It’s been two years since Jon Snow trended on Twitter, but at last, the Long Night is over, and now Aegon Targaryen is trending again. Game of Thrones returned to HBO and Sky Atlantic with its eighth and final season earlier this week. While it may bring a tear to your eye that Game of Thrones is almost over, at least your Mondays will now be filled with some fire-breathing, white-walker fighting excitement for the next two months. With schedules already cleared for your Monday nights and dinner parties planned, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s most anticipated cultural event. What time does Game of Thrones air in the US? Fans in America can watch each Game of Thrones episode on HBO at 9pm Eastern time on Sunday nights. So when can I watch it in the UK? At the rather uncivilised hour of 2am every Monday morning, Sky Atlantic will simulcast each episode – yes, it's not very ideal if you're starting work three hours after and your mind is just bubbling with questions and anticipation for the next episode. It being Sunday, you might have been better off going to bed at a normal time, staying well clear of Twitter (and any mad friends who, armed with Pro Plus and RedBull, barely slept a wink), and waiting for Monday evening, when the episode runs again at 9pm on Sky and Now TV.<doc-sep>Get the latest showbiz news and gossip every day by signing up to our FREE newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones finally kicks off in Ireland tonight. The hit HBO show returned in the early hours of this morning in hte US. And those of us in Ireland can tune into season 8 episode 1 at 9pm on Monday night. Where can you watch the show Game of Thrones will be on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV at 9pm this evening. If you don't have a subscription Now TV is designed to be a no-contract alternative to Sky, that you can pay for on a monthly basis and cancel at any time. To watch Game of Thrones on Now TV, you'll need to purchase the Entertainment Pass. This gets you the Sky Atlantic live channel, as well as a back-catalogue of content – including earlier Game of Thrones episodes. You can also sign up for a Now TV free trial. How long are the Game of Thrones episodes? While there are only six episodes in season 8 of Game of Thrones, each episode of the final season is feature-length. Tonight's episode is the shortest in the season at 54 minutes, while next week's episode will be 58 minutes long. The last two episodes in the series will both be 80 minutes. When does Game of Thrones end? The final episode of Game of Thrones will air on 19 May.<doc-sep>The eighth season of Game of Thrones is probably the most hyped season of all for two reasons – first, it’s coming nearly two years after the season 7 got over and the second, it’s the conclusive season, as we like to say, ‘the beginning of the end’. Not that the makers have done any less in the other seasons, this season’s expectations are way too high - in terms of shocks, an element that Game of Thrones seems to have mastered. When the expectations are high, you tend to feel the pressure - precisely what is visible in the first episode of the season. Unlike the other episodes, the makers have rushed the characters to give the viewers what they have been waiting for and haven’t pursued any building up this time. See Pictures: Winter has come! 'Game of Thrones' stars walk the red carpet for the last time At the end of season 7, the characters started their journeys to their respective destinations (most of them to Winterfell) - Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and co to Winterfell from Kings Landing, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) from Storm’s End to save Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Elizabeth Whelan), Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) to Winterfell and most importantly, the White Walkers marching down south of the wall. Jumping to Season 8 first episode – which is really a big jump by the writers, perhaps to accommodate the content in six episodes - Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and co have reached Winterfell, Theon Greyjoy has saved Yara, Jaime Lannister has reached Winterfell. But the White Walkers are missing. Perhaps they are still on their way, though they have been marching continuously. But how did they not manage to reach Winterfell? Well, the story demands it or… they may have been aged because… phew! It’s been nearly two years! And who else has aged? Jaime Lannister. While the other characters look consistent, Jaime looks a bit old, but undoubtedly charming. Also Read: GoT Season 8 Premier: Are you all set for the Long Night? Kit Harrington loses his acting sheen when he is not playing the underdog. After Jon Snow learns about his parentage and that he had rocked the boat with his aunty Daenerys, there is nothing more than a mere poker face. It's as if he feels more of a bastard now, than ever. On the other hand, Samuel Tarly played by John Bradley meticulously displays grief with the innocence that comes with his character after learning that his brother and father were killed by Daenerys. On the positive front, the makers increased the grandeur of the series and welcomed the viewers with a huge Unsullied-Dothraki army and two majestic dragons. We got to see more of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. What more? The laughs and gasps here and there, the punch dialogues and a bit of nudity.<doc-sep>Kit Harington has promised the final season of Game Of Thrones will be "bigger than any other season - by a long way". The star, who has played hero Jon Snow since the first episode in 2011, says being a part of the epic show has been "a rollercoaster" for the whole cast. :: Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker With just hours to go until fans get to see the first episode of season eight - after a wait of almost two years - there is much speculation about how the hugely successful TV show will end. Image: Harington has played Snow since the very beginning of the show. Pic: HBO/Sky Atlantic Will Jon Snow and his new queen Daenerys Targaryen rule the Seven Kingdoms together? Will Cersei Lannister reign? Or will producers live up to their reputation of killing off fan favourites and let the Night King triumph over everyone? Advertisement Speaking at the season eight premiere in Belfast, where much of the show was filmed, Harington was giving nothing away about the final battle for Westeros. However, he promised a series like no other before - which is no mean feat when you're talking about the show that brought us Battle of the Bastards and Hardhome. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Thrones stars expertly dodge final season spoilers "We went big, on spectacle and scale and ambition," Harington told Sky News. "We went bigger than any other season by a long way. What you get to see is all of your characters' stories hopefully being served correctly and right and you get to see the culmination of nine years under the blanket of one amazing spectacle." Harington said he had been experiencing "every emotion" after finishing filming and now getting ready to finally say goodbye. "It's everything from pride to joy to fear," he said. "I mean, the whole thing was a rollercoaster - and the ending is just as much of a rollercoaster." Image: The actor has admitted he will miss his iconic role. Pic: HBO/ Sky Atlantic Harington said the show, which is the most awarded series in Emmys history, with 38 wins, would leave a number of legacies. "I think it will have changed the genre of fantasy massively; in how it's viewed, in the respect people give it, in how people feel they can do things on TV within fantasy," he said. "I also think the thing I'm proud of most is that we wrote stories for complex characters and complex female characters, and that's what I think will be a lasting legacy." Other stars at the premiere also said they were proud of what the show has achieved. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 'We went big': Starks hype up return of Game Of Thrones Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark and has grown up on the show, having started filming when she was 14, said: "I think the legacy is going to be the show that pushed boundaries, the show that went as far with their imagination as possible - and actually succeeded." Liam Cunningham, who plays Davos Seaworth, said: "It feels bigger than all of us. The star of Game Of Thrones is Game Of Thrones and it's an extraordinary thing to be a part of. It will probably be on my gravestone, but I'm not complaining about that." Cunningham said it felt surreal to finally be saying goodbye. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Game Of Thrones cast's reaction to finale "It's kind of a bittersweet thing," he said. "It's tough to say goodbye but there's also a sense of accomplishment - that you'd made it without breaking a leg, or getting sacked or killed. "[The last season] is epic, absolutely epic. I ain't telling you what happens - but it's epic." He said the series had "raised the bar" for television. "Now it's up to the next boys and girls to come along and shame us and make something magnificent." It's going to be a tough act to follow. :: The final series of Game Of Thrones airs on Sky Atlantic on 15 April at 2am and 9pm. :: Want to recap on the story so far? All episodes of Game Of Thrones from series 1-7 are now available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.<doc-sep>
Tonight is finally the night! After two years, Game of Thrones finally returns to the airwaves. Unfortunately, the Season 8 premier excitement is bittersweet, as it is the final season. Sadly, there are only six episodes remaining in the series. With that said it will be rewarding to finally find out who becomes the ruler of the world. My money is on Theon Greyjoy to end up sitting on the Iron Throne, but I digress. Believe it or not, in the USA, you can watch the Game of Thrones Season 8 premier for free. How? Simply sign up for a seven-day trial of the HBO Now streaming service -- just cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged. That isn't the only free thing that Game of Thrones fans can get today. You see, Sony has launched a really cool PlayStation 4 theme to celebrate tonight's premier. ALSO READ: You can win a limited edition Game of Thrones Roku Ultra by watching Season 8 of the HBO show and using Twitter As you can see from the below tweet, the free Game of thrones theme is actually very nice. The dragon animation is really cool, and I love how it transitions between fire and ice -- a nice touch that fans of the show will appreciate. In addition to the theme, there are several free avatars too. ALSO READ: Creative announces extremely affordable USB-powered Pebble Plus 2.1 speakers 🔥 Tonight's the night ❄️ Download this free, limited-run Game of Thrones theme before the final season premieres: https://t.co/M1eWcYRF0d pic.twitter.com/Gj7CZWm7RS — PlayStation (@PlayStation) April 14, 2019 To score this deal, Sony shares the following instructions. Log in to your PSN account on a web browser Watch the video Click "Redeem Here" after the video completes Use that code to redeem Download to your PS4 The video can be accessed here, by scrolling down to the "Quest 3" section. Photo credit: Lestertair / Shutterstock