And now my watch begins...

There were many trailers released by HBO to tease fans ahead of Season 6, but the best by far had to be the mash up by Mashable to recap Season 5 top storylines – with kittens. Yes, KITTENS.

Credit: Mashable/Buzzfeed

Clearly some fans who like their sleep didn’t get up early or stay up late, depending in which time zone you live, and were battling to stay away from any and all spoilers!

One does not simply log onto the internet after not watching Game Of Thrones.

— Jerm (@mynameisjerm) April 25, 2016

The big question

And no, we still don’t know, really, maybe, depends on your point of view, or which theories you subscribe to… if the tragic hero, Jon Snow, played by actor Kit Harington, is alive or dead and will experience a miraculous resurrection. Which really, is why most people tuned in and why I got up at 3am!

The Telegraph in the UK put it so succinctly in its review of Episode 1, Season 6: “Snow has fought the White Walkers and lived and it is unthinkable anyone else could plausibly lead the campaign against the ice zombies. Before the season ends – probably sooner – it is surely reasonable to assume that the cold light of the north will alight on Harington’s manly man-curls and he will flash his winning pout.”

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! YOU CANNOT JUST STOP THERE!!!! DAMN YOU! NO, JUST DAMN YOU AND THE DRAGON YOU RODE IN ON!!! #GameofThrones

— Dia (@fembot77) April 25, 2016

Spoiler alert

There were special screenings and viewing parties in most parts of the world and clearly some people stayed up all night to talk about THAT ending when the genetically-blessed ‘Red Woman’, Melisandre, played by actress Carice van Houten, took off her magical necklace and reverted to a 200-year-old crone. The shock and horror of seeing a naked old lady was too much for the interwebs which briefly forgot Jon Snow was still very much, apparently, maybe, stone-dead, as this plot twist dominated chatter on social media after the credits rolled.

After watching several people get brutally slaughtered, nation is shocked by naked old lady. #GameOfThrones

— Mike Moats (@MikeMoats) April 25, 2016

And while the action is heart-stoppingly fierce at times, there are funny moments, made even funnier by the reaction of fans on Twitter last night.

So excited for the spin-off, "Real House Wives of Dothraki" #GameofThrones #CutHerHeadOff lol

— Zac (@nz_guimba) April 25, 2016

The award-winning show is based on George RR Martin’s books Song of Ice and Fire. The series has now caught up to the books and the storyline will diverge, although Martin remains a co-executive producer on the show.

Pls Jon #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/a2ZJ5zZ2Oj

— Elena (@elenazm97) April 25, 2016