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Any and all of Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin’s books are essentially out the window by Season 7, but that shouldn’t stop rabid fans from casing every minor detail. To wit, the first Season 7 casting calls have gone out, so let’s speculate wildly about a priest! And a warrior! Oh, and there’s a guard! Maybe a lovely lady?

Any Game of Thrones fan has likely known for some time that Seasons 7 and 8 would mark the last for HBO’s adapted saga, though the network itself has expressed optimism for more. Now, HBO bosses dish on the plan to end with Season 8, as well what they’ve discussed with regard to a spinoff.

The sixth season of Game of Thrones made clearer than ever where author George R.R. Martin draws the line at confirming book twists spoiled by the HBO series, but that doesn’t mean the Game of Thrones creator signs off on every adaptational change. Showrunners reveal that Martin has at least a few disagreements with the HBO adjustments, even if he’s “a grown-up and a gentleman about it.”

Game of Thrones’ recent finale didn’t quite leave us with the kind of mystery that drove anticipation for Season 6, though at least one major paternal twist seems to have spurred fan investigation anew. So much so, in fact, that even Siri appears to have been sworn to secrecy by HBO.

Travel time notwithstanding, Game of Thrones’ sixth season finale finally ushered Sam into the great Citadel library to begin his training as a Maester, in search of vital intel for Jon Snow’s battle against the Night King. That said, a few easter eggs in the library itself caught the eye of clever viewers, and might just blow up Game of Thrones’ reality like wildfire.

Days from its premiere, Game of Thrones is still keeping a fairly tight lid on penultimate Season 6 installment “Battle of the Bastards,” to say nothing of its “Winds of Winter” finale. That said, the big battle might not be all this Sunday has to offer, as a leaked report suggests a major meeting will be taking place, perhaps forming the next great ship to rival Tormund and Brienne.

We’re only three episodes from the end of Game of Thrones Season 6, and conspiracy theorists are out in full swing, particularly when it comes to the long-awaited arrival of “Lady Stoneheart.” We’ve heard arguments back and forth as to whether the character would ever appear, but now an actor behind one of three mystery characters from “The Broken Man” is either having fun teasing fans, or about to get the hammer from HBO.

HBO played a bit coy in releasing only the episode synopsis and title of Game of Thrones Season 6's eighth episode, where prior foreign leaks seemingly gave away a familiar-sounding finale title. Now, sources confirm a major battle in episode 9, and a title George R.R. Martin might smirk at for the finale.

Now that we’ve put that big Hodor twist (and hopefully its jokes) behind us, Game of Thrones has even more “Blood of My Blood” to spill by the looks of next Sunday’s photos. Arya seems ready to complete her first assassination, while a deadly public conflict with the High Sparrow looms, but is another big death waiting in the wings?

Lord knows we’ve missed the genius of Jon Stewart’s late-night voice in these troubled times, and it’s been some time since HBO signed the former Daily Show host to a four-year development deal. We wouldn’t expect Stewart to suit up again behind a desk just yet, but HBO now believes the late-night veteran will return to active TV duty just in time for the 2016 election.

On the eve of Game of Thrones’ sixth season, neither HBO nor showrunners have clarified past disparity between the adapted Song of Ice and Fire series lasting seven or eight seasons, but the truth may lie somewhere in-between. Bosses believe Game of Thrones may have only 13 episodes left after Season 6, splitting them into two seasons.

We’ve had a taste of Mike Judge’s Silicon Valley Season 3 to date, and now Pied Piper’s return is at last out of beta. Richard scrambles to get back into his own company, and T.J. Miller rides a unicorn in our first trailer and poster for the April premiere of Silicon Valley Season 3.