These New 'Game of Thrones' Photos Will Get You Hyped for Season 7

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan
HBO/Helen Sloan

When winter ends, Game of Thrones begins. At least, that's been the way things have gone for the previous six seasons of HBO's fantasy epic, with the show premiering in the spring, but this year the show won't return for its seventh season until July. How will fans comfort themselves through the long dragon-less draught? These teasing photographs should help.

The combing over of innocuous Game of Thrones press photos for clues has become an annual tradition on the internet, and this year's batch of unrevealing images doesn't disappoint. Let the ill-advised theorizing begin.

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Cersei and Jaime Lannister reunite

Here's the most challenging part of looking at Game of Thrones press photos months before the premiere: It's hard to remember who everyone is and where they wound up at the end of last season.

There are some plot details you don't forget, though, like Cersei going full Godfather with wildfire on the High Sparrow's old ass and blowing up a chunk of King's Landing in the process. Judging from this photo, things between the new queen and her brother Jaime have been super-chill since then. Nothing to see here. Move along. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Lyanna Mormont pledges allegiance 

Everyone's favorite pint-sized warrior is back. This is both good and bad: good because it means we'll get to see her embarrass a bunch of crusty old generals; bad because there's no reason you should believe Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will refrain from murdering a small child. RIP Tommen. We'll always remember you. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Davos holds court

Look at that scowl. What could Davos be so upset about? Is Jon Snow not following his advice? Has Melisandre appeared again? Did he sit on his wallet in a weird way? So many mysteries.  

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Gilly and Samwell Tarly dig in at the Citadel library

Hell yes. This photo confirms my big Season 7 theory: This year is going to have so much reading. Fuck LexisNexis. We're in the Citadel. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Meera Reed and Bran Stark trudge through snow

After sitting out most of Season 5, Bran came back in a big way last year, logging some quality time with Max von Sydow and flashing back to see his father at the Tower of Joy. He even got us speculating about his possible time-travel capabilities, and, I mean, what if he's time traveling in this photo? It looks like he's on the snow section of Inception, so anything is possible. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Tormund Giantsbane and Brienne of Tarth look at each other seductively

This is the best photo of the bunch. After sharing some meaningful glances, the potential romantic partnership between Tormund and Brienne has become the subject of countless memes. Look at the expression on Tormund's face. Memes do come true. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and Sansa Stark... conspire?

Two words: Stay schemin'.

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Sandor "the Hound" Clegane heads north

Never give up hope for a Cleganebowl. This could be the year. 

Game of Thrones Season Seven
HBO/Helen Sloan

Jon Snow: still not dead

When last year's photos were released, the creators of the show were still pretending Jon Snow was really dead and wasn't going to get resurrected. Surprise: He came back. And it's good to see him looking concerned and not-dead in this image. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Arya Stark: also still alive!

Could this be the season that Arya becomes a relevant character to the main plot again? We can dream, right? 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Varys looks like he's plotting... something

Varys always has an expression that says, "I'm potentially up to no good and can't be trusted, but I'll be one of your favorite characters anyway." Good to see he still has that look in his arsenal. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Missandei ponders the fate of the realm

If Daenerys is really going to conquer the whole realm with her dragons, she's going to need some friends to back her up. Judging from this photo, Missandei and the rest of Dany's team, who were last seen setting sail with their dragon pals, have made it to land and are probably making some tough decisions, hence the serious thinking face seen here. 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Tyrion Lannister wears his badge well

It's your dude Tyrion. He's back! He's got his cool badge again! He's looking stern! 

Game of Thrones Season 7
HBO/Helen Sloan

Daenerys, Tyrion, Varys, Grey Worm, and Missandei stand in formation

This is an impressive bunch, and they look ready to take over your Sunday nights this summer. But the bigger question is this: Who are they staring at? Who would dare challenge Daenerys and her crew? It's gotta be the robots from Westworld, right? There's really no other explanation I'm buying -- at least, until I see more photo evidence. 

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Dan Jackson is a staff writer at Thrillist Entertainment. He's on Twitter @danielvjackson.