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.

On page 2:Whatever happened to Myrcella? How did Tyrion end up in a crate? And more of your favorites!

Myrcella Baratheon

With season 5 comes Dornish storylines, and after being absent for 2 seasons we will finally see Myrcella again.

Back in season 2, Tyrion made arrangements involving Myrcella to help strengthen the Lannister-Martell alliance. He made plans to have Myrcella marry Trystane Martell, the youngest child of Doran Martell. For those who need help keeping track, Doran Martell is the Lord of Sunspear, Prince of Dorne, and brother to Oberyn Martell.

The last we heard of Myrcella was by word of Oberyn who said she was very happy in Dorne, and is safe there.

Margaery Tyrell

After her first husband was killed, Margaery moves on and marries again. This time to Joffrey Baratheon. A few hours after their nuptials, Joffrey is poisoned and dies. Margaery finds out later that her grandmother Olenna is in part responsible. Good ol’ Gran didn’t want her darling to marry a monster.

With Joffrey out of the way, Tommen becomes the new King. Though still a young boy, he already shows a gentle, kind-hearted side. Margaery quickly goes to work in winning Tommen over.

In a conversation with Cersei, Cersei reveals her apparent fatigue in fighting with Margaery and allows her to get close to Tommen without resistance. Cersei and Tywin also set a date for Margaery and Tommen’s wedding, which is to be a fortnight after the coronation.

Sansa Stark and Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish

Sansa started season 4 by making a new friend. Dontos Hollard, whose life she saved in an earlier season, takes a moment to thank her for that and shows his gratitude by giving her a necklace. She wears the necklace to Joffrey and Margaery’s wedding ceremony/Joffrey’s murder scene, unaware that its jewel was the murder weapon.

As Joffrey convulses, Dontos comes to Sansa and whisks her away to a ship, where none other than Petyr Baelish waits for her. Turns out Littlefinger planned Joffrey’s murder with the help of the Tyrells and Dontos. To ensure this information stays secret, Littlefinger kills Dontos too.

Baelish takes Sansa to his new home in the Eyrie where his wife Lysa (Sansa’s aunt) waits. It’s not long before trouble finds Sansa though. Lysa accuses Sansa of having relations with Baelish and tries to kill her by pushing her out the Moon Door. Baelish comes to the rescue and rather coldly pushes Lysa out the Moon Door. Apparently she doesn’t fly.

After cleverly and successfully testifying on Baelish’s behalf, she’s last seen getting ready to join him and her cousin Robin on a tour of the Vale.

Stannis Baratheon

Stannis is having a hard time making ground in this fight for the Throne. Desperately in need of soldiers, Stannis and Davos decide the best thing to do is to buy an army. Except they don’t have any money, and apparently Melisandre’s leeches aren’t worth much in gold.

Across the sea they go to Braavos to meet with Tycho Nestoris and co from the Iron Bank of Braavos. Here, Stannis has to play a little game of Shark Tank. But it seems Stannis has never watched this show before and he makes a rookie mistake: he didn’t practice his speech, and the Sharks are quickly losing interest and patience.

In comes Davos to the rescue who is able to convince the bankers of Stannis’ reliability and honor. He also throws the Lannisters under the bus, explaining how in the event of Tywin’s death, the bank will probably never see their investments back. Davos proves yet again why he’s so amazing, and the bank loans them the money, allowing Davos to hire Salladhor Saan back into their service.

We next see the entire Dragonstone crew save the Night’s Watch after the Battle of Castle Black. Stannis and his new crew land just in time to defeat the Wildling army. On Jon’s orders, Stannis keeps Mance Rayder alive and burns the corpses of the fallen.

Theon Greyjoy and Ramsay Snow

Theon is no longer chained up, but he is so beaten, both physically and mentally, that he is now a submissive servant to Ramsay Snow. To prove to his father, Roose Bolton, that Theon/Reek is indeed at his command, Ramsay instructs Theon/Reek to shave him while he tells Theon/Reek that Robb Stark is dead at the hands of the Boltons. Theon/Reek’s hand pauses for a moment before continuing to shave Ramsay.

If that wasn’t evidence enough, Theon’s sister Yara attempts to rescue Theon at the Dreadfort. Theon/Reek believes this is another trick of Ramsay’s and refuses to leave, so Yara is forced to flee without him. Operation failed.

Ramsay then gives Theon/Reek the task of entering Moat Cailin, pretending to be Theon Greyjoy, and negotiate with the Iron Born stationed there to get them to surrender the fortress to the Boltons. He manages to convince them to surrender, and once the Boltons ride in, they quickly massacre them all.

Roose meets with Ramsay afterwards and presents him with a decree legitimizing him as a true Bolton. We last see Theon/Reek and the Boltons riding up to (what’s left of) Winterfell.

Tyrion Lannister

Tyrion just doesn’t have luck with weddings. He weds Sansa Stark in season 3, and in Joffrey’s wedding last season, he’s accused of killing the groom. A trial by combat seemed to be the only way to regain his innocence, and Oberyn Martell is named his champion. Well, Oberyn loses (and dies, but you didn’t forget that, right?), resulting in Tyrion being found guilty and sentenced to death.

But don’t get too distraught yet! Big brother Jaime arranges to have Tyrion escape from King’s Landing and shipped off to the Free Cities, with the help of Varys (more on that later). However, Tyrion isn’t ready to go just yet. He takes a little detour to his father’s chamber first. There he finds his lover Shae in Tywin’s bed. Upon seeing Tyrion, Shae tries to stab him and they get into a struggle that leaves Shae strangled by the very jewels she so fondly coveted.

Next is to find his father. After arming himself with Joffrey’s favorite crossbow, Tyrion confronts his father at his most vulnerable moment: on the toilet. Some words are exchanged (many of them “whore”), and Tyrion shoots Tywin. Twice. At least Daddy Lannister got to die on a throne.

Finally Tyrion makes his way to Varys who loads him into a crate on a ship that’s about to set sail for the Free Cities.

Varys

It’s still unclear whose side Varys is on. If he’s even on a side. Despite seeming to be a friend to Tyrion, Varys testified against him at the trial. In his defence, it wouldn’t look too good on him to defend the losing side.

He does redeem himself, however, when he assists Jaime in getting Tyrion out of King’s Landing before his execution. He puts Tyrion in a crate on a ship that will leave for the Free Cities, and at the last minute decides to board the ship and leave too.

Varys also reveals that Jorah has indeed stopped spying for them, but he can get another spy in Meereen. No word yet on who that’ll be.

Bran and Rickon Stark

Who?

The new season of ‘Game of Thrones’ premieres Sunday April 12 at 9pm on HBO

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