The ongoing two-year gap between Game of Thrones‘ seventh season and its final year has been about as much fun as being Ramsay’s prisoner, and yet we are in no rush to say goodbye to the show. But we know that all men must die, and all good things must come to an end, and now we know when exactly that will happen. Winter will be coming next spring.

A new, emotional teaser that looks back at the past battles, deaths, and horrors the remaining players have gone through to get to this endgame, sets an April 2019 debut for the final season. That’s a return to the show’s more traditional spring start after season seven premiered in July following a delay in filming caused by the wait for actual snow.

HBO president of programming Casey Bloys had said the network was hoping to release the show in the first half of the year, but some signs, including how much time they would need to complete all VFX effects, suggested a later start date. While some might have been okay waiting even longer so they could avoid living in a world without new Game of Thrones episodes, at least now we don’t have to worry about missing out on any warm July nights to stay home and watch ice demons kill our favorite characters.

And there’s something fitting about the show’s final six episodes ending in spring, since the final book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire will be titled A Dream of Spring. Assuming he ever writes it.

Are you excited for an April premiere, or did you want it to be even later? Tell us why in the comment below.

Featured Image: HBO