Episode 5

Published May 17, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey Guys,

Again love the podcast. Keep up the good work.

I have mixed emotions about this episode. I’m shocked at the extent to which Dany went Mad Queen on King’s Landing. I knew when we were in trouble when we found out that the mother of dragons had not eaten in two days. That was the foreboding “oh shit” moment for me, but I couldn’t help feeling like the Mad Queen turn felt a little rushed.

I can understand a few more dragon fire runs once the main battle is over to blow off some steam, take out a few towers of the Red Keep to show you mean business, but she was in full Hiroshima mode. Holy shit! There is no justification for a decent leader burning half the city like she did for future generations of peace. Were things really that bad for the common folk under Cersei that half the city needs to be burned? Maybe burning up King’s Landing will keep Dany in power longer out of fear, but to me, that does not mean she is a good ruler. A good ruler would have done just enough to invoke fear and then let the common folk live. So I can buy the argument that Dany roasted the shit out of King’s Landing as a power play and maybe for some military reason, but please don’t try to tell me she somehow Ghandi and this is going to lead to a lasting peace. Here is a quote for you guys that came to mind after listening to the Instacast – “For hatred can never put an end to hatred; love alone can. This is an unalterable law”. – The Buddha Dhammapada verse 5

Also, I half-jokingly blame Jon. If you are dating a hot chick with an army and a dragon who you then find out is your aunt. Take one for the team and let her down slowly, especially after she just saved you and your families ass from dead zombies. I’m annoyed with Jon for being such a prude and turning down Dany’s last booty call.

On the other hand, I like Dany turning Mad Queen because it felt like it was the hyper-realistic storytelling that I love from Game of Thrones in that we all have a tendency to lash out and revert back to our baseline character under times of stress and loss. I also like that the theme that Dany is a “different ruler” came crashing down in fiery flames as it has done for some many aspiring leaders who find out the game has changed them much more then they have changed the game. Game of Thrones surprised me yet again. I didn’t think the show would have the balls to go full Mad Queen. Thought they may get caught up in girl power commercialization that I have started to see in movies (i.e.Captain Marvel). Don’t get me wrong. Captain Marvel kick’s ass and as a father of a daughter I want my daughter to see strong women kick ass. But sometimes women kicking ass in movies and always doing the right thing feels like a money grab and doesn’t feel authentic. Dany on Mothers Day no less, went full flame on, and as fucked up as roasting a city is, it wasn’t a cheesy gimmick to show off girl power. On some deep visceral level, it felt authentic. Powerful women can fuck up too, just like the men.

Cheers,

Dave from Tampa

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