HBO debuts After the Thrones, an official Game of Thrones aftershow

It took five years, but HBO has finally woken up, smelled the coffee, and decided to create an official Game of Thrones aftershow, just in case the several hundred unofficial Game of Thrones aftershows already in existence weren’t doing it for you. Behold After the Thrones:

This is the first show produced under HBO’s partnership with author/columnist/podcaster/internet man Bill Simmons. It’ll be hosted by Andy Greenwald, TV writer for Grantland (R.I.P.), and Chris Ryan of The Ringer, Simmons’ new site. The two of them previously hosted the Watch the Thrones podcast for Grantland.

According to HBO’s press release, After the Thrones will take “a lively, humorous and sophisticated look at the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones.”” Thank god for sophistication.

"Each week, AFTER THE THRONES will recap the latest episode, explaining the who, what, when and where, exploring the complicated politics and history of “Thrones,” and offering absurd and not-so-absurd theories about future episodes."

The show will be available “on Mondays on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand, as well as other affiliate portals.” It’ll be played on the main HBO channel as well, although we’re sure exactly when yet.

Considering that AMC has been cleaning up with its Walking Dead aftershow, The Talking Dead, for years, it’s kind of shocking it took HBO this long to develop an idea like this. Welcome to the party.