SPOILERS LIE AHEAD!

[su_dropcap size=”5″]T[/su_dropcap]he cast of Game of Thrones assured us that this episode was gonna be crazy, and damned if they weren’t right.  “The Bells” greeted us with lots of death, destruction, and departure from long-established characters arcs.  This might be the most polarizing installment of this show’s most polarizing season.  A lot of this would’ve benefitted from less Usain Bolt from the writers and more…damn, I wish I could think of one marathon runner.  Anyway, I don’t mind the notion of Dany going Hollywood Hogan on us.  It’s kinda been baked into her storyline the whole time.  We just got there in a hurry.  And I’m gonna stick to guns that my bro Varys is too clever to be bested or broasted, and Tyrion is too savvy to let it come to that.  (Also, I think that kitchen girl was planning to poison Dany on behalf of Varys.  I suspect she still might.  You heard it here first.)

So, we drink two delicious reds for this episode:  The first is Lord Sandwich Cabernet, from Smith Story Wines. It’s a bold, balanced, lightly earthy Cab with jammy fruit all the way through.  We followed that up Bear Flag Zinfandel, a fun, fruity (but not jammy) wine that could liven up some Italian food or some you-time on the ol’ back porch.  Because the Mormont family has been wiped out this season, and their sigil is a bear…*sniff*…it just seemed appropriate.

Join us as we discuss “The Bells,” the fifth episode of Game of Thrones’ eighth season.  We also go over our predictions for the series finale.