February 8th, 2:42am February 8th, 2:42am Abhinav PathakFiction Writer and Editor Based In Bangalore | Author of ‘Gopalkant’s Wife’

‘Winter is Here’ – that’s a slogan in the contemporary Westerosi world but has taken a long time to get to our television screen this time. Talking about the new season of Game of Thrones – the last we heard from it was when the first official teaser Dragonstone was released. Yet, we have never left for more as the new season of Game of Thrones arrives in less than 70 days which is on April 14.

While we wait for the first official trailer of full-length to drop sometime around March – confirmed by a reliable source (James Hibberd from Entertainment Weekly), HBO has just dropped 15 new promotional photos from Game of Thrones Season 8. And, I strongly do believe that these images are from the very first episode. Let’s take a look and speculate.

#1. Bran and Samwell Tarly

Let’s start off with the promotional pics of Samwell Tarly and Bran Stark – who in the last season had teamed up to uncover the lineage of Jon Snow. Both these characters are shown inside Winterfell rather than the other characters that either seems to be in the Great Hall or in the corridor/battlements.

This is Sam inside Winterfell – with a smile bobbed up on his face! What/who is he looking at and what’s the reason for his smile? I believe that either he’s looking at Gilly and Baby Sam or Bran Stark as they uncover another big truth – this time about the Long Night.

Here’s Bran Stark or The Three-Eyed Raven inside his chambers in Winterfell, looking all concerned probably, about the threat of the others. Or is this the continuation of the scene of his with Samwell Tarly in Episode 1. Or there’s probably both of these characters are together – their first meeting with Jon Snow! Is this when Bran discloses Jon’s secret to him? There’s a third probability though – Bran’s cold meeting with Jaime Lannister. There’s so much to look forward to!

#2. Some people in the great hall

While some photos were of the Winterfell battlements/courtyard and two from the North, some pictures evidently show characters like Ser Davos, Brienne, Sansa, and others in the Great Hall of Winterfell. Maybe, after welcoming Jon and Daenerys to the North, all main characters are rallied in the Great Hall to discuss the plans for the Great War.

Sansa being the lady of Winterfell presides over the meeting at the Great Hall of Winterfell. Look closely to her right, someone is sitting in Stark furs – most probably Jon Snow. This widely reminds me of the meeting in the Great Hall we had in the first episode of Season Seven.

Ser Davos is seated in the Great Hall too – looking all concerned maybe because they just got the news of the Wall being breached by the others. On his right, you can also see an Unsullied soldier standing. May the Onion Knight live long!

Brienne of Tarth is in the Great Hall too with Unsullied by her side. Daenerys is obviously in this meeting – I’m sure of that. Brienne is giving a glance to someone maybe, Jaime or Daenerys who is addressing the lords of the North.

Ser Jaime Lannister in the Great Hall, or is he at an inn in Riverrun – there’s a whole lot of speculation here! Look at his attire – common armour like the one Sandor Clegane once wore and we have even seen Robb Stark in a similar armour.

The smile on Jaime’s face – maybe he shared a glance with Brienne at Winterfell.

Daenerys in the Great Hall of Winterfell too and a change in her attire – from the white furs we saw in the teaser and on the cover image of EW. Maybe, she is addressing the lords of the North and I can’t figure out why she seems so contended.

#3. People in the courtyard/ Winterfell battlements

Arya stands amongst the lords of the North, probably while welcoming Jon and Daenerys in the opening scene for season 8. She has her weapons – Needle and Catspaw dagger with her and she is in the same clothes we saw her in the last season. But, what is she looking at and what does that grim look mean?

Jon in the courtyard while he arrives with his aunt/love interest Dany at Winterfell or maybe somewhat later in the episode as we see people around him in action. Who is he looking at?

Lord Varys in the courtyard of Winterfell as he stares at someone. Look at the change in his clothing – he is wearing more Targaryen like colours and I’m telling you – he’s replacing Littlefinger this time!

Tyrion is standing on the battlements where we have seen characters like Ned and Catelyn, Jon and Sansa, and Sansa and Arya having small talks. He according to me is having small talks with someone like Sansa – discussing their sham marriage. There’s a considerable change in his outfit as well.

#4. Jon and Dany in Godswood / Somewhere in the North

Here are Jon and Daenerys who are in the same outfit as the one we had seen on the front cover of Entertainment Weekly’s December edition. The lovebirds/aunt-nephew shares a glance in the snow.

The second one seems to be a continuation of the first image – seems to me like Jon has suddenly told Dany the Truth and she seems concerned.

#5. Cersei Lannister at King’s Landing

Cersei Lannister on the Iron Throne – the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She has changed her outfit a bit – dressed in black but an additional gold armour on her shoulders. She here is either talking to someone like Harry Strickland from Golden Company who has come to meet her or just discussing her plans with Qyburn.

Cersei in a standing posture at King’s Landing – nothing new about it, except some fans noticed a bump on her belly. At this point, she is pregnant – like she told Jaime and Tyrion. Well, I have no thoughts on that!

So, these were my thoughts and speculation on the first promotional images released by HBO. What were your thoughts? Did we miss out anything? Tell us in the comments.

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