‘Game of Thrones’ Returns in the Early Half of 2019 with Final Season

It’s been a year (and counting!) since we’ve been to Westeros. Game of Thrones is nearing its fateful end, and it might make the wait a little bit longer than expected. Despite the various teases that some actors on the show have dropped in the past, we’ll have to gird our loins until the final season as HBO programming president Casey Bloys confirms that season 8 will premiere sometime during the early six months of 2019.

During the Television Critics Association summer 2018 press tour Wednesday (via The Wrap), Bloys had to drop a clue as to when Game of Thrones will return for its final season. At first, the president was a bit coy but ultimately had to reveal a timeframe, confirming that the hit show would bring us back to the White Walker action in the first half of next year. When asked about what fans can expect, Bloys simply said that it’s “pretty great.”

Game of Thrones left us with many questions and fears that put our beloved characters in danger (check out the finale recap to refresh your knowledge). Aside from the imminent threat of the White Walkers breaching the Wall, the rift between incestuous siblings Cersei and Jaime Lannister seem to have developed further. Jaime decided to fight the snow zombies alongside Jon Snow in the North—against Cersei’s wishes. Then there’s another incestuous relationship that blossomed between aunt Daenerys Targaryen and nephew Jon. With him now the King of the North, the ramifications of this relationship remain to be seen.

Aside from these problematic loose ends, Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, also seem to hint at a massive bloodbath that would ultimately kill off key characters. Williams posted an Instagram photo that implied her character as “#barely” the “#lastwomanstanding.” Whatever the hell that means, it sure does make us think about death and painful goodbyes.