In preparation for Sunday’s Game of Thrones season 5 premiere, here’s a reminder of what happened last season.
The new season of Game of Thrones is fast approaching, and with it, the panic of not remembering what happened last year. But fear not, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a quick guide to remind you where the characters left off last season.
Arya Stark
The dynamic duo of Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane spent last season travelling together. The attempt to take Arya to Riverrun to be with her mother and brother fails (RIP mother and brother Stark), as does the attempt to take her to her aunt in the Eyrie (RIP loony Lysa).
As they leave, they encounter another pair, Brienne and Podrick Payne. Brienne and the Hound fight over who gets to keep Arya (finder’s keepers?), and Brienne comes out on top. Unfortunately, this fight is for naught, as Arya has other ideas. She hides from Brienne and Pod, and after they leave, she checks on the Hound. Gravely injured, he begs her to put him out of his misery. She refuses, letting death take him in its own time.
Not knowing where else to go, Arya turns to the only family she has left: her brother Jon. When she comes a across a ship that’s being prepared for travel, she asks to be taken to the Wall. Upon hearing that the ship is set for Braavos, Arya changes course.
If you remember, she has a connection to this Free City. All the way back in season 1, Arya had a ‘dancing’ teacher Syrio Forel who was from Braavos. As well, season 2 introduced Jaqen H’ghar who was also from Braavos. Before parting ways, Jaqen had offered to take Arya with him to Braavos to join the Faceless Men. At the time, she’d refused, hoping to reunite with her family. Instead, Jaqen gave Arya a coin, telling her that if she ever does want to go to Braavos, show a Braavosi this coin and say ‘Valar Morghulis.’ Arya does this now, and is granted a place on the ship, setting sail for Braavos.
Brienne
After Sansa flees following Joffrey’s murder, Brienne meets with Jaime to discuss what to do. Jaime instructs her to find Sansa and keep her far away from King’s Landing. He gives her three gifts: a new suit of armor, the Valyrian steel sword given to him by Tywin that was reforged from Ned’s sword, and Podrick Payne, to accompany her.
Much time is spent wandering around as they head to Castle Black, thinking Sansa would go to her brother. On their travels they meet Hot Pie, who used to travel with Arya. Hot Pie reveals that although he doesn’t have a clue where Sansa is, he knows Arya was with the Hound, so Brienne and Pod start heading for the Eyrie, home to Arya and Sansa’s aunt Lysa.
As luck would have it, they do stumble upon Arya and the Hound. Sandor and Brienne promptly engage in battle, fighting over who will get to take Arya with them. Arya, however, is not too keen on going with either of them, so while they duke it out, she hides. After Brienne beats Sandor, she realizes this fight was pointless as Arya has disappeared.
Cersei Lannister
Cersei has been on an emotional roller coaster. Her brother-lover Jaime came back, which is great, but one hand short, which is gross (to her, at least). Her son Joffrey died at his own wedding (sad? Sad for Cersei), but from it she finally finds an excuse to get Tyrion in deadly trouble. Of course, she does her best to push for a guilty sentence, and eventually gets what she wants. This puts a wedge between her and Jaime though, as Jaime does not believe Tyrion killed Joffrey, and cracks in their relationship begin to spread.
Let’s also not forget that as per Tywin’s doing, Cersei is set to marry Loras Tyrell. She confronts Tywin about this and makes a final stand, even going as far as to confirm her and her brother’s incestuous relationship. It would seem this conversation was a revelation for her too, as she then makes her way to Jaime and reaffirms her love for him.
Daenerys Targaryen, Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis
Daenerys spends season 4 trying to take over yet another city in Slaver’s Bay. This time her sights are set on Meereen. After liberating the city, she later finds out that Yunkai and Astapor, other Slaver’s Bay cities she had freed, were yet again in shambles. After some fun times with Daario, she sends him and the rest of the Second Sons to retake Yunkai.
In the meantime, Dany decides that this time she will stay in the city instead of leaving like she did the other two, and rule as a Queen does. This means sitting on the throne for hours on end listening to the people present her with problems they hope she can fix.
Among those supplicants is Hizdahr zo Loraq, who requests permission to bury his father, one of the Great Masters crucified on Dany’s orders. She allows it after learning that Hizdahr’s father actually opposed the crucifixion of the slaves (maybe Dany should have actually heard what some of these people had to say before demanding their head on a platter).
Another man comes to Dany with the scorched bones of a child, saying that a ‘winged shadow’ did it. Who knew dragons were so dangerous? With no other option, Dany chains Viserion and Rhaegal in a catacomb under the city, but Drogon has flown the coop, living life as an outlaw.
Speaking of criminals, Jorah found himself in some hot water as well. Barristan the Snitch discovers that Jorah was spying on Dany, who demands an explanation from Jorah. He admits to his crimes of relaying information to Varys of her activities in Essos, and despite his pleas, Dany has heard enough. She banishes him from Meereen, and it’s the last we see of Jorah.
Jaime Lannister
Finally back at King’s Landing, Jaime gets a new hand to put over his stump (a gold hand, at that). Still, he can’t use his right hand to fight with, so with the help of Bronn, Jaime starts sword training with his left hand.
From his father he also gets a new Valyrian steel sword, made from Ned Stark’s sword Ice. He chooses not to accept it, giving it to Brienne instead, along with a new suit of armor, and tells her to find Sansa Stark and keep her far away from King’s Landing.
Putting some of his own advice into action, Jaime does the same for his brother Tyrion. After Tyrion is accused and found guilty of killing Joffrey, Jaime secretly arranges to have Tyrion escape from King’s Landing and shipped off to the Free Cities.
Jon Snow
Jon spent much of season 4 preparing for an incoming Wildling attack. Apparently leadership is a strong suit of Jon’s, since he’s able to lead the Night’s Watch to victory in two separate attacks.
The first takes place at Craster’s Keep where some of the Night’s Watch men join Jon in taking down the Watch’s mutineers. After these mutineers are all killed (with Jon having personally killed Karl, the leader), Jon offers Craster’s daughter-wives shelter at Castle Black. They refuse, set fire to Craster’s Keep, and go their own way.
Next on Jon’s list is to save Castle Black from the impending Wildling attack. He leads them to victory the first night despite the odds being hugely against them. Realizing the only thing keeping the Wildlings together is Mance’s leadership, Jon heads out beyond the Wall to kill Mance, under the pretence of negotiating with him. His plan fails but before either side has a chance to do anything, in comes Stannis and Davos with their army who tear down most of the Wildlings.
At the burning of the dead bodies, Jon catches Melisandre’s eye across the pyre and sees her staring at him very intently. What she has in mind is anyone’s guess, but it probably doesn’t bode well for Jon.
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