HBOCersei's taken the throne. Jon and Sansa have reclaimed Winterfell. And Dany and her dragons are on their way to finally enter the fray. After the season six finale of Game of Thrones, the great game is truly underway.
Now that we've had a few days to digest the enormity of that season closer, we're looking to—what else?—season seven and all that it might entail. We know that creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are planning on shorter seasons for the two left in their HBO hit's order, but there's still so much we need to see before winter comes for us all. While it may seem impossible to service such a sprawling cast of characters as fully as we'd hope in just about 13 remaining episodes, we've got a list of demands that simply must be met in season seven.
1. Stark Family Reunion
Jon (Kit Harington) and Sansa (Sophie Turner) are already together in Winterfell, and Arya (Maisie Williams) seems to be on her way. Now that Bran's (Isaac Hempstead Wright) learned the truth about Jon's parentage, it's high time he high-tail it home. The Starks have been through so much on their collective journeys, but it's time to unite at home before the epic battle that's sure to come their way come season eight.
2. A Lannister Face-Off
Cersei's (Lena Headey) gone full-Mad Queen, but her time on the Iron Throne will certainly be short-lived. The person to end it? Little brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage). Her brother-lover Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) may be the Kingslayer, and his face upon returning home just in time for Cersei's coronation certainly wasn't one of pride and joy, but we've a feeling that he'll only aid his brother's efforts to become the Queenslayer, not claim the title for himself.
3. Adios, Littlefinger
Look, it's time that Sansa wise up to Littlefinger's (Aidan Gillen) unrelenting manipulations and kick his butt to the curb. If only someone could fill her in on what part he played in the death of her dear ol' dad Ned...
4. King of the North, Meet Drogon (& His Mom)
Jon Snow's seen some things in his day. The Night's King raise the dead, for one. Oh, and what being dead is like. But imagine the man who knows nothing coming face to face with one of Dany's (Emilia Clarke) dragons. Also, we just want some Jon-Dany time now that we know he's her nephew. For those still holding out hope for an official union between the two, well, at least it would keep the bloodline pure?
5. Arya 2.0?
There are plenty of people we'd love for Arya to encounter on her journey to Winterfell. The Hound (Rory McCann), Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), and Melisandre (Carice van Houten) are all due for a run-in with our girl, but there's someone already up in the North who we're just dying for her to meet. Little Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey) is a total badass and our season six obsession, for sure. That's why it's imperative that she and Arya meet once the youngest Stark finally returns home. Imagine these two teaming up? They'd be unstoppable.
6. Sam Gets Something to Do
Look, Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) is going to continue to take up any of what precious time we have left, he's going to need to be given a story that's more important that exploring an ancient library or defending Gilly (Hannah Murray) for the umpteenth time. This point is non-negotiable.
7. Brienne and Jaime, Sitting in a Tree
The tension when these two saw each other last was almost too much to bear, and much of it was of a sexual nature. Their allegiances may pit them against each other, but those eyes don't lie. And if Jaime turns on Cersei like we expect, the path is clear. Just saying...
8. Lady Stoneheart
Our kingdom for a reanimated Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) on a quest for vengance. (We know, we know. This is highly unlikely. Let us dream, OK?)
9. Wall Falls Down
Uncle Benjen (Joseph Mawle) revealed to Bran and Meera (Ellie Kendrick) that the Wall is made up of as many spells keeping the dead at bay as it is ice. Naturally, those spells have to fail. And when they do, Night will come for everyone. If season eight will be the true war against the Night's King and his wights, then the Wall has to fall beforehand.
10. Gendry
Is Gendry (Joe Dempsie) still out there, just rowing away? We last saw King Robert's bastard in freaking season three. Surely, he's set down his oars by now. His royal bloodline is more important than ever, so we're due for a check-in, at least.
What do you hope to see in season seven?
Game of Thrones returns to HBO sometime in 2017.