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Bend the Knee: A Song of Ice and Fire Podcast

Bend the knee and join us each week as we re-read the epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. Each episode will contain a small council meeting for updates on the HBO show, House of the Dragon, Winds of Winter, and GRR’s ‘Not a Blog’. We also include a short history lesson from A World of Ice and Fire. Finally, we take an in-depth look at each chapter of the series. This is a book club without banners, all are welcome to join! Night gathers, and now our read begins …

  1. Ep. 216: - Daenerys VI | A Storm of Swords | "Two sides of a coin"

    2D AGO

    Ep. 216: - Daenerys VI | A Storm of Swords | "Two sides of a coin"

    Daenerys sits in the great pyramid of Meereen, her troops having conquered the city after the men she sent into the sewers opened the gates. She meets an envoy from Astapor, who represents King Cleon the great, a former butcher who now rules Astapor, supposedly in Dany’s name. But the envoy suggests that King Cleon wishes to marry Dany, and that the men she left to rule Astapor have all been deposed. Cleon has amassed new slaves, and is beginning to train them as Unsullied, and Daenerys is dismayed that all she has done to free Astapor of slavery is coming undone. Finally, she sends for Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan, wishing the two had died in the sewers, but the two knights are greater warriors than even that suicide quest. Barristan speaks of things Daenerys was never aware of, that her father was mad, and that Viserys, even as a young boy, seemed to be more like his father than his brother Rhaegar. The old knight tells her,  The Targaryens have always danced too close to madness. King Jaehaerys once told me that madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land. She absolves Barristan, and he swears his sword to her cause. But Ser Jorah does not beg forgiveness, and remains defensive, insisting that he has done nothing wrong. Daenerys then exiles the knight who was once her closest friend and protector, threatening to kill him if she ever sees him again. Later, Daario warns her that she should not have banished Jorah, and that she may come to regret not keeping him near or having him killed outright. When her advisors urge her to move on, Daenerys decides that she must learn to rule if she ever wishes to sit the throne of Westeros, and she declares that she will stay in Meereen and rule as queen. Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/ ***BTK UPDATES*** Subscribe to our YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/c/BendtheKnee If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee EMAIL: BTKcast@gmail.com  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 2m
  2. Ep. 215: - Tyrion X | A Storm of Swords | "A Trial by Combat"

    JAN 8

    Ep. 215: - Tyrion X | A Storm of Swords | "A Trial by Combat"

    Tyrion wakes up in the morning and readies himself to go to the trial. He considers admitting guilt or demanding a trial by battle. He asks his squire if he thinks that Tyrion did it. Podrick hesitates and sputters.  Cersei's last witness turns out to be Shae. She accuses Tyrion and Sansa of the murder. She tells the assembled court that she was an innocent girl before Tyrion abused her and turned her into his whore. When Shae lies how Tyrion made her call him "Giant of Lannister", the public starts to laugh. Furiously, Tyrion tells them to take Shae away and let him confess. Instead he demands a trial by battle. As Cersei's champion is the formidable Ser Gregor Clegane, she insist that the judges grant Tyrion's request. Mace Tyrell, one of the judges, asks Tyrion who his champion is. To the consternation of the court it is Oberyn Martell, another judge. Tywin is angry but grants Tyrion's request and sets the date for the battle on the next morrow.  The next morning Tyrion is given leave to visit his champion. Oberyn plans to fight with a spear and use only light armor. He specifically warns Tyrion not to touch the weapon.[1] He is full of confidence but Tyrion is not sure of his choice of weapon. Oberyn invites Tyrion to go to Dorne after the trial and talks about crowning Myrcella. Then he changes the subject to the time he visited Lannisport with his mother and sister.  His mother and Tyrion's mother were friends and were planning on marrying Jaime to Elia and/or Cersei to Oberyn. When they arrived at Casterly Rock, Joanna had died and Tywin refused both suggestions and said that Cersei was intended for Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Later Elia married prince Rhaegar. Oberyn thinks that this is why Tywin had Elia killed. [2] Oberyn proclaims that today he will have justice for Elia and her children.  The combat is held in the outer ward. As soon as the fight begins, Oberyn starts to accuse Gregor of Elia's rape and murder. By using a spear as his weapon Oberyn has the advantage of being able to reach his enemy, and because he is only lightly armored he is fast enough to remain out of Gregor's reach. Oberyn manages to wound his enemy severely, disarming him and knocking him onto the ground. Before Oberyn can finish his opponent, Gregor grabs Oberyn by the leg and drags him down. With his bare hands Gregor smashes Oberyn's teeth, crushes his head, and kills him, all while admiting to the murder and rape of Elia and the murder of her children. Tyrion realizes that he is condemned when the Gold Cloaks take him to the black cells. Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/ ***BTK UPDATES*** Subscribe to our YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/c/BendtheKnee If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee EMAIL: BTKcast@gmail.com  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    46 min
  3. Ep. 213: - Sansa VI | A Storm of Swords | "Everyone wants something"

    11/21/2025

    Ep. 213: - Sansa VI | A Storm of Swords | "Everyone wants something"

    Sansa is alarmed to discover that Littlefingerhas no intention of bringing her home; instead she is being taken to the Vale of Arryn. They land at the tiny tower of House Baelish that Petyr is lord of, and he stresses that Sansa must use a new name, calling her Alayne Stone so that no one will know who she really is.  She learns that Oswell is actually the Kettleblacks' father, and Littlefinger leads her to discern that it was the Queen of Thornswho poisoned Joffrey when she took one of the amethysts from Sansa's hair net. All the plans were arranged by Littlefinger, who met Lady Olenna when he brokered the alliance that joined Highgarden and House Lannister.  Soon after, Lysa Arryn arrives with a small retinue, and she insists that Petyr wed her now at his tower instead of the Eyrie. Lysa wants to make another child with Petyr, after her father aborted the first child years ago. A drunken Marillion tries to seduce Sansa that night, but Lothor Bruneforces him away. The next morning, Petyr tells Alayne that Lysa now knows the girl's identity. Lysa does not like having Sansa around, although she does wish to marry her niece to her son, Robert. Jimmy: https://www.youtube.com/@ChattingWithNutts Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/ ***BTK UPDATES*** Subscribe to our YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/c/BendtheKnee If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee EMAIL: BTKcast@gmail.com  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    56 min
  4. Ep. 212: - Jaime VIII | A Storm of Swords | "There were other debts to pay"

    11/14/2025

    Ep. 212: - Jaime VIII | A Storm of Swords | "There were other debts to pay"

    Jaime is looking through the White Book, the history of the Kingsguard, updated throughout the ages by the Lord Commander. We learn much about Barristan Selmy, who gained the title ‘the Bold’ when he was just ten, riding as a mystery knight in a tourney at Blackhaven, where he was unmasked by the Prince of Dragonflies. Barristan was knighted at sixteen by King Aegon V, and named to the Kingsguard in his 23rd year by Gerold Hightower.  The deeds and legends of Barristan the Bold are not lost on Jaime. He recalls the awesome fight between the Sword of the Morning and the Smiling Knight of the Kingswood Brotherhood, and thinks of his own childhood wishes: That boy had wanted to be Arthur Dayne, but someplace along the way he had become the Smiling Knight instead.  Jaime then receives the five Kingsguard currently under his command, and tests each of them. He mocks Boros Blount for his cowardice and inability to protect Prince Tommen, and tells him that from here on in, Blount will taste all the King’s food. Blount storms from the room, and Jaime goes after Osmund Kettleblack. Disgusted that an upjumped sellsword with no reputation has been named to the Kingsguard, Jaime at least concedes that the man probably knows how to fight.  Having heard the details of the Kingsguard's willingness to beat Sansa Stark on Joffrey's orders, Jaime commands Meryn Trant to temper his obedience to the king while the king remains a boy, and to obey the Queen Regent, the Hand, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard instead. He gets Balon Swann to swear he will remain true to the Crown, even though his father and brother’s allegiance are in question.  Lastly, he questions Loras Tyrell, and finds the Knight of Flowers as cocky as he himself was in his youth. Jaime asks Loras about the supposed ghost of Renly Baratheon that fought at the Battle of the Blackwater at the van of his father's forces, obtaining an admission that it was Garlan Tyrell inside the armor. Then he confronts Loras about Brienne, and commands him to judge the woman fairly, on his honour as a knight.  Considering Jaime’s words about Renly’s death, Ser Loras nearly breaks down, stating, "When I saw him all bloody, with her fled ... if she’s innocent, then Robar and Emmon…" Jaime absolves him of killing the two Rainbow Guard in a rage, and then sits alone in the room, contemplating the other debts he still has to pay. Jimmy: https://twitter.com/theFLOCKAVELI Matt's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/supergainsbros The reread will continue! Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/BendtheKneePodcast/ ***BTK UPDATES*** Subscribe to our YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/c/BendtheKnee If you'd like to support the show, gain access to additional WESTEROS content, or LISTEN LIVE then hit us up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee EMAIL: BTKcast@gmail.com  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/bendtheknee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    40 min

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About

Bend the knee and join us each week as we re-read the epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. Each episode will contain a small council meeting for updates on the HBO show, House of the Dragon, Winds of Winter, and GRR’s ‘Not a Blog’. We also include a short history lesson from A World of Ice and Fire. Finally, we take an in-depth look at each chapter of the series. This is a book club without banners, all are welcome to join! Night gathers, and now our read begins …

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