The newest teaser for Game of Thrones' final season contains no dialogue, but several cryptic images that are worth thousands of words.
Titled "Aftermath," the minute-long teaser pans over a devastated Winterfell. Though sounds filter in and out throughout this revisit of the Stark's home, showcasing the life and innocence that once existed in the north so long ago, there is not a soul alive to show. Instead, the snow falls peacefully, yet markedly. It blankets everything from the parapets to the direwolf statues around the square, showcasing that winter is truly here.
What is most remarkable about the teaser are the items that the camera pans over. Each are connected to a Thrones character who has a major part to play in the endgame of the hit fantasy series. The images that appear, in order, are: Tyrion Lannister's Hand of the King/Queen pin, Arya Stark's trusty sword Needle, the feather Robert Baratheon left at the statue of Lyanna Stark (revealed to be Jon Snow's true mother in the Season 7 finale) in the series pilot, Bran Stark's wheelchair, Jaime Lannister's golden prosthetic hand, Daenerys Targaryen's dragon chain and Jon Snow's sword Longclaw. Most ominously, Longclaw's hilt is dripping blood, the crimson red standing out starkly against a sea of white as the figure of the Night King looms in the background.
These gloomy images don't bode well for the cast of characters aiming to take on the White Walkers. The show's propensity for major character death has prompted immense fan speculation as to who will meet their maker by series' end. However, if this teaser is to be considered, Game of Thrones could end with the Night King taking the Iron Throne, leaving a trail of snow-covered Westerosi bodies in his wake.
Season 8 of Game of Thrones, the show’s final season, premieres April 14. It will feature six episodes with longer than usual runtimes. The HBO drama stars Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark and Kit Harington as Jon Snow.