Watch out for the White Walkers in new Game of Thrones S7 E6 preview

The White Walkers have returned in the latest preview for Game of Thrones season 7 episode 6.

The penultimate episode of season seven will see Jon Snow lead a ragtag band of fighters beyond the wall in search of a wight. As per Tyrion’s idea, they plan to capture this wight to prove to Cersei and the Southern Kingdoms that an ice-zombie invasion is imminent.

All stuff we – the audience – have known since season one, of course.

The thrilling one-minute-long trailer teases the expedition beyond the wall, complete with wight battles and the arrival of some familiar White Walker faces. Will the team be successful or are they doomed?

Elsewhere, Daenerys worries for the fate of the expedition team and Arya confronts Sansa over something we are not privy to.

REVIEW: Game of Thrones 7.05 ‘Eastwatch’ is a dip in form

Game of Thrones has already given us more than we could have asked for this season – dragon battles, ship battles, Stark reunions – so we can forgive it for a dip in form. And that’s what ‘Eastwatch’ was.

A lot happened in ‘Eastwatch’. A little bit too much, probably. In the space of 56 minutes, we caught up with Jaime, Bronn, Cersei, Dany, Tyrion, Varys, Jon, Jorah, Sam, Gilly, Sansa, Bran, Arya, Littlefinger, Gendry, Davos, Tormund, Beric, Thoros and the Hound. It felt like several episodes in one – and consequently very cramped. Big decisions were rushed and characters (and ravens) sped across the continent at an impossible pace. Undoubtedly, this is setting the scene for what looks to be an astonishing finale. But was it good storytelling? No.

‘Eastwatch’ disappointed for the same reason ‘The Queen’s Justice’ and ‘The Spoils of War’ impressed. The shortening of season seven into seven episodes has meant that Game and Thrones can channel its budget into scene-stealing action sequences, but it’s neglected what needs to happen to get from A to B. It’s a double edged sword. For this reason we can’t judge it too harshly, though it is a shame that pacing and development were sacrificed.

Naturally, there was so much happening in this episode that some huge moments were reduced to minor pockets of screen time. Gilly revealed Rhaegar Targaryen annulled his marriage in order to marry someone else, although Sam didn’t listen. This is more or less confirmation that Jon Snow was never a bastard – which is a massive twist. Jon Snow petted a dragon, but he and Dany didn’t really talk about what that meant. Gendry’s back, but he’s not really interested in an explanation as to where Davos is taking him. Arya’s picked up on Sansa’s interest in power. Littlefinger’s finally started playing his usual games, but is it too little, too late?

Any episode was going to look tame following the spectacle that was ‘The Spoils of War’, but what happened in ‘Eastwatch’ really drove home the consequences of a shortened season. Rushed narrative and contrived character actions make the series look unintelligent, and that’s an honest shame. However, as the series races towards a splendid end – can we blame it? So far, this season is proving to be a blessing and a curse.

Game of Thrones director Matt Shakman teases Jon and Daenerys romance

Game of Thrones director Matt Shakman has suggested a Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen romance could be on the cards.

Shakman, who directed the epic season seven episode four ‘The Spoils of War’, described the two characters personal pull towards one another as “undeniable”.

Jon invited Daenerys to view the dragonglass caves in Dragonstone in the episode, which revealed ancient markings depicting the First Men, Children of the Forest and White Walkers. The pair seemed to share a little more than an interest in making a political alliance, though no feelings were verbally declared. Later, Jon’s advisor Davos commented that Jon found it difficult to keep his eyes off the Mother of Dragons.

Speaking to IGN about the cave scene, Shakman said: “There’s very much a political dialogue happening in the scene. But it’s also undeniable that there’s something happening between them personally, as well.”

He added that the pair shared “subtle chemistry” and a “lot of tension”.

“In the cave scene, where Jon takes Daenerys to take the cave markings, I think there is a lot of subtle chemistry happening there between the two of them, and even just Daenerys taking that tiny step forward to Jon before she asks him to bend the knee. There’s a lot of tension in that that I think comes from just two great actors in that darker, more intimate location.

“The first time they come together they’re in a large, formal throne room hall, and now we’re getting a chance to see them alone without their attendants in a sort of quiet space. We looked at a lot of Lascaux caves, the paintings by prehistoric men in France. The imagery is meant to connect to that, but to see them firelit in front of the proof of what Jon is trying to say to her is quite powerful. She takes it in, but she’s still not able to give up what she wants from him.”

Will Jon and Daenerys fall for one another? Only time will tell.

Daenerys issues a threat in new trailer for Game of Thrones season 7 episode 5

Danaerys Targaryen is back on top after a breathtaking battle to the death.

In the newest teaser for next week’s episode, titled ‘Eastwatch’, she’s offering her enemies a dangerous choice: bend the knee or die.

Despite Dany’s roaring victory, all is not well in her camp – as advisor Varys urges Tyrion to calm the young Queen down. Could Danaerys be following in the footsteps of her Mad King father?

Not to mention, what will Jon Snow’s thoughts be on Dany’s rampage when she returns home to Dragonstone? That’s if he isn’t blindsided by the massive dragon, of course.

Cersei seems unperturbed by the burning defeat of her army, as she assures Qyburn nobody will stand in her way.

Meanwhile, Jon Snow begins to plan for the fight against the dead – as it seems his brother Bran has sent word that the White Walkers are on the move.

Check out our review of Game of Thrones season seven episode four here.