To say that this season of Game of Thrones has been insanely exciting is an understatement. We’ve seen characters come back from the dead (literally and metaphorically), we’ve had some shocking reveals (Melisandre’s age, how Hodor got his name), and we met one of the best characters in the form of a fierce 10-year-old girl (Lyanna Mormont).
With everything that has happened so far, there are some big expectations for the finale. Which is probably why it will be the longest episode in Game of Thrones history, clocking in at 69 minutes total. While the episodes of Game of Thrones tend to be a bit longer than most, each ranging from about 50-55 minutes, The highly anticipated finale will be the first for the series to go past the hour mark.
No details are known as of yet for the finale, but according to HBO.com the episode is titled “The Winds of Winter,” a nod to the sixth and final installment of A Song of Ice and Fire, the books by George R.R. Martin which the series is based on. Unfortunately for the fans of the books and HBO series, the last book was not finished before the current season which means the internet is full of fan theories because what will happen next is anybody’s guess. As is the nature of Game of Thrones, it is a guessing game as to which of our favorite characters will be the next to meet their end.
Based solely on the title, the penultimate episode for season 6, promises to keep up tradition of being one of the most action-packed in the season. The episode airing before the finale on June 19 is titled the “Battle of the Bastards.” This, we can only assume, refers to the impending battle between Jon Snow and Ramsey Bolton and the Stark quest to regain Winterfell. This episode will also be a bit longer than the others, spanning a full 60 minutes.
It may seem like a few insignificant minutes to some, but for loyal Game of Thrones fans every minute counts. Especially since the upcoming seasons will probably be shorter than in year past. In an earlier report, the series showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss explained there may be only 13 episodes left in total for the last two seasons of Game of Thrones.
So we will take every minute we can get. The season 6 finale will air on HBO on June 26. All the episodes from this season and previous seasons are available to stream on HBO.com and HBO Now.