The end of Game of Thrones is fast approaching. The television adaptation of the A Song of Ice and Fire series is coming to a close with the six episode finale.
Setting the hype train in motion, HBO released the trailer and it is a doozy.
And we are obligated to give you one warning: SPOILER ALERT!!!
Game of Thrones | Season 8 | Official Trailer (HBO) www.youtube.com
The trailer opens with a blood and sweat covered Arya Stark running in the dark. The child turned assassin is terrified of something, which considering everything she's been through, would have to be extra scary.
We get a shot of what looks like the Golden Company, the mercenaries Cersei ordered to bolster her army. They are likely sailing from Essos to Westeros, ready to serve their customer.
Next is a few other shots to remind us of where other characters are. Sam and Bran are together and have pieced together Jon's lineage. Cersei sits on the Iron Throne.
Jon and Daenerys have joined forces, bringing the sight of dragons flying over Winterfell. Their armies are preparing for a massive war with the army of the dead.
The trailer ends with a night shot of the armies of the living looking out over the frozen earth to see what looks like an undead horse, signaling the massive battle we've been hearing about.
The hype is real.
It's a lot to tease, and with only six episodes in this season, we're unsure how they will tell it all. While this is a final battle in a fantasy world, we all know how Game of Thrones operates.
The people we expect to live, will die. There won't be a straight happy ending. Something is going to be revealed as a massive twist, upending everything we knew.
We just ask they spare certain characters.
Game of Thrones has been a smash success, achieving higher ratings every season. The fact it's coming to an end, and people who haven't seen the show will be able to binge watch it all is setting a high standard for this ending.
At the same time, they need to try and please the fans. That doesn't necessarily mean letting every fan favorite character live, but it does mean that by this point, if they die, it must serve the story.
Additionally, with little word on the next book in the series, some are speculating that the ending of this show may be the only ending we can get for A Song of Ice and Fire.
Basically, this season has a lot to live up to.
The final season of Game of Thrones premieres April 14th on HBO. It stars Lena Headey, Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage and so many other talented people.