Game of Thrones finale time, how to stream, and what to know - Polygon

The Game of Thrones series finale is finally upon us. After eight seasons and nearly 72 hours of epic storytelling, HBO’s fantasy series is coming to an end, completing the saga that began nearly a decade ago. Who will live and who will die? Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and the Stark siblings are all around to complicate the drama.

While this isn’t the end for the Song of Ice and Fire — we’ve got two more books and at least one spinoff series on the horizon — it’s the culmination of a massive cultural event and perhaps the last water cooler show we’ll ever watch together.

Season 8 has been a wild, if inconsistent, ride, flipping from lush landscapes to incomprehensible battle scenes and from poignant connections to shocking betrayals (by both the characters and the showrunners). We’re in the endgame now, and pesky things like logic and character growth have mostly been thrown out the window in favor of wrapping up plot points and racing through boss fights.

Here’s what you need to know going into this final episode.

[Ed. note: These next two sections contain spoilers for all of Game of Thrones season 8. If you still need to catch up, scroll down to the last section on how to watch the season premiere.]

Helen Sloan/HBO

What happened in Game of Thrones season 8?

The first few moments of Thrones’ final season mirror the series premiere: The Starks prepare to receive a royal caravan, anxious about what will be asked of them.

Tensions between Daenerys and Sansa are palpable as soon as they meet. While Daenerys shows her strength in the North, Sansa and Arya worry about the hold that the dragon queen has over their brother, Jon Snow.

Only, he’s not their brother. After years of theorizing, Game of Thrones finally confirmed Jon’s parentage last season. He’s not a bastard — he’s the son of Ned Stark’s sister, Lyanna, and Daenerys’ brother Rhaegar, who married in a secret ceremony before Jon was born. Sam lets Jon in on the secret at the end of episode 1, “Winterfell”, and Jon tells Dany in episode 2, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”.

HBO

This revelation is a bombshell, but before the implications can be reckoned with, the army of the dead attacks in episode 3, “The Long Night”. It’s a brutal assault but, when all hope seems lost, Arya appears out of nowhere to assassinate the Night King.

The back half of the season 8 deals with the fallout from Jon’s revelation. Daenerys begs him not to tell anyone but, of course, he does. Soon the information spreads from Sansa to Tyrion to Varys. The Spider starts to consider betraying his queen, who he’s concerned is too volatile for the throne.

Helen Sloan/HBO

In the midst of this internal turmoil, Euron Greyjoy’s fleet cuts off the forces returning to Dragonstone in episode 4, “The Last of the Starks”. Qyburn’s scorpion takes out a wounded Rhaegal, leaving Daenerys with one remaining dragon. And Missandei, her closest advisor and friend, is captured during the attack. She’s later killed by the Mountain during a parlay.

In “The Bells”, the penultimate episode and one of the show’s most controversial, a betrayed and grieving Daenerys decides to rule with fear, since she’s lost everyone she loves. She commands Drogon to lay waste to King’s Landing, even after the capitol surrenders. Jaime and Cersei are killed in the assault, along with most of the Lannister army and a huge population of civilians.

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What else do I need to remember?

Game of Thrones is a dense show, packed with lore and subtext and random celebrity cameos. All season we’ve been wading through the story, answering questions and breaking down theories about the final six episodes in this epic saga. Here are some of the most important themes still left on the board.

HBO

The Mad Queen

Daenerys evolution from exiled orphan married off in exchange for political favors to Mad Queen burning a city to the ground is a long, complicated road. Many fans were frustrated by what seemed like an unearned heel turn during the battle at King’s Landing, but Game of Thrones has been setting this stage for years. Whether or not the showrunners did justice to her arc, which is rife with sensitivities around women and power and “madness”, is of course up to interpretation. (And Game of Thrones certainly doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to portraying women’s growth.)

Helen Sloan/HBO

Jon Snow’s honor

While Ned Stark is not actually Jon Snow’s father, the Warden of the North raised him as his own. Jon studied at the feet of a man whose relentless dedication to honor and truth literally got him killed. That dedication is complicated by the fact that Ned lied to Jon about his identity for his whole life, albeit for honorable reasons. Still, Jon’s constant quoting of the Stark patriarch indicates that he took those lessons to heart all the same. That will surely affect how Jon reckons with the fact that Daenerys just massacred an entire city.

Helen Sloan/HBO

Arya and the green eyes

Prophecy plays a big role in Game of Thrones. Stannis’ belief that he was the Prince that Was Promised informed his military choices; Cersei’s paranoia about her children’s foretold deaths caused her to shut everyone else out.

Arya Stark, on the other hand, has never set much store by Melissandre’s prediction that she would permanently shut “brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes.” As a skilled assassin, Arya has shut many a brown eye. And the Night King’s blue eyes also closed permanently at the hands of the young Stark. But what about those green eyes? Most people assumed the green eyes referred to Cersei, but when Arya had the chance to kill the Lannister queen, she backed away. However, there’s another powerful blonde queen with green eyes in Westeros — one who may very well have recently moved to the top of Arya’s list.

What to expect in the Game of Thrones finale

Despite Daenerys’ insistence that she didn’t want to be “Queen of the ashes”, that’s exactly what the episode 6 teaser teases. The preview is even shorter on details than usual, with Tyrion and Arya slowly treading the razed streets of King’s Landing. Shots of Daenerys’ remaining loyal armies, the Dothraki and the Unsullied, once an inspiring sight, now hit us with an overwhelming sense of dread.

What’s more notable here, though, is what we don’t see — Jon Snow is missing from the trailer, as are Sansa and Bran. Most significantly, we never see Dany’s face. Is she going to lean into the Mad Queen title and truly rule with fear? And will anyone be able to stop her?

Where to watch the Game of Thrones finale

The final episode of Game of Thrones will air on HBO and (drop onto streaming services) at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 19. Here’s all the ways to watch Game of Thrones, whether directly from HBO or as a streaming service add-on.

HBO

HBO Go

Those who subscribe to HBO through a cable or satellite package can stream Game of Thrones live or on demand via the HBO Go service. The HBO Go app is available on most phones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. Check if your device is supported at HBO’s Help Center.

Stream Game of Thrones on HBO Go.

HBO Now

Cord cutters can still watch HBO on the network’s own platform. HBO Now is a stand-alone service, so it doesn’t require a cable subscription or another streaming platform; you stream directly from the HBO Now website or app. A one-week free trial is available — after that, it’s $14.99 per month.

Stream Game of Thrones on HBO Now.

Hulu

Hulu also offers an HBO add-on for $14.99, which allows live HBO streaming whether or not you subscribe to Hulu’s live TV subscription tier. Subscribing through Hulu, or any other streaming service, also grants access to HBO Now.

Stream Game of Thrones on Hulu.

Amazon Channels

In addition to the TV shows and movies available free to Prime members, Amazon offers add-on premium subscriptions through the Amazon Channels program. The HBO add-on costs $14.99 per month (the same as HBO Now).

Stream Game of Thrones on Amazon Channels.

PlayStation Vue

Sony’s own TV subscription service, PlayStation Vue, is another streaming option. HBO is available as an add-on to a multi-channel package or as a stand-alone subscription. It costs $14.99 per month either way. The PlayStation Vue Ultra package, which costs $79.99 per month, includes HBO and Showtime.

Stream Game of Thrones on PlayStation Vue.

DirecTV Now

AT&T’s streaming service is the only subscription that includes HBO at its base level, though at $50 per month, it’s the most expensive plan on the market. Because DirecTV Now operates more like a traditional cable package, subscribers have access to HBO Go, rather than HBO Now.

Stream Game of Thrones on DirecTV Now.

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2019-05-19 10:00:00Z
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The Best Proof Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Didn't Leave London Because of a Royal Feud - The Cheat Sheet

By now most people have heard about a royal feud. You know the one that alleges Prince William and Kate Middleton are at odds with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. There were a few incidences that started the British media on the rumors.

With all the buzz around the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ new son, Archie Harrison, and all the press surrounding William’s alleged affair, you would think the media has enough to cover.

But people just won’t leave it alone. Every day more reports come out with “evidence” that points to a feud, including Harry and Meghan’s recent move. Tabloids will tell you they desperately needed to get away from the family.

That’s not true, though, and we have the best proof that Harry and Meghan didn’t leave London because of a feud.

How the royal feud rumors started

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images

What it comes down to is a bunch of people playing connect the dots, not with facts, but with speculations. First, there were the affair rumors between William and Rose Hanbury. This rumor also started with a move. She is not only the couple’s neighbor but also one of Kate’s friends.

Next came a supposed rift between the brothers. The press thought that Harry and William weren’t talking due to the affair. They said Harry was disappointed in his older brother’s actions. He was closest to his their mother, the late Princess Diana, and watched her struggle with their father’s affair (now his wife), to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

After all that, Harry and Meghan decided to move out of Kensington Palace. This news sent social media and the press in overdrive. Of course, they need to move out because of the growing tension and fighting. Or was there another reason for the move?

Why people can’t let the royal feud rumors go

Even though there is constantly something new going on with the Royals every day, people can’t seem to let this fight go. If it’s true, it must be pretty big, if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex needed to move out.

The British media can’t let it go, because they are pretty busy trying to make Meghan look like the bad guy. She comes along from America, and now these two brothers are fighting.

The truth is not as salacious as the media wants us to believe. We don’t know if William and Harry are fighting or not. They’re brothers and siblings sometimes fight. What we do know is that it has nothing to do with the duke and duchess moving out of the palace. And, we have proof!

Proof that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn’t leave London because of a feud

The real reason Harry and Meghan decided to move out of Kensington Palace is that they didn’t feel safe, and they wanted more privacy. Reuters is now reporting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex won a lawsuit in court against a media company. They used a helicopter to take photos of the couple and their private residence.

“The syndication and publication of the photographs very seriously undermined the safety and security of the Duke and the home to the extent that they are no longer able to live at the property,” their lawyer said.

They also beefed up security to Fort Knox levels at Frogmore Cottage. We’re talking about a full security detail and cameras everywhere. The couple wants less time in front of the public eye and more normalcy. Can you blame them?

Frogmore Cottage gives the duke and duchess everything they need to keep their newborn son, Archie, safe, and free from the paparazzi.

It makes more sense that they would move to the country to get away from the press. They don’t like or deserve any of the trash the tabloids have been reporting. And, let us not forget, Harry still holds the paparazzi responsible for the loss of his mother. Now he has a child and a wife to protect.

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2019-05-19 05:37:59Z
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7 of Meghan Markle's Most Controversial Style Moments, Ranked - Yahoo Lifestyle

Because of Meghan Markle's background, her American citizenship, and her former acting career, people expected her to do royal life differently from the very start. And that she has, starting on her wedding day when she walked herself down the aisle swathed in her custom Givenchy gown and more recently when she and Prince Harry announced that they would refrain from raising their new son with a royal title. She's simply not afraid to push back on certain royal rules, and that includes those rules that outline what she should and shouldn't wear to public outings.

While it's true that Kate Middleton has worn a few controversial outfits as well, Markle seems to bend the wardrobe rules further and more often. From the ripped jeans she wore on her very first public outing with Prince Harry to the off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress she wore to Trooping the Colour, keep scrolling to see seven of her most controversial style moments, ranked.

7. Distressed Light-Wash Denim

The first time the future Duke and Duchess of Sussex were photographed together was at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto. It was a major moment that validated all the speculation that was swirling at that time. Even though she wasn't yet technically a royal, her ripped jeans caused quite a stir. 

This is because, according to the unofficial set of royal wardrobe rules, if jeans are to be worn at a casual outing, they should be dark and fitted (like the ones Kate Middleton wears). Markle's jeans, on the other hand, were of the distressed, light-wash variety. Even though we think they're quite stylish, we're fairly confident the queen wouldn't approve.

Levi's 721 Ripped High Waist Skinny Jeans ($88)

H&M+ Skinny High Waist Jeans ($25)

6. Dark Nail Polish

The duke and duchess attended a Cirque du Soleil show in January. She was glowing, wearing a navy blue sequined gown by Roland Mouret. Her gown wasn't what made people take a second look, though. It was her dark toenail polish, which went against the royal grain. Other female royals, such as Kate Middleton; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; and the queen, only ever wear neutral shades like beige and light pink. Markle's oxblood red polish was a stark contrast to that.

Roland Mouret Sarandon Long-Sleeve Twisted Sequin Gown ($5595)

ASOS Drape Sequin Midi Dress With Open Back ($107)

5. Short Hemline

In 2018, Meghan and Harry attended a performance of Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London. Markle donned a tuxedo dress from Judith & Charles that ended above the knee. While that's far from being considered a controversial fashion choice for the average person, the internet took notice of the shorter hemline, noting that it was different from the midi-length dresses and skirts (and stockings) that royals usually wear. 

NBD Jayla Dress ($248)

ASOS Velvet Mini Tux Dress with Long Sleeves ($60)

4. Suits Vs. Dresses

It's a well-known fact that Meghan Markle is a fan of a tailored suit. She's worn one to many royal events (such as when she wore this sleek Altuzarra suit during an appearance at the Wellchild Awards in 2018). Some celebrated her modern fashion choice (like us), while others criticized it, noting that it's far more traditional for a royal to wear a dress or skirt instead. 

Loft Knit Modern Blazer ($130)

Bailey44 Boardroom Pants ($168)

3. Off-the-Shoulder Dress

Who can forget the time Markle wore this custom-made, pale-pink, off-the-shoulder outfit by Carolina Herrera to Trooping the Colour? The newly married duchess was officially a royal at this point. In fact, this was one of her first major public events after her wedding. People were shocked to see that she had already seemingly broken royal wardrobe protocol with this wide neckline. 

In her defense, we loved every aspect of this outfit, which looks modern and sophisticated all at once. It's also not too far off from the boat neck on her Givenchy wedding gown, so it only makes sense that she would reach for this outfit for her first major royal outing.

Reformation Butterfly Dress ($278)

Lulu's Blush Pink Off-the-Shoulder Maxi Dress ($100)

2. Revealing Neckline

In August 2018, Markle attended a wedding alongside Prince Harry. She wore a dark Club Monaco dress. Royals reportedly aren't supposed to wear black to daytime events, so that already caused a stir. Then, people noticed that Markle's undergarments were partially visible at her neckline. As expected, the internet went crazy, speculating whether or not she meant for that to happen.

If we can add our two cents, women wear bras and sometimes they might show through a shirt or a dress, and that's okay—no further speculation required.

Club Monaco Shoanah Dress ($329)

COS Waisted Dress with Pleats ($125)

1. One-Shoulder Givenchy Gown

Here it is: Meghan Markle's most controversial style moment (so far, at least). She made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards in order to present the British Womenswear Designer of the Year Award to Givenchy's creative director, Clare Waight Keller. Even though it was initially a surprise, it only made sense that Markle would present the award. After all, Keller had designed the duchess's wedding gown. 

Markle wore a Givenchy creation (no surprise there). The part that took everyone aback was the fact that it was a one-shoulder design. Like her off-the-shoulder moment earlier in the year, it was a far cry from what we're used to seeing royals wear. On top of that, she wore dark nail polish. This time, it was truly noticeable because it was on her fingernails. So in a way, Markle broke two royal wardrobe rules at once. But it's understandable why she chose to do so; she looked absolutely stunning.

Givenchy Two-Tone One-Shoulder Cocktail Dress ($2020)

Free People Zoya One Shoulder Dress ($108)

Next up, check out everything Meghan Markle has stopped wearing since becoming a royal. 

Read More from Who What Wear

• 15 Things Our Editors Really Want to Buy Right Now
• 18 '80s-Inspired Outfits That Aren't the Least Bit Dated
• The 5 Most-Requested Summer Hair Colors, According to 3 Celebrity Colorists

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2019-05-19 05:02:00Z
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Man Dropkicks Arnold Schwarzenegger, Screams "Help Me, I Need A Lamborghini" As Security Drags Him Away - Deadspin

Arnold Schwarzenegger says “there is nothing to worry about” after a man dropkicked him in the back at his Arnold Classic Africa sports festival in Johannesburg, South Africa. Video of the incident shows the former governor of California meeting with fans while an event is going on in the background. As he starts taking a picture with someone, a man is seen sprinting towards the former bodybuilder and then jumping and kicking Schwarzenegger in the back. Security quickly held him down as he was escorted out of the building. While the dropkicker was getting dragged away, he can be heard screaming “help me, I need a Lamborghini” about four times.

The action starts around the 55-second mark.

Schwarzenegger tweeted that he initially thought the impact he felt was from the crowd jostling behind him, and didn’t realize he was kicked until he later saw the video. While this could normally be discounted as a celebrity just puffing out his chest, the fact that the Terminator star didn’t move a whole lot after the kick seems to confirm how little he felt from it.

Here’s another angle of the dropkick courtesy of Schwarzenegger himself.

In a statement released, Arnold Classic Africa organizer Wayne Price said that this attacker is apparently “known to the police for orchestrating similar incidents in the past.” He also added that Schwarzenegger was “still in good spirits” and did not plan to miss any of the events he said he would attend.

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2019-05-18 22:40:00Z
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Meghan Markle home with Archie as family attends another royal wedding at Windsor Castle - Page Six

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members gathered at St George’s chapel in Windsor for the wedding of the daughter of the monarch’s first cousin.

Lady Gabriella Windsor’s marriage to Thomas Kingston Saturday marked the third royal wedding at the 15th-century venue in less than a year after the nuptials of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex last May and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in October.

Prince Harry left Meghan at home with newborn son Archie and arrived with his uncle and aunt, Prince Edward and Princess Anne.

The bride’s gown was designed by Luisa Beccaria, while the monarch wore a pink A-line coat and a lilac and pink silk dress by Stewart Parvin.

The bride is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

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2019-05-18 17:15:00Z
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Attack, Drop-Kicked by "Crazed Fan" - TMZ

Arnold Schwarzenegger Attacked in South Africa Drop-Kicked From Behind!!!

5/18/2019 11:33 AM PDT

11:33 AM PT -- Event organizers dubbed Arnold Schwarzenegger's attacker a "crazed fan" who can be heard screaming, "Help me I need a Lamborghini," as he was being detained. 

As of now, Schwarzenegger has no plans of pressing charges and he views this as an unfortunate incident by a mischievous fan.  

Arnold Schwarzenegger got roped into a real-life action scene down in South Africa, where he was drop-kicked from behind in a truly bizarre attack.

The Hollywood icon was in Sandton Saturday for a sporting event that bares his name -- the Arnold Classic Africa, which hosts kids in a ton of judged sporting events. Arnold himself was minding his business, taking photos and chatting with fans ... when he got blindsided.

An unidentified man ran up to Arnold's back and leaped into a drop-kick maneuver, making contact with the actor and propelling him forward. The dude was immediately swarmed by security and detained. Reports say he was removed from the facility. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger is still a terminator. He was not dropped. The lunatic actually injured himself 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/rjQSPb209g

— Maleka (@Maleka_Moroane) May 18, 2019

As for Arnold, he says he's doing alright ... telling fans there was "nothing to worry about" and that he didn't even realize he was kicked until he saw the video afterward. He quipped that he was glad the idiot hadn't interrupt his Snapchat video. 

Considering 'The Terminator' ended up staying on his feet, it's clear the drop-kick wasn't successful.

No official word on what's gonna happen to the kicker -- one report says Arnold isn't looking to press charges, but it might very well be out of his hands. Rule of thumb for everyone out there ... DON'T ATTACK ARNOLD!!! A no-brainer, really.

Originally published -- 10:24 AM PT

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2019-05-18 18:33:00Z
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Man assaults Arnold Schwarzenegger with flying kick during event in South Africa - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

• 

  Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP / APRIL 4

  Arnold Schwarzenegger, a cast member in the upcoming film “Terminator: Dark Fate,” discusses the film during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas. New video on Saturday, shows actor Arnold Schwarzenegger being assaulted during a public appearance in South Africa. It shows the 71-year-old standing and filming children at a sporting event in Johannesburg when a man makes a flying kick into his back.

JOHANNESBURG >> Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was assaulted during a public appearance in South Africa today, but the 71-year-old appeared to quickly recover and say “I’m just glad the idiot didn’t interrupt my Snapchat.”

Video shows the former California governor standing and filming children at a sporting event in Johannesburg when a man makes a flying kick into his back. Schwarzenegger stumbles forward. The man is quickly grabbed by security. Off camera a man shouts several times “Help me!”

Man assaults @Schwarzenegger with flying kick during event in South Africa https://t.co/ueWEj1WCw7 #worldnews pic.twitter.com/x7sBdq0X9R

— Star-Advertiser (@StarAdvertiser) May 18, 2019

The video shortly afterward shows Schwarzenegger smiling and shaking hands with bystanders but then walking out ringed by security.

Make sure to tune into my @Snapchat to see all 90 sports we have here at the @ArnoldSports Africa! Fitness is for everyone. pic.twitter.com/bNjSTQS9Aj

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) May 18, 2019

Schwarzenegger later posted on Twitter: “Thanks for your concerns, but there is nothing to worry about. I thought I was just jostled by the crowd, which happens a lot. I only realized I was kicked when I saw the video like all of you. I’m just glad the idiot didn’t interrupt my Snapchat.”

Thanks for your concerns, but there is nothing to worry about. I thought I was just jostled by the crowd, which happens a lot. I only realized I was kicked when I saw the video like all of you. I’m just glad the idiot didn’t interrupt my Snapchat.

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) May 18, 2019

He had been attending his Arnold Classic Africa event, which features dozens of sports and fitness activities. In a separate Twitter post, the event blamed a “crazed fan” for the assault.

The statement cited organizer Wayne Price as saying the assailant was “known to the police for orchestrating similar incidents in the past” and that Schwarzenegger was “fine and still in good spirits.”

The actor confirmed he had no intention of laying charges and would continue with another appearance on Sunday as planned, the statement said.

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2019-05-18 17:05:00Z
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