Your Game of Thrones Refresher: Where Did We Leave Off? Inline
Photo: Courtesy of HBO1/8Jon Snow
Born: A bastard
Last known location: The Wall
Aliases: Crow, Wildling Turncloak
Associates: Samwell Tarly, Aemon Targaryen, Ghost the Direwolf
Last seen successfully defending the Wall from a wildling attack, then attempting to assassinate their leader, Mance Rayder. Attempt disrupted by the surprise arrival of Stannis Baratheon and his troops, who destroy Rayder’s men and bring the wildling campaign to an end. The threat of the White Walkers remains.
Gains: One Iron Throne claimant, Stannis; one redhead priestess, Melisandre
Losses: Two friends, Pyp and Grenn; one redhead lover, Ygritte
Photo: Courtesy of HBO2/8Bran Stark
Born: With working legs
Last known location: A magic tree
Aliases: Cripple (his words), Warg
Associates: Hodor, Meera Reed, Summer the Direwolf, the three-eyed raven
Last seen trudging north of the Wall to reach the three-eyed raven, who has appeared in his visions since season one. Attempt disrupted by undead wight hands bursting through the ground. Group (mostly) saved by a Child of the Forest and escorted into a giant weirwood heart tree to meet the three-eyed raven—part tree, part man. Currently learning how to “fly.”
Gains: One tree-man mentor; new powers for season six
Losses: One friend, Jojen Reed; all screen time for season five
Photo: Courtesy of HBO3/8Daenerys Targaryen
Born: In a storm
Last known location: Still Meereen
Aliases: Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains
Associates: Barristan Selmy, Daario Naharis, Missandei, Grey Worm
Last seen ruling Meereen, the third of the slavers’ cities she’s conquered, and all that entails: answering petitioners, irresponsibly taking a lover. Attempts at a peaceful reign disrupted by unhappy former slaves, uprisings in the first two cities, general unrest, and uncontrollable dragons that flambé children. Chains two of her three dragons underground; Drogon, the biggest, flies (ominously) free.
Gains: One questionable lover, Daario; many new enemies
Losses: One banished bear, Jorah Mormont; three dragons
Photo: Courtesy of HBO4/8Tyrion Lannister
Born: Unlucky
Last known location: A boat
Aliases: The Imp, Halfman
Associates: Varys
Last seen losing his trial by combat (see: Oberyn Martell, angry Dornishmen) for the murder of King Joffrey, then being secretly spirited away by his brother Jaime and Varys the Spider. Rescue attempt disrupted by the urge to confront his father, the discovery of his former lover in his father’s bed, and the murders of both lover and father (with the crossbow in the privy). Escorted to an escape boat and accompanied across the Narrow Sea by Varys.
Gains: One eunuch, Varys
Losses: One father, Tywin; one lover, Shae; two homes, King’s Landing and Casterly Rock; all hope, for now
Photo: Courtesy of HBO5/8Cersei Lannister
Born: A woman, alas
Last known location: King’s Landing
Aliases: Queen Regent, Lady of Casterly Rock
Associates: Jaime Lannister, Qyburn, Gregor Clegane the Mountain
Last seen telling her father all about incest, then seducing her twin brother in a tall tower. Attempt grossly successful. Remains wary of her soon-to-be two-time daughter-in-law Margaery and the other Tyrells—including her unwanted fiancé Loras—over who will control her king-son Tommen.
Gains: One brother-lover, for now
Losses: One father, Tywin; one son, Joffrey