This image released by HBO shows Isaac Hempstead Wright, left, and Kit Harington in a scene from “Game of Thrones,” premiering on Sunday, April 14. The first episode of the final season of “Game of Thrones” is a record-breaker for the series and HBO. The pay channel said the 17.4 million viewers who watched Sunday’s episode either on TV or online represent a season-opening high for the fantasy saga. (Helen Sloan/HBO via AP)
Winter is finally here, and it only took the longest two years of our lives for it to arrive. Last night, “Game of Thrones” released season 8, the last and arguably most anticipated season in the entirety of the television show. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s time for you to crawl out from the rock you live under and immerse yourself in one of the greatest pieces of art the 21st century has given us. All you need is an HBO account … or even better, your friend’s password.
Revolving around seven royal families’ fight to sit on the powerful Iron Throne, each episode of “Game of Thrones” takes you on a whirlwind filled with drama, nail-biting suspense and cinematic filming that will leave your jaw dropped. The first episode does not provide us with many details that we did not already know, but this doesn’t make it any less amazing. Thankfully, we do witness Samwell Tarly telling Jon the lowdown on who his real father is: Rhaegar Targaryen. Is Jon Snow, the rightful heir to the Throne, going to betray Daenerys? Is his love for her too profound? Are the two remaining dragons going to burn down every city that does not bend the knee? More importantly, are they going to turn Jon Snow into ashes? The only way we’ll find out is gluing ourselves to the closest television we can find every Sunday at 9 p.m.
I would be lying if I said that the future of “Game of Thrones” does not cross my mind at least three times a day. I mean, can you blame me? There are so many endless possibilities that could seal the fate for any character. Arya, who can now mask herself as any human she desires, has the power to murder anyone she pleases. Cersei has easily wronged Arya the most through the murder of her beloved father, Eddard Stark, as well as the torture her sister, Sansa Stark, had to endure during her marriage to Cersei’s son Joffrey. Long story short, Arya is going to mask herself as Jaime Lannister and murder Cersei, causing the Lannister house to crumble. With no king left and a murdered queen, who is to lead their fight in the War of the Five Kings?
With Cersei eliminated from the race, it’s safe to say our two biggest contestants left are Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. After finding out that the same person with whom he is now intimate, the same person to whom he just surrendered the North and the same woman whom he deemed fit to sit on the Iron Throne is his aunt makes things a bit awkward. Since I prefer to look at the glass as half full, I prefer to believe that Jon Snow and Daenerys will take the responsibility of ruling all seven kingdoms together. Why can’t there be a king and a queen? Why does there have to be only one? After all, Snow loves to remind his constituents that he never asked to be king. He will allow Daenerys to be queen, but her love for Jon will prompt her to offer him a place alongside her. Not only to be her mentor and her partner, but more importantly her husband. What’s even better than one loyal ruler is two.
Of course, you all will say this is too good to be true, but what’s the harm in hoping for the best? I’m sure there’s going to be devastating casualties … Sansa, a dragon, maybe even Arya, but all good things require some sacrifices. Plus, there’s nothing Jon Snow can’t handle.
Jordana Castelli is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at jordan.castelli@dailycampus.com.
