(CNN) The following contains spoilers about the "Game of Thrones" Season 8 premiere.

The penultimate season of "Game of Thrones" was largely defined by bringing key characters together -- some meeting for the first time, others reunited after having endured harrowing ordeals.

The Season 8 kickoff ratcheted up that dynamic in thrilling fashion, as forces marshal for the anticipated battle between the living and the undead legions of the Night King.

Of course, forging those alliances won't come easily, with plenty of suspicion and mistrust sprinkled throughout the hour. But the mantra, repeated by different characters in various ways, was as Tyrian (Peter Dinklage) put it, "We must fight together now, or die."

Similarly, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) sought to defend Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) from his wary countrymen in the north, saying that in the battle to come, "Without her, we don't stand a chance."

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