# The Kingmaker's Decline: House of the Dragon 3.6 - Fireside Discussion
# Transcribed 2026-07-28 13:37
# Detected language: en (confidence 1.00)

[00:00:00 - 00:00:06] Spoiler alert for House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6. Yep. Click off right now if you don't want spoilers
[00:00:07 - 00:00:12] Sir Kristen Cole is dead. It's true and Drew. Did you feel anything? Not really
[00:00:13 - 00:00:15] Roll intro
[00:00:15 - 00:00:29] Welcome back to stole my line a fireside film podcast where we are reacting to house of the dragon
[00:00:29 - 00:00:34] I'm Grant and I'm Drew they're talking about yeah episode 6 of house of the dragon season 3
[00:00:34 - 00:00:40] I guess sir Kristen Cole is dead. That's like the first thing we need to talk about. It's true. And so it opens with
[00:00:41 - 00:00:49] Yeah, I didn't really feel anything. I mean, I think there's one reason of that particularly and is that we have had
[00:00:50 - 00:00:53] Him do nothing for basically a whole season now
[00:00:53 - 00:00:59] Well, it feels like a whole season at least and like yeah, he started fighting a bunch of people in the Riverlands the past two episodes
[00:00:59 - 00:01:04] But his purpose there didn't really seem that great either. It just feels like
[00:01:05 - 00:01:07] The
[00:01:08 - 00:01:12] Biggest crawl ever to his death which should have been an epic moment
[00:01:13 - 00:01:18] I'm not even epic, but like at the moment needed to have a little punch. Yeah, okay
[00:01:18 - 00:01:22] Even the self punch is good word even the scene itself was like
[00:01:23 - 00:01:28] So subverted and like sometimes this can be effective in storytelling
[00:01:28 - 00:01:33] I think like having a subvert of death. Okay, but I hear it didn't work for me. Yeah
[00:01:33 - 00:01:35] I think I
[00:01:35 - 00:01:40] Don't know the problems a little bit two-fold, but I think the biggest issue is like
[00:01:42 - 00:01:44] Kristen Cole. Yeah, we don't like him
[00:01:44 - 00:01:50] But we were also the point where I don't really even hate Christian Cole. I know he's like yeah, that's the distinction
[00:01:50 - 00:01:56] I want to make I'm just annoyed by him like the vibe I got when he died was like good riddance like
[00:01:57 - 00:01:59] Good, he's dead. I don't really care
[00:02:00 - 00:02:06] Drew I know you haven't seen Game of Thrones, but that's true when a certain Prince dies in Game of Thrones
[00:02:08 - 00:02:11] Let's just say a certain Baratheon slash Lannister
[00:02:11 - 00:02:14] No, I'm not gonna say it drew I'm not gonna do it
[00:02:14 - 00:02:21] That's like a sweet death. I'm like yes. He deserved that. I hate that character, right and this is like
[00:02:21 - 00:02:25] I don't really even hate him. You're like, it's like I didn't hate him. I didn't like him
[00:02:26 - 00:02:29] I wasn't really annoyed. It was just kind of like oh, he's he's there
[00:02:29 - 00:02:33] No, he might have just deserved that death, but like when we open the episode with it
[00:02:33 - 00:02:39] I kind of feel like huh, okay, like he's dead now. Yeah, I mean so I don't know if that was the intended effect
[00:02:39 - 00:02:45] I don't really hate that. He's dead. No, we're just commenting on how we felt about the death
[00:02:45 - 00:02:47] Yeah, I mean
[00:02:47 - 00:02:49] So ends the kingmaker. Yep
[00:02:49 - 00:02:51] And that's that that's that
[00:02:52 - 00:02:57] So let us know your thoughts on his death and if it was executed well, thanks for tuning in to stole my lot now
[00:02:57 - 00:03:00] I'm just kidding. There's more we have more. There's an hour more. Yeah
[00:03:01 - 00:03:04] There's more episode that happens. I kind of wrote down a brief description
[00:03:04 - 00:03:09] But do you want to just dive into stuff that really stuck out to you? The biggest thing that stuck out to me here?
[00:03:11 - 00:03:16] Because again and we kind of got some flack on this on the last episode
[00:03:16 - 00:03:21] Where people are like you're hating on a slow political thriller for being a slow political thriller
[00:03:21 - 00:03:24] Which is valid, but also
[00:03:26 - 00:03:30] I don't know I think the execution of this show is slow maybe intentionally or not
[00:03:32 - 00:03:34] But that is
[00:03:34 - 00:03:39] Fine I guess yeah, I think here's where I've landed on this because I like House of the dragon
[00:03:39 - 00:03:42] I am enjoying it people mistook are
[00:03:43 - 00:03:44] maybe
[00:03:44 - 00:03:50] Slight quarrel with this slow pace that the past three or four episodes have had they must took that for
[00:03:51 - 00:03:55] Like we didn't like the show right or we're hating on the episodes like I thought they were good episodes
[00:03:55 - 00:04:00] It's just like they were slower episodes and it wasn't my taste
[00:04:00 - 00:04:06] But I think this is where I've landed is if you've seen game of thrones, which Drew has not
[00:04:07 - 00:04:09] There's a storyline with brand the broken
[00:04:09 - 00:04:14] And for about three seasons brand just walks around in the woods
[00:04:15 - 00:04:21] Like some stuff that happens is interesting before about three seasons. He does kind of nothing and
[00:04:23 - 00:04:25] This is very different
[00:04:25 - 00:04:29] But watching Allison and Helena this season for example
[00:04:30 - 00:04:32] Circus and cold this season
[00:04:32 - 00:04:35] Even to a lesser extent Amon's
[00:04:35 - 00:04:38] They've kind of just stayed in the same place for a while
[00:04:38 - 00:04:42] I'm just having the same conversation over and over again and like stuff happens
[00:04:42 - 00:04:49] But it happens really slow and so what it feels like at times is that we're watching three different iterations of brand storyline from game of thrones
[00:04:50 - 00:04:52] Anytime brand was on the screen and game of thrones. I was kind of like
[00:04:53 - 00:04:59] Which is like not the most riveting thing to watch even though the end of these arcs are probably going to be very riveting
[00:04:59 - 00:05:02] Yes, like I I'm okay with the slow burn
[00:05:02 - 00:05:07] We're just commenting episode by episode right also people will note brand's arc in
[00:05:08 - 00:05:13] The books like game of thrones books are also kind of that way you get to a brand chapter and Cali well this sucks like
[00:05:14 - 00:05:19] He's walking around the woods. Uh, so like yes, is it faithful to the source material? Sure
[00:05:19 - 00:05:25] Same thing with house the dragon. We're just commenting on like the pacing of the story more than anything. Yeah, but
[00:05:26 - 00:05:30] Things have stuck out to me here. Okay. I thought Ormond. Yes
[00:05:30 - 00:05:34] Very watchable very watchable and very interesting. I love Darren
[00:05:34 - 00:05:37] I think it's just because a bit of an evanane's worth by the way, but I love him
[00:05:38 - 00:05:41] I think it's great. He is still one of the most sympathetic characters
[00:05:41 - 00:05:47] Yeah, for sure and the fact that he has tension here is interesting where he's like I don't like who I am
[00:05:47 - 00:05:51] Yes, I'm like that's the first time anyone in this show has said that
[00:05:52 - 00:05:56] What the heck I mean kind of yeah, it's like I don't like who I am with you know Ormond
[00:05:56 - 00:06:00] I like who I am with you Gwain. Don't leave me and Gwain's like see ya. I'm leaving peace out
[00:06:01 - 00:06:07] But yeah, uh, I think that section of it was good. I also think
[00:06:08 - 00:06:13] We get a little bit of traction between Runira and holy not Helena. Sorry Allison Allison
[00:06:13 - 00:06:18] But also Helena in there. Yeah, what do you think about that? This is the most intriguing part of the episode to me
[00:06:18 - 00:06:24] And I get like that relationship is the show if their relationship doesn't work or is slow
[00:06:24 - 00:06:26] I think the show is slow and doesn't work
[00:06:26 - 00:06:33] Which is kind of a my critique of the last two episodes ish and to a lesser extent kind of two seasons. Yeah. Yeah
[00:06:34 - 00:06:39] But this episode is great. I think the setup here is incredible
[00:06:39 - 00:06:44] I think forcing Allison into this catch-22 of like either you go kill your son or I
[00:06:45 - 00:06:49] Will kill your daughter in future grandson or daughter potentially. Yes
[00:06:51 - 00:06:54] So that's super interesting when you're a
[00:06:55 - 00:06:58] Is becoming more and more deadly
[00:06:59 - 00:07:01] Which is interesting to watch a little like a mad
[00:07:02 - 00:07:04] Targaryen, huh?
[00:07:04 - 00:07:07] That's like a little through line there. Um interesting
[00:07:08 - 00:07:14] No, she is losing. I think a little bit of the grip on like what it means to be queen or like she's using
[00:07:15 - 00:07:17] She's trying to meet her ends by any means. Yeah
[00:07:18 - 00:07:22] That's just like kind of what happened sometimes with power super interesting
[00:07:22 - 00:07:25] I was kind of disappointed and a lot of shows do this and it kind of pisses me off
[00:07:25 - 00:07:31] You set up something that's a big cliffhanger in your episode five, right? Yes
[00:07:31 - 00:07:36] And then instantly resolve it in six they get trapped in the tunnel the first scene is them being found
[00:07:36 - 00:07:41] Well, okay, I I see where you're coming from but I actually disagree. Okay, because I think
[00:07:42 - 00:07:45] That moment at the end of the episode which like yes
[00:07:45 - 00:07:47] It could have they could have stayed in the tunnel for a long year for sure
[00:07:47 - 00:07:50] But that kind of would have sucked to watch that would have. Yeah, that's fair
[00:07:50 - 00:07:54] But I when they got stuck in the tunnels like man, they're caught like that's what I
[00:07:55 - 00:08:00] This is why they were putting the tunnel from like a plot perspective. So yes, that's fine for me
[00:08:00 - 00:08:03] I didn't mind it, but I see where you're coming from. Yeah. No, I think I disagree with myself actually
[00:08:05 - 00:08:10] I will say another kind of thing that's going on in this show is Damon
[00:08:10 - 00:08:14] kind of on his own side quest again doing his own thing and like
[00:08:14 - 00:08:19] You know, he's kind of investigating the gold cloaks and you have the faceless men or at least that's what's implied
[00:08:20 - 00:08:25] Is that those are who are killing the gold cloaks, which is interesting? I think that's a cool storyline
[00:08:26 - 00:08:31] Feels a little bit like how is this going to weave into the whole grand story as someone who has not read the book?
[00:08:31 - 00:08:34] I don't really know. Yeah, so I'm interested
[00:08:34 - 00:08:37] But also Damon's on a side quest again
[00:08:39 - 00:08:47] This is happening more and more. Yeah, I am also interested. I thought the scene where he met one of the faceless men
[00:08:47 - 00:08:55] Super interesting. There's lots of tension there that I liked. I thought everything the faceless men had to say was awesome
[00:08:55 - 00:09:00] I thought not sure if they're the faceless men or just faceless men who anyway, I don't know
[00:09:00 - 00:09:05] I haven't we just watched the episode. So I thought it was good. I thought it was ominous. I'm like, this is intriguing
[00:09:06 - 00:09:14] But also I don't really care about the whole thing. I think it like makes sense as a good play from Ormond
[00:09:15 - 00:09:21] Like it it de-sabilizes King's sure thing and we're near the script like I think it's an interesting plot point
[00:09:22 - 00:09:25] I'm curious to see where it goes. Yeah, so yeah
[00:09:25 - 00:09:31] But I think the scenes like with Damon where he like kind of he kills that guy and then he like
[00:09:31 - 00:09:38] Beats off and also like I'm sorry and he's like gets beat into the ground like is interesting. Yeah
[00:09:39 - 00:09:44] But yeah, he just kind of feels like Damon has been a little bit on the sidelines for most of
[00:09:44 - 00:09:49] The season and that's okay. It does feel like that. So I thought
[00:09:50 - 00:09:55] Ormond when they were met by the Baratheons and then they weren't actually the Baratheons. Yeah, sure. It's cool
[00:09:56 - 00:10:01] Look at you knowing house names. I know I am learning. Yeah, you are you are
[00:10:01 - 00:10:08] No, yeah, that whole like attempted murder scene was very interesting going stepping in being like these guys are assassins
[00:10:08 - 00:10:11] I know these are not people who they say they are so
[00:10:11 - 00:10:14] But that was a cool scene. I mean like there was good stuff that happened in this episode
[00:10:14 - 00:10:17] I think this is one of the better episodes of the season for sure my opinion
[00:10:17 - 00:10:22] I think some episodes can like move the chess pieces around and be really boring
[00:10:23 - 00:10:30] This episode moves the chess pieces around in a relatively intriguing way and also like we're about to wrap up the season
[00:10:30 - 00:10:33] So if House of the Dragon doesn't repeat its season two mistakes
[00:10:33 - 00:10:36] The end of the season could be really really cool and really really good. Yep
[00:10:36 - 00:10:41] We'll see if it just kind of leaves you on a well. That's the end of the season moment
[00:10:41 - 00:10:43] We'll see also Alan and
[00:10:44 - 00:10:48] Damon's daughter, right? Oh, it's either Bella or
[00:10:49 - 00:10:54] Let me just look at our member. Yes. That was interesting. They like started making out. Yeah
[00:10:55 - 00:11:02] Fair enough and then like there's a little bit of tension still kind of between Coralus and Raniera and like that is still
[00:11:03 - 00:11:06] Injected into the episode and then at the end Coralus gets captured. Well, it's captured
[00:11:07 - 00:11:09] What do you think about that? I?
[00:11:10 - 00:11:13] Thought it was interesting. I couldn't really remember what Coralus was doing
[00:11:14 - 00:11:16] Yeah, so I was like why is he in the woods with a bunch of soldiers?
[00:11:17 - 00:11:23] He's been like fighting a bunch of pirate people or something. Yeah, that's okay inviting people
[00:11:23 - 00:11:29] Yeah, I thought that was interesting. Yes. Also. Uh, it's Baylor. I was right Baylor. Okay
[00:11:30 - 00:11:32] But yeah, they kiss and like
[00:11:33 - 00:11:35] Alan I like Alan. He's like a noble guy
[00:11:35 - 00:11:40] I like Alan too, but then I have moments when I watch Darren and I watch Alan and I'm like, huh?
[00:11:41 - 00:11:47] Well, noble good people don't always make it too far in Game of Thrones. So it's a tragedy. It is a tragedy
[00:11:47 - 00:11:53] Who's burned? Who's toasty man? Amen a guy a gun's not really in this episode
[00:11:53 - 00:11:58] Which that was also crazy because last episode he had a lot of spotlight on him
[00:11:58 - 00:12:05] I do think that from what I know again, I haven't read the book, but I know vaguely what happens with certain characters
[00:12:05 - 00:12:08] I know that Aegon is a big player throughout the rest of the show
[00:12:09 - 00:12:12] And so I'm okay to like kind of wait on him a little bit
[00:12:13 - 00:12:16] But that's just somebody who knows what happens with his storyline a little bit
[00:12:16 - 00:12:22] So maybe I shouldn't be his forgiving, but I am well, I was intrigued because he revealed to
[00:12:24 - 00:12:28] The leader of whatever Lannisters you're talking about the Lannisters that he was King
[00:12:28 - 00:12:33] Yes, and then we just kind of don't touch that which is fine. Yeah, but yeah
[00:12:35 - 00:12:36] So I think
[00:12:36 - 00:12:40] I'm okay with this one being a little bit of a slow burn
[00:12:41 - 00:12:45] But it's still interesting and we set up a great last two episodes. Hopefully yep. I agree
[00:12:45 - 00:12:50] I don't have any other thoughts on this episode. I don't either like it was good. It's good. I liked it
[00:12:50 - 00:12:55] It was a brisk hour episode so which is not something I can say for every house the dragon episode
[00:12:55 - 00:12:59] That is true. Also. It kind of helps me not to watch like three back-to-back to catch us
[00:13:00 - 00:13:04] It doesn't feel like three hours of talking in dark rooms. It's so brutal
[00:13:04 - 00:13:06] Yeah, I'm excited to see where the rest of the season goes
[00:13:06 - 00:13:12] I like them big players right now with I mean we got Wormand and then everybody else. Yep
[00:13:12 - 00:13:17] So it's interesting, but let's know what you thought of house the dragon season 3 episode 6
[00:13:17 - 00:13:22] Anything else you want to add drew? I do not what do we have coming up in the next?
[00:13:23 - 00:13:27] Weeks of our lives if you just like take a little glance at our channel after hitting that subscribe button
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[00:13:34 - 00:13:37] You know be like, huh? Is there a new spider-man movie coming out? And we'll say yes
[00:13:37 - 00:13:41] Yes, there is there is it's called spider-man brand-new day, and you've probably heard of it
[00:13:41 - 00:13:45] Yep, so we're talking about all the live-action spider-man movies leading up to that
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[00:13:51 - 00:13:55] Yep, then we're going to do an in-depth brand-new day review on Saturday
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[00:14:37 - 00:14:41] Oh, that's a good one. Who's yours? Actually, it's gonna be Damon. Yeah
[00:14:43 - 00:14:49] Hmm if I can't say Damon and I can't say Darren because I'm biased I will say
[00:14:53 - 00:14:55] Well, take a break