‘Game of Thrones’ Podcast: The Cost of Moving the Mountain

Before there was the Mountain, there was the Mountain. And before that one? Another Mountain.

Three men have played the giant-sized Game of Thrones villain over the course of the HBO series: Hafthor Bjornsson as the current and most enduring iteration of the monstrous man occasionally known as Robert Strong, Ian Whyte as the show’s Gregor Clegane for season two, and the one who started it all: Conan Stevens, whose first name is fitting given his barbarian-esque stature.

This original version of the Mountain that Rides lives up to his name from the moment we first lay eyes upon him, in the fourth episode of Thrones’ first season, “Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things.” Toward the end of the hour, the elder Clegane brother kills another man in a jousting competition, a freak accident that leaves a piece of wooden lance lodged in the rival knight’s throat … 

Unless it wasn’t a freak accident.

In the latest episode of “Winter Was Here,” the Game of Thrones rewatch podcast from Post Show Recaps co-hosts Rob Cesternino (of Survivor and Rob Has a Podcast fame) and THR‘s Westeros guru Josh Wigler (that’s me!), we’re returning to the day that Ser Hugh of the Vale (Jefferson Hall) faced off against the Mountain, and lost his life for his troubles. Was it just an act of brutal violence, which typically comes with the territory when Gregor Clegane rides into the scene? Or was there more to this killing than meets the eye?

Other topics covered during this week’s podcast include:

• Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) arriving at Castle Black, and very quickly showing signs of the man who will one day win over the heart of a wildling;

• How Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and his friends’ defense of Samwell foreshadows one of the most gruesome deaths of the fourth season;

• A closer look at how Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) introduces himself to the Stark sisters, and how this first interaction has become more nuanced following the events of season seven;

• Returning to one of Arya Stark’s (Maisie Williams) least famous quotes, which suddenly reared its head in season seven during a chance encounter on the Kingsroad;

• Returning to one of Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) most famous quotes, an epic moment that’s still as much fun now as it was back in season one;

• Bronn (Jerome Flynn) makes his long-awaited debut, in a quiet but clever scene toward the end of the episode that tells a lot about the character’s future stories;

• Hodor! No, really, it’s not just fun to say, it’s also the character’s first major scene of the series;

• And more!

Listen to the podcast in the player below:

Make sure you don’t miss an episode of “Winter Was Here” by subscribing to the show on iTunes or your podcast catcher of choice. Send in your comments and questions using the podcast’s email address got@postshowrecaps.com or our feedback form. Keep checking THR.com/GameOfThrones for news, interviews, theories and more.