Warning: contains spoilers for anyone not up-to-date with Game of Thrones season five.

In late 2013, three writers sat down to lunch in Santa Fe.

Bolstered with the knowledge, Weiss and Benioff set about creating the least faithful-to-the-books season so far.

Plots were streamlined, sped-up, transposed for other players, or simply cut.

Key locations and characters were pushed to a later season or chopped altogether.

Like Britain in the Sixties, everyone in Westeros simultaneously discovered foreign travel.

Jaime and Bronn went back-packing in Dorne.

Varys escaped to Essos, and Tyrion was fast-tracked to Danys pyramid in Meereen.

Ive seen the White Walkers and theyre coming for us, for all the living.

That battle is whereGame of Thrones real stakes lie, and its also where the show has to end.

Winter is coming and bringing with it the long nights ghosties, ghoulies, and long-legged beasties.

Repelling an army that recruits those its killed is going to be no mean feat.

Wholl rule The Seven Kingdoms?

Only you’ve got the option to lead the living against the dead.

If Dragonglasskills Wights, goes the logic, then imagine what actualdragonswill do.

The fiery breath of Danys children must be White Walker-Kryptonite.

Lets hope so, because the latter appear to be walking extinguishers when it comes to common-or-garden flames.

Perhaps itll take a coalition of the two to defeat the Wights.

How far do we trust her visions, though?

If it comes down to a choice between ruling and sacrificing Shireen, which way will Stannis lean?

The Long Night is coming and the dead come with it.

Justifiably perhaps, some have accused season five of going nowhere fast.

Theyve been busywork while the entire series shifts tectonically.

), while his familys fall at Winterfell has been foreseen in Melisandres fires.

Some question marks remain.

And what role will Bran Stark come to play?

Im going to break the wheel.

After Hardhome,Game of Thrones remaining two or three seasons now have a clear direction.

read more: Game of Thrones Season 8 Predictions and Theories