Game of Thrones release plotlines for first three episodes as countdown to season seven begins
Epic fantasy series returns bigger than ever for penultimate season and HBO have released some cryptic clues
GAME Of Thrones season seven is due to launch on 17 July and with less than a fortnight to go, HBO have released titles, running times and plot details for the first three episodes.
Fans of the show have already began speculating on the meaning behind the cryptic hints.
Dragonstone (UK - Monday 17 July)
Running lenth - 59 minutes
Official synopsis: "Jon (Kit Harington) organises the defense of the North. Cersei (Lena Headey) tries to even the odds. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) comes home."
Devoted fans will already know that Dragonstone is the ancestral home of the Targaryen Empire, so it looks like the season will kick off with a huge battle as Daenerys returns to take back her home.
With footage from the trailer showing her take to a throne, it looks like she's successful and considering the mammoth fleet of battleships - and three dragons! - she had at the end of season six, it's likely to be a quick battle.
After reclaiming the throne, Cersei has been left with no allies in other houses. The synopsis for the season premiere suggests she will be looking for a new allegiance and Euron Greyjoy actor Pilou Asbaek recently suggested it could be his character, stating that the Queen had "sold her soul many years ago."
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Stormborn (UK - Monday 24 July)
Running time - 59 minutes
Official synopsis: "Daenerys receives an unexpected visitor. Jon faces a revolt. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) plans the conquest of Westeros."
It's likely that the unexpected visitor is Jon Snow as pictures leaked during filming showed the King in the North seeking an alliance with the Mother of Dragons.
With the threat of war against the White Walkers growing closer, Jon could be backing Daenerys' bid for the Iron Throne in exchange for aid from her formidable army.
But although Jon might be successful in making new allies, it seems his supporters back home are starting to doubt him.
The Queen's Justice (Monday 31 July)
Running time - 63 minutes
Official synopsis: "Daenerys holds court. Cersei returns a gift. Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) learns from his mistakes."
It's unclear if the Queen referenced in the title is Cersei or Daenerys but with the previous two episodes both being a direct reference to Daenerys Targaryen's backstory, we're going out on a limb here and predicting that this will see the Khaleesi take revenge against her peers.
The most interesting part here is Jaime learning from his mistakes. Fans have speculated that the warrior will turn against his sister, Cersei, in the penultimate season.
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