It’s all over! We can safely sayGame of ThronesSeason 6 ended spectacularly for fans andHBO. The finale, Winds of Winter, was the highest rated show in its history; notching 8.9 million viewers. Combined with On Demand services, the network expects 23.3 million viewers in total. Those are staggering numbers, especially when you factor in that Game of Thrones is the most pirated show on the internet. The backslapping ends on this last metric, Winds of Winter scored a perfect 10 on IMDB. It was certainly epic, setting up the chess pieces for the coming endgame.
The season began withJon Snow(Kit Harrington) murdered by Ser Alliser (Owen Teale) and traitors in the Night Watch. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) held prisoner by the Dothraki horde. The High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) and his Faith Militant in control of King’s Landing, with Cersei (Lena Headey) a prisoner in the Red Keep. Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) escaped the clutches of Ramsey Bolton (Iwan Rheon). Arya Stark (Maisie) was blinded by the Many Faced God during her training in Braavos. It was a bleak start for all of the primary characters.
If there’s one lesson to learn in this show, death is by no means permanent. Melisandre (Carice van Houten) resurrected Jon Snow through the Lord of Light. His awakening coincided with Sansa’s arrival at Castle Black. At long last the Starks were united. They rallied the wildlings and House Mormont to retake Winterfell from the Bolton’s. Daenerys, after being rescued by Daario (Michael Huisman) and Ser Jorah (Ian Glenn), burned the Dothraki Khals to death. She becomes their Queen and returned to Mereen in force.
The penultimate episode,Battle of the Bastards, unleashed the greatest action scenes yet. Daenerys and her dragons decimate the Masters and the Harpy rebellion in Mereen. Jon, with Sansa’s recruitment of the Knights of the Vale, defeated Ramsey Bolton. The Starks reclaim Winterfell with an epic victory. Few characters get their just end, but there was tremendous satisfaction watching Sansa feed a bloodied Ramsey Bolton to his starving dogs. Arya completed her assassin diploma by dispatching the hateful Waif (Faye Marsay). Cersei got the last laugh in King’s Landing by blowing up her enemies in a spectacular explosion.
Battle of the Bastards and The Winds of Winter brought the season to a fantastic close. There had been a worrisome lull during the middle. Season 6 was whole new territory having surpassed the books. I had some trepidation that the unpredictable nature of the story was in doubt. Thankfully that was not the case. The death toll alone surpassed anything done previously. The game is indeed still afoot.
Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss told Variety there are thirteen episodes left. Season 7 will have seven episodes, the six remaining for the final season. The loose ends have been snipped away. The remaining players are the three major families and the looming White Walker invasion. The Starks, Lannisters, and Daenerys Targaryen have all put themselves in positions of strength. Several new alliances are sure to be instrumental in the battles ahead. We’ll recap the characters by region and their importance in the game.
13When is Game of Thrones Season 7 release date?
Over the past six seasons, there have been three thingsGame of Thronesfans have come to depend on. Each season will debut in either late March or sometime in April, each season will be 10 episodes long, and, in Westeros, “winter is coming.” Those three aspects will change in Season 7, all because winter is finally here. ShowrunnersDavid BenioffandD.B. Weissconfirmed this week thatGame of Thrones Season 7will be delayed, because the production now demands “grim, grey weather, even in the sunnier places we shoot.” Filming is believed to begin sometime this month, which could mean the show may debut in May for the first time ever. As for the 10 episode seasons, that leads us into our next item.
12Game of Thrones Season 7 will be only be 7 episodes long
It wasn’t a surprise when, just before Season 6 debuted, HBO issued a renewal for Season 7. Surprisingly, though, the network didn’t confirm how many episodes this season will feature. As Season 6 was winding down, directorJack Benderrevealed in an interview that Season 7 will only be seven episodes long, when asked if he would return to direct an episode next season.David BenioffandD.B. Weisshave since confirmed that both Season 7, and the final installment, Season 8, will be shorter, although they wouldn’t confirm how long each season will be. The running theory is that Season 7 will be seven episodes long, with the final season clocking in at just six episodes to close out the series, which may or may not be confirmed during the show’s Comic-Con panel in just a few weeks.
11How many seasons has Game Of Thrones been renewed for?
Officially, the answer is seven, butDavid BenioffandD.B. Weisshave since confirmed multiple times that the show will end with Season 8. As we mentioned before, both Season 7 and Season 8 will be much shorter than the standard 10-episode seasons, but aside from the network’s Season 7 renewal, the network hasn’t confirmed any further details, including each season’s episode count and possible premiere dates. With that being said, there has also been talk of prequel series' as well, withGeorge R.R. Martinhimself hinting in the past that the network has expressed interest in developing his prequel novellas, which follow Westeros characters named Dunk and Egg, set roughly 100 years before the events of the flagship books and series.
10Daenerys from the East
TheMother of Dragonsfinally makes her way back to Westeros. Daario (Michael Huisman), who was unceremoniously dumped, made the obvious statement, the Lords of Westeros have no idea what’s coming for them. The pact with Yara (Gemma Whelan) and Theon (Alfie Allen) Greyjoy gave her the ships needed to cross the Narrow Sea. Her goliath army includes the Dothraki horde, the Unsullied, and three monstrous fire-breathing dragons. On Tyrion’s counsel, she left Daario and the Second Sons to hold Mereen.
Where Daenerys lands in Westeros is the question. In Dorne, Varys (Conleth Hill) made an alliance with The Sand Snakes and The Queen of Thorns, aka Lady Tyrell (Diana Rigg). She’s out for blood after Cersei (Lena Headey) wiped out her entire family. Dorne is the southernmost point of Westeros and its warmest region. Winter has come, but it probably won’t get there quickly or be as brutal. It makes sense for Daenerys to land there. She can attack King’s Landing from the south, have a base of operations, and be able to supply her huge army.
The most significant development for Daenerys was choosing Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) as Hand of the Queen. Tyrion is the smartest, most capable mind of all the characters. They seem to have established a real bond of trust. His knowledge of the seven kingdoms and his sister especially will be an invaluable asset in the conflict with the Lannisters. Daenerys will make her presence felt quickly. Tyrion may reach out to his former wife, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner). Owning the South and North would have King’s Landing surrounded.
9Jon Snow: The King in the North
The Starks finally taste victory after years of being decimated by their enemies. The most rousing moment of the finale was Jon Snow being chosen as the King in the North. His ferocious ten year old ally, Lady Mormont (Bella Ramsey), shames the North lords with their cowardice. Ramsey should be a lock to win the Emmy for Supporting Actress. The North rallies behind Jon, but this scene was almost exactly like Robb Stark’s coronation. It didn’t end well for him, but Jon is a proven leader in dire situations. With the North united, he is the best person to hold the line against the Night King and his White Walkers.
As Jon ascended the throne in Winterfell, Arya (Maisie Williams) struck the final deadly blow for house Stark. The girl has indeed become someone, a lethal assassin. She cooked up Walder Frey’s (David Bradley) sons into a mince pie, fed it to him, and then slit his throat. The look of satisfaction on her face as he bled to death was classic. Arya’s impersonation skills could be a game changer. It’s logical that she will reunite with Sansa and Jon.
The biggest reveal was Jon’s true parentage. Left at the Wall by his Uncle Benjen (Joseph Mawle), Bran Stark (Isaac Hempsted Wright) finished his time trance. He discovered that Jon is the child of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. This means that Daenerys is his aunt. A shared heritage puts Jon in line for the Iron Throne, even though he is a bastard. More interesting is the possibility that Jon, as a Targaryan, may also be invulnerable to fire. We know that dragon glass, fire, and Valerian steel will kill White Walkers. A fireproof Jon and the sword given to him by Ned Stark make the perfect adversary to fight the Night King. Another thought, as Daenerys will use marriage to strengthen her position; she might unknowingly hook up with her nephew. The show has no issues with the incest storyline, but I pray it doesn’t go in that direction.
Two events in the North may bode poorly for the new king. Jon banishedMelisandre(Carice van Houten) after learning she burned Shireen Baratheon at the stake. The Red Witch has been wrong before, but she did resurrect Jon using the Lord of Light’s power. He’d be worm food and the Starks would be nowhere without her. Even more dangerous is the spurned Littlefinger (Aiden Gillen). He was coldly rebuffed by Sansa when he asked her to share the Iron Throne. His face was menacing as the north lords fell in step behind Jon Snow. Varys was correct in brandishing Littlefinger as the most dangerous man in Westeros. Let’s not forget he killed Jon Arryn, Lysa Arryn, Joffrey Baratheon, betrayed Ned Stark, and sold Sansa to the sadistic Bolton’s. His machinations are sure to be in play.
8Cersei takes the Iron Throne, but who is she without her family?
Cersei’s vengeance against her enemies was swift and merciless. Aided by Maester Qyburn (Anton Lesser) and her knowledge of the wildfire stored beneath King’s Landing, she blew up the Sept of Baelor. Killing the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce), his Faith Militant army, The Tyrells, the septons, Grand Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover), and her Uncle Kevan (Ian Gelder) in one deft move. Then installed herself as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Jaime (Nicolaj Coster Waldau) returns to her with pure dread. Tommen (Dean Charles Chapman) committed suicide. The prophecy has been fulfilled. Her beloved children are all dead. Her wrath and vengeance will have no limits. But the Lannisters are in real trouble. They are bankrupt, have the North under control of the Starks, Daenerys en route, and most dangerously, the vindictive Queen of Thorns. Lady Tyrell is a force to be reckoned with. Cersei incinerated her son and grandchildren. That’s a lot of enemies to fight. That said, Cersei and Jaime have gotten themselves out of tough situations before.
With all of that being said, all ofCersei’s heinous deeds from the past six seasons have all been to defend her family against those threatening the Lannister name. Shortly after the Season 6 finale, showrunnerD.B. Weissteased that a big part of Season 7 will focus on who Cersei really is, now that practically her whole family is gone, except for Jaime, who doesn’t seem to be terribly welcoming while watching her take the Iron Throne towards the end of the Season 6 finale. In short, Cersei now has the power she has presumably always wanted, but there is no one to share that power with. It will certainly be an interesting dynamic to watch unfold when Season 7 debuts next year.
7Brienne and Podrick Escape Riverrun
The three families hold the most cards in the remaining game, but there are some players that will surely factor in the outcome. When last we saw Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) andPodrick(Daniel Portman), they were escaping Riverrun on a raft. Fans of the books know where they end up, but the producers have not gone in that direction yet. So it is a complete mystery as to their fates. We can assume that they will make their way back to Winterfell and Sansa.
6The Hound joins the Brotherhood without Banners
Another powerful character to make a comeback isThe Hound(Rory McCann). He survived his duel with Brienne, found a bunch of nice free folk to chill with, only to see them murdered savagely. He gets his revenge, then joins the Brotherhood without Banners. This is a key group in the books that haven’t been explored as much in the show. I have a feeling that another resurrected character might finally show up. That’s a spoiler, so no further details, but it does make sense.
5Sam and Gilly at the Citadel of the Maesters
The best family unit in Game of Thrones, Sam Tarly (John Bradley-West) and Gilly (Hannay Murray), make it to theCitadel of the Maestersin Old Town. Sam is allowed to use the vast library as they review his petition to be a maester. He will learn something vital here in the fight against the White Walkers. Sam stole his father’s sword, Heartsbane, also made of Valerian steel. My feeling is that Sam will be instrumental in the battle against the Night King.
4The Mountain leads the Queen’s Guard
Cersei’s behemoth protector and brother of The Hound, The Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson), was last seen having his way with the bound Septon Unella (Hannah Waddingham). This deformed beast of a man is still undefeated in battle. He’s the most powerful fighter in the Lannister’s army. Cersei doesn’t go anywhere without him. King’s Landing may be at risk of invasion, but anyone who attempts to harm the Queen will have to deal withThe Mountainfirst. I would love to see The Hound versus the evil older brother that scarred him.
