‘Game of Thrones’ Podcast: The First Dragon Death, Revisited

“Fire can’t kill a dragon.”

Tell that to Viserys (Harry Lloyd), closely linked with dragon lore due to his Valyrian roots as a Targaryen, nevertheless murdered via a hot vat of gold to the face. “A crown for a king,” the hulking Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) snarled as he poured the molten metal upon the sniveling brother of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), signaling the first major main character death of Game of Thrones — and certainly not the last, by any stretch of the imagination.

Dany’s proclamation about her brother’s suitability as a dragon notwithstanding, a closer look at the Viserys death scene leaves one to wonder what it might mean for the future. Through seven seasons of Thrones, we know that Viserys isn’t the only dragon of sorts to die: Viserion, one of Daenerys‘ three fire-breathing “children,” was murdered by the Night King in the penultimate episode of the penultimate season, resurrected as an undead monster moments later.

As we start moving toward the final six installments of the series, it’s worth wondering how exactly Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and the other forces of humanity can possibly stop the coming onslaught of the White Walkers, especially now that they have a dragon in tow. But does Viserys‘ death at the hands of Drogo foreshadow the death of Viserion at the maw of Drogon — an epic head-to-head battle of the beasts that might prove once and for all that fire can indeed defeat a dragon?

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 death of Viserys, one of the hallmark moments of season one, and whether it might have added levels of resonance once Game of Thrones reaches its final resting point. 

Other topics covered during this week’s podcast include:

• Revisiting Bronn (Jerome Flynn) fighting for Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) in the show’s first trial by combat, one of the best scenes of the first season;

• How the relationship between Theon (Alfie Allen) and Robb (Richard Madden) looks now, in light of the season seven relationship between Theon and Jon;

• Has Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) called her shot on her own final words, should the fateful occasion of her death ever come?

• What Bran’s (Isaac Hempstead Wright) visions in Winterfell could suggest about the Night King’s next moves in season seven;

• The surreal first sighting of Beric Dondarrion, who is not played by Richard Dormer, at least not yet;

• 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.