(spoiler alert!)
Game of Thrones has barely finished and you’re already suffering withdrawal symptoms. No more getting up at 03:00 AM on a Monday morning. No more wondering who will sit on the Iron Throne. No more dragons or weddings or death. But that doesn’t mean your watch has to be over. There’s still plenty you can do to keep away the Monday blues and stay immersed in the world of Westeros.
Read the Books
You may or may not know – but if you’re a diehard fan you probably do – that Game of Thrones is based on a popular series of books by George R. R. Martin, called A Song of Ice and Fire. The show takes its name from the first book, A Game of Thrones. This is followed by A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. Two more books are yet to released: The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. The first few books are very similar to the first few seasons, but eventually the two diverge quite a lot, so there’s still plenty to explore in the Seven Kingdoms and beyond.
MORE HERE: Your ultimate Game of Thrones’ snack guide.
Watch The Last Watch
If you’ve been exploring Westeros with the cast, crew, and creators with behind-the-scenes videos, then make sure you don’t miss The Last Watch. This HBO documentary explores the creation of the final season and the emotional ending of finishing the show and saying goodbye. Join M-Net channel 101 for this memorable journey on Monday 27 May at 03:00 (express with the U.S.) or in prime time at 21:00.
WATCH THE TRAILER: Game of Thrones: The Last Watch.
Follow the Cast
Now that the show has finished it’s on to new horizons for the cast. In June you’ll be able to watch Sophie Turner reprising her role as Jean Grey, in Dark Phoenix. Also joining the X-Men universe is Turner’s on-screen sister, Maisie Williams. She’ll appear in The New Mutants, slated for release next year. It’s doubtful Peter Dinklage’s Bolivar Trask will return to X-Men, but you can hear the actor in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and The Croods 2.
Come festive season, Emilia Clarke will star alongside Emma Thompson in Last Christmas. You can also look out for Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Carice van Houten in the Brian De Palma-directed Domino; while Alfie Allen will appear in Jojo Rabbit, a dark comedy directed by Taika Waititi, the brilliant Kiwi helmsman behind What We Do in the Shadows and Thor: Ragnarok.
MORE HERE: Stand a chance to win tickets to Dark Phoenix.
Return to Winterfell
Start from the beginning. Watch all six episodes of season eight on Showmax or DStv Catch Up and relive all your favourite moments. Relish Cersei’s killer line, Brienne’s moment of glory, that whole David and Goliath moment, the controversial coffee cup, and the highly-anticipated Clegane Bowl.
Winter may have come and gone (while our own winter prompts boots and big coats), but our watch will never truly end. We’ll always find a way to return to Westeros.