It ’s been nearly a year since Game of Thrones was on our projection screen , and that ’s a prospicient fourth dimension to keep the complexities of Westerosi government straight in your head . And there ’s less than two weeks left before the show return . Do n’t have clock time to marathon the first 30 episodes before April 6 ? We ’ve bewilder a prompt refresher course for you .
Warning : There will be entire , merciless spoilers for the first three time of year of Game of Thrones below — but no raider for time of year four or beyond . Also , we assume you hump who Tyrion Lannister and Arya Stark and Daenerys Targaryen are , and that you ’ve already been come after the show somewhat . you may alsoread all our review of the first 30 episodes here .
1 . Robert ’s Rebellion
When the show begins , we meet King Robert Baratheon , toward the end of his reign . But we learn about the old king : Aerys II , unremarkably referred to as the Mad King , who had a drug abuse of burning masses to end . include Ned Stark ’s father . The conflict blew up when King Aerys ’ son Rhaegar nobble Ned Stark ’s sister Lyanna , who was engaged to hook up with Robert Baratheon . In the ensuing battle , Lyanna was killed , along with Rhaegar and almost all of the Targaryens .
At the end of the state of war , King Aerys was holed up in King ’s Landing , dependable behind the city walls , when Lord Tywin Lannister make it with some soldier , exact to be loyal to the King . Lord Varys give notice the King not to let Tywin enter , but Grand Maester Pycelle suggest the King to bank Tywin . And after the King let Tywin in , Tywin betrayed him . As a last bit of retaliation , Aerys decided to burn the city down , killing everyone inwardly . But Jaime Lannister , his safety gadget , killed the huffy King rather than let him fire everyone to end .
2 . How many Targaryens are left ?
Just when Daenerys ’ cause seemed hopeless , she manage to hatch the three Draco bollock that were her wedding endowment , on Drogo ’s funeral pyre . Since then , she ’s amassed an USA of the Unsullied , eunuch slave solder whom she free , and she also give up the striver metropolis of Astapor . She won over the soldier of fortune , Daario Naharis , who wander his commanders and brought his ship’s company of “ sellswords , ” the Second Sons , over to her side .
3 . Remember this guy ?
This is Jon Arryn . We never really meet him , because he was poison at the very start of the first episode . Jon Arryn was the Hand of the King for years , under King Robert , until he died and was supercede by Ned Stark .
When Ned Stark took over as Hand of the King , he decided to try and find out who poisoned his predecessor , and that led to Ned Stark receive out that King Robert ’s three children were actually the incestuous mother fucker materialization of Queen Cersei and her brother Jaime Lannister . Jon Arryn had antecedently figured that out , as well .
We still do n’t know who remove Jon Arryn , although he may have died because he knew too much .
We do sleep with that Queen Cersei cause her husband King Robert ’s last , after Ned warned her that he knew about her children ’s parentage . And when Ned sample to unseat Cersei ’s eldest son Joffrey , he was betrayed by Petyr “ Littlefinger ” Baelish . Cersei planned to have Ned “ Take the Black ” and join the Night ’s Watch , but or else King Joffrey had him fulfill .
Oh , and Jon Arryn ’s wife is still alive — she ’s Lysa Arryn , the sis of Catelyn Stark . In time of year one , when Catelyn captured Tyrion Lannister , she took Tyrion to Lysa ’s inhospitable palace , the Eyrie , where Lysa put Tyrion on trial and almost hurl him out the Moon Door . Lysa is fiercely protective of her young Logos , Robin , whom she still breastfeeds .
4 . About the Night ’s Watch
There ’s a huge monolithic wall along the northern frontier of Westeros , part the realm from the lawless wilderness beyond . And the Wall is guarded by the Night ’s Watch , a once - great company of ascetic fighters who have given up land , titles , family ties , sexual love and sex to defend the land .
Ned Stark ’s brother , Benjen Stark , was First Ranger of the Night ’s ticker — until he give out North of the Wall on a scouting expeditiousness and never devolve .
Ned ’s fake boy Jon Snow also join the Night ’s Watch , but his hauteur and eagerness to represent the weakling Samwell Tarly irritated his trainer , Ser Alliser Thorne . Jon Snow went North with a huge party of soldiers leave by the Lord Commander , Jeor Mormont . Most of the caller was slaughtered , and Jon Snow was force to kill his superscript , Qhorin Halfhand , and go undercover with the Wildlings .
The Wildlings , accidentally , endure North of the Wall in a state of total outlawry . Except that recently , they ’ve joined into a monolithic army to assault the Wall , under the leadership of Mance Rayder , the King Beyond the Wall , who used to be a member of the Night ’s Watch until he defected . Their US Army includes giant star and some unnerving paladin , including Rattleshirt , the Lord of Bones and the gruff Tormund Giantsbane . And Styr , the Magnar of Thenn . Also , Mance ’s troops included Orell , a “ skinchanger ” who could institutionalize his thinker into a bird , and Ygritte , a vernal cleaning lady .
Jon Snow struck up a romance with Ygritte , and got post on a scouting deputation South of the Wall with Tormund , Orell and Ygritte . When they were terrorise some innocent townspeople who supply the Night ’s Watch , Jon betrayed his comrades and killed Orell , get off back to the Wall .
Meanwhile , the stay survivor of the Lord Commander ’s party were staying with Craster , the evil Wildling who marries his daughters and sacrifices his Son to the Others , and they fought amongst themselves . passably much everyone was defeat except for Jon ’s admirer Samwell , who escaped with Craster ’s girl Gilly and her son . When they were attacked by one of the Others , seeking Craster ’s son , Samwell pour down the Other with a piece of Dragonglass ( obsidian ) that he ’d found .
5 . So what are the Others ?
We still do not know much about the Others , also known as the White Walkers . There are lots of ancient legends about them . They seem to be ancient and intelligent , plotting a takeover of Westeros when winter descends . They can reanimate the dead and become them into an army of “ Wights ” . It ’s possible to make deals with them as Craster did , sacrifice his Logos to them .
The Red Priestess Melisandre seems to believe in an ancient prophesy about Azor Ahai Reborn , the Prince Who is Promised , who will fight against the Others and save everyone . Melisandre believes that King Stannis , whom she do , will be this savior . But more on that in a second .
6 . So is King Joffrey somewhat much unafraid on his throne now ?
After Joffrey became King , he faced a lot of rival . Ned Stark ’s son Robb named himself King in the North and lead a rising . His uncle , Stannis and Renly , both claimed the throne on the grounds that Joffrey was a motherfucker . Daenerys had the strongest claim to the stool of all , since she was a Targaryen .
But Robb Stark ’s rebellion failed , and he got pour down at a wedding ( more on that in a present moment ) . Stannis killed Renly using Melisandre ’s sorcery . Stannis ’ onslaught on King ’s landing place fail because his ships were ambushed with the magical wildfire . Daenerys seems to be too busybodied freeing slaves in Essos .
But that does n’t mean Joffrey does n’t face up stormclouds on the horizon . Mance Rayder desire to overrun South , and there are also the Others . The North wo n’t forgive him for accomplish Ned Stark . Daenerys might finally come to Westeros .
7 . How many religions are there in Westeros ?
faith gets talked about a pot in Game of Thrones .
In the North , they worship the Old Gods , who speak to them through weirwood trees . The Old Gods also seem to be connected to stories of the Others in some nameless way . And Bran Stark , Ned ’s handicapped son , seems to have mystic power that get along from a connection to this honest-to-goodness magic — he can get off his mind into his pet direwolf , same as Orell , and he has prophetical pipe dream that often feature a three - eyed crow . Bran , along with his servant Hodor and his friends Jojen and Meera , are traveling North of the Wall to see for the three - eyed gasconade .
In the South , they mostly seem to hero-worship the Seven Gods , or the new gods ( not to be confuse with the DC Comics characters ) . These are the Father , the Mother , the Warrior , the Maiden , the Smith , the Crone and the Stranger . The worship of the Seven Gods is administered by Septons and Septas , and the leader of the church service is the High Septon . ( Before she died , Arya and Sansa Stark were watched over by a Septa . )
But then there ’s also the Red God , R’hllor . Aka the Lord of Light . He ’s a foreign god , who comes from Essos , but his worship is spreading in Westeros . Melisandre worships him , and performs sacrifice in his name for King Stannis . Also , the Brotherhood Without Banners , a vigilante chemical group led by Lord Beric Dondarrion , idolize the Lord of Light — and their priest , Thoros of Myr , has brought Lord Beric back to life several times after he ’s been killed .
As we mention earlier , there are prophesies that a hero , Azor Ahai Reborn , will crusade the gelid terror coming from the North . Melisandre thinks this is Stannis .
8 . What is Lord Varys ’ game ?
Lord Varys is a eunuch from the East , who is so undecomposed at spying and finding out stuff that he ’s make onto the King ’s Small Council , in a position of influence . He was even capable to take retaliation on the thaumaturge who castrated him — an event that still stimulate him to detest anyone who claims to wield magical power , such as Stannis ’ crone Melisandre .
Varys told Ned Stark back in time of year one that his only loyalty is to the land , and he also told Tyrion a riddle that basically indicates that top executive is illusory , only real if you believe in it .
But back in season one , Ned ’s girl Arya Stark see Lord Varys conspiring in a out of sight tunnel with Illyrio Mopaitis , the merchant who arranged Daenerys ’ wedding to Khal Drogo . So it appear that Varys is a garter of Daenerys .
9 . What was the Red Wedding ?
You credibly remember the Red nuptials — it was that nasty business where Robb Stark , Catelyn Stark and Robb ’s married woman Talisa got polish off , along with a bunch of their multitude . But who were the other players ?
Robb had predict to wed the girl of Lord Walder Frey , an authoritative lord who controls the Twins , a strategically of import palace . ( And a guy who has a stack of daughters . ) But rather , Robb married Lady Talisa , because she was hot and had medical skills . To try and make amends and get some more soldiers , Robb offered to have his uncle , Lord Edmure Tully , get hitched with one of Lord Frey ’s daughters instead .
After the wedding party massacre , Edmure Tully ( Catelyn ’s sidekick ) is a prisoner of Walder Frey . He ’s the unqualified jerk who sacrifice a crowd of his men to catch a worthless milling machinery . Catelyn ’s uncle , Brynden “ The Blackfish ” Tully , escaped from the drubbing and remains at large .
The bounteous betrayal in the whole fiasco was probably Lord Roose Bolton — he was one of Robb ’s main supporter , even though he was constantly desire to flay their prisoner active and Robb would n’t lease him . ( Flaying is House Bolton ’s thing . ) When Lord Bolton figure that Robb was fall behind , he sent the imprisoned Jaime Lannister back home to his home ( minus a hand ) and made a trade with Jaime ’s father Tywin to tell on Robb . Roose personally killed Robb Stark .
Also , when Roose ’s shit boy Ramsay recaptured Winterfell and captured the traitor Theon Greyjoy , or else of reach Theon over to Robb he kept Theon as his own prisoner and did some rather unspeakable things to him .
Speaking of which …
10 . Who are the Ironborn ?
Theon Greyjoy is the Logos of Lord Balon Greyjoy , who rules over the Iron Islands from his unpleasant castle on Pyke . The Iron Islanders , also cry the Ironborn , are basically glorified pirates who take what they want and disdain any kind of courtly personal manner or compromise . They have a caboodle of rite ask ocean baptism , and phrases like “ What is dead may never pass away . ”
After King Robert took the Iron Throne , Lord Balon led a revolt , which was crushed . All of Balon ’s sons except Theon were stamp out , and Theon was have as a surety , to be raised by Ned Stark . When Robb started his uprising , he thought it was a dear approximation to air Theon home to his family to engage their aid . It was n’t . Theon wind up on a ship with a scummy rogue named Dagmer Cleftjaw , and to try and impress his men , he take over Winterfell and fake - killed Robb ’s brothers Bran and Rickon . ( really , Bran and Rickon got away . )
Theon ’s sister Yara vow to go look for him and save him , a developing that does n’t quite happen that way in the books .
11 . What is Littlefinger ’s secret plan ?
Petyr “ Littlefinger ” Baelish seems to be one of the characters who ’s one step in the lead of almost everybody else . Littlefinger grew up with Catelyn Stark , and was in love with her — realise himself a giant scar on his bureau when he tangled with Ned Stark ’s late buddy Brandon . Now Littlefinger is a potent lord in King ’s Landing as well as the proprietor of the biggest brothel .
Littlefinger grass Ned Stark , sending him to his death . He also helped to broker the peace that brought the Tyrell family over to the lawsuit of King Joffrey , after Margaery Tyrell ’s husband Renly was remove . He ’s been rewarded with more lands and title , and when last we saw him , Littlefinger was sailing off to the Vale of Arryn , to nominate marriage ceremony to Lisa Arryn , Catelyn ’s babe .
Littlefinger tried to tender his protection to Sansa Stark , and even offer to take her with him to the Vale of Arryn , where her auntie lives . Sansa declined , because she had a hush-hush design to marry Ser Loras Tyrell , the Knight of Flowers . ( really , it was a plan hatched by Varys and the acutely - tongued Lady Olenna Tyrell , Loras ’ grandmother . )
Of course , Littlefinger contend to reveal Sansa ’s wedding plans to Tywin Lannister , who promptly married Sansa off to his son Tyrion . So now possibly Sansa wishes she ’d take Littlefinger up on his offer to get her out of town .
12 . Who are the Cleganes ?
We ’ve barely seen the two of them together , but Sandor “ The Hound ” Clegane and Gregor “ The Mountain ” Clegane are brothers . When they were kids , Gregor glow Sandor ’s face horribly , and now Sandor is afraid of fire . They do n’t really get along . We saw them dishevel at the Hand of the King ’s tournament back in season one .
Sandor was Joffrey ’s escort , and formed a bit of a bond with Sansa Stark , at one decimal point rescuing her from a work party that wanted to ravish her during the Flea Bottom riots . When Tyrion used wildfire to gain ground the Battle of Blackwater , Sandor was horrified by all the flaming , and decided to flee the urban center . He judge to convince Sansa Stark to come with him , but she would n’t .
Later , The Hound got captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners , who also had Arya as their Edgar Guest . After he survived tribulation by fight , the Hound stole Arya away from the Brotherhood , and judge to deliver her to her family ’s big marriage at Walder Frey ’s castle . That program fail , since he arrived just in time for the Red Wedding .
As for Gregor , we have n’t seen too much of him yet , but his viciousness is legendary , let in some of the frightening human activity he did during Robert ’s Rebellion .
13 . What ’s all this “ Valar Morghulis ” stuff and nonsense ?
“ Valar Morghulis ” think of “ All men must pass away ” in High Valyrian , and the accustomed answer is “ Valar Dohaeris , ” or “ All men must serve . ”
This set phrase was taught to Arya Stark by Jaqen H’ghar , the assassin whom she save when he ’s a prisoner of the Night ’s Watch . When she ’s stuck at Harrenhal Castle , Jaqen offer to kill three hoi polloi for Arya , to repay her for bring through his life and the lives of two malefactor .
After Arya escape from Harrenhal , Jaqen offered to take her to Braavos to be trained by the Faceless Men , a occult society of bravo . She declined , but he establish her a coin and say her to give it to anyone from Braavos and say “ Valar Morghulis ” if she convert her mind . Then Jaqen expose that he had the index to change his fount at will , and said “ Jaqen is idle . ”
The other person we ’ve meet from Braavos was Arya ’s steel - fighting instructor from time of year one , Syrio Forel , who taught her to say “ Not today ” to death . There ’s some speculation that Jaqen is Syrio , but nobody knows for certain .
14 . Some other minor characters you should remember .
Daenerys has three alpha males vying for her favour . There ’s Jorah Mormont , who was ostracize from Westeros after he sold some multitude as striver , and now helps her gratis the striver of Essos . There ’s Barristan Selmy , who was on King Robert ’s Kingsguard but was dismissed by Joffrey . And there ’s Daario Naharis , the sellsword who betrayed his associate to unite her . She also has an awe-inspiring translator , Missandei .
Stannis Baratheon ’s most patriotic handmaiden is a guy list Ser Davos Seaworth , who ’s become Stannis ’ Hand of the King and has been take to read . He ’s friends with Stannis ’ daughter , and has plainly convinced Stannis to go north to the Wall , to fight the Others .
King Robert ’s prick son Gendry is a blacksmith , who was with the Brotherhood Without Banners until they handed him over to Melisandre . He narrowly escaped being sacrifice , and is now take flight back to King ’s Landing .
Brienne of Tarth , the fair sex who wears armor and fights like a man , was devoted to Renly but got blamed for his death . She swore her loyalty to Catelyn Stark and escorted Jaime Lannister back to King ’s landing place , after a pitstop where they were captured by Roose Bolton ’s men . ( One of whom , a sadistic dickhead named Locke , issue off Jaime ’s handwriting . )
Tyrion ’s squire Podrick is the guy who was such a not bad lover , Littlefinger ’s sexual practice workers would n’t take any money from him . He also make unnecessary Tyrion ’s life . And Tyrion ’s bodyguard , Bronn , seems to be coming up in the world since he was a hero of the Battle of the Blackwater .
We already mentioned Grand Maester Pycelle in passing — he ’s the consultant on the Small Council who seem to be a doddering one-time fool , but is actually crisp and more vigorous than anyone . Tyrion threw him in a cellular phone , but he ’s gotten out since then and has a morsel of a grudge . ( Thanks for bring up him , Mweyer ! )
Also , when Tyrion was cleaning menage , he got rid of Janos Slynt , the former head of the metropolis ’s Gold Cloaks , who betrayed Ned Stark and also conduct out the murder of all King Robert ’s bastards for Joffrey . Tyrion sent Janos Slynt north to join the Night ’s Watch , and we have n’t seen him since then . ( Thanks for the reminder , Pontifex ! )
Some images and info fromGame of Thrones Wiki
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