Game of Thrones: Where Every Character Left Off
From major players to wild cards, here’s a primer on everyone who could turn up in the final season.
In this series…
- The most beautiful shots of Game of Thrones, curated by One Perfect Shot.
- Every episode of Game of Thrones, ranked by our own resident Maester.
- Read our in-depth breakdown of the Game of Thrones season 8 trailer.
- We rank the best duels in Game of Thrones.
- Explore our guide to the best Game of Thrones scenes by season.
- We rank the 50 most important props from Game of Thrones.
- Gather your tunics and explore Game of Thrones in 50 Costumes.
- We also ranked the villains on Game of Thrones.
- Brush up on who’s left on Arya’s kill list.
- We try to answer the unanswered questions of Game of Thrones season 8.
The only good thing about Game of Thrones ending is that the series has finally whittled down its list of living characters to a manageable number. Instead of trying to remember everyone and their cousin, you can head into season seven keeping track of George R.R. Martin’s original point-of-view characters, some supporting players, and–if you feel like brushing up to impress friends at your watch party–an assortment of wild card characters who are still alive and could, therefore, make a comeback.
Even so, a series with so many moving parts is a lot to keep track of and the gap in airtime between seasons seven and eight is significant. If you don’t have time for a full-series rewatch before April 14th, we’ve got you covered with this list of what everyone who’s anyone has been up to in Westeros. Read on, keep tabs, and place your bets now on which of these players will win the game of thrones, and which will die.
The Major Players
Arya Stark
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: While much of Arya’s latest plotline was a misdirect meant to make viewers think she was at odds with Sansa, the trained assassin was able to spar with Brienne, kill some Freys, get in some sibling time, and ultimately execute Petyr Baelish. We last saw her in Winterfell, speaking with Sansa about their family’s past and future, as well as the two sisters’ resilience.
Bran Stark
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Since his conversion into the new Three-Eyed Raven, Bran has been relaying both vital information and cryptic statements to other characters. In the most recent season, he accepts the dagger used way back in the pilot episode from Littlefinger, reunites with Arya and Sansa, does not deny Meera’s assertion that he died when he became the Three-Eyed Raven, and ultimately lets Sam know the secret of Jon’s heritage.
Brienne Tarth
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Brienne is in Winterfell for much of the latest season, sparring with highly skilled Arya and advising Sansa against Littlefinger before she’s sent to represent Sansa at the King’s Landing meeting. There she briefly reunites with both Sandor and Jaime, telling the former that Arya is safe and imploring the latter to appeal to Cersei on their behalf.
Cersei Lannister
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Queen Cersei has been following in the footsteps of the Mad King ever since she blew up the sept of Baelor with wildfire. She’s recently been told by Qyburn that she’s pregnant with another child by Jaime. She also met up with many of the major players at a parlay, during which she witnessed a White Walker and pledged her loyalty to the cause of defeating them, only to later tell Jaime she had double-crossed Jon and Dany. Jaime left her, but Euron Greyjoy is aiding her efforts and is engaged to marry her once the war ends.
Daenerys Targaryen
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Dany experiences both significant victories and defeats in season seven. On the one hand, she gets Jon Snow to bend the knee, shows her strength with the loot train attack, and unites almost every character we care about for one cause. On the other, she loses much of her fleet to Euron Greyjoy, suffers the death of one of her dragons, and along with the others, is fooled into believing she has Cersei’s support. At season’s end, she is in bed with Jon, headed north to prepare for the White Walker invasion.
Davos Seaworth
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Reformed smuggler Davos, now firmly Team Jon, helped sneak Gendry north and stays at Eastwatch when the expedition heads north to catch a wight. He is later present at the King’s Landing parlay and heads to White Harbor with the others.
Jaime Lannister
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Jaime nearly died during the loot train attack, fire blasted by a dragon and then pushed into a lake in full armor. He also faces off with Olenna Tyrell, who admits to killing Joffrey after drinking the poison he’s been tasked with giving her. Jaime’s allegiances are tested by Cersei’s ruthlessness, and he ultimately walks away from her after she makes a false pledge to support Jon and Dany’s fight against the Night King. Last we checked in, Cersei is apparently pregnant with another of his children, and Jaime is headed north to honor his promise, all as a first snowfall comes to King’s Landing.
Jon Snow
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Jon is perhaps the most centrally positioned character in Game of Thrones at this point, the closest we get to a leading protagonist. In season seven he secretly bends the knee to Dany, joins forces with an impressive range of allies to fight the coming army of the undead, and eventually consummates his relationship with the dragon queen on their trip back to White Harbor. He still doesn’t, however, have any idea about his true heritage.
Samwell Tarly
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: After curing Jorah and growing frustrated with the maesters at the Citadel, Sam gathers Gilly and Little Sam and heads for Winterfell. There, he meets Bran, who tells him about his vision of Jon’s parentage. Sam remembers that Gilly read about Rhaegar’s secret wedding, and realizes that his friend is the true heir to the throne.
Sansa Stark
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: As acting Lady of Winterfell, Sansa appeared to be caught between Arya and Littlefinger in season seven. The season finale revealed, though, that she and Arya had a plan all along, as the two put Littlefinger on trial for his misdeeds and Arya executes him. The two sisters later exchange kind words about one another’s resilience and discuss their late father.
Theon Greyjoy
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Theon is always taking one step forward and two steps back when it comes to redemption. This season he made amends with Jon, but he also dipped out when Euron captured Yara, acting out of self-preservation by leaping overboard. By season’s end, he has proven himself loyal to the cause of saving his sister after enduring a bloody encounter with captain Harrag.
Tyrion Lannister
Last seen: Season 7, Episode 7, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
Where we left off: Daenerys’s Hand of the Queen has helped her strategize time and again, but also has a bit of a weakness for her. Last we saw him, he witnessed Jon going into her cabin on the way to White Harbor with a look of concern. Before that, he had an intense and (unbeknownst to him) unsuccessful negotiation with Cersei behind closed doors in King’s Landing, during which she revealed her apparent pregnancy to him.
On the next page, The Supporting Players…
