It’s that time of year again! Join bookshelfstud, glass_table_girl, JoeMagician, Fat_Walda, and newcomer JonesTony710 as we tackle the absolute cream of the crop from /r/asoiaf in the year 2018!

https://ia801505.us.archive.org/34/items/Episode18BestOf2018/Episode%2018%20-%20Best%20of%202018.mp3

Listen on YouTube:

-==TIER ONE AWARDS==-

First place: No mercy and no empty threats: Kingslayer’s choice in the Winds of Winter by /u/BaelBard

Discussed on Episode 17, “Throw Deuces to Death”

Second place: Jon Snow: His is the Song of Ice and Fire by u/i_am_heathen_king

Best New Theory

First place: The One True Ring: What’s Really in the Winterfell Crypt by u/paparatti

Discussed on Episode 13 “We Can Swear Now”

Second place: Unnoticed Point about the Pink Letter by u/skullofthegreatjon

Comment of the Year

First place: Jaime killing Cersei would be a good end to Cersei’s arc, but a step backward in Jaime’s by /u/The_Coconut_God

Second place: The Lannisters’ incredible PR team by /u/PatrickMcWhorter

Post of the Year

First place: Spreadsheet of ALL ASOIAF CHARACTERS! 2018 UPDATE by /u/thomaerys

Discussed on Episode 15, “Slashcast”

Second place: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy: On Sansa, Sandor, and Arya. by /u/zombie-bait

Dolorous Edd Award for funniest one liner

First place: u/canitryto  for the accidental implication of a Luwin & Catelyn affair

​Second place: u/SerDuncanonyall  for Undead Stannis grinding his teeth

-==TIER TWO AWARDS==-

Best Tinfoil/Shiniest Tinfoil Theory

Connecting Littlefinger to the “Lyanna was kidnapped” storybyu/TLTWP

Best Catch

Theory on how Euron walked the Doom without setting foot in Valyriaby u/Munkaveli

Alchemist Award (theory most likely to make you want to light yourself on fire if true)

The Dark Secret of Boros Blount by u/EverythingM

Funniest Post

Pomegrantes, how do they work? by /u/Turnshroud

​Best Analysis (Not Character)

The evolution of GRRM’s writing style between AGOT and AFFC/ADWD – and beyond /u/Dzonnn

-==TIER THREE AWARDS==-

The Mannis Award (for not bending the knee/most stubborn defender of their own theory)

We Should Not Need GRRM’s Word to Call a Character Righteous by /u/Mithras_Stoneborn [-1]

Ser Duncan the Tall Award (for the crow most committed to substantively engaging with other people)

/u/AlayneMoonStone

Best Critter Post

​My project that started here in r/asoiaf has been published! The Zoological Nomenclature of Ice and Fire! by /u/E_v_a_n

https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/6mj6pu/spoilers_extended_the_taxonomy_of_twoiaf_project/

Citadel Award (for best researched theory/analysis)

Sansa and Sandor’s REAL — But Still Figurative — Wedding by u/M_Tootles

Dondarrion Brain-Stormlord Award (best collaborative development of theories)

Stannis vs Littlefinger by /u/genkaus

-==OTHER LINKS==- iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-maester-monthly/id1203795633 Google Play – https://play.google.com/music/listen?t=Maester_Monthly&u=0&view=/ps/Ixilnkiljnht53dc3eotuvfa7oq Stitcher – https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/maester-monthly Wordpress – https://maestermonthly.wordpress.com/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/MaesterMonthly Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/maestermonthly

-==And As Always…==-

– As always, we make NO MONEY from this project, either from ads or patreons. You can pay us in upvotes and high-fives.

– If you liked the cast: please take a few minutes out of your day to leave us a review on iTunes! This is the main way listeners find us on iTunes, and we really do want to know what you think!

– Hefty shoutout to Sam R for all of our intro, outro, and incidental music as well! Except for the horrifying WA theme, which Michael (Bookshelfstud) made, and immediately regretted.