The eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones” starts this Sunday, April 14th, on HBO.
Season 8 will only consist of just six episodes, which is down from seven last season, which was down from 10 in the first six seasons. However, Season 8 will basically have the same total run-time as Season 7.
The final four episodes of Season 8 will average 80 minutes in length. Adding in episodes one and two, which are 54 and 58 minutes, respectively, “Game of Thrones” fans will be treated to 432 minutes of Westerosi action and intrigue.
Season 7 was 442 minutes in total.
Converted to hours, Season 8 will be 7.2 hours long. That may sound like a lot of time, but don’t forget how many storylines are on the go and how many characters are involved.
When Season 7 ended, the following questions were left to be answered in Season 8 (among many, many more):
- Will the living defeat the Night King and his army of the undead, which now includes an ice dragon?
This is obviously the big one. If the living don’t triumph, nothing else really matters. - Who will sit on the Iron Throne?
If the living continue to live, attention will turn back to King’s Landing, where Cersei Lannister sits on the Iron Throne. Daenarys Tagaryen claims it as the rightful heir of Aerys II, who was overthrown by Robert Baratheon in the events preceding Season 1. - What will come of the budding relationship between Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow?
We now know that Daenarys is Jon’s aunt. Leaving aside their potentially competing claims to the Iron Throne, their familial relationship could get in the way of happily-ever-after. - Who is the “Prince(ss) that was Promised?”
Melisandre has been barking for seasons now about mankind’s prophesied savior, Azor Ahai (aka the “Prince that was Promised”). First, it was supposed to be Stannis Baratheon; then it was supposed to be Jon Snow; at the end of the day, it might end up being Daenarys who is the “Princess that was Promised.” - Will Sandor Clegane finally get vengeance from his mountainous, monstrous brother?
“You know who’s coming for you. You’ve always known,” Sandor says to what’s left of his brother at the end of Season 7. The CleganeBowl can’t be far off now. - Is Cersei actually pregnant?
She claims to be pregnant with Jaime’s fourth child, but a lot of watchers aren’t buying it. - What role is Bran going to play in all of this?
The new Three-Eyed Raven might be one of the most powerful “people” in Westeros now, especially if knowledge is power. What secrets is he going to reveal to whom, and when? And when he does, what will be the consequences?
Those questions above don’t even touch on several major characters, like Tyrion and Jaime Lannister, Arya Stark, Samwell Tarly, Brienne of Tarth, Varys, and Jorah Mormont.
Every one of these storylines and characters will need to reach some level of finality. The writers, producers, and directors will need every one of their 432 minutes to bring a complete (and hopefully satisfying) conclusion to nearly a decade of storytelling.
