One billion tuned in as the highly anticipated Game of Thrones kicked off its eighth and final season on HBO Sunday night with the season premiere, the first of a six-episode final season.
The anticipation for the premiere is at a fever pitch, with viewing parties set up in LA, New York and London among other cities for fans to watch this long-awaited episode together.
The Season 7 finale set the stage for an epic battle, as The Night King (with the help of the resurrected dragon Viserion) destroyed The Wall at Eastwatch, entering Westeros for the first time.
While the Season 8 premiere did not show The Night King and his army advancing further into Westeros, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) finally learned the truth about who he really is – the true heir to the Iron Throne, while his new queen, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) set foot in Winterfell for the first time.
The epic return: Game of Thrones season eight is underway with fans tuning in from around the globe to watch the premiere of season eight
The truth: Jon Snow (Kit Harington) finally learned the truth about who he really is – the true heir to the Iron Throne, while his new queen
The Season 8 premiere kicked off with a recap of Season 7, which ended with The Night King destroying the wall at Eastwatch and the White Walker army setting foot in Westeros.
The season begins with a young boy running through the snowy landscape in Winterfell, rushing past a number of people before he gets to a crowd, as we see Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) as part of the crowd.
The young boy rushes to climb up a tree to see the commotion, scaling high enough for him to see the massive army of Unsullied soldiers entering Westeros, lead by Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, as Arya sees her adopted brother for the first time in several years.
Part of this convoy is The Hound (Rory McCann) and Gendry (Joe Dempsie), as we see inside one of the wagons where Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) tells a joke to the eunuch Varys (Conleth Hill) about having no balls.
Jon Snow tells Daenerys that Northerners don’t trust outsiders, as the Winterfell townsfolk react in shock to the dragons flying overhead, including Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner).
Dragons in winterfell: Jon Snow tells Daenerys that Northerners don’t trust outsiders, as the Winterfell townsfolk react in shock to the dragons flying overhead, including Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner).
Jon snow reunites with Bran, stating, ‘Look at you. You’re a man,’ to which Bran replies, ‘Almost’
Jon hugs Sansa, who replies that his sister Arya is ‘lurking somewhere.’
Jon introduces Dany to Sansa, as Dany says, ‘The north is as beautiful as your brother claimed, as are you,’ but Bran interjects with, ‘We dont’ have time for this.’
Young Ned Umber (Harry Grasby), the Lord of House Umber, says they need more horses and wagons, with Sansa telling him they’ll have as many as they can spare, tells him to send his people here to Winterfell.
Dany and Jon: Jon Snow tells Daenerys that Northerners don’t trust outsiders, as the Winterfell townsfolk react in shock to the dragons flying overhead, including Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner)
Young Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi) isn’t too thrilled Jon has returned with the Dragon queen.
‘You left a king and you came back, I don’t know what you are,’ but Jon interjects, ‘It’s not important.’
Lyanna adds, ‘It is important. We named you king in the north,’ but Tyrion interjects with a statement that isn’t too popular with the Northerners.
‘We have brought two full grown dragons and soon the Lannister army will join our cause but we must fight together now or die,’ the half-man says.
Sansa has more logistical concerns, asking how they plan to feed everyone, and asking what dragons eat, with Daenerys answering, ‘Whatever they want.’
Gendry is seen passing out dragon glass, as Tyrion reunites with Sansa, since the last time they spoke was at the Purple Wedding way back in Season 4, where King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) was poisoned to death.
‘We both survived,’ Sansa said, with Tyrion adding that he underestimated her.
Dany introduction: Jon introduces Dany to Sansa, as Dany says, ‘He north is as beautiful as your brother claimed, as are you’
Tyrion tells Sansa that she has every right to be worried about her sister and Sansa doesn’t believe that she will help them in their war, with Sansa adding, ‘I used to think you were the cleverest man alive.’
While the Night King has one dragon, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) still has two more – Drogon and Rhaegal – which she’ll take into battle against The Night King, alongside Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and his new weapons forged from Dragonglass, the one substance that can kill White Walkers.
Jon and Arya reunite, Arya asks how he survived a knife through the heart, he says he didn’t, though he doesn’t mention that he was resurrected by the red priestess Melissandre (Carice Van Houten).
Jon mentions she still has her sword, needle, which she says she’s used, ‘once or twice.’
Reunited: Jon and Arya reunite, Arya asks how he survived a knife through the heart, he says he didn’t. Jon mentions she still has her sword, needle, which she says she’s used, ‘once or twice’
Jon asks where she was before that he could use her help with Sansa, Arya says Sansa is defending her family, and he says he’s her family to, with Arya adding, ‘Don’t forget that.’
Back at the Red Keep, Qyburn (Anton Lesser) tells Cersei some ‘terrible news’ that the dead have broken through the wall, which Cersei replies with, “Good,’ as the Golden Army’s ships are seen coming into the harbor.
On one of the ships, Yara (Gemma Whelan) is tied up to a ship, asking Euron (Pilou Asbaek) why he doesn’t kill her, but he responds that he’d have no one to talk to if he killed her.
Yara says Euron picked the losing side, with Euron saying he’ll just serve somewhere else, but first he wants to ‘f**k the queen.’
Cersei: Back at the Red Keep, Qyburn (Anton Lesser) tells Cersei some ‘terrible news’ that the dead have broken through the wall, which Cersei replies with, “Good,’ as the Golden Army’s ships are seen coming into the harbor
Throne room: As the Golden Company leader Harry Strickland (Marc Rissmann, right) leaves, Euron wants to bed Cersei, but she reminds him that their deal was that would happen after the war
In the Throne Room, Cersei is disappointed to learn that the Golden Company did not bring any elephants, which they are known for, but he says they aren’t good for long sea journeys like the one they took to King’s Landing.
As the Golden Company leader Harry Strickland (Marc Rissmann) leaves, Euron wants to bed Cersei, but she reminds him that their deal was that would happen after the war.
When he persists, she says he’s executed men for less, but he tells her they were lesser men, and while she turns to leave, she stops, allowing him to join her, as Euron gets his wish after all.
Euron’s wish: When he persists, she says he’s executed men for less, but he tells her they were lesser men, and while she turns to leave, she stops, allowing him to join her, as Euron gets his wish after all
Bronn: When he persists, she says he’s executed men for less, but he tells her they were lesser men, and while she turns to leave, she stops, allowing him to join her, as Euron gets his wish after all
Bronn (Jerome Flynn) is with a trio of whores, telling them he was the only man to kill a dragon, when he’s interrupted by Qyburn, who tells Bronn he’s needed by the Queen.
Qyburn says the Crown has wronged him and they want to right it, telling him there is a chest of gold in a wagon right outside.
Qyburn says the Queen’s brothers (Jaime and Tyrion) are unlikely to survive their adventures up north, but if they don’t, she wants Bronn to kill them… with the same crossbow Tyrion killed their father Tywin (Charles Dance) with in the Season 4 finale.
Since Bronn has a history with broth Jaime and Tyrion, it will be something to keep an eye on for the rest of the season, as fans will ultimately learn if Bronn will choose money over honor.
Qyburn: Qyburn says the Crown has wronged him and they want to right it, telling him there is a chest of gold in a wagon right outside
Crossbow: Qyburn says the Queen’s brothers (Jaime and Tyrion) are unlikely to survive their adventures up north, but if they don’t, she wants Bronn to kill them… with the same crossbow Tyrion killed their father Tywin (Charles Dance) with in the Season 4 finale
Power couple: Euron asks Cersei how he stacks up to both the late King Robert Baratheon and her brother, with Cersei saying he might be the most arrogant man she’s ever met, and while she likes that, now she wants to be alone, with Euron telling her before leaving that he’s going to put a prince in her belly
Prince: While she likes that, now she wants to be alone, with Euron telling her before leaving that he’s going to put a prince in her belly
After their tryst in bed, Euron asks Cersei how he stacks up to both the late King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) and her brother, which indicates how far that talk of her incest-fueled romance with Jaime have spread.
Cersei adds that he might be the most arrogant man she’s ever met, and while she likes that, now she wants to be alone, with Euron telling her before leaving that he’s going to put a prince in her belly.
On the Iron Island’s ship, a number of guards are killed, with Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) coming to save his sister, who returns the favor by head-butting him, before picking him up as they leave together.
Yara says that Euron can’t defend the Iron Islands and they can take their home back, but Yara says he wants to go to Winterfell to fight for the Starks.
While we don’t see Yara and Theon go their separate ways, it seems Yara has made peace with her brother going off to fight for his adoptive family who raised him.
Siblings: Yara says that Euron can’t defend the Iron Islands and they can take their home back, but Yara says he wants to go to Winterfell to fight for the Starks
Making peace: While we don’t see Yara and Theon go their separate ways, it seems Yara has made peace with her brother going off to fight for his adoptive family who raised him
The Carstarks return to Winterfell, with Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) telling Tyrion that they need to earn the Northerners’ trust.
Davos proposes that Daenerys and Jon rule the Seven Kingdoms, a Varys (Conleth Hill) and Tyrion discuss the possibilities of their rule, as they watch Dany and Jon talk below.
Daenerys mentions to Jon that his sister doesn’t like her, adding that she doesn’t have to be her friend, but she is her queen, before a group of Dothraki soldiers ride up, telling her that her dragons are ‘barely eating.’
Daenerys and Jon head up to see the dragons, with Daenerys telling Jon that her ‘children’ don’t like the North, and when she gets on to ride one, she tells Jon to do the same, as he responds that he doesn’t know how to ride a dragon.
Ruler: Davos proposes that Daenerys and Jon rule the Seven Kingdoms, a Varys (Conleth Hill) and Tyrion discuss the possibilities of their rule
Surprised: They fly through the snow-filled valleys of the north, as Daenerys looks on with surprise at Jon as they land, with Jon adding that she’s, ‘completely ruined horses for me’
How to ride your dragon: Daenerys and Jon head up to see the dragons, with Daenerys telling her that they don’t like the North, and when she gets on to ride one, she tells Jon to do the same, as he responds that he doesn’t know how to ride a dragon.
Jon ultimately mounts the dragon as it flies off, much to the delight of Daenerys, who takes off with her dragon as well as they fly around Winterfell as Tyrion, Varys and Davos look on in awe.
They fly through the snow-filled valleys of the north, as Daenerys looks on with surprise at Jon as they land, with Jon adding that she’s, ‘completely ruined horses for me.’
They find a secluded waterfall, as they start kissing, which the dragons take umbrage to, but Daenerys tells him not to be afraid, but he keeps eyeing the dragon.
Blacksmith Gendry: Back in Winterfell, Gendry starts forging weapons made of dragon glass, as The Hound starts picking on him, but Arya arrives telling him to let him be
Back in Winterfell, Gendry starts forging weapons made of dragon glass, as The Hound starts picking on him, but Arya arrives telling him to let him be.
The Hound says she left him to die, but she adds that she robbed him first, with The Hound smiling, adding that she’s a ‘cold little b***h,’ which is probably why she’s still alive.
She shows Gendry the drawing of a weapon she wants him to make, as she flirts a bit with Gendry.
The Hound: The Hound says she left him to die, but she adds that she robbed him first, with The Hound smiling, adding that she’s a ‘cold little b***h,’ which is probably why she’s still alive
Arya’s weapon: She shows Gendry the drawing of a weapon she wants him to make, as she flirts a bit with Gendry
Jon and Dany: Jon ultimately mounts the dragon as it flies off, much to the delight of Daenerys, who takes off with her dragon as well as they fly around Winterfell as Tyrion, Varys and Davos look on in awe
Jon comes to see Sansa, who tells him that one of their allies are not coming to join the fight, which leads to Jon and Sansa arguing about their new Targaryen ruler, with Jon stating she’s not her father.
Sansa asks if he bent the knee to save the North, or because he loves her, which he does not answer.
Daenerys Taragaryen comes to see Samwell Tarly, the man who saved her longtime friend Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), who seeks to reward him for his service.
Giving thanks: Daenerys Taragaryen comes to see Samwell Tarly, the man who saved her longtime friend Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), who seeks to reward him for his service
Pardon me: Samwell seeks a pardon, because he borrowed some books from The Citadel and he borrowed a sword from his family, which Daenerys realizes is Randyll Tarly (James Faulkner), who she had burned alive in Season 7
Samwell seeks a pardon, because he borrowed some books from The Citadel and he borrowed a sword from his family, which Daenerys realizes is Randyll Tarly (James Faulkner), who she had burned alive in Season 7.
A distraught Samwell says that he will now be able to return home, now that his brother Dickon (Thomas Hopper) is the Lord, but she tells him that he stood with his father and he’s dead too.
Samwell runs out of the room, distraught, when he finds The Three Eyed Raven, asking him what he’s doing out here, and he responds by saying it’s time to tell Jon Snow the truth.
The Three Eyed Raven says Jon trusts Samwell more than anyone and now is the time.
Dany: Samwell tells Jon that Daenerys executed his father and brother, but Jon didn’t know, telling Sam he’s sorry but he needs to end this war
Jon Snow waits in the crypts below Winterfell, when Samwell comes to see him, but he can’t quite make out the words to tell him.
He tells Jon that Daenerys executed his father and brother, but Jon didn’t know, telling Sam he’s sorry but he needs to end this war.
An angry Sam asks if he’d do the same thing, and he says he’s not the King in the North anymore, he’s actually the King of the Seven Kingdoms, before telling him his mother is Lyanna Stark and his real father is Rhaegar Targaryen.
“You’ve never been a bastard. You’re Aegon Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne,’ Samwell tells him.
Jon says that his father Ned Stark was the most honorable man he’s ever met, asking if he lied to him his entire life, with Sam telling him that he did it all to protect him.
Crypts: Jon Snow waits in the crypts below Winterfell, when Samwell comes to see him, but he can’t quite make out the words to tell him
Angry Sam: An angry Sam asks if he’d do the same thing, and he says he’s not the King in the North anymore, he’s actually the King of the Seven Kingdoms, before telling him his mother is Lyanna Stark and his real father is Rhaegar Targaryen
True king: ‘You’ve never been a bastard. You’re Aegon Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne,’ Samwell tells him.
New king: An angry Sam asks if he’d do the same thing, and he says he’s not the King in the North anymore, he’s actually the King of the Seven Kingdoms, before telling him his mother is Lyanna Stark and his real father is Rhaegar Targaryen
Jon says Daenerys is the queen but Sam says he’s not, stating that Jon gave up his throne to save his people, asking Jon if she would do the same thing.
Somewhere in The North, Beric Dondarion (Richard Dormer) and Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) are seen alive and well, their status unclear after the Season 7 finale when they were at Eastwatch as The Night King destroyed The Wall.
They’re seen at a dark castle as they run into Eddison Tollett (Ben Crompton), who shows them an undead boy spiked to a wall, which comes screaming back to life before they set it on fire.
Beric: Somewhere in The North, Beric Dondarion (Richard Dormer) and Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) are seen alive and well, their status unclear after the Season 7 finale when they were at Eastwatch as The Night King destroyed The Wall
Dolorous Edd: They’re seen at a dark castle as they run into Eddison Tollett (Ben Crompton)
On fire: Edd shows them an undead boy spiked to a wall, which comes screaming back to life before they set it on fire.
Back at Winterfell, a hooded figure arrives on horseback, revealed to be Jaime Lannister, who sees Bran Stark, the boy he threw out of the Winterfell tower in the first episode of the entire series, which crippled him for life.
Jaime threw the young boy out of the window in the pilot episode because he was climbing a tower in Winterfell and saw Jaime making love to his sister Cersei, so he threw the boy out of the window, to protect their affair.
He has a shocked look on his face as the first episode of this final season of Game of Thrones has come to an end.
The final season continues with the second episode of Season 8 on Sunday, April 21 at 9 PM ET on HBO.
Back at Winterfell: Back at Winterfell, a hooded figure arrives on horseback, revealed to be Jaime Lannister, who sees Bran Stark, the boy he threw out of the Winterfell tower in the first episode of the entire series, which crippled him for life
Reunited: Jaime threw the young boy out of the window in the pilot episode because he was climbing a tower in Winterfell and saw Jaime making love to his sister Cersei, so he threw the boy out of the window, to protect their affair
The final season will span six episodes, the first two of which will run roughly the normal episode length at 54 minutes and 58 minutes.
The third episode will be the longest in series history, spanning 82 minutes, with the fourth episode spanning 78 minutes and the fifth and sixth spanning 80 minutes apiece.
HBO has still not revealed any of the titles of the final six episodes of Game of Thrones.
Final season: The final season will span six episodes, the first two of which will run roughly the normal episode length at 54 minutes and 58 minutes