Game of Thrones Season 7 Finale Ratings Hit Series High

The numbers are officially in from last night’s Game of Thrones Season 7 finale and the series has hit another milestone record. THR reports that the final episode of the seventh season brought in 16.5 million viewers who watched the episode live. After even more have seen the episode over the next few days On Demand and on HBO GO and HBO NOW, that number will no doubt reach even further heights.

Prior to the finale, the highest-rated episode of the series was Episode 5 of Season 7, “Eastwatch,” with 10.72 million viewers. The season six finale of the series, “The Winds of Winter,” brought in 8.89 million viewers when it aired, meaning the series has grown 54% in just over a year.

It remains to be seen when Game of Thrones Season 8 will follow, but it’s been previously reported that the series may not return until 2019 and with only six episodes, though they may all be feature length. Spin-off shows are also in development for HBO, which creator George R.R. Martin is working on with various screenwriters.

The series is based on the novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin. In Season 6, the TV series moved past the point where the books have stalled.

Returning series regulars on Game of Thrones this season included Emmy and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Aidan Gillen (Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Diana Rigg (Lady Olenna Tyrell), Sophie Turner(Sansa Stark) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark).

Additional returning series regulars this season included Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Iain Glen (Jorah Mormont), Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark), Conleth Hill (Varys), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane),Hannah Murray (Gilly), Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand), Pilou Asbaek(Euron Greyjoy), Rory McCann (Sandor “The Hound” Clegane) and Richard Dormer (Beric Dondarrion).

The executive producers of Game of Thrones are David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger and Bernadette Caulfield; co-executive producers are Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, George R.R. Martin and Bryan Cogman; and producers are Chris Newman, Greg Spence and Lisa McAtackney.