all happening. The Bells rang, and we have mixed feelings. The farewells in this episode are emotionally satisfying, we see the Hound and Arya make peace, Tyrion bids adieu to his treacherous, yet an entirely correct friend, Varys, and then Tyrion frees Jamie and they bro all the way out. It’s sweet.

Back to that bit about Varys being correct. We have the unfortunate realization that our fiery female protagonist, built over the last seven years, is turned into a one-note antagonist with unearned ease.

It’s not great. Is this really what the Song of Fire and Ice has been about? Or did they just HBO the damn thing? With only one episode left, is the last conflict going to be to take down the Mad Queen?

I must warn you; this week’s episode is also wrought with blasphemy as we had to discuss some critical plot realizations without Pete. Dana and I do our best to cope:

• Ruining Dracarys
• Tyrion is a clever fool
• Varys dies in this strange land
• The Golden who?
• Euron got too much screen time
• I thought the Dothraki were dead
• One dragon is all you really need
• Caches of wildfire
• Cersei got lucky
• Where’s Arya going?
• Jon and Davos, buddy cop spin-off?
• Does the Iron Throne still matter?

Thanks for tuning in and be sure to leave your predictions for the final episode in the comments. We’ve only got a handful of characters left. Who will live? Who will die? Which one of you nerds has this all figured out?

We look forward to reading your comments on the show!

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What could possibly cause as much panic as the Army of the Dead bearing down on Winterfell? Cersei Lannister gently touching Missendei’s arm and saying, “If you have any last words, now is the time.”

The story of the Great War will be kept alive in memory for generations to come, and so will the legend of Cersei’s ruthlessness and brutality. It’s about the only thing we can count on in the game of thrones. And as Dany continues to take egregious losses, that Targaryen wildfire is on the precipice of igniting. 

The stakes can (apparently) get even higher.

Let’s panic and ponder together, nerds.

• Brienne gets some
• Jon’s a mean dog dad
• Will someone put some armor on those dragons?
• Arya’s not a lady
• Unfinished business
• Let’s talk about that list
• Cersei, Jaime, and the prophecy
• The dragon is out of the bag
• How DO they feel about incest in the North?
• Bronn is bery, bery sneaky
• Varys is loyal to the realm
• Jon? Dany? Cersei? Sansa? Lots of meandering theories of what is to come, because all bets are off
• And we finally read your comments!

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to leave your comments, questions, and predictions for the season in the comment section below for inclusion and discussion on the next episode.

Only two episodes left!

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The longest part of The Long Night was that panic-inducing, nail-biting, palm-sweating, 14-minute opening scene until the Army of the Dead extinguished the Dothraki in UNDER. A. MINUTE. 

After that, it’s a bone-crushing, catastrophic clusterfuck for all. Thank the Lord of Light for Arya. My new Monday get-hype motto is going to be, “Stick ‘em with the pointy end.” Speaking of ends, a handful of third-tier protagonists, one sidekick and a big bad meet the God of Death. But let’s all pour out a little rosé for the giant-killer, Lady Mormont. 

Also discussed:

• Grey Worm is slippery
• SO much Dragonfire, but not quite enough
• The Night King smiles?
• So, is Arya Azhor Ahai
• Those goddamn crypts
• Shipping Sansa + Tyrion
• Arya jumped ALL the way over the shark
• Davos is confused
• Theon earns his honor, finally
• Beric Dondarrion serves the Starks
• Melisandre served her purpose
• Jorah serves his Queen
• Dany and Jon are not that special
• So, is Arya Azor Ahai?
• And More!

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to leave your comments, questions, and predictions for the season in the comment section below for inclusion and discussion on the next episode. 

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The Stimulated Boredom: ‘Game of Thrones Edition’ podcast crew returns this week to bask in the low lights of Winterfell’s last night before the Army of the Dead arrives. We’re short our Fearless Leader this episode – so Pete and I do our best to serenade you with minute Westerosi details and frantic what-if theories of who might get resurrected (after they definitely die).

Also discussed on A Knight in the Seven Kingdoms:

• Dany’s Paranoia
• Sansa’s Dress
• The Big Woman
• Miserable Old Shits
• Arya’s Elevator Looks
• Winterfell is a Racist Shithole
• The Origin of Giantsbane
• Sword Fights & Sword Exchanges
• Fuck Tradition
• Beric’s Got One Life Left
• And More!

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to leave your comments, questions, and predictions for the season in the comment section below for inclusion and discussion on the next episode.

Follow Dana on Twitter
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Follow Pete on Twitter

The Stimulated Boredom: 'Game of Thrones Edition' podcast crew of Dana, Vanessa, and Peter are back for the final season, and we will be recapping each and every battle and backstab immediately following each episode!

This week we jump into the premiere episode of Season 8: 

• Homecoming
• Back in King's Landing
• How to Train Your Dragon
• Drogon Likes to Watch
• Jon Knows
• Cersei Loves Elephants
• Reunions Galore
• Jaime Sees Bran...Awkward
• Sansa and the Stinkeye
• My Name is Samwell Tarley, You Killed My Father, Prepare to Die
• And a Ton More!

We also cast our votes in the Death Pool, discussing who we think will survive, who we think will die, and who will win the Game of Thrones!

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to visit stimulatedboredom.com, and/or follow each of us online.

Dana on Twitter

Vanessa on Twitter

Peter on Twitter 
    

Join us for 90 minutes of exploring the ins and outs of becoming independent of cable, including the different available streaming services and devices. 

For your convenience, you can view our super simple process and service options below. Happy listening!

Step 1: Explore your Internet options with your local providers. The average household will need a 75 Mbps Internet connection to stream without interference, especially with multiple devices. Find the most cost-effective solution.

Step 2: Explore streaming services and devices. There are lots, and they all have different content offerings and user interfaces. Keep in mind your current technology ecosystem. For example, if you own Apple devices, then Apple TV will likely be the easiest transition. Whatever you choose, get your devices set-up before you cut the cord.

Step 3: BINGE WATCH IT ALL!!! There will be an adjustment to how you interact with your content and devices, but hopefully, it will be an improved experience at a lower cost.

Services
DIRECTV Now
Sling TV
Playstation Vue
YouTube TV
Hulu & Hulu Live
Amazon Prime Video & Prime Channels
Netflix

Devices
Fire TV
Roku
AppleTV
Android TV
Chromecast & Chromecast Ultra
HD Antennas

Burger King Net Neutrality Video referenced in the episode.

Winter is finally here.

“The Dragon and the Wolf” is everything we imagined it could be. Yet somewhere in the midst of Viserion’s magical blue fire destroying the wall and the Night King playing jockey, it felt like it sold its soul to convenience and a Disney score.

On this week's 'Game of Thrones' discussion: Two living Targaryens. Two sad Dragons. Two damaged Starks. Two blue eyes. One Night King. One episode remains.