See all the Game of Thrones season 8 photos
From Stark family reunions to Jon's dragon flight to Arya and Gendry, let's take a spoiler-filled trip to Westeros.
Fire and ice
Warning: This slideshow contains spoilers.
Winter is here, and so are all the photos HBO released from the first five episodes of Game of Thrones season 8. As new episodes air, we'll update this slideshow with new images.
In this image from the series finale, King's Landing looks a lot worse for wear after Daenerys and Drogon blew through.
Note: This gallery was originally published April 19, 2019 and was updated throughout the final season.
Looking at the end
Daenerys looks out at the Unsullied army and the smoldering wreck of King's Landing in one of two photos released by HBO from the Game of Thrones series finale.
Last of the Lannisters
Tyrion Lannister has survived until the Game of Thrones series finale, but it hasn't been an easy road. And he had some thorny issues to navigate in the final episode.
Together always
Some viewers wondered if Jaime or Cersei could've survived the collapse of the Red Keep. Here's your answer.
Jon Snow's journey
In the series finale, Jon Snow has to decide between the queen he promised to obey and his own sense of Stark moral decency.
A soldier's duty
Grey Worm, who lost so much in recent days, wants to execute all the soldiers who fought against his queen, but Jon, as always, seeks mercy.
After the battle
Tyrion confronts Daenerys, whom he betrayed, in the series finale.
Tyrion in chains
Tyrion knew he'd have to pay for trying to save his brother Jaime, and in the series finale, finds himself a prisoner once again. It's not a new role to him.
The throne, at last
In the series finale, Daenerys finally stands in front of the Iron Throne, with no one keeping it from her any longer. But...
Close to the goal
Eight seasons in and now surely the throne is hers. Right?
The throne at last
Yep, nothing can possibly stop Daenerys from ruling the Seven Kingdoms. Nothing except...
Aunt and nephew, together again
As she seems sure to take the throne, Daenerys is joined by her nephew and lover, Jon Snow.
She had it coming
Jon Snow tells Daenerys she was always his queen, and then killed her, right in front of the Iron Throne.
Drogon's despair
Drogon, the last surviving dragon, somehow senses Daenerys' death and somes to her side.
Mommy?
The Mother of Dragons, mourned by her one surviving child.
Fiery revenge
A furious Drogon lets his anger out after his mother's death.
Meltdown
Drogon's flames destroy the Iron Throne.
Closing the book
In the series finale, Ser Brienne takes pen in hand and finishes Jaime Lannister's entry in the famed Book of Brothers.
Stark survivors
Arya, Bran and Sansa Stark gather at a council of the various leaders of Westeros in the series finale. And Bran finds himself a new job.
Family reunion
Stark uncle Edmure Tully thinks he has a lot to say at the small council in the series finale, but Sansa shushes him.
Family love
Sansa hugs Jon Snow before he departs for the Night's Watch.
Bye, brother
Jon Snow checks to make sure Arya still has Needle before they part ways.
Bran the Broken
Bran says goodbye to Jon Snow.
Bending the knee
Before departing for the Night's Watch, Jon Snow bends the knee to King Bran the Broken.
Back again
Jon Snow once again finds himself at the Wall.
Tyrion starts over
Tyrion, the last of the Lannisters, is surprised to find he isn't mentioned in A Song of Ice and Fire. Must've been a misprint.
I've called you all here because...
King Bran the Broken begins his reign.
How about a spinoff for Arya?
Arya Stark survived so much, and now wants to set off and discover what's west of Westeros.
All hail Sansa
Sansa Stark survived it all.
Crowned at last
All hail the Queen in the North!
All hail the Queen in the North
Sansa decides to keep the North independent, splitting off from the Seven Kingdoms.
The end is near
Jon Snow and Varys have no idea what awaits them in episode 5 of the final season.
Riding out
Jon, Tormund and the wildlings head out to the unknown.
Leaving the Wall
With the White Walkers dead, what is the Night's Watch now watching?
The former king
Jon Snow has suffered, celebrated and along the way, discovered who he really is. His future's unknown, but his moral center seems strong.
Goodbye, Game of Thrones
Jon Snow stays strong and unbowed throughout, even when he bends the knee.
On the beach
Jon Snow and Varys confer on the beach in episode 5 of the final season. It won't be a good one for Varys.
This is the end
Tyrion and Varys have both had tough lives. One of them is about to end.
Death by dragon
Farewell, Lord Varys, you were intriguing. And no one deserves what was done to you as a child.
Still his queen
Jon has sworn eternal loyalty to Daenerys, but now things are getting messy.
Royal agony
Still reeling from her losses, Daenerys must somehow pull it together in episode 5.
Before the battle
Ser Davos, Jon Snow and Tyrion await the deadly fight in King's Landing in episode 5 of the final season.
Golden moment
Harry Strickland, leader of the Golden Company, prepares to lead his troops.
Still reeling
Grey Worm suffered a horrible loss in episode 4, but must rally and lead the Unsullied in episode 5.
Watching the skies
Is that a dragon Euron Greyjoy hears?
A queen watches the war
Queen Cersei sees the battle come straight to her in episode 5.
Jon and Davos
Jon Snow still has hopes things will turn out all right as the bloody events of episode 5 commence.
Little brother
Tyrion thinks there's one last chance to save his siblings in episode 5.
I'm on fire
Euron Greyjoy watches as Daenerys' last dragon, Drogon, lights up the harbor.
Here we come
Jon Snow, Grey Worm and Davos march through the opening created by Drogon in episode 5.
Fire next time
Tyrion stands and surveys the wreckage in episode 5.
A shocking sight
Tyrion stares at the destruction of King's Landing.
Damaged Daenerys
Even as the bells of surrender ring out, Daenerys isn't done with Cersei in episode 5.
A tender goodbye
The Hound knows this is the last time he'll see Arya.
Clegane Bowl commences
At long last, the brothers Clegane meet for their fight to the death.
Brother vs. brother
The Hound has probably been waiting for this day since way back when his brother horribly scarred him and made him terrified of fire.
Flames everywhere
Daenerys let Drogon loose on King's Landing in episode 5.
Come with me if you want to live
Arya tries to save a mother and daughter from the disaster that is King's Landing in episode 5.
Grey Worm in battle
Grey Worm fights a bloody path through King's Landing.
Good riddance
Euron Greyjoy thought he'd killed Jaime Lannister, but as with many things in his life, he was wrong.
The Kingslayer in bad shape
It didn't look good for Jaime when he fought Euron in episode 5, but he was determined to see Cersei one more time.
Together forever
Cersei and Jaime came into this world together, and it was always predicted that they would exit it together, too.
Ned Stark's daughter all the way
Arya Stark, true survivor.
Then I looked and saw a pale horse...
Arya finds a way out of the chaos.
After the battle
Jon Snow led the farewell to those who died in the Battle of Winterfell at the start of episode 4.
Honoring the dea
Sansa, Arya and Bran Stark, the Hound, and others stand soberly before lighting the funeral pyres for those who died in the Battle of Winterfell.
A poignant farewell
Bidding farewell to those who died in the Battle of Winterfell.
Remembering the dead
After the Battle of Winterfell, the dead were honored, with Jon Snow noting "we will never see their like again."
Consulting the map
Missandei, Daenerys and Varys help plan strategy.
A queen and her dragon
Turns out the dragons aren't quite as invincible as Daenerys may have thought.
Fleet and fury
Things turned bloody and terrifying out on the sea in episode 4.
Plotting and planning
Never trust Euron or Cersei. Both of them have ulterior motives.
A queen's farewell
Daenerys says farewell to those who died at the Battle of Winterfell, especially her beloved Jorah.
Farewell kiss
Daenerys says goodbye to her ever-faithful protector, Jorah Mormont.
A Stark at the end
Sansa left Theon with the direwolf symbol of the Stark family.
Raise your glass
Tormund, Jon and Daenerys at the after-battle feast.
Feasting
One battle's won, but a huge one against Cersei's well-rested army looms.
Unlikely allies
The Hound reveals he knows what Sansa's been through.
Romantic dreams
Gendry has big hopes for a future with Arya.
Riding companions
The Hound and Arya have come a long way.
A royal request
Daenerys has a request for Jon, but it's not an easy one.
Stark secret
The surviving Starks all know a family secret now.
Ghostly farewell
Tormund and Ghost watch Jon ride off to an uncertain fate.
Calm before the storm
Grey Worm and Missandei before things start to get brutal.
Dragons approach
As episode 4 begins, Daenerys is down to two dragons. But things will change quickly.
Uneven odds
Qyburn's been busy arming the Iron Fleet with improved versions of his scorpion, a dragon-killing weapon.
Havin' my baby
Cersei's fine with letting Euron think he fathered her baby. He doesn't need to know about her brotherly love.
Captured
Missandei became a prisoner of Cersei, and if you've seen even one episode, you know that rarely ends well.
A knight's take
Jaime confesses his terrible deeds to Brienne.
Fury in the sky
Darnerys' dragons are truly her children, as we see again in episode 4 when tragedy strikes.
Confrontation time
Qyburn has even mounted scorpions on the walls of the castle. One of those tiny figures on the castle ramparts is Missandei.
Hostage to fortune
Cersei knows just how much Missandei means to Daenerys and her forces.
Defiant to the last
Missandei calls out "Dracarys," which means "Dragonfire," in one brave protest as The Mountain readies his sword.
Look of loss
Grey Worm has seen terrible sights in his Unsullied days, but perhaps nothing has touched him like this.
This will not be forgiven
Daenerys hated Cersei already, but after the events of episode 4, now it's even more personal.
Arya in battle
In episode 3, Arya really comes in to her own as a fighter.
Fiery fighter
Beric Dondarrion, eye patch, flaming sword and all, prepares for battle.
Not today
Melisandre and Arya face very different fates at the end of the Battle of Winterfell. But it turns out Melisandre knew Syrio's "What do we say to the God of Death?" line too.
Haunting
Ghost, Jon's direwolf, is seen in the battle charge, but it's unclear what happened to him. Probably nothing good.
Snow in winter
Avengers assemble! Wait, wrong franchise. Jon Snow in full battle form.
Tough trio
In a group of Melisandre, Arya and The Hound, we're always on Arya's side.
A fighting queen
Daenerys and Jorah are fittingly together for part of the Battle of Winterfell.
Fired up
Theon is one heck of an archer.
Baratheon boy
Gendry, we've missed you.
Who let the dog out?
The Hound is no fan of fire, and the Battle of Winterfell had plenty of that.
Let it snow
Jon Snow's up to bat.
Backs to the wall
Brienne and Jaime are in dire need of assistance as the dead surge toward them.
Is it hot in here?
Drogon delivers.
Valar dohaeris
Grey Worm saw many of the Unsullied fall in the Battle of Winterfell.
Little Lady Mormont grows up
Few characters on Game of Thrones had the sheer guts of little Lady Lyanna Mormont. The show's directors said she was originally intended as a one-episode character.
Lady in red
Melisandre played multiple roles in the Battle of Winterfell, including lighting up the Dothraki arakhs (swords).
Reek no more
Theon proved his mettle by defending Bran in the Battle of Winterfell.
Eye see you
Bran does his three-eyed raven trick during the Battle of Winterfell, confusing Theon.
Bye, Beric
Arya once had Beric Dondarrion on her kill list, but seems to have mellowed toward him.
Fire and ice
Arya Stark looked to be doomed numerous times during the Battle of Winterfell, especially here.
Underground
Sansa and Tyrion, who are technically still married to each other, take refuge in the crypts of Winterfell.
Ice, ice, baby
Viserion, Daenerys' lost dragon, is the Ice King's biggest weapon. (Supermarket chickens helped him take shape.)
Save Sam!
Sam has a good heart, but his battle skills leave a little something to be desired.
Farewell, friend
Dolorous Edd saves Sam, but at great cost.
Night-night
The Night King is the calmest soldier we've ever seen.
The smallest vs. the biggest
Lyanna Mormont was lost, but not until after she took out a zombified giant. (Was that you, Wun-Wun?)
Age before beauty
Melisandre told Davos she would be dead by morning, and guess what?
Taking on the king
It looked like the end for Arya when she attacked the Night King.
I see Dany's back
Daenerys and Jon watch as the Battle of Winterfell begins. They won't be out of the action for long.
What's that?
Jon Snow has faced some impossible situations, but the Battle of Winterfell was the toughest yet.
Heard any good eunuch jokes lately?
In the third episode, Varys and Tyrion discover the crypts aren't necessarily a safe place when you're fighting the dead.
Once more, unto the breach
Brienne, now a knight in her own right, prepares to battle the dead along with Jaime, Tormund and others.
Sisters and survivors
Sansa and Arya Stark grew up at Winterfell, and now they're set to defend it till the end. Little sister Arya gives her big sister a weapon and a bit of advice.
Serious Sansa
Being the Lady of Winterfell isn't as easy as Sansa's mother Catelyn once made it look, especially now.
Arya and Gendry, sitting in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Hey, if you thought your last hours were approaching, you'd move things along, too.
Planning the fight
Almost all of your favorite Game of Thrones characters gathered to prepare for war -- at least as much as anyone can prepare for war with an army of the dead.
Prepping
All the best-laid plans are likely to go out the window once the dead approach.
Family reunion
The surviving Starks, together at last.
Readying for battle
Jaime, Beric, Tormund and Davos are good fighters, but can they handle the dead?
Gendry prepares
Gendry knows his way around a weapon, and no, that's not a euphemism.
Star-crossed lovers
Nothing's been easy for Grey Worm and Missandei.
Armed again
Grey Worm returns Jaime's sword after Brienne defends him to Daenerys.
The things he does for love
Jaime finally has to face up to what he did in the very first episode.
Confrontation
Yup, Bran did remember who threw him out of the window.
Taking 'family affair' a bit too literally
Family tree site Ancestry.com would have a field day with Daenerys and Jon.
A knight's tale
Jaime knights Brienne.
A knight's tale
She's Ser Brienne, at last.
Two knights
Respect flows between Jaime and Brienne, despite their differences.
Almost a brother
Sansa grew up with Theon at Winterfell, and she seemed pleased to see him again. They've both been through hell and back.
Bros
Tormund and Jon are friends till the end. Uh, is this the end?
Don't drink it all
Who can blame The Hound and Arya for pounding a few drinks after all that's happened?
Shake on it
Sansa and Daenerys, two powerful women coming together at last.
Bran faces what's ahead
Bran, more than anyone, knows what's coming.
Blood brothers
Why did either of these two ever believe a word Cersei said?
Beric pondering
Beric may need more than a flaming sword for this battle.
It's ON
Hey there, is that our cue? Because we are MORE THAN READY for the puny humans.
Future looks Stark
Jon and Arya are facing troubles Ned Stark and his pal King Robert Baratheon couldn't have foreseen.
Facing the past
Jaime had to answer for his killing of Daenerys' father, the murder that earned him his "Kingslayer" nickname.
Tyrion drinks and he knows things
Tyrion trusted Cersei. Was he nuts?
Moment of peace
A quiet moment for Bran, who's decided not to tattle on Jaime.
What's cooking?
Davos has seen battles, but not one like this.
Gilly helps out
More Gilly in the plot, please -- she turned out to be quite the loyal spouse to Sam.
Friends in need
Sam isn't known as a fighter, but he's loyal to Jon at all cost.
Here's the story
Bran warned Tyrion that his story was a long one, but the youngest Lannister wanted to hear it anyway.
Brave despite her age
Lyanna Mormont might be young, but she's not one for hiding in crypts while a battle rages above.
Lady of Winterfell
Sansa is aptly filling her mother's shoes as the Lady of Winterfell.
Future hopes
Grey Worm and Missandei planned for a future that may or may not come to pass.
Tough times
Grim times abound for Dany, who had to face her father's murderer and now has learned just who Jon's parents are.
We three
Daenerys, shown here with Varys and Jorah, discovered something majorly earth-shaking about her family tree.
Family bed
So few families get a happy ending in this show, but here's hoping for one for Gilly, Sam and little Sam.
Love you, brother
Arya and Jon's reunion was much anticipated by fans of the Starks, and their touching hug didn't disappoint.
Survivors
Jon was stunned by how much little brother Bran had grown up in the years since they'd seen each other.
Curls for days
Who's doing Daenerys' hair these days? GIRL, it is awesome. She's shown here with Sam.
Take off to the Great White North
Before the first episode of the final season, only Dany could ride a dragon. But that Targaryen skill seems to be in Jon's bloodline as well.
Who's a good boy?
Jon asked Daenerys what would happen if Rhaegal didn't want him to ride him. "Then I've enjoyed your company, Jon Snow," she replied.
Dragon family
In the first season, Sansa worried about what dragons would eat. Even the Dothraki may not be able to hunt down enough food for Dany's pets.
Catching a queen
Euron Greyjoy wants things from Queen Cersei, but she has her own reasons for keeping him around.
Baratheon blood
Gendry is finally back, and the fact that he's Robert Baratheon's son is bound to come into play.
Old friends
In the season premiere, Arya convinced Gendry to make her a very specific new weapon.
Doggone it
The Hound and Arya met up in the first episode of season 8, long after she'd robbed him and left him for dead.
I'm my own grandpaw
Don't look too lovingly at each other. Jon and Daenerys' relationship is a bit too close for comfort, as Sam told Jon in the first episode of the final season.
Sailing away
Euron Greyjoy brought back the mercenary army known as the Golden Company, but Cersei really would have preferred a few elephants.
No eunuch jokes
Theon's lost a great deal to get to where he is.
Saving Sis
Theon Greyjoy finally is beginning to shake off his Reek persona. Here he is saving his sister Yara from their creepy uncle Euron.
A new generation rises
Lyanna Mormont, a fan favorite, is back again speaking for the young ones. At least she survived the season 8 premiere, unlike, say little Lord Ned Umber.
Brave till the last
Young Lord Ned Umber was sent to his home of Last Hearth to bring his people to support Jon Snow. But it turned out to be a fateful trip.
Tormund in trouble
Tormund finds more than he bargained for at Last Hearth.
Uh oh...
Beric's flaming sword is about to come in very handy.
Stop dragon my heart around
Drogon and Rhaegal are wondering where their buddy Viserion went. Nobody tell them.
The Hound rides on
We're still waiting for CleganeBowl, in which The Hound will inevitably fight his zombified big brother, The Mountain.
Like something out of Alien
The most terrifying scene in the season premiere involved what became of little Lord Ned Umber and the rest of his people. Looks like the Army of the Dead has time for very creepy craft projects.