It's a bit depressing to think about, but we're slowly coming to the end of Game of Thrones. HBO's fantasy series has enthralled TV goers for seven seasons, in addition to the fans who have followed George R.R. Martin's novels for decades. As such, the highly anticipated conclusion to Westeros' story of power and war has extremely high stakes, considering Game's very successful critical run and penchant for winning awards. And while the fandom seems to be collectively losing it in anticipation for the eighth and final season, the cast seems to be feeling the heat as well. Kit Harrington recently addressed the pressure of his last run as Jon Snow, saying:
Well, I think there's a certain pressure I've not felt before. Whereas before, every year there's always been a bit of pressure, this season is one where we could easily let people down. Obviously, we don't want to do that so we're very much stepping up everyone's game which is very apparent, at least to me. We're all growing a bit and I think everyone's attention is very focused on what we're doing in a way that it's always been, but it may be more apparent.
Everyone involved in Game of Thrones seems to understand the high stakes of producing the show's final few episodes. They've all lived and breathed GoT for nearly a decade, and understand how fans are hoping for a satisfying conclusion. Now the trick is producing storytelling that is thrilling, conclusive, and unexpected.
Kit Harington's comments to Deadline should also help the Game of Thrones community feel a sense of relief, in a way. Because if he is to be believed, then it looks like everyone involved in the series is stepping up their game to make sure that Season 8 is as epic as possible. Harington has been working on the series since Day 1, and therefore has seen the twists and turns of Westeros through every step of the way. So if he's able to notice a change in the set, then we should probably be excited for Game's final few episodes.
Now it's just a matter of how exactly HBO and everyone involved in Game of Thrones will end the series. There are quite a few balls in the air, so it seems like just about any twist or turn could occur in Season 8. With the Night King and his army of the dead now able to break through the wall and approach Westeros, Winterfell likely is in danger of falling. Additionally, Cersei is planning her own insidious plan to reclaim power, and leave her allies in the North to fight against the dead alone.
Game of Thrones likely won't return until sometime in 2019. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch, and our cancellation list to see if your favorite show got the chop this year.
