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Game of Thrones

HBO’s Game of Thrones: episode recaps, reviews, analysis, and roundtable discussions.

Games of Thrones season 8
4 winners and 10 losers from Game of Thrones’ next-to-last episode, “The Bells”4 winners and 10 losers from Game of Thrones’ next-to-last episode, “The Bells”
Games of Thrones season 8

There are few winners and many losers in a grim installment that is satisfying until you think about it for a bit.

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones’ long-awaited Cleganebowl, explainedGame of Thrones’ long-awaited Cleganebowl, explained
Games of Thrones season 8

Fans have been “hype” for Sandor and Gregor Clegane’s epic final showdown for years. Should they have been?

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones: does Arya’s “green eyes” prophecy mean she’ll kill Daenerys?Game of Thrones: does Arya’s “green eyes” prophecy mean she’ll kill Daenerys?
Games of Thrones season 8

Melisandre’s prophecy said Arya would kill someone with green eyes. Everyone thought that meant Cersei …

By Alex Abad-Santos
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones’ series finale preview teases one final fightGame of Thrones’ series finale preview teases one final fight
Games of Thrones season 8

Spoilers, obviously.

By Zack Beauchamp
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones says goodbye to two of its biggest characters, badlyGame of Thrones says goodbye to two of its biggest characters, badly
Games of Thrones season 8

What the hell was that?

By Zack Beauchamp
Games of Thrones season 8
Who died in Game of Thrones’ battle of King’s Landing, and who survived: the full listWho died in Game of Thrones’ battle of King’s Landing, and who survived: the full list
Games of Thrones season 8

As expected, not everyone made it out of “The Bells” alive.

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones’ dark turn for Daenerys has been long in the makingGame of Thrones’ dark turn for Daenerys has been long in the making
Games of Thrones season 8

It’s been frequently foreshadowed, both on the show and in George R.R. Martin’s books.

By Andrew Prokop
Culture
How Cersei’s hired army, the Golden Company, could make or break Game of Thrones’ next battleHow Cersei’s hired army, the Golden Company, could make or break Game of Thrones’ next battle
Culture

The Golden Company may not have their elephants, but they’ll still be hugely important to Cersei’s impending fight against Daenerys.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Why Jaime will definitely kill Cersei on Game of ThronesWhy Jaime will definitely kill Cersei on Game of Thrones
Culture

We’re pretty confident that Jaime is riding toward King’s Landing with a very specific mission in mind.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Game of Thrones death watch: It doesn’t look good for Jaime, Cersei, or DaenerysGame of Thrones death watch: It doesn’t look good for Jaime, Cersei, or Daenerys
Culture

No one at King’s Landing is safe.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones still can’t figure out what it wants to say about traumaGame of Thrones still can’t figure out what it wants to say about trauma
Games of Thrones season 8

As the finale approaches, a scene between Sansa and the Hound frustrated some fans.

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones is spending its last hours ruining Daenerys TargaryenGame of Thrones is spending its last hours ruining Daenerys Targaryen
Games of Thrones season 8

For seven seasons, the show has told us how great Dany is. In its final episodes, it’s turning her into a villain.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones’ director tried to explain what happened with Ghost. It didn’t help.Game of Thrones’ director tried to explain what happened with Ghost. It didn’t help.
Games of Thrones season 8

Fans aren’t buying that CGI issues caused Jon Snow to act the way he did.

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
How an errant Starbucks cup became a metaphor for Game of Thrones season 8How an errant Starbucks cup became a metaphor for Game of Thrones season 8
Games of Thrones season 8

Many fans are upset with the final season. This Starbucks cup is letting them venti their feelings.

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
Why Game of Thrones fans are outraged over the show’s treatment of GhostWhy Game of Thrones fans are outraged over the show’s treatment of Ghost
Games of Thrones season 8

Jon’s treatment of his loyal direwolf on season 8, episode 4, may be symbolic, but it won him no fans.

By Aja Romano
Money
What happened to the Lannister golden blond hair on Game of Thrones?What happened to the Lannister golden blond hair on Game of Thrones?
Money

A song of platinum and auburn.

By Cheryl Wischhover
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones’ Missandei controversy, explainedGame of Thrones’ Missandei controversy, explained
Games of Thrones season 8

“The Last of the Starks” sacrificed a beloved character to further an alarming plot twist. Not everyone’s on board.

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
The political science of why Game of Thrones’ Daenerys may be a terrible queenThe political science of why Game of Thrones’ Daenerys may be a terrible queen
Games of Thrones season 8

Targaryens and “personalist” dictatorships.

By Zack Beauchamp
Games of Thrones season 8
4 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ disappointing “The Last of the Starks”4 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ disappointing “The Last of the Starks”
Games of Thrones season 8

If the show wasn’t giving Jon Snow the winner’s edit before, it sure seems to be doing so now.

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones’ Mad Queen theory, explainedGame of Thrones’ Mad Queen theory, explained
Games of Thrones season 8

Will Daenerys Targaryen go mad, just like her father before her?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones: how Euron Greyjoy evened up Cersei’s war against DaenerysGame of Thrones: how Euron Greyjoy evened up Cersei’s war against Daenerys
Games of Thrones season 8

Vulgar seaman Euron Greyjoy provided one of the show’s most shocking moments so far this season.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Winterfell survived the Game of Thrones death watch. Will Dany and Jon’s relationship?Winterfell survived the Game of Thrones death watch. Will Dany and Jon’s relationship?
Culture

After the war against the army of the dead, the show now turns the corner and hits the home stretch.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones: Melisandre told Arya she’ll kill someone with green eyes. Is it Cersei?Game of Thrones: Melisandre told Arya she’ll kill someone with green eyes. Is it Cersei?
Culture

The “green eyes” theory that Arya kills Cersei Lannister, explained.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones: 2 military experts break down Jon and Dany’s sloppy Winterfell strategyGame of Thrones: 2 military experts break down Jon and Dany’s sloppy Winterfell strategy
Culture

It wasn’t as bad as you think. It was worse.

By Alex Ward
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell was less deadly than expected. Good.Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell was less deadly than expected. Good.
Games of Thrones season 8

The show’s lack of bloodlust in “The Long Night” was its most subversive plot turn yet.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Game of Thrones’ new episode preview teases uneasy alliances and “the last war”Game of Thrones’ new episode preview teases uneasy alliances and “the last war”
Culture

Dany is preparing to challenge Cersei for the Iron Throne, at long last. But will her alliance with the Starks hold?

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
Who died in Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell, and who survived: the full listWho died in Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell, and who survived: the full list
Games of Thrones season 8

As expected, not everyone made it out of “The Long Night” alive.

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
Melisandre’s return to Game of Thrones, explainedMelisandre’s return to Game of Thrones, explained
Games of Thrones season 8

The Red Witch’s appearance at the Battle of Winterfell introduced a wrinkle into the Prince that Was Promised prophecy.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Games of Thrones season 8
6 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ biggest battle yet6 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ biggest battle yet
Games of Thrones season 8

“The Long Night” was full of brilliant moments — as well as moments that were completely incomprehensible.

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
The biggest death in Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell, explainedThe biggest death in Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell, explained
Games of Thrones season 8

Stick ’em with the pointy end.

By Aja Romano
Culture
What’s up with Bran and the Night King? Is Bran the Night King? Maybe!What’s up with Bran and the Night King? Is Bran the Night King? Maybe!
Culture

Bran’s plan to lure the Night King into a weirwood forest might actually work.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Game of Thrones death watch: Ser Brienne is in trouble in the Battle of WinterfellGame of Thrones death watch: Ser Brienne is in trouble in the Battle of Winterfell
Culture

This show doesn’t like happy endings. And Ser Brienne is so close to one.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Who will win Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell? I asked 3 military experts.Who will win Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell? I asked 3 military experts.
Culture

About as close to a real-life war game for a fictional battle as we could possibly do.

By Alex Ward
Money
Why so many women see themselves in Daenerys TargaryenWhy so many women see themselves in Daenerys Targaryen
Money

Everyone from Stassi Schroeder to Elizabeth Warren identifies with the mother of dragons.

By Gaby Del Valle
Culture
Why Daenerys Targaryen could be Game of Thrones’ ultimate villainWhy Daenerys Targaryen could be Game of Thrones’ ultimate villain
Culture

This series has proved lust for power is all-corrupting. So about the Mother of Dragons ...

By Emily St. James
Culture
Game of Thrones’ White Walker battle is here. But is Winterfell ready?Game of Thrones’ White Walker battle is here. But is Winterfell ready?
Culture

Three Vox writers debate the amount of military planning in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.”

By Emily St. James, Matthew Yglesias and 1 more
Culture
Geek culture may never again be as all-consuming as it is right nowGeek culture may never again be as all-consuming as it is right now
Culture

Avengers: Endgame and Game of Thrones make this moment feel like a series finale for geek pop culture too.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Battle scenes are very boringBattle scenes are very boring
Culture

Game of Thrones created the longest battle sequence in cinematic history. No thanks!

By Rebecca Jennings
Games of Thrones season 8
Why Arya’s Game of Thrones sex scene was a perfect character evolutionWhy Arya’s Game of Thrones sex scene was a perfect character evolution
Games of Thrones season 8

Arya’s sex scene caused controversy. It shouldn’t have.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Will Arya steal the face of a White Walker?Will Arya steal the face of a White Walker?
Culture

’Cause that would rule.

By Aja Romano