To appreciate an ending, you have to remember how things started. Key takeaways: the prologue, Ned and Robert in the crypt, the character introductions Helen Sloan/HBO Season 1, episode 1: “Winter is Coming” Jon and Robb teaching Bran to shoot a bow and arrow. So, if you want to brush up on your Game of Thrones knowledge, but are a little pressed for time ahead of the season 8 premiere on April 14, we’ve put together a list of the five lore-heavy episodes you absolutely have to watch to understand (most) of what’s going on in Game of Thrones’ final season. While that may be a perfectly fine choice for some Game of Thrones superfans, very few casual viewers will have the chance to catch up on every moment of Thrones, a show that requires you to know all the politics, all the mythos, and all the history to fully understand the weight of its drama.
In preparation for the fantasy series’ last season, some fans have made it their mission to watch all 67 of the show’s episodes, some more than once, and even catch up on the five main, and several supplementary, books in George R.R. After almost 70 hours of television, and nearly a decade of captivating audiences, Game of Thrones is coming to an end.
