There have been so many tragic deaths onGame of Thrones. Yet the fate of one beloved character has remained uncertain, until now. King Tommens beloved cat, Ser Pounce, is dead, say theGame of Thronesshowrunners. Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO Ser Pounce lept his way into our hearts, instantly becoming an online sensation. His murderous mother, Cersei Lannister, crowned herself queen. Ser Pounce was not seen again. So what happened to him? So she came up with her most diabolical [execution]....

Dan Weiss: We cant tell you. We have three teams of comedy writers working on that joke. Okay if not that, then what strikes you most about season 7? Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO You want to give them as much as you’re free to. Benioff: Everyone steps up their game every season. I know you probably get sick of hearing us say that. We say it every year. But its kind of astounding to us....

Director wanted to depict ‘the birth of a new weapon’ Hardhome. The Battle of the Bastards. The Battle of Castle Black. Macall B. Polay/HBO He’s never done a major battle like this. And it worked because of the massive planning he put into it and the crew really coming together. We’ve never really blown s up like we’ve done in this episode." The sequence also set a record for themost people simultaneously set on firefor an entertainment production....

Consider this EWs small council, made of two people far too obsessed with everythingThrones. This years burning question:Besides the Great War, what will happen in season 8? SHIRLEY:Darren, heres where we stand. The Wall has fallen, and Tormund and Bericpossiblywith it. So the Great War is coming! But… that cant be all there is to the final six episodes, can it? That said, Darren, what do you think will be her next move?...

Consider it EW’s small council, made of two people far too obsessed with everythingThrones. Is there any chance that she survives 11 more episodes? That would’ve been quite a trump card.) HBO Maybe I’m putting too much stock in Book-Euron, though. We’re never gonna get that eyepatch, are we, Darren? How different is TV-Euron from Book-Euron? Helen Sloan/HBO Are they even remotely the same character? Fair to say, this is NOT the interpretation of Euron that David Benioff & D....

Consider it EW’s small council, made of two people far too obsessed with everythingThrones. This week’s burning question:What will happen when Dany meets Cersei? There were people who really liked it, and people who really didn’t. Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO (2) I’d be intrigued to hear your thoughts on the episode in general, Shirley. We know what Dany wants to get out of the meeting. She’ll show off her fancy far-traveled wight, and pray for an armistice....

Consider it EWs small council, made of two people far too obsessed with everythingThrones. This weeks burning question:Who will die beyond the Wall? SHIRLEY:Lets play a game, Darren. Credit: HBO Jon has enough plot armor on him to keep him in play, but everyone else is vulnerable. So in other words, Im very,veryworried for Jorah. But maybe Im getting ahead of myself. HBO Its a fun team, for sure, but why are they doing this without any strategy?...

Consider it EW’s small council, made of two people far too obsessed with everythingThrones. This week’s burning question:Will Dany and Jon save each other? It’s too bad! That’s so much more thanI thought we’d get! Jon went from arguing with Sansa to arguing with his bannermen to leaving Winterfell. Dany went from redecorating Dragonstone to, well, very quickly losing all of her allies. But here, they didn’t launch immediately into talk of the Great Wars....

Consider it EWs small council, made of two people far too obsessed with everythingThrones. This weeks burning question:Will next episode be Cerseis last? Well find outthatanswer next season. Macall B. Polay/HBO But this leads to a basic question: What is this penultimate season reallyabout? Is it an elaborate table-setting build-up to that final showdown? Or is it a miniature showdown unto itself, with a central antagonistic figure? Helen Sloan/HBO Central antagonistic figure is obviously a vague phrase to throw around on the four-dimensional chessboard ofThronesstrategy....

The extra-long wait forGame of Thronesseason 7 is being put to very good use. The HBO drama typically films 10-episode seasons from July to December. The current production is running from September to February to make seven episodes for this summer. Credit: HBO So, theGoTteam is still spending roughly five months to film the episodes despite producing fewer hours. In other words, even doing 10 episodes is exceedingly difficult. Note Glens quick self-correction that its not yet confirmed thatThronesfinal season will have only six episodes....

Brienne the Beauty:Lets consider theBetter Call Saulrule. But Brienne is tied to no grand destiny, has no interest in sitting the Iron Throne. To do so, hell need Daarios help. Credit: HBO Think Golden Company, but with the two of them conquering Essos. Shirley Lyanna:Shes precocious now, but imagine her as an older ruler, maybe in her 20s. Oh, and obviously shell be accompanied by the Onion Knight. The hair and makeup budget will be off the Wall....

He has a surprising and sexy connection to one of the main characters. How big is the role? Think along the lines of a cameo. Or, as Selman sums up, the part is moreNeedlethanLongclaw but no less deadly. Coster-Waldaus other credits includeBlack Hawk Down,Wimbledon,New Amsterdam, andGods of Egypt. He currently can be seen in season 7 ofThrones, which kicked off July 17. Later this summer, hell be in theaters with the prison dramaShot Caller....

These two have always hidden behind their duty, Emmanuel tells EW. Since Grey Worm is a eunuch, any potential intimacy is bound to have certain, well, limitations. And the role that Missandei has been playing becomes ever more important because theyre facing war and potential death. Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO Distractions arent really welcome, though Missandei has a few of her own. Another distraction well, for us anyway is that Missandei gets a new look this season....