HBO
Game of Thrones Season 7 is shorter than previous seasons — just seven episodes long — but that doesn’t mean that every episode this season is going to be longer to make up for it. The finale is reported to be extra long, clocking in at 81 minutes. But the premiere isn’t going to bring us the same joy.
According to the show’s TV listings, the premiere will last only two minutes longer than normal tonight. That means it will start at 9 p.m. Eastern and end at 10:02 p.m. Eastern. Don’t get too excited if you see the show starting up again immediately after it ends. That’s not a new episode. That’s just an encore of episode one following up as soon as the premiere ends.
It’s worthwhile to note that although the TV listing has the show running until two minutes after the hour, HBO notes that the actual run time is 59 minutes.
The run times for the rest of the episodes in the season are as follows:
- Episode 2: 59 minutes
- Episode 3: 63 minutes
- Episode 4: 50 minutes (wait, what?!)
- Episode 5: 59 minutes
- Episode 6: 71 minutes
- Episode 7: 81 minutes
So despite how exciting it is to get an extra long season finale, it looks like we’re really being shortchanged on Episode 4 with a 50-minute episode. The longest episode so far has been the Season 6 finale, Winds of Winter, which clocked in for 68 minutes.
Season 7 has a total run time of 7 hours and 20 minutes compared to at least 9 hours for typical seasons. So we’ll definitely miss those extra 90 minutes. But things are looking up for Season 8. Although the season will only have six episodes, there have been some rumors that those episodes may be feature-movie-length.
While you’re waiting for the premiere to air tonight, check out a countdown clock made by a big Game of Thrones fan, and some great ideas if you’re planning to throw a premiere party tonight.
Then check out the stories below to prepare yourself for tonight’s premiere.
