Vox Staff

Daenerys Targaryen seated on a horse in the HBO show “Game of Thrones.”

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Game of Thrones season 8: episode recaps and reviews, spoilers, news, and analysis

Winter is&nbsp;coming&nbsp;here: After nearly two years on hiatus,&nbsp;Game of Thrones&nbsp;has finally returned to air its six-episode eighth and final season. When the credits rolled on&nbsp;the season seven finale&nbsp;in August 2017,&nbsp;Avengers: Infinity War&nbsp;hadn&rsquo;t come out. The Mueller report was still in its infant stages. It feels like a literal lifetime ago.
But now the show is back for one last go-round of subplots, double-crosses, and fake-outs as the Night King marches south and the battle for the Iron Throne continues. Who will ultimately come out on top? Will humanity even survive?
If you need a refresher before you dig in, we&rsquo;ve got both&nbsp;a recap of what happened in season seven&nbsp;and a list of&nbsp;essential episodes to rewatch, whether you&rsquo;re looking for important plot points or shock value. Once you&rsquo;ve started watching, you can find all of our episode reviews and analysis below.

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Game of Thrones’ finale betrayed the show’s core themes

There’s hope for a better Game of Thrones ending in George R.R. Martin’s books

The Winds of Winter, explained: what we know about the next Game of Thrones book

Game of Thrones finally acknowledged Ghost as the very good dog he is

Where the Game of Thrones series finale left every major character

5 winners and 9 losers from Game of Thrones’ series finale

Game of Thrones’ finale revealed Jon and Dany’s story was a tragic one

The Game of Thrones finale had a chance to break the wheel. It upheld the status quo.

Who won the Game of Thrones — and why it matters — explained

Games of Thrones series finale death watch: why Daenerys has to die

“The Bells” was Game of Thrones’ most polarizing episode. Can the series finale still pull out a win?

Why everybody’s so mad about Daenerys Targaryen

Vox’s predictions for Game of Thrones’ series finale

A petition to remake Game of Thrones’ 8th season offers a revealing glimpse of wider fandom backlash

Game of Thrones’ King’s Landing horror fittingly reveals what the show has always been about

How Game of Thrones did Daenerys wrong

The evolution of Sansa Stark, explained by her costumes

The evolution of Daenerys Targaryen, explained by her costumes

The evolution of Game of Thrones’ Cersei Lannister, explained by her costumes

How Game of Thrones uses costume design to show power

4 winners and 10 losers from Game of Thrones’ next-to-last episode, “The Bells”

Game of Thrones’ long-awaited Cleganebowl, explained

Game of Thrones: does Arya’s “green eyes” prophecy mean she’ll kill Daenerys?

Game of Thrones’ series finale preview teases one final fight

Game of Thrones says goodbye to two of its biggest characters, badly

Who died in Game of Thrones’ battle of King’s Landing, and who survived: the full list

Game of Thrones’ dark turn for Daenerys has been long in the making

Game of Thrones season 8: how the Golden Company could make or break Cersei

Why Jaime will definitely kill Cersei on Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones episode 5 death watch: Things don’t look good for Jaime, Cersei, or Daenerys

Game of Thrones still can’t figure out what it wants to say about trauma

Game of Thrones is spending its last hours ruining Daenerys Targaryen

Game of Thrones’ director tried to explain what happened with Ghost. It didn’t help.

How an errant Starbucks cup became a metaphor for Game of Thrones season 8

Why Game of Thrones fans are outraged over the show’s treatment of Ghost

What happened to the Lannister golden blond hair on Game of Thrones?

Game of Thrones’ Missandei controversy, explained

The political science of why Game of Thrones’ Daenerys may be a terrible queen

4 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ disappointing “The Last of the Starks”

Game of Thrones’ Mad Queen theory, explained

Game of Thrones: how Euron Greyjoy evened up Cersei’s war against Daenerys

Winterfell survived the Game of Thrones death watch. Will Dany and Jon’s relationship?

Game of Thrones: Melisandre told Arya she’ll kill someone with green eyes. Is it Cersei?

Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell: 2 military experts explain Jon and Dany’s sloppy plan

Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell was less deadly than expected. Good.

Game of Thrones’ new episode preview teases uneasy alliances and “the last war”

Who died in Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell, and who survived: the full list

Melisandre’s return to Game of Thrones, explained

6 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ biggest battle yet

The biggest death in Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell, explained

What’s up with Bran and the Night King? Is Bran the Night King? Maybe!

Game of Thrones season 8 death watch: Ser Brienne is in trouble in the Battle of Winterfell

Who will win Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell? I asked 3 military experts.

“Khaleesi” became shorthand for a strong, empowered woman

Why Daenerys Targaryen could be Game of Thrones’ ultimate villain

Game of Thrones’ White Walker battle is here. But is Winterfell ready?

Geek culture may never again be as all-consuming as it is right now

Battle scenes are very boring

Why Arya’s Game of Thrones sex scene was a perfect character evolution

Will Game of Thrones’ Arya steal the face of a White Walker?

Sansa Stark’s leather armor shows why you shouldn’t underestimate her

A code of conduct for spoilers

8 winners and 4 losers from Game of Thrones’ terrific “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”

Game of Thrones season 8, episode 2: Podrick’s song, explained

Bran knows Jaime should live on Game of Thrones. He also isn’t above a savage burn.

Game of Thrones season 8 death watch: Samwell and Jaime are in the hot seat in episode 2

Game of Thrones’ Tyrion was the game’s sharpest player. Now he’s in trouble.

How Game of Thrones’ final season premiere mirrors its first

Game of Thrones is more interested in payoffs than actual storytelling

Why the dragons on Game of Thrones aren’t akin to nukes

Bran Stark’s cold stare is Game of Thrones season 8’s real winner

Who will win Game of Thrones, explained by political science

Game of Thrones: the most satisfying reunions from the season 8 premiere

What does Game of Thrones’ season 8 premiere tell us about how the show ends?

Watch: Game of Thrones’ opening credits get a dramatic overhaul for season 8

Game of Thrones: Jon Snow and the Targaryen dragon rider theory, explained

7 winners and 8 losers from Game of Thrones’ final season premiere

Game of Thrones season 8 premiere: the characters most likely to die

Game of Thrones season 8: the most anticipated character reunions

Game of Thrones won’t be the last TV show everyone cares about

Game of Thrones: where every major character stands going into season 8

Dothraki spoken here

Why do we need Game of Thrones Oreos, makeup, and Mountain Dew?

Why Game of Thrones newbies should still give the show a shot

The essential Game of Thrones episodes to watch before season 8

Game of Thrones’ first final season trailer has dragons, White Walkers, and a suspicious Cersei Lannister

Game of Thrones took over Bud Light’s Super Bowl commercial

Game of Thrones’ 8th and final season premieres April 14. Watch the latest teaser now.

The context you need, when you need it

More from Game of Thrones season 8: episode recaps and reviews, spoilers, news, and analysis

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The context you need, when you need it

More from Game of Thrones season 8: episode recaps and reviews, spoilers, news, and analysis

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