Game of Thrones has released the official Season 8 trailer, and it teases everything we want in the final season of the epic series. All of the major characters, a big battle between the living and the dead at Winterfell, Cersei smirking and Jon Snow sulking, and so much more.
Here’s a breakdown of the Game of Thrones season 8 trailer on a scene by scene basis.
What is scaring Arya Stark?
Arya Stark looks terrified in the opening scene of the Game of Thrones season 8 trailer.
Wait. Arya Stark … terrified? She must be fighting a White Walker. Or perhaps she’s just seen the army of the dead for the first time (doubtful, because her face looks like she’s been in battle for a while). Or maybe she just saw the Night King.
Either way, it’s clear Arya is in serious danger.
Davos Seaworth walking along the battlements at Winterfell
In relation to the rest of the trailer, this is a low-key scene. It appears Davos will command the archers from atop Winterfell for the battle against the army of the dead.
He commanded the archers in the Battle of the Bastards as well.
Arya Stark running at the Battle of Winterfell with dragonglass dagger
OK, now Arya is running away from whatever she’s scared of. So, yeah, it’s safe to say she’s in danger.
But look closely and you’ll see that Arya is holding a dragonglass dagger. Look for her to fight at least one White Walker.
Varys hiding in the Winterfell crypts with the women and children
Varys is no soldier. He has said as much in earlier seasons.
As the battle above rages on, Varys is seen here in the Winterfell crypts with the women and children.
A possible ominous sign? Melisandre told Varys he’d die in Westeros. If he perishes in the Winterfell crypts, that means the army of the dead made some serious progress in the battle above.
Arya Stark with a dragonglass dagger
You see her running with it earlier, but they make it clear in this scene that Arya has a dragonglass dagger.
I’m not sure it’s “better” than her Valyrian steel dagger, but we now she now has two weapons capable of taking down White Walkers.
The Greyjoy fleet
Euron Greyjoy did not run away. It was an obvious ruse. We see him returning here.
I’m a bit surprised there’s only three ships, but perhaps they are coming to meet up with more.
The Greyjoy fleet led by the Golden Company
This is arguably the most important scene of the trailer in terms of giving us new information.
This scene confirms that Euron Greyjoy was successful in “recruiting” the Golden Company of Essos. The Golden Company is a group of sell swords — similar to the Second Sons led by Daario Naharis.
Why is this so important? Because the Golden Company is renowned for never going back on a contract. And if Euron Greyjoy recruited the Golden Company to fight against Daenerys, Jon Snow, and the rest of the “good guys” — it means not all of the living will be buddied up this season.
And, no, that’s not Jaime Lannister leading the ship. However, it’s likely a distant Targaryen relative. The Golden Company was founded by Aegor Rivers, one of king Aegon Targaryen IV’s bastard sons.
Dolorous Edd, Beric Dondarrion, Tormund are still alive
They are alive! This trio somehow managed to survive the collapse of the Wall, the advancing zombie army, and the undead dragon.
I’m cool with it.
Bran Stark and Sam Tarly talking at Winterfell
The two brainiacs revealed R+L=J last season, and they likely aren’t done dropping knowledge bombs on us in season 8.
Perhaps this is the scene where Bran reveals to Jon Snow that Jon is actually a Targaryen.
Cersei, Qyburn, The Mountain, and the Queensguard
Cersei is always smirking and plotting. It’s not clear where she’s standing or what she’s doing here, but she has her entire Queensguard — decked out in black outfits and led by the Mountain — behind her.
Perhaps this is her in Blackwater Bay on the shores of King’s Landing welcoming the Greyjoy fleet and the Golden Company.
Jon Snow and Dany Targaryen arrive at Winterfell
This is likely one of the very first scenes of the entire season.
It’s no surprise but interesting nonetheless to see them riding together side-by-side like a king and queen couple surrounded by their army.
Sansa Stark sees dragons for the first time at Winterfell
Sansa may not take too well to Jon ceding the north to Daenerys Targaryen, but even she can’t help but be amazed at the sight of dragons for the first time.
The innocent, naive Sansa is long gone, but it’s pretty cool to see her face filled with wonder again, even if only for a second.
Jon Snow and Dany Targaryen in the crypts at Winterfell
This scene probably happens just after Jon, Dany, and crew arrive back at Winterfell. Or maybe it’s after Bran tells Jon who he really is, and Jon comes to the crypts to visit his mother (Lyanna Stark).
Daenerys has a very tender look on her face in this short scene, further indicating that she does fully love Jon Snow. If this is after it’s revealed that Jon Snow has a stronger claim to the throne than Daenerys, then maybe she won’t be as crushed as we think.
Gendry with the blacksmiths in Winterfell
Gendry is with the blacksmiths turning the heaps of dragonglass into actual weapons to fight the army of the dead.
Remember, Gendry was one of the best blacksmiths in King’s Landing. It’s awesome to see him in his element once again.
See Jorah Mormont in the Battle for Winterfell
This looks to be outside the gates of Winterfell, so it’s possible this is a shot from the actual battle (rather than a pre-battle shot).
Mormont is still on his horse and looking into the distance — perhaps at the arriving army of the dead.
Grey Worm and Missandei before the Battle for Winterfell
The couple share a kiss before the battle begins. There’s really nothing else to breakdown from this scene.
It’s unclear if Missandei will go to the crypts with Varys and the rest of the women and children, or if she will stay outside but not on the frontlines — perhaps alongside someone like Tyrion.
Brienne of Tarth fighting the army of the dead
Easily the best split-second clip of the entire trailer is Brienne of Tarth viciously cutting through zombies, silhouetted against a fire background.
The very next clip shows…
Jaime Lannister fighting at Winterfell
Jaime Lannister is clearly involved in the battle as well. The fires are burning behind him here.
Does he team up with Brienne once again, this time to fight on the same team?
Cersei Lannister sips wine - is she happy, sad, or both?
Ah, the infamous Cersei Lannister sipping wine with a mysterious look on her face scene.
In all seriousness, this is the most cryptic scene in the trailer. Lena Headey absolutely crushes the acting in this short scene. She appears both happy and sad at the same time.
Is she learning of the death of a loved one?
More dragons flying in the snowy north
R.I.P. Viserion.
Arya Stark sees dragons for the first time
We got a shot of Sansa seeing the dragons for the first time, and here’s a shot of Arya getting a glimpse as well.
This is definitely one of the first scenes. Notice that she has her Valyrian steel dagger in her sheath, and we know from the trailer she ends up with a dragonglass dagger later on.
Grey Worm prepares to lead the Unsullied into battle
The chosen leader of the Unsullied leads the army into battle against their toughest enemy yet.
Let’s hope it’s not his last.
Jon Snow at the weirwood heart tree in Winterfell
The Winterfell heart tree is directly tied to the Stark family. One of the earliest scenes of the entire Game of Thrones series is Ned Stark in front of this tree, and there are countless other important scenes in front of this exact tree.
Is this where Jon goes after learning he’s actually a Targaryen (and Stark, in a way, because of Lyanna)?
The Hound next to fire at the battle for Winterfell
This is a great shot of the Hound in half the screen and fire — the only thing he fears — in the other half.
How will he fare in the battle at Winterfell, considering that the trailer makes it apparent that fire will be everywhere?
Jaime Lannister pleads his case to fight for the living
Oh, how far we’ve come since season 1.
Here we are, watching Jaime Lannister say: “I promised to fight for the living. I intend to keep that promise.”
The “Kingslayer” nickname was given to him with equal parts reverence and shame for breaking an oath. He has shed that stigma.
No matter Jaime’s fate in the battle, this line alone is proof that Jaime’s redemption arc has come full circle.
Jon Snow running into battle against the army of the dead
The fire appears to be quite far behind him in this scene. Is it possible he’s far out in the field away from Winterfell, heading toward a one-on-one battle with the Night King himself?
Winterfell soldiers running through the gates
This scene comes right after Jon Snow rushing into battle. It almost looks like Jon is leading this group, but that can’t be the case because nobody is behind Jon in his scene.
It’s more likely this is a group of random soldiers running back through Winterfell’s gates midway through the battle, but that also would mean they are retreating.
Will Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen both ride dragons?
This is the shot everyone is talking about, and for good reason.
The dragons have clearly just burned something — we see ash and bones beneath them — as Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen approach them.
Will they ride the dragons? Will they simply pet them? Perhaps Jon Snow and Daenerys know that Jon is a Targaryen at this point.
Also, Drogon is huge.
Sansa Stark reacts to seeing Dany’s dragons
I don’t know for sure if this is the same scene after Sansa sees the dragons for the first time, but that’s my best guess.
She has a plotting look on her face, and her unease with Daenerys Targaryen coming to Winterfell as a queen rather than a guest is likely to be a focal point of the political showdown this season.
Arya Stark fighting in the Battle for Winterfell
Arya’s quick battle scene here is awesome. She shows up in her first major battle in the Game of Thrones series.
Interestingly, she’s not using either one of her daggers in this scene. However, she did quite a bit of training in the House of White and Black with a staff, so it’s not a surprise to see her take on multiple enemies with a larger weapon here.
Tyrion Lannister looking up (dragons?)
This is the only scene of Tyrion in the entire trailer. He’s looking up — probably at dragons, because they are everywhere in the trailer.
Were his scenes were too important to show, or does he not have that many scenes? We hope it’s the first.
Shot of Dany Targaryen looking solemn
This is likely Daenerys reacting to the news that Jon Snow is actually a) her nephew and b) the rightful heir.
That, or it’s her reacting to the news or realization that Viserion has been resurrected the fight for the Night King.
Drogon breathing fire because dragons
See ya later, group of zombies.
Brienne prepares for battle, with the Vale of Arryn fighters behind her
Brienne is on the frontlines as the living prepare to fight the dead.
Notably, the soldiers behind her are from the Vale of Arryn. The Vale was at Winterfell at the end of season 7, but that was because Littlefinger was there, and he was technically their leader.
Even after Littlefinger’s death, it appears the Vale of Arryn stick around to help the Starks and fight the dead.
Ser Jorah sees the army of the dead again
He was there when the band of brothers went north in season 7 to capture the wight, so he’s seen it all before.
The Night King and the army of the dead arrive at Winterfell
I’m not totally sure this is the Night King — wouldn’t he be riding the dragon instead of a horse? — so it’s more likely that this is a White Walker.
In any event, this scene shows the army of the dead arriving at Winterfell’s doorstep.
It’s about to go down.