We just learned this “Game of Thrones” character CANNOT return for Season 7 and we’re very bummed

The good news is that Game of Thrones Season 7 will be back sometime in 2017. The bad news is that we literally have no idea when, other than just ~sometime~. Ugh, life is rough. And this wait for HBO’s show to return is about to get a little bit harder, because we’ve just learned there’s one cast member who cannot return for the next season, and now we’ve got all sorts of theories as to what this means for the show.

And just who is sitting out Season 7? Dickon Tarly, played by Freddie Stroma. Womp womp.

Talking at the Television Critics Association press tour, the former UnReal and Harry Potter star took to the stage to promote his new ABC show, Time After Time. But, you can’t have a Game of Thrones cast member in your presence and not bring up Westeros.

While it has been teased that Sam’s family will show up again in Season 7 (remember how much fun they were? Remember how Sam just straigh-up STOLE HIS DAD’S SWORD?) we won’t get to see Dickon again – at least, not right now.

"I was shooting [Time After Time], so my character [Dickon won't] be able to go back now," he explained to the crowd. When Freddie signed onto the role, he was told there was a chance he could return to the series. But now, it's not in the cards.

“It was still fun,” he continued. “I got to be in that world. I’ve watched all of it. It’s just an incredible TV show.”

However, just because Freddie isn’t returning to Dickon, don’t rule out any Dickon appearance just yet. According to Watchers on the Wall, Dickon was actually recast, and that’s not awkward at all. So maybe we will see him after all. Just, not with his OG face.

But listen, we’re willing to take anyone from Sam’s family as long as we get SO much more awkward Tarly family dinners.