After patiently waiting for the final season of Game of Thrones to come out for almost two years, fans of the show cannot keep calm anymore. While the internet is full of reviews about the first episode by those few who had the oppurtunity to attend the premiere, the rest of us have to wait for the episode to air on Monday morning (IST).
Jon and Danny, who have clearly fallen for each other, are headed to Winterfell, which is making Tyrion uncomfortable. Having lost all three of her children, Cersei is ruthless as ever, though her new pregnancy seems quite suspicious. After killing Little Finger together, Sansa and Arya are staying put in Winterfell. After visiting a vision at the Tower of Joy, Bran reveals to Samwell Tarly that Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark's marraige did take place, which deems Jon, whose real name is Aegon Targaryen, the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. This is where we left off.
The OTT platform Hotstar will release the first episode of the final season at 6.30 am on April 15, but will you be watching it by yourself or with other fellow fans? Many cafes and restaurants across the city are going to screen the episode as soon as it is released online, for fans to come together and share the thrill of finding out what happens next. And some of them are also hosting other activities for fans to discuss the fast-approaching ‘winter’.
Vaibhav Palilwal, owner of Nukkad Cafe, who hosted a watch party for the seventh season at the venue as well, talks of an open house on April 13. “Before the episode goes on air, we are organising an open house. The idea is for fans of the show to come together and talk about it. They can share their theories, predictions and talk about anything related to the show. We want people in the city to come together and interact as a fan group of the show. We will also be recapping the entire series, having a quiz and other fun activities,” he says.
The cafe will open its doors to customers at 6 am on Monday so that everyone can be seated and ready for the screening at 6.30 am. “The customers can order breakfast and eat it as they watch the show. For those who aren’t morning people, there will be another screening at the cafe at 7.30 pm,” says Palilwal, adding that the cafe can arrange special screenings for groups of four-six people at a time of their convenience throughout the day. The cafe also has a special Game of Thrones-themed snacks menu featuring items inspired from the show. “We have something called Dragon Balls which are fried cheese balls that are actually lit on fire before eating. It has a smokey aftertaste, leaving you feeling like you breathed fire like a dragon. The Lannister Gold Sacks, inspired by the wealthy House of Lannister known for always paying back their debt and carrying a sack of gold coins at all times, are deep fried potlis (sack) filled with gold corns and cheese.The Highgarden Kebabs inspired by the House of Tyrell who live in the capital city of Reach which supplies farm produce to King’s Landing and the entire Westeros, are tasty vegetable kebabs,” says Palilwal. And as it’s too early to be drinking wine (and knowing things) at that time in the morning, there will be lots of Ginger Ale available to wash down these snacks.
For those who won’t be able to make it to the 6.30 am screening, there will be another screening at 8 am in the co-working space called Inscape at Koregaon Park, organised by Nukkad Cafe. The screening will be via Hotstar through a projector on a screen with a sound system.
The Game of Thrones-themed cafe in Wakad called Cafe of Thrones will also be hosting a screening of the episode on Monday morning at 6.30 am. “There are limited seats only. Customers will be served on first-come-first-served basis. We will open the cafe only for the screening, but the kitchen will remain closed till regular working hours. After screening the episode, we will close and reopen at 12 noon,” says Indu Bhartiya, owner of Cafe of Thrones. There are 40 seats available for the screening, which you cannot book beforehand. This place also has a life-sized replica of the Iron Throne, in case you want to push Jon Snow aside and claim it for yourself.
The menu features items inspired by the show, such as Melisandre Anti-ageing Blushing Pasta, Tyrion Jamun Shot, Glowing White Walkers Eye Berry, and more. “Thoughout the weekend before the release of the first episode of the next season, we will be playing episodes from the previous seasons as a recap,” she says.
The Mint Leaf Restro Lounge in Bavdhan, whose motto is to tell flavourful stories, one great meal at a time, will also be screening the episode on Monday evening, 8 pm onwards, though they do not have a separate special menu for it.
Aamaya Multicuisine at Deccan Gymkhana will be celebrating the launch of their new menu with the screening of the episode.
