The Occasionalists Podcast

Game of Thrones: Series Wrap Up Discussion

For the final time we set out to discuss one of tv's most historic shows and an entertainment staple of the last decade: Game of Thrones. 
We share how we became fans of the show, what it has meant to us personally and whether or not it occupies that top slot as our "favorite show of all time".
We dig into some of the show's strengths and weaknesses, talk about some problematic writing, characters and direction and offer fixes as well as our own vision for what Thrones could have been.
You'll also get some tv recommendations if you like Thrones, if you don't like Thrones and if you want something wildly different from Thrones. 
For this supersized episode we also bring in a special guest (is he shuffling papers or warding off attackers in the background, who knows!?) to help us chew on all that is GoT.

Thrones Final Season Review: The Iron Throne Pt 2

In part two of the episode, we dive into the season as a whole, ponder the biggest mistakes Weiss and Benioff made and offer some easy fixes and hand out our season awards. 
Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of the finale and the last season?
How about our season awards?
Let us know!

Thrones Final Season Review: The Iron Throne Pt 1

In part one of this extra large episode, we talk a lot about how the series wrapping up felt to each of us and whether or not we feel it was a fitting end to something very important to both of us.
We also dive into some symbolism, ancient mythology, Nazism and the things we liked, didn't like and were confounded by throughout the episode.

Thrones Final Season Review: The Last of the Starks and The Bells

On the heels of two of the best episodes of the entire series (in terms of character work and spectacle) Thrones followed up with a resounding pair of duds. There was however, great direction, great acting, great cinematography, excellent prop and costume work...so what's left that is rubbing people the wrong way? 
The writing. 
We chew over the odd, rushed decisions that have been more frequent in the last three seasons of the series but clearly came to a head in these episodes. 
With the finale on the horizon, are all of the missteps a cause for concern? 

Thrones Final Season Review: Knight of The Seven Kingdoms and The Long Night

A mega sized battle and a mega emotional conversations deserve a mega episode! 
Buckle up as we run the gamut of emotions along with our favorite characters over the course of two of the best episodes the series: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' and 'The Long Night.'
We discuss character pairings, conversations, unrequited love, character arcs, battle tactics and whether or not we could see anything.
It's long and fun journey, join us!

The Thrones Final Season Watch: Winterfell Review

Episode one of the pop culture phenomenon came and went with a lot hype, some sizzle, a dash of dragons and some revelations for a few of our favorite characters. 
But did it live up to our expectations? What was this premiere episodes' job? Was there anything that didn't land right or that we would change?
Find out all of this and more as we do a deep dive into "Winterfell."

Pregame of Thrones

IT'S ALMOST HERE! 
We are now just 4 days away from the final season of the show that has revolutionized TV and what spectacle means for the small screen. Accordingly, we are shifting our focus solely on Game of Thrones for the next several weeks.
There's a lot of ground to cover in this episode: some predictions, what Thrones means to the television landscape, the fan experience, our own life experiences, and a lot more.
Strap in and get ready for a wild few weeks!

Spring Sports 2019

Spring sports season is a busy one! NCAA Tournament is in full swing, MLB is starting up, the NBA playoffs are right around the corner and even the NFL is making headlines with some big free agency moves and the upcoming draft.
We cover it all (well, some of it) in this week's episode. We talk the waves the Browns are making, which NBA draft prospects we're looking forward to seeing in the tournament, touch on LeBron and his most recent free agent decision and debate what it's going to take to break the free agency system and payroll disparity in baseball.