Game of Thrones Season 8: Episode 1 release date in India, recap, journey of characters

With few hours remaining for the premiere of Game of Thrones Season 8, here's a complete guide on what has happened so far, important characters and most importantly the release date and time of the HBO show in India.

An adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels, show creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss launched the series in 2011. So far, the show has aired seven seasons and the Episode 1 of the eighth and final season of the fantasy series is set to start streaming in India on Hotstar on April 15 (Monday), 6:30 am, the same time it goes on air in US. The show will air every Monday and air its last episode on May 20.

How to watch Game of Thrones Season 8 in India

Game of Thrones Season 8 will premiere on April 15 in India. To watch the episodes, one has to subscribe to Hotstar Premium service. There are two plans available--Rs 300 for a month and Rs 999 for a year. There is a trial period of 7 days during which you will not be charged. The first episode of the final season will be simulcast with the US in India at 6.30am on Monday, April 15 uncensored. If you don't mind watching the show a day late and with a few cuts you can watch it for free on April 16, 2019, at 10:30 pm on Star World, Star World HD and Star World Premiere HD.

Also read: Game of Thrones 8: When, where and how to watch the final season of GoT in India

Episodes

The final season has only six episodes and the length of each episode is as follows. Episode 1: 54 minutes. Episode 2: 58 minutes. Episode 3: 60 minutes. Episode 4: 78 minutes. Episode 5: 80 minutes. Episode 6: 80 minutes

A quick recap of the seven seasons of Game of Thrones

Journey of characters

From little princess to ruthless assassin, Arya Stark played by Maisie Williams, had quite a journey through the seven seasons of Game of Thrones. From a 11-year-old girl dreaming of swords, war and adventure to going through a tough training that required her to take beatings, go blind for months and beg in the streets for subsistence, her character came a long way. As for Sansa Stark played by Sophie Turner, her initial innocence and optimism and subsequent persistence through humiliations and violations have made her the show’s great emotional survivor. Jon Snow, a bastard was sent to serve at the great wall that guards the north quickly rose to become their commander, and reached out to rival clans to fight the plague of the White Walkers. He is brought back to life at the end of season five by a priestess. As for Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke, she started out as a princess-in-exile married off to a barbarian by her calculating brother and now she is either worshipped, feared or revered by nearly every soul in her world. She brought dragons back from extinction, conquered kingdoms, freed thousands of slaves, and is on the verge of restoring her family’s dynasty over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Bran Stark portrayed by Isaac Hempstead Wright began the show as a boy barely big enough to use a bow and arrow and is now a seer known as the Three-eyed Raven, who contains the wisdom of millennia, and a secret about Jon Snow that will redefine his family and possibly all of Westeros. His appearance underwent a change nearly as dramatic. Jaime Lannister begins as a legendary fighter known as the Kingslayer, royal guard of his twin sister Queen Cersei and the secret father of her three children. During a stint as a prisoner he has his right hand cut off, and becomes a warrior unable to use a sword. His humanity, and even hints of kindness, have slowly emerged in the years since. Cersei was queen when season one began, and is queen as season eight begins. She’s barely left the castle in King’s Landing during the show’s run, but for a naked walk of shame through the streets that became one of the show’s most memorable and most memed moments. Most of her trials have been internal. All three of her children have died. Her famous long-blond locks are now gone in favor of a cropped cut that evokes maturity. She has refused to change her view of the world however, staying steadfast in the ruthlessness that for most of the series has kept the throne in her control. As season eight starts she’s refused to commit her troops to the fight in the north, hoping all her potential rivals will destroy themselves while she waits it out.

Also read | Jon Snow to Daenerys Targaryen: The twisted journeys of Game of Thrones characters from Season 1 to 8

The families

Game of Thrones is a family affair, with several Great Houses that love, fight, plot and conspire for the Iron Throne, ultimate power in Westeros. There are Starks. Ned Stark, Warden of the North, at his home, Winterfell. He and his family wife Catelyn; sons, Robb, Rickon and Bran; daughters Sansa and Arya; and oh yeah, the bastard, Jon Snow are living relatively quietly until they receive a visit from Ned’s old friend Robert Baratheon, now the king. Reluctantly, Ned agrees to become the hand of the king, kind of a ceremonial vice president position, and travels south with some of his family. Things don’t go so well, he loses his head and the family is scattered. The Lannisters is a gold-obsessed family you love to hate. Twins Cersei and Jamie have been lovers since they were kids, becoming the not-so proud parents of Joffrey, who was briefly king, and two others, none of whom survived the show’s run. The youngest and wittiest Lannister sibling, Tyrion, a dwarf, is the black sheep of the family. Then there is The Targaryens that ruled Westeros before Robert Baratheon, Ned Stark and others brought them down. Daenerys, the only surviving member of the family, who is decides to sail across the Narrow Sea and reclaim the Iron Throne held by her father, the mad king. Her brother Rhaegar is also crucial to the story for allegedly kidnapping Ned Stark’s sister, Lyanna, before he and his family were killed.

Also read | Game of Thrones: Here's your guide to what has happened so far

Online spoiler leak

The much-anticipated Game of Thrones Season 8 suffered a purported online spoiler leak despite HBO's best attempts and strong measures to keep piracy at bay. A reddit user TherealFrikidoctor apparently talked about spoilers from the first episode in a video and the same was shared across the web. The user claimed to have the key visuals from the epic fantasy show. Although the video has been blocked, and HBO is yet to confirm the veracity of the leaked spoilers, it will be a challenge for the makers to stop spoilers from making way to the internet. Right after Season 7 of Game of Thrones wrapped up, there was a supposed leak of the scripts of Season 8, but the same couldn't be verified.

Also read | Game of Thrones Season 8 first episode spoilers leaked?