Game of Thrones Season 4 Recap: Everything You Need to Know

Just in case you dont have time re-watch seven seasons Game of Thrones before the shows upcoming eighth and final season premiere—its only 67 episodes; whats wrong with you?—we here at Vanity Fair will be recapping every single season of the show in order to make sure key events are fresh in your mind. Since this is a rather daunting undertaking—its 67 episodes; what do you expect of us?!—were boiling it all down to the essential stories of the surviving characters set to do battle in Season 8.

If you feel a little more ambitious, theres an extra-credit section below with additional information that could be good to remember when the series returns. (Just because a character has died, for instance, that doesnt mean theyre unimportant!) For a more in-depth look at some of the key episodes of Game of Thrones, you can dive into Vanity Fairs list of the 15 most essential episodes of Game of Thrones to re-watch before the final season. But for now, heres Season 4.

Previously on Game of Thrones Season 7.

Previously on Game of Thrones Season 6.

Previously on Game of Thrones Season 5.

Previously on Game of Thrones Season 3.

Previously on Game of Thrones Season 2.

Previously on Game of Thrones Season 1.

Essential Information

Cersei Lannister, Queen of Westeros, breaks up with her brother, gets ready for their son Joffreys wedding, and makes enemies of a lot of people at said wedding. Cersei then gets ready for her sons funeral, and blames Sansa and Tyrion for Joffs death. She has confusingly shot sex with her brother next to their dead sons body; bonds with Oberyn Martell over their daughters; puts her brother Tyrion on trial; and is stoked to see him lose—though she will probably regret it, because Tyrion then kills their father, Tywin.

Jaime Lannister, Her Twin Brother, gets a shiny gold hand and a Valyrian steel sword, but loses the girl, a.k.a. his sister. He goes to his son Joffreys wedding; fails to save him from assassination; goes to his son Joffrey's funeral; fails to obtain clear consent before having sex with his sister; gives his sword and some fancy new armor to Lady Brienne and tells her to go find the Stark girls; trains with Bronn; bonds with his brother in the Black Cells; and frees his brother—though he will probably regret it, because Tyrion then kills their father, Tywin.

Tyrion Lannister, Her Other Brother, meets Prince Oberyn; decides to send Shae away; attends Joffreys wedding; is arrested for Joffreys murder; goes on trial; gives an impassioned monologue about wishing he could kill everyone in Kings Landing; chooses trial by combat; gets the Red Viper of Dorne as his champion; watches his champion get tragically slain by the Mountain; gets broken out of jail by Jaime; murders Shae; murders his father; and escapes on a ship with Varys.

Bran Stark, the Last Surviving Son of Winterfell, runs around inside his wolfs body; gets captured by Karl Tanner of Gin Alley (a bad guy); wargs into Hodor and murders Locke (a very bad guy); reaches the Three-Eyed Ravens weirwood; and is told that he will learn how to fly. Then he takes next season off.

Sansa Stark, His Sister, is sad her family died at the Red Wedding, attends the Purple Wedding of Joffrey and Margaery, and is scurried away by Ser Dontos and handed over to Littlefinger, who tells her all about the plot to kill Joff, then takes her to eat lemon cakes with her crazy aunt, Lysa. She later smacks Lord Robin, gets kissed by Littlefinger, watches Lysa fly out the moon door, dyes her hair, and sets off on an adventure that is sure to include nothing but good decisions and happiness.

Arya Stark, His Other Sister, continues her journey with the Hound to find her aunt Lysa at the Eyrie; kills Polliver at an inn; gets Needle back; adds the Hound to her list; kills Rorge; has a good laugh at the Bloody Gate when she finds out she just missed Lysa going out the door; meets Brienne of Tarth; watches Brienne fight the Hound; leaves the Hound to die; and catches a ship to Braavos.

Jon Snow, the Bastard of Winterfell, survives a bunch of arrows Ygritte shot at him; testifies to his crimes of passion; meets the traitor Olly; leads a raid on the mutineers of Crasters Keep; kills Karl Tanner of Gin Alley; burns down Crasters; has a sex talk with Sam; participates in the Battle of Castle Black; kills a Thenn; watches Ygritte get shot by Olly; holds Ygritte in his arms as she dies; is reminded that he knows nothing; goes north of the Wall to kill Mance; is surrounded by Stanniss army; shares a weird glance with Melisandre; and burns Ygrittes body.

Daenerys Targaryen, a Westerosi Exile, walks past 163 dead children, liberates the city of Meereen, meets Hizdahr zo Loraq, is presented with a burnt dead child, discovers Ser Jorahs treason, banishes him, then locks up two of her dragon babies, Rhaegal and Viserion. Their older brother, Drogon (who you know is the one who did the burning), is still at large.

The Night King, a Big Scary Blue Guy, makes his very first appearance, and we find out whats been happening to Crasters infant sons when the King himself turns one into a babysicle with just the touch of a finger.

Notable Deaths

The Hound (or so we thought), Grenn, Pyp, Jojen Reed, Locke, Lysa Arryn, Shae, Ygritte, Tywin Lannister, Oberyn Martell, and King Joffrey (first of his name).

Defining Cultural Moment

Just when Game of Thrones fans thought they had grown too savvy for all the surprises the show had in store, here came the death of Oberyn Martell—just when it looked like he might win his duel with the Mountain and set Tyrion free. Pedro Pascal had very little time to make an impression on audiences, but make one he did. His crushing (pun intended) defeat so early in the season—Episode 8!—proved another viral reaction-video moment right on the heels of Season 3s Red Wedding. It was also probably the last time Thrones fans were that shocked. Probably.

This was also the first time serious leaks began to threaten the secrecy around some episodes of Game of Thrones. Thanks to a huge leap in the ratings after the viral popularity of the Red Wedding in Season 3, expectations around Season 4 were sky-high—and the first four episodes of the year, which HBO sent out to press, as was its custom at the time, found their way online. This was the last year HBO released screeners for Game of Thrones.

Extra Credit

A pile of bodies closed out this seRead More – Source