Stole My Line - A Fireside Film Podcast

And one of the players leaves the game… but was he even a player? Grant and Drew continue their reactions to season 3 of House of the Dragon. Is Rhaenyra losing her grip with the Hightowers?
 
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Drew's Letterboxd
 
Grant's Blu-ray of the Week 
Drew's Blu-ray of the Week
Stole My Line Essentials 

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Chapters 
  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (00:35) - RIP Criston Cole
  • (03:05) - Slow Pacing?
  • (05:28) - Ormund & Daeron
  • (06:16) - Rhaenyra & Alicent
  • (08:06) - Detective Daemon
  • (10:42) - The Velaryons
  • (13:14) - Coming Up & Take a break…
 
 
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Creators and Guests

Host
Drew McKinney
Co-host and co-founder of Stole My Line - A Fireside Film Podcast.
Host
Grant Crenshaw
Co-host and co-founder of Stole My Line - A Fireside Film Podcast.

What is Stole My Line - A Fireside Film Podcast?

Stole My Line is a film podcast unlike any other; yes, your hosts Grant and Drew talk about movies, but they do so with smoke in their eyes, cicadas in the background, and rain on the horizon. Join in as they review new releases and discuss the greatest films ever made.

# 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
[00:13:27 - 00:13:30] What you should do or leaving it's a five-star review, of course
[00:13:30 - 00:13:34] You'll see a bunch of spider-man episodes that have come out recently
[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
[00:13:45 - 00:13:51] We're doing a spoiler-free brand-new day review that'll probably drop either late Wednesday night or on Thursday
[00:13:51 - 00:13:55] Yep, then we're going to do an in-depth brand-new day review on Saturday
[00:13:55 - 00:13:57] And we got everything else going on
[00:13:57 - 00:14:03] We just dropped an avatar a the last airbender movie review we did with my brother, which was awesome
[00:14:03 - 00:14:07] So if you're into any of that stuff, we got you you're into HBO
[00:14:07 - 00:14:14] Just in general we got lanterns reviews coming up. We have clay face. We have the doomsday dune
[00:14:14 - 00:14:19] We have a bunch of RC movies that are coming out. I'm super excited about I know it's it's gonna get really fun this year
[00:14:19 - 00:14:23] Anything and everything pop culture or cinema related. We got you
[00:14:23 - 00:14:25] We have some stuff cooking too if you're stole my line fan
[00:14:25 - 00:14:31] We're working on some stuff that might be revealed soon, so we have lots of things in the pipeline
[00:14:31 - 00:14:37] Yeah, so all you guys do is hit that subscribe button. Yep comment below your favorite house the dragon character
[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