HBO PROJECT: Mildred Pierce (2011) | Game of Thrones (2011)

Summary: Kate Winslet stars in Mildred Pierce (2011), a five part adaptation of the James M. Cain novel. Mildred finds herself a grass widow after tossing her dirty bastard of a husband from their hovel due to his affair with a distinctly middle class frump. Now, staring down the barrel of a Depression-era breadline, she's forced to endure the indignities of (shock) waitressing and (double shock) wearing a uniform. Special attention must be paid to Mildred's daughter, Veda, another contender for our list of worst HBO characters. (21:57 - 1:23:33) ... A manipulative, disloyal, self-obsessed parasite like Veda Pierce would fit right in with the cast of Game of Thrones (2011), a sprawling fantasy epic about feuding Houses and the supernatural forces that threaten to unite or destroy them. King Robert Baratheon is headed north to Winterfell following the death of his Hand, and he's brought along with him the entire royal posse, including the Imp and the Incest Twins. When Ma and Pa Stark get a raven in the night alerting them to a murderous scheme hatched by House Lannister things get dot dot dot complicated. (1:23:34 - 3:03:56) ... Also, The Plot Against America, The Outsider, Gorilla and the Bird, Perry Mason, The Many Saints of Newark, and Mare of Easttown. (0 - 21:56) Thanks to our guest host Steve, and warning: we discuss all of Mildred Pierce and some of season one of Thrones. No major character deaths spoiled, but we do reveal a few early plot points. | Send feedback to hooplecast@gmail.com. Find our recording schedule, show notes, discussion threads, and more at hooplecast.com. | Recorded February 17, 2019. Released March 24, 2019. [Warning: Explicit Language.]