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Game of Thrones

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

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

Sansa’s strongest wardrobe statement yet, explained.

By Cheryl Wischhover
Culture
Spoiler paranoia is ruining pop cultureSpoiler paranoia is ruining pop culture
Culture

Why are the movies and TV shows we most worry will be spoiled for us always the most predictable ones?

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
8 winners and 4 losers from Game of Thrones’ terrific “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”8 winners and 4 losers from Game of Thrones’ terrific “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
Games of Thrones season 8

Winners: Brienne! Chiaroscuro lighting! The audience! Losers: Whatever that Sansa and Dany scene was.

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones season 8, episode 2: Podrick’s song, explainedGame of Thrones season 8, episode 2: Podrick’s song, explained
Games of Thrones season 8

The episode’s musical Easter egg, “Jenny’s Song,” could be foreshadowing the end of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Games of Thrones season 8
Bran knows Jaime should live on Game of Thrones. He also isn’t above a savage burn.Bran knows Jaime should live on Game of Thrones. He also isn’t above a savage burn.
Games of Thrones season 8

In “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” Bran Stark’s line, “the things we do for love,” was a savage Jaime Lannister callback.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones season 8 death watch: Samwell and Jaime are in the hot seat in episode 2Game of Thrones season 8 death watch: Samwell and Jaime are in the hot seat in episode 2
Culture

Daenerys isn’t going to be happy with either Jaime Lannister or Samwell Tarly.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones’ Tyrion was the game’s sharpest player. Now he’s in trouble.Game of Thrones’ Tyrion was the game’s sharpest player. Now he’s in trouble.
Culture

Daenerys doesn’t trust that when push comes to shove, Tyrion will choose his queen over his family.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
How Game of Thrones’ final season premiere mirrors its firstHow Game of Thrones’ final season premiere mirrors its first
Culture

We explore the ways the show’s season 8 premiere parallels its first episode.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Game of Thrones is more interested in payoffs than actual storytellingGame of Thrones is more interested in payoffs than actual storytelling
Culture

It’s largely gotten rid of second acts in its many storylines, and that’s made it sloppier than ever.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Why the dragons on Game of Thrones aren’t akin to nukesWhy the dragons on Game of Thrones aren’t akin to nukes
Culture

In fact, another weapon in George R.R. Martin’s universe better fits that description.

By Alex Ward
Culture
Bran Stark’s cold stare is Game of Thrones season 8’s real winnerBran Stark’s cold stare is Game of Thrones season 8’s real winner
Culture

Bran Stark is dominating the Game of Memes.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Who will win Game of Thrones, explained by political scienceWho will win Game of Thrones, explained by political science
Culture

Game of Thrones’ season 8 premiere helped reveal who’s likely to sit on the Iron Throne at the end of the season.

By Zack Beauchamp
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones: the most satisfying reunions from the season 8 premiereGame of Thrones: the most satisfying reunions from the season 8 premiere
Games of Thrones season 8

From Arya’s smile to Bran’s cold stare, here are the highlights from an episode full of characters reuniting.

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

After watching “Winterfell,” our critics discuss how the series should conclude, and how it definitely shouldn’t.

By Alex Abad-Santos, Emily St. James and 1 more
Games of Thrones season 8
Watch: Game of Thrones’ opening credits get a dramatic overhaul for season 8Watch: Game of Thrones’ opening credits get a dramatic overhaul for season 8
Games of Thrones season 8

The series’ introductory sequence has rarely received as big an update as it did in the season eight premiere, “Winterfell.”

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones: Jon Snow and the Targaryen dragon rider theory, explainedGame of Thrones: Jon Snow and the Targaryen dragon rider theory, explained
Games of Thrones season 8

A key scene in the season premiere may be a callback to a prophecy featuring Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Games of Thrones season 8
7 winners and 8 losers from Game of Thrones’ final season premiere7 winners and 8 losers from Game of Thrones’ final season premiere
Games of Thrones season 8

Winners: Jon Snow! Cersei Lannister! Circular narratives! Losers: Daenerys Targaryen! Narrative urgency!

By Emily St. James
Culture
The characters most likely to die as Game of Thrones returnsThe characters most likely to die as Game of Thrones returns
Culture

Most of the characters are safe headed into the premiere, except for Yara and Tormund.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
The most anticipated character reunions on Game of ThronesThe most anticipated character reunions on Game of Thrones
Culture

Here’s the rundown on your fave pairings and when they last met, from Jon and Arya to the Cleganebowl.

By Aja Romano
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones won’t be the last TV show everyone cares aboutGame of Thrones won’t be the last TV show everyone cares about
Games of Thrones season 8

But it will bring an end to the glorious age of the TV recap.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Game of Thrones: where every major character stands going into season 8Game of Thrones: where every major character stands going into season 8
Culture

Here’s a refresher on where season seven left the Lannisters, Starks, Targaryens, and their armies.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Dothraki spoken here
Games of Thrones season 8

Hollywood is churning out dozens of new languages. We spoke to the master.

By Oriana Schwindt
Games of Thrones season 8
Why do we need Game of Thrones Oreos, makeup, and Mountain Dew?Why do we need Game of Thrones Oreos, makeup, and Mountain Dew?
Games of Thrones season 8

As the hit show comes to a close, fans are ready to collect everything from $100 t-shirts to White Walker whiskey.

By Rebecca Jennings
Culture
Why Game of Thrones newbies should still give the show a shotWhy Game of Thrones newbies should still give the show a shot
Culture

Two of our resident experts on the show explain to a novice why HBO’s fantasy blockbuster matters.

By Alissa Wilkinson, Matthew Yglesias and 1 more
Games of Thrones season 8
Game of Thrones tourism is wildly popular — and not just because the show is a hitGame of Thrones tourism is wildly popular — and not just because the show is a hit
Games of Thrones season 8

Fans of the HBO series are flocking to Croatia, Iceland, and other countries where the show has filmed.

By Gaby Del Valle
Explainers
The essential Game of Thrones episodes to watch before season 8The essential Game of Thrones episodes to watch before season 8
Explainers

We divided our must-watch episode guide into two lists: one for the plot and one for the shocks.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Game of Thrones’ first final season trailer has dragons, White Walkers, and a suspicious CerseiGame of Thrones’ first final season trailer has dragons, White Walkers, and a suspicious Cersei
Culture

The beginning of the end of Game of Thrones has arrived.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones’ 8th and final season premieres April 14. Watch the latest teaser now.Game of Thrones’ 8th and final season premieres April 14. Watch the latest teaser now.
Culture

HBO has finally set a return date for the last six episodes of its smash-hit fantasy epic.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones season 8: new footage reveals Sansa and Dany’s first meetingGame of Thrones season 8: new footage reveals Sansa and Dany’s first meeting
Culture

An alliance between Sansa and Daenerys is here.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones’ final season will premiere in April 2019Game of Thrones’ final season will premiere in April 2019
Culture

The end of Game of Thrones begins in five months.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones season 8: everything we know so farGame of Thrones season 8: everything we know so far
Culture

The show is slated to return in the first half of 2019.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones season 8 will debut in the first half of 2019Game of Thrones season 8 will debut in the first half of 2019
Culture

But there’s still no official premiere date.

By Aja Romano
Culture
Last year’s Game of Thrones leaks were allegedly part of a $6 million ransom demandLast year’s Game of Thrones leaks were allegedly part of a $6 million ransom demand
Culture

The leaker, indicted in November, was among the Iranian hackers sanctioned by the US on Friday.

By Constance Grady
Culture
The Game of Thrones creators are writing a new series of Star Wars moviesThe Game of Thrones creators are writing a new series of Star Wars movies
Culture

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are going from Winterfell to a galaxy far, far away.

By Caroline Framke
Tyler Cowen doesn’t believe in progress, and he wishes you didn’t either
Technology

”That we cannot avoid believing in progress may also prove to be our undoing.”

By Sean Illing
World Politics
Game of Thrones’ Dragonstone is a real place. Thousands of fans might ruin it.Game of Thrones’ Dragonstone is a real place. Thousands of fans might ruin it.
World Politics

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a Basque church in Spain— and the site of Daenerys Targaryen’s Season Seven base.

By Sarah Wildman
Culture
Game of Thrones’ final season looks extremely bleak for Cersei LannisterGame of Thrones’ final season looks extremely bleak for Cersei Lannister
Culture

There’s a little prophecy…

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Game of Thrones will disappoint us in the endGame of Thrones will disappoint us in the end
Culture

The story lends itself to three different types of endings — and all of them will leave fans upset.

By Rowan Kaiser
Culture
How Game of Thrones sneakily reflects George R.R. Martin’s hatred of warHow Game of Thrones sneakily reflects George R.R. Martin’s hatred of war
Culture

The author was a conscientious objector to Vietnam. That’s reflected in his books — and now in the show.

By Emily St. James
Games of Thrones season 8
R+L=J: a comprehensive oral history of Game of Thrones’ ultimate fan theoryR+L=J: a comprehensive oral history of Game of Thrones’ ultimate fan theory
Games of Thrones season 8

Fans look back at the mystery that shaped 20 years of fandom, from the early internet through today.

By Aja Romano