The hosts love to attack “white men” and interspersed thinly veiled liberal talking points. The discussion about the show is pedestrian and not insightful.

I don’t know if my taste has changed but I remember really enjoying this podcast during the GOT days. I don’t know why they drag the beginning and take forever getting to the show recap. I have absolutely no problem with Davids actual analysis but the self involvement gets to be annoying.

David is awesome and so knowledgeable abt film making. Kim is an amazing replacement for Joanna R (SNAPS!!) who has clearly cut her teeth on some expert deep-dives. Thank you for your hard work and for highlighting/enhancing the experience.

Kim is 5 stars. Enjoy analysis and delivery. David is kind of annoying and I have to fast forward through the promo of his podcasts. Will keep listening though.

David and Kim, I appreciate your effort and throughly enjoyed this coverage of House of Dragons Season 1. I have some feedback for you! Many episodes of this podcast had segments of detailed explanations of certain consumer reviews/feedback. Usually they were less than favorable, of either the opinions you two expressed or of y’ll as podcasters. It would be incredible as a listener if you were to address these at the end of the podcasting episode. As a listener who minds my bloody business, and has more respect than these dopey negative people, it stresses me out to hear their negativity. I’d love the option of being able to hear your wonderful takes on the television episodes first before diving into trolls on the internet etc. I’m rooting for you two! Thank you!

Mostly enjoyable content. Usually stays on the show and book comparisons but for some reason David feels he has to inject modern real life politics and social commentary into the discussion. It’s a work of fiction based on a book not written in the current social climate. Maybe David could just stick to what happened in the show and leave politics and his need to make comparisons between show events and social events on his twitter timeline and not a recap show. Update after season 1 wrap up show. Basically nothing but “representation” talk. Reduced rating to a 2.

A dragon has three heads and so does this great pod: Dave, Kim, and the listener. I appreciate the differing perspectives and lack of cowing to the uber fans. If HOTD was flawless it would only help the pod - So you know you are getting an honest take! Keep it up! Great chemistry, Keep it going for season 2.

Great podcast for an in-depth recap of each episode. I enjoy David Chen’s nitpicking! Sometimes I miss Joanna Robinson but Kim has been great too. However I just wish anytime David addresses her she wouldn’t start her sentence with “Yeah, so…” it gets repetitive!

Kim is great. David, kudos for giving Kim a platform but he should shorten his rants and complete a thought faster without interrupting himself. Very frustrating. Repeating the rants over and over again is boring. I only listen to her what Kim has to say.

Very thoughtful and interesting commentary on HOTD.

Kim is great. David is good. Kim is on point. David often misses the point.

The hosts spend the first 15 to 20 minutes of each episode sycophantically praising each other and apologizing to listeners for previous errors, both real and imagined. The remainder of the show is a stale recap and review of HOTD as viewed through a twisted prism of wokeness. Strap in for half-witted takes on “the patriarchy” and, believe it or not, the show’s secret “pro-choice” agenda. Yikes. What an abortion.

This could be a great podcast, but it isn’t because David Chen complains about House of the Dragon so much. So I gave up on it. This podcast is about a TV show, not art. We all know it isn’t perfect. The last thing we want is to listen to someone whine about a show that we enjoy. What we want is more insight into a show that we already enjoy, and Kim does stick to that. If David doesn’t like HOTD, he shouldn’t do a recap podcast about it. He should have a separate podcast for reviewing shows for viewers who are deciding what to watch. That wouldmake more sense.

I am a longtime fan of Dave’s work and this is no different. Seeing the Decoding TV platform take off is a thrill because how can more Dave Chen be bad? It’s important to me to get honest and thoughtful perspectives about the media I consume, and Dave is unflinching in providing that. Kim is a great addition for House of the Dragon and I’d love to see more deep dives from her, bonus episodes, where she can share even more of her thoughts. Looking forward to more and following both of your work. Dave, if any listeners get you down, you can always revisit the unfiltered joy and wonder of the movie War Horse to salve the wounds. Matt

Dave’s analysis is often misguided because he somehow misses details that are right there on the screen and in the dialogue. I’ve tried to give this podcast a chance, but, frankly, it comes across like he isn’t fully paying attention when viewing each episode of the show, but then blames the writing for his confusion. No complaints about Kim. She is generally on point.

This is a good podcast, but for someone whose job it is to do a podcast about a show, David should really have the details of the show correct. You don’t need to have read the books to keep your characters straight. Kim is awesome and I love listening to her and her takes on everything, but David just brings the whole show down. He’s bumbling and rants about really mundane things. Seems like he is just wanting to hear his own voice. Make Kim the host!!

First, let me say, Kim Renfro and Joanna Robinson before her are dynamite. I wish they would do a podcast together, I could listen to them talk for hours. They are intelligent, insightful, funny and overall a joy. Indeed, their worst decision seems to be pairing up with David Chen. I feel sorry for TV writers when David decides to do a podcast about them. David’s discussion of shows (whether GOT, HOD or Westworld) is inconsistent at best. David frequently mistakes factual occurrences on the show and uses those factual inaccuracies as the basis for his opinions. When someone mentions that his bases are flawed, he simply hand waves it away and says “still, though…” and fails to acknowledge his own logical inconsistency. I’ve tried to listen to his podcasts on numerous occasions to get the benefit of Joanna or Kim, but I always walk away shaking my head - upset with myself for giving him another chance. Don’t make my mistake.

I really like David Chen. What he does in the film cast especially is great, but the stuff he chooses to harp on in this pod often times makes it unlistenable. The age debate in the most recent is 100 times worse than his time jump rants. The king is deteriorating because of his wounds from episode one. But even if you can’t grasp that concept, just use your imagination. Have fun watching an amazing show with phenomenal performances. I appreciate everything you do, but enough is enough at some point. Also not understanding the names is becoming massively frustrating. Write it down if that helps you, listening to you trying to figure it out the pod is boring. Kim, you fire, keep it up

Because we disagree with, we are malcontents? Wow

I have been listening to David Chen’s voice for many years and this is just another great way to hear it!

This podcast is excellent! I look forward to it every week.

Anything David Chen attaches himself to is A++, and the delightful Kim Renfro is essential bona-fide GOT historical gravy. I hope they find furure topics to discuss between HOTD seasons.

Kim… speak up more!!

(Read title)

I have listened to every GOT podcast with Dave & Joanna for years and am definitely excited Kim and Dave are now providing this opportunity to listen to a very fair , intelligent, funny, interesting podcast. Dave is very down to earth and smart, and I love his ability to listen and not shout or talk over co-hosts. A must for House of Dragons hard core fans or just curious show watchers.

This podcast is the tops because Dave Chen is so adorable, makes me laugh out loud every episode, is a great podcaster and covers all the pivotal moments of House of Dragons that I need more discussion on. I’m so glad Kim Renfro is the cohost because she is equally adorable and extremely knowledgeable about the Easter eggs and tiny details built in to each show. Thank you both!

I was enjoying this podcast for the most part until the latest review of episode 6. Dave Chen spent over an hour complaining about the time jumps and the episode. He also then states that a lot of fans are deciding not to watch anymore but then goes on to state that HALF A DOZEN people tweeted him about it….that is SIX people… UPDATE: it got even worse. They spent at least 8 minutes complaining about the critiques of last weeks podcast episode. Omg he then plays a clip of him on another podcast complaining about the time jump!

I listen to a few other podcasts as well as this one and it's helpful as I don't quite understand each and every episode. I appreciate all points of views. ..the complaining: I don't mind 🤣

Good to have the depth of knowledge to break down the episodes. This pod along with Dragon 'Cast from Podcastica provide complete coverage of the series and the book.

Really appreciate the different perspectives offered. It has occurred to me that I would be lost watching this show if I did t listen to this (and other) podcast.

Living for Kim shutting down David’s incredibly sexist/inane commentary about which female character is more “virtuous”.

Episode 6 was the turning point. I couldn’t listen to it after David’s rant. I came back for Ep 7 but the same open disdain for the show was present although it was under the pretense of being critical. When a reviewer constantly ask to be told and not shown you know as a viewer they are not willing to do the work. Also referring to themselves as consumers sealed it for me. Sad to say but I will be leaving this pod behind.

David seems lost on the most obvious of facts on a show/story, making it inexplicable why he would co-host a recap podcast on HOTD. Plus he constantly seems to hate this show, raising pointless criticisms that literally no other recap podcast have objections to. Kim is great, David is trash.

Kim is amazing and so knowledgeable. She actually has so much thoughtful context to add and I really enjoy listening to the podcast for her insights. Dave, however, clearly still has no idea what is going on and asks really dumb questions with nothing valuable to add, except his criticism. I ended up having to fast forward through his dialogue bc I just couldn’t take it anymore.

It’s not about having different opinions David, it’s that you complain endlessly! On & on & on. It makes the show an absolute bummer. HOTD is not your thing clearly.

House Arryn sigil is a Gaia falcon not mockingbird. Bring in more book talk!

David is great at getting amazing guest hosts and Kim is no exception. I love the knowledge and energy she brings but David brings the whole thing down. It really feels like he doesn’t like to make podcasts or he is burnt out. I would love this same podcast but with Kim and a different host. This seems to be similar to the problems in the other podcast David hosts.

A lot of podcasts are expressing frustration or concern about how the story is being impacted by the time jumps, but David’s patronizing and condescending tone towards the problem actively makes me feel like an idiot for liking any part of the episode.

The time jump was necessary. The first 5 episodes was a prologue. This story isn’t about Harwin and leana. It’s about the kids and we needed atleast half the season to get to know them. Btw the older actress was cast first , so the younger cast was never meant to stay. The show is even better then the books IMO because it added what we didn’t have in the books, context as to why the characters are the way they are and saying it’s a reset is a deservice to the story telling and the characters. And during those 10 year that we skipped, news flash (nothing happened other then the growing relationship between Daemon&Laena and Nyra&harwin. Why have a whole season with nothing happening? Lol. Now it’s when the show starts and you can have your own opinion but saying the show made a mistake doing it the way they did without having knowledge of what’s to come and why they had to do it this way is a desservice to them and a bit short sighted.

I’ve listed to every episode of the podcast from season 3. David Chen does a great job organizing his thoughts and telling the story through the eyes of non book reader. I think having Kim Renfro replace Joanna Robinson for HOTD is a refreshing change. Joanna rightly criticized Game of Thrones last season and yet it felt pretentious to me. She didn’t appreciate what the show gave to her career. She only appreciated david Chen and his lovely wife. Kim reviews and critics while letting the listener decide for themselves. Her anyalis is higher than any free recap online. I love the bit of David calling his cohost by thier first and last name. Both podcasts GOT and HOTD recap each episode and being insight that I miss while watching the show. Simply put, you learn something and appreciate the show and or book more. Excellent companion.

Kim Renfro is obviously smart and extremely knowledgeable about the GOT universe. Her content is excellent. But someone who cares about Kim needs to give her a tough but honest conversation about how distracting and unprofessional her presentation often becomes. Kim will frequently use “like” several times in the same sentence. And will even add “totally.” It’s like listening to a 1980’s “Valley Girl.” These are obviously not concerns in her outstanding written content but she needs to adapt for this audio format. She’s too good on substance not to correct these silly speech patterns.

Sometimes seems rushed, but wanting more is a good thing.

If you are a fan of HOTD, this is a mandatory listen

David & Kim have a great hotd pod.

I had to dock this podcast two stars (would’ve been a 4) because the imbecilic host can’t help but inject at least one woke interpretation into every episode review. I had enough when in this last podcast ep she suggested Rhaenyra was “pansexual” and used “white man” as a pejorative twice. Anything valuable she adds is immediately discredited by saying stuff like this.

If the reminders continue during every episode how awful men are I will be done.

I haven’t listened to the original run of this podcast but have tuned in for the new HOTD recaps. I really enjoy Kim Renfroe’s commentary and insights but especially in this most recent episode (recapping S1E4) I felt like David Chen constantly talked over her and undermined a lot of what she had to say, which is really unfortunate because he clearly knows WAY less about this world than she does. I want to hear more of what she has to say. It also annoys me that he says her full name so often when speaking to her. I will keep listening for now to hear Kim’s take but hope David can start showing a little more equanimity towards his co-host.

I can’t listen to a podcast that advertises ball trimmers

And this one is right near the top of the pack if not on top. I’ve heard them all and there are some good ones out there but David and Johanna and Kim’s knowledge of Lore and the whole ASOIAF universe , relating all that into the story we are seeing now. If you want some of these confusing storylines explained more thoroughly and hear 3 very smart people discuss this world we all love, this is the one for you.

They constantly push woke idealism into a fictional universe where it doesn’t exist. Which, in turn, drives down the overall quality of the work. We enter these universes to exit reality, not to conflate them with current events. As far as the actual content for the show, books, and everything actually pertaining to the story, I give it 5 stars. Lose the political driving of 2022 and you’re there.