There are many things one looks forward to throughout the year:

Longer, warmer days as winter slides away.

A substantial tax return perhaps…..

But there is little to surpass the return of Game of Thrones to our screens. Monday’s are not great, I’m sure we will all admit. However, for a few weeks each year, Monday’s suddenly become a joyous occasion, a cause for celebration, and definitely an excuse to head home early from work, keeping the fingers crossed that the Foxtel recording hasn’t chosen today, of all days, to fail.

The dog walk can wait. Dinner can wait. Sometimes even removing ones work attire can wait.

So what awaits us with this new season? I won’t go into much detail as it will be impossible to guess.

Some might be inclined to suppose that this season may be a ‘filler’ for the expected finale season in 2018. But this is Game of Thrones. Whilst one might expect the odd filler episode, there is no getting away from death, mayhem, genocide, self indulgence, rape, torture, murder, and of course, dragons! There is certainly no doubt that the dragons will play a big part this season.

I have a soft spot for Daenerys Targaryen. She is certainly becoming more ‘queen-like’ as time passes by and has become adept at balancing command and control with respect. The throne doesn’t seem like much of a desirable prize, it certainly looks rather un-comfy, but she’s in a ‘must have’ mood and it will be interesting to see whether she has the desire to follow through.

Cersei will not be giving up without a serious fight, and boy, does she no how to fight dirty. Can she surpass the trail of destruction she left behind? I wouldn’t bet against it. She has given up any remaining modicum of compassion she had left. There is nothing more to lose.

And what of John Snow. He’s battle weary, yet has probably not seen the half of it yet. His sister will drag him south for revenge, but he knows it will all be to no avail unless he can defeat the threat from the north.

No longer a child, where the excitement of Christmas Eve was to hard to bear at times, I am happy to admit that this might just be my Christmas. Bring it on Santa!

Thank you CC for introducing me to the wonder that is GoT!