With Season 5 of Game of Thrones upon us, it couldn’t hurt to take a quick look over what happened last year.
Here’s our look back at the main events for Season 4 of Game of Thrones:
**If you’re not caught up, this article is full of spoilers.**
King’s Landing
In King’s Landing, Oberyn Martell and his paramour Ellaria Sand were greeted by Tyrion. Meanwhile, Joffrey Baratheon and Margery Tyrell were married, and the feast was in full swing. Things took a chaotic turn as Joffrey seemingly choked to death on pigeon pie. Cersei immediately accused Tyrion and he was imprisoned. Sansa Stark was spirited away from the feast by Ser Dontos, the drunken knight she saved from Joffrey’s cruelty in season 2.
Tommen is crowned king, and Margery stays in the hopes of wedding him to fulfill her ambition to become queen. Tyrion is put on trial for the murder of Joffrey. His father, Mace Tyrell and Oberyn all acted as judges, with King Tommen excusing himself from the proceedings. The trial was weighted against Tyrion, and the final straw was when Shae arrived to give evidence of their affair and pin the murder on him and Sansa. Tyrion unleashed a venomous speech on the lords and ladies of King’s Landing and then demanded a trial by combat. Cersei named Gregor Clegane (The Mountain) as her champion, leaving Tyrion without as none of his friends or family were willing to take the monster on.
Salvation comes in the form of Oberyn, also known as the Red Viper, who desperately wants to kill the Mountain for murdering his sister and her children during the sack of King’s Landing (events that pre-date the show). While he dominates the fight, Oberyn’s need for vengeance keeps him from dealing a killing blow. Gregor Clegane rallies at the last minute and kills him.
Now sentenced to execution, Tyrion is rescued from his sell by Jaime and Varys. Instead of the leaving the Red Keep straight away, he goes to see his father. While there, he finds Shae in his father’s bed. The two struggle and he strangles her to death. Confronting his father in the privy, Tyrion kills Tywin with a crossbow. Varys smuggles Tyrion out of King’s Landing on a ship, ultimately coming along for the ride.
The Vale
Sansa was taken to Lord Peter Baelish (Littlefinger), who took her to the Eeyrie in the Vale. Once there, Littlefinger was wed to Lysa Arryn. Lysa was as unhinged as ever, revealing that it was actually she who poisoned her husband Jon Arryn under Littlefinger’s supervision, meaning between them they set the events of season 1 onwards in motion. Later, seeing Littlefinger kiss Sansa (more on that another time), she threatened to throw her niece out of the moon-door. Baelish interceded and sent his new wife plummeting to her death.
Naturally the lords and ladies of the Vale were wondering how this came about, as Lysa was nothing else if not devoted to her son, Robin. Things looked like they might be over for Littlefinger, only for Sansa to play the lords like a harp and convince them it was all tragic accident and that Baelish has only ever been kind to her. Later, Sansa (under the guise of Allayne Stone), Littlefinger and Robin all prepared to leave the Eeyrie.
Slaver’s Bay
Daenerys and her associates made for Mereen, guided by mileposts with children nailed to them. After having Grey Worm infiltrate the city and spark a rebellion, Daenerys had as many masters executed in a similar fashion. Setting up court in Mereen, Daenerys attempted to rule. It was not without difficulties: her dragons were killing local farmer’s flocks. In addition, Hizdahr zo Loraq and many others came to plea for the chance to take their father’s down and give them proper funerals.
The Mother of Dragons also sent Daario Naharis back to Yunkai, where slavery had resumed in her absence. Ser Jorah Mormont’s spying activities from season 1 were finally revealed in a ploy by Tywin Lannister to drive a wedge. Seething with rage, Daenerys banished the exiled knight, with the promise to have him beheaded if he returned.
Daenerys’ most painful moment was realising that she couldn’t control her dragons, when a farmer came with his child’s bones wrapped in a cloth. She is able to imprison two of her dragons, but Drogon, the most violent, eludes.
Braavos
Running out of options (and people for Melisandre to burn, Stannis and Davos head for Braavos. They visit the Iron Bank in the hopes of generating funds to hire ships and sellswords. Things look bleak due to Stannis’ resources being at an all time low. However, Davos is able to convince the bankers, and Stannis takes his army north.
In The North
Ramsay Bolton continues to abuse his new position of power, openly hunting women with dogs. Theon/Reek is still in the palm of his hand, and even Ramsay’s father Roose seems disturbed. Roose bids Ramsay to secure Moat Cailin, a strategic for in the North. Before that can happen, Yara, Theon’s sister, launches her rescue attempt. She finds her brother in the kennels, but is unable to rescue him due to his current state of mind. Ramsay arrives and sets the dogs on her and her men, causing her to flee.
Ramsay has Reek dress as Theon Greyjoy and impersonate his old self to offer terms to the Ironborn soldiers in Moat Cailin. The soldiers accept the terms, as they will be allowed safe passage home. Of course, Ramsay promptly has them all flayed. Roose legitimizes his son for helping secure the North. Father, son, and all their armies make for Winterfell.
At the wall, Jon Snow and a group of rangers returned to Craster’s Keep to kill the mutineers from the previous season, before Mance Rayder’s Wildling army could find them and gain information about The Wall’s defenses. The mission was successful, and he even inadvertently saved his brother Bran (though the two didn’t meet). Jon tried his best to convince Alliser Thorne that the Wildling’s were coming, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. Samwell Tarly sent Gilly to a village near the wall to keep her safe. Unfortunately Tormund Giantsbane’s group were already raiding villages. Ygritte spared Gilly upon seeing she had a baby, and Craster’s daughter made her return to the wall.
Mance Rayder’s army attacks. A massive battle involving ensues involving mammoths and giants. Jon manages to keep the defenses in place long enough to drive them back. Grenn, Pip and many other Night’s Watch men are killed. Tormund is taken prisoner, but Ygritte is killed during the fighting. Jon heads through the wall to treat with Mance, hoping to kill the king beyond the wall. Mance catches on, but before anything else happens, Stannis and his army arrive and take all surrendering Wildlings prisoner.
Beyond The Wall
Bran and his party had a hard time of travel. After receiving a vision from the three-eyed raven, Bran knew they were headed for an ancient Were-Tree. They were captured by the Night’s Watch mutineers, but ultimately managed to escape during Jon’s attack.
Reaching their destination, they were attacked by walking skeletons and Jojen Reed was gravel injured and given a mercy killing by his sister Meera. Bran warged into Hodor to get them to safety, but ultimately help came in the form of a Child of the Forest. Finally meeting the three-eyed raven in person, Bran learned that while he may never walk again, he would learn to fly.
The Riverlands
In the Riverlands, Sandor Clegane and Arya made for the Vale. The Hound intends to ransom her to her aunt Lysa. Arya is able to reclaim needle after a brutal battle with Lannister soldiers. The two have several encounters where Arya adds to the number of men she has killed.
Brienne of Tarth and Podrick are sent by Jaime from King’s Landing to find Sansa Stark and keep her safe. While on the road, they encounter Arya’s friend Hot Pie, who informs them that Arya was last headed towards the Vale.
Arriving at the Bloody Gate, entrance of the Eeryie, Arya and Clegane learn that Lysa is dead. Shortly after, the two encounter Brienne and Podrick. Realising who Arya is, Brienne attempts to convince her to come with them, but neither Arya or the Hound agree. A vicious fight ensues, ending with Clegane going over a cliff. Arya evades Brienne, and refuses to kill the dying Hound despite his pleas. She finds a ship harboured nearby and is able to gain passage to Braavos.
Are you all caught up ready for Game of Thrones Season 5? Anything we missed? Let us know in the comments below…
