Need a quick rundown of who all these “Game of Thrones” people are so you can participate in conversations about the show even though you haven’t watched it? We got you. (Spoilers within.)
Cersei Baratheon
She was brought to her knees by the Faith Militant, and has lost all of her children. But she has crushed her enemies and claimed the Iron Throne, and now she’ll do whatever it takes to protect it.
Jaime Lannister
A Queensguard, meaning he can’t get married or receive inheritance. Bangs his sister and now serves under her reign. Is close platonic pals with Brienne of Tarth. Was a legendary swordsman, but lost his sword hand a while back. He doesn’t like the path Cersei has taken lately, and seems to be serving out of duty rather than love.
Tyrion Lannister
The short brother of Jaime and Cersei. Has a penchant for being accused of crimes he didn’t commit, including the murder of his nephew Joffrey. Killed his father Tywin in season 4, then ran off to Essos with Varys to find Daenerys, to whom he now serves as her closest advisor, the Hand of the Queen.
Daenerys
The last surviving member of the Targaryen dynasty, who has spent the whole series trying to build up an army to march to Westeros and take over. Now, at long last, she has arrived in Westeros to begin her attack.
Varys
Was the spymaster of King’s Landing for years before grabbing Tyrion and heading to Essos with him. Now he’s the spymaster for Daenerys. When he was a kid, a wizard cut off his genitals for some kind of dark supernatural ritual.
Qyburn
Cersei’s demented right hand man. Came up with the plan to blow up Margaery and the Faith Militant at the end of season 6. Performs sick experiments on people. He’s pretty much the only guy Cersei’s trusts, which should show how power-mad she’s become.
The Mountain
Once known as Gregor Clegane. He was killed at the end of season 4 but was brought back to life by Qyburn as an almost robotic bodyguard for Cersei.
Jon Snow
Long known as the bastard son of Ned Stark. Has been living as a member of the Night’s Watch at the Wall and beyond for nearly the entire series. Became Lord Commander up there, before he was murdered in season 5. But he was resurrected and now he’s going to war. Is in control of the North with his half-sister Sansa after defeating Ramsay Bolton in the Battle of the Bastards.
Sam and Gilly
Sam is Jon’s brother in the Night’s Watch, and Gilly is a wildling from beyond the Wall Sam rescued from a rather complicated family situation. Now the two are traveling Westeros — they just stopped by Sam’s family home and stole the family Valyrian steel sword.
Melisandre
AKA the Red Woman. A priestess of the One True God, the Lord of Light. Had been helping Stannis Baratheon try to take the Iron Throne and killed his own daughter to help him in that plan, but Stannis died. For killing Stannis’ daughter, Jon Snow exiled Melisandre from the North.
Sansa Stark
Jon’s half-sister, from Winterfell. Was supposed to marry Joffrey, but thankfully that didn’t happen. Was instead married off to Tyrion, before being spirited away by Little Finger. Then she was married off to Ramsay Bolton, whose father Roose had taken Winterfell. Ramsay sexually abused her, and she escaped, met up with Jon and they took Winterfell and fed Ramsay to his own dogs.
Little Finger
Owns many brothels, is rich, and controls the forces of The Vale. Everyone hates him because he’s a conniving piece of garbage who really has only made everyone else’s lives worse. Might finally be feeling some remorse about that. Or not.
Davos Seaworth
Committed follower of King Stannis, despite his many misgivings about the Red Woman. Then Stannis is killed trying to take Winterfell from the Boltons, and Davos throws in with Jon Snow.
Arya Stark
The youngest Stark girl, she’s spent most of the series roaming around, until she traveled to Braavos in Essos and joined up with the Faceless Men. But now she’s gone rogue and is on a quest to kill those who have betrayed the Starks.
Jorah Mormont
AKA Ser Friendzone. Daenerys’ right hand, until she finds out he had been spying on her for King Robert way back when before deciding that he liked her more. Now he has a terminal disease called greyscale, and Dany has ordered him to find a cure.
Missandei and Grey Worm
Grey Worm is the leader of the Unsullied, a slave army that has thrown in with Daenerys. Missandei is Dany’s translator. They’re each other’s BFF, and they both advise Daenerys.
Bronn
A sellsword who ran with Tyrion for many years after helping that short fellow out of a particularly rough spot in season 1. Tyrion left him behind when he went to Essos, though, and now Bronn hangs out with Jaime.
Sandor Clegane
Yep, he’s back. After being left for dead in season 4, Sandor was found alive in a priest’s commune last year. After the priest and his community were slaughtered, Sandor’s back in the war with the Brotherhood Without Banners
Beric Dondarrion
Leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners, a band of guerrilla fighters who seek to protect Westeros’ peasants from being killed in the war and serve no one and nothing but their own moral code. Has a flaming sword, been brought back to life six times, and is traveling with his men and Sandor to fight the White Walkers
Brienne
Once a supporter of Renley, Brienne began serving Catelyn Stark after Renley died, promising to take care of the Stark daughters. Brienne roamed Westeros looking for them for years, before finally joining up with Sansa in season 6. She now serves the Starks at Winterfell, though she still has a friendship with Jaime Lannister.
Tormund Giantsbane
One of the leaders of the free folk, who live north of the Wall, and a close friend of Jon. Helped the Starks take back Winterfell in exchange for letting his people return to Westeros. Has the hots for Brienne.
Lyanna Mormont
The ten-year-old head of House Mormont, a house that serves the Starks but has been decimated by war. Though she be but little, she is fierce.
Theon Greyjoy
Heir to the Iron Islands, Theon was given to the Starks as a hostage before the show to prevent his father from rebelling against the Iron Throne. Ramsay tortured Theon, castrating him and making him a slave, before Sansa got him to buck up and escape with her. Now Theon is back at the Iron Islands, supporting his sister’s claim to the throne there and Daenerys’ campaign for the Iron Throne.
Euron Greyjoy
Theon’s uncle. Entered the fray in season 6 to murder Theon’s father, then claim the throne of the Iron Islands. Wants to team up with Daenerys, but his niece and nephew beat him to it.
Yara Greyjoy
Theon’s sister. Opposes Euron’s ascension to the throne of the Iron Islands. Is on the run with Theon and other dissidents. They traveled to Meereen, where they struck a deal with Daenerys — she gets to use the Iron Fleet, and Yara will take power on Pyke.
Bran Stark
The oldest living Stark son. Was compelled through visions to travel North of the Wall to meet an ancient wizard called the Three-Eyed Raven. The wizard taught him how to experience visions of the past and future. Bran discovered he can actually impact past events while dreaming. Thanks to his powers, he now knows who Jon’s father really is.
Benjen Stark
Bran’s uncle, and a member of the Night’s Watch. Was slain by the White Walkers north of the Wall but was kept in a half-dead state to help defend Westeros from the Night’s King. Was introduced in season 1 and didn’t return until season 6, when he rescued Bran from a terrible fate.
Olenna Tyrell
The last remaining member of House Tyrell after her granddaughter, Margaery, was killed by Cersei at the end of season 6. Was responsible for poisoning Cersei’s firstborn son, Joffrey, and is now bent on finishing off the Lannisters for good. To that end, she’s aligned herself with Daenerys.
Ellaria Sand and the Sand Snakes
They pulled a coup against the ruler of Dorne at the beginning of season 6 and are now part of the alliance to put Daenerys on the Iron Throne.
Night’s King
The Big Bad of the show. An immortal White Walker who commands an army of undead. Wants to kill everyone. He’s getting closer to that goal.