Decoding TV Presents A Cast of Kings: A quasi-weekly discussion of the plots, themes and highlights of the HBO series "House of the Dragon." Your hosts Dave Chen (The Filmcast and The Tobolowsky Files) and Kim Renfro (entertainment reporter at Insider, author of The Unofficial Guide to Game of Thrones) will dish up both praise and criticism and will try not to sound too pompous if the book was better. Questions, comments, oaths of fealty? Email acastofkings@gmail.com
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
BONUS EP: Rings of Power S3E1-2 Is FINALLY Giving Galadriel a Definitive Backstory
Jessie and Kim discuss the lore implications for Tolkein’s legendarium from season 3, episodes 1 and 2 of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'
To get bonus episod
Nov 13 28 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S3E01-E02 - 'Marnûkhr' & ‘'The Gift of Men’
Jessie and Kim kick off their discussion of the new season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 1 and 2 of season 3.
In this episode of A Cast of K
Nov 12 1 h 46 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S2E07-E08 - 'Doomed To Die' & ‘'Shadow and Flame’
Jessie and Kim finally finish their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, just in time for season 3!
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie
Nov 9 2 h 18 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S2E05-E06 - 'Halls of Stone' & ‘'Where is He?’
Jessie and Kim continue their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 5 and 6 of season 2.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim
Nov 2 2 h 00 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S2E03-E04 - 'The Eagle and the Sceptre,' & ‘Eldest’
Jessie and Kim continue their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 3 and 4 of season 2.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim
Oct 26 1 h 52 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S2E01-E02 - 'Elven Kings Under the Sky' & 'Where the Stars are Strange'
Jessie and Kim continue their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with first two episode of season 2.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim
Oct 19 1 h 53 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E07-E08 - 'The Eye' & 'Alloyed'
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim finish their watchthrough of The Rings of Power season 1 with episodes 7 and 8, “The Eye” and “Alloyed”.
Was the Saur
Oct 12 2 h 18 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E05-E06 - 'Parting' & 'Udûn'
Jessie and Kim continue their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 5 and 6 of season 1.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim
Oct 5 2 h 16 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E03-E04 - 'Adar' & 'The Great Wave'
Jessie and Kim continue their rewatch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 3 and 4 of season 1.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim
Sep 28 2 h 26 min
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S1E01-E02 - 'A Shadow of the Past' & 'Adrift'
Jessie and Kim finally begin their watchthrough of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with episodes 1 and 2.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim f
Sep 21 2 h 02 min
'War of the Rohirrim' Was Better Than Anyone Gave It Credit For
Jessie and Kim jump into the forgotten gem that is the animated Lord of the Rings movie, The War of the Rohirrim.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Jessie and Kim jump
Sep 14 1 h 56 min
'The Hobbit' Had a Heart Buried Beneath a Hoard of Hollywood Bloat
Jessie and Kim jump into Peter Jackson’s much-maligned The Hobbit trilogy and find that it might have a heart buried deep in the mountain of its Hollywood bloat.
In this
Sep 9 2 h 51 min
'The Return of the King' Might Be Underrated (feat. Katelyn Burns)
Jessie and Kim are joined by journalist and LOTR superfan Katelyn Burns to discuss Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Extended Edition.
In th
Sep 1 2 h 58 min
'The Two Towers Is a Flawed but Brilliant Middle Chapter (feat. Lindsay Ellis)
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl are joined by author and YouTuber Lindsay Ellis to break down their entire thoughts on the classic film, Pe
Aug 25 2 h 09 min
Why 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings' Still Feels Like Magic
Jessie and Kim begin the journey through Middle-Earth with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Ren
Aug 18 2 h 17 min
Bonus Ep: House of the Dragon Season 3 Post-Mortem (feat. News/Your Questions)
Jessie and Kim discuss the entirety of Season 3 of House of the Dragon.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl break down their entire thoughts
Aug 14 2 h 10 min
'House of the Dragon' S3E08 - The Treasons at Tumbleton
Jessie and Kim discuss the season 3 finale of House of the Dragon.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl talk about the season 3 finale of Hous
Aug 11 1 h 58 min
'House of the Dragon' S3E07 - The Dragon in Winter
Jessie and Kim discuss the penultimate episode of season 3 of House of the Dragon.
In this episode of A Cast of Kings, Kim Renfro and Jessie Earl talk about the seventh
Aug 4 1 h 46 min
'House of the Dragon' S3E06 - Faceless Men
Jessie and Kim discuss the fifth episode of season 3 of House of the Dragon.
Jul 28 1 h 44 min
'House of the Dragon' S3E05 - Unbowed and Unbent
Jessie and Kim discuss the fifth episode of season 3 of House of the Dragon.
Jul 21 1 h 52 min
Chart trend
Position in the TV & Film chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#100#199AugNov
#39
all-time peak
4
days in the top 50 since Jan 2026
Chart positions
Where A Cast of Kings - A Lord of the Rings Podcast ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 15, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Kim is incredible, and David is a good facilitator (albeit he skews very negative a little too often?). But I’m puzzled by the addition of a 3rd host who doesn’t seem to be adding much to the pod. No new insights or analysis or even interesting comments from Jessie so far. I’m sure she’s a lovely person, but it was bizarre to hear Jessie take up 10 minutes of the pod talking about her engagement. We barely know this person, so it was awkward and a bit annoying to have to listen to such a long and personal story about someone I’ve only met twice. The flow of the pod has shifted with the addition of a 3rd host, and not in a good way.
Dezzz0322 · Jul 2024
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.
mthur1531 · Nov 2022
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!
Tangerine river · Nov 2022
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
Matt Dips · Oct 2022
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.
Walshie0 · Oct 2022
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.
Troius Moorus · Oct 2022
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
More podcasts like A Cast of Kings - A Lord of the Rings Podcast
About A Cast of Kings - A Lord of the Rings Podcast on Reason.fm
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of A Cast of Kings - A Lord of the Rings Podcast, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
