Season 8 of Game of Thrones is nearly upon us. As the show draws to a close, it’s inevitable that we’ll be losing some of our beloved GOT characters over the next few months. So, as we celebrate the show’s run and get ready to say our goodbyes, Def Pen is looking back at previous seasons. Every week leading up to season 8’s April 14th premiere we will be recapping a season of the show. This week, we go back to look at how Westeros handling life after the Red Wedding in season 4.
First though, check out last week’s season 3 recap here if you missed that.
As the season opens, so do new wounds when Tywin oversees the destruction of Ice, Ned Stark’s legendary Valyrian Steel blade. From its materials Tywin has two swords forged; one for Jaime as he tries to adjust to a life without a hand and without Cersei’s affection and one for Joffrey as a gift for his impending nuptials. Speaking of, wedding guests begin arriving in King’s Landing and its Tyrion’s job to welcome Prince Oberyn Martell on behalf of the royal family. Surprisingly, Oberyn is open about the motives behind his visit: he is seeking revenge on Tywin and the Mountain for the rape and murder of his sister Elia. Meanwhile, Maester Aemon releases Jon even though he seemingly betrayed the Watch during his time North of the Wall.
In the Riverlands, Arya and the Hound continue their journey together as the Hound now plans on taking the young Stark to her aunt Lysa in the Vale. While on the road, the two discover the man who stole Needle from Arya. She takes revenge on him for killing her friend and reclaims the sword Jon gave her. In the North, Roose Bolton chides Ramsay for his treatment and torture of Theon, who now only responds to Reek. But, he also tasks his bastard with reclaiming the areas Theon’s Ironborn brethren had taken. Meanwhile, Stannis’ fanaticism worries his daughter Shireen and Davos. He allows Melisandre to burn several people alive as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light. At King’s Landing, Jaime begins to train left-handed with Bronn as Tyrion sends Shae away to protect her.
Then, the day of Joffrey and Margery’s wedding arrives and tensions between Tyrion and the young king run high. So, when Joffrey is brutally poisoned during the lavish reception, Tyrion is immediately blamed. His wife, Sansa, though is mysteriously absent after being whisked off by Ser Dontos. In the aftermath, Tywin begins grooming Tommen for the throne and setting up Tyrion’s trial. He selects Oberyn Martell and Mace Tyrell to serve as judges with him. It’s revealed that Littlefinger helped Sansa escape the wedding and has her smuggled out of the city. Across the sea, Daenerys lays siege to Meereen as her dragons grow harder to control.
Meanwhile, in the North, Sam has Gilly and her baby relocating to Mole’s town to protect them. However, the group of Wildings Jon abandoned late last season is raiding small villages across the Northern countryside. Jon learns that the group of Night’s Watch mutineers has set up camp at Craster’s Keep. He raises an attack party to take them out as he can’t have any information leaking to Mance Rayder and the Wildings who are marching on Castle Black.
In Essos, Daenerys captures Meereen and crucifies the masters as retribution for slain slave children. Back across the sea, Lady Olenna hints to Margery that she played a role in Joffrey’s death and convinces her to seduce Tommen like did with Joffrey. Cersei maintains Tyrion’s role in Joffrey’s death as the trial approaches. Jaime believes he played no part and sends Brienne, along with his Valyrian Steel sword and Pod, to find and protect Sansa at all costs. At the Wall, Allister Thorne and Janos Slynt conspire against Jon, who just learned the mutineers at Craster’s Keep captured Bran. Believing he’ll die on the expedition, they allow Jon to ride North of the Wall.
Tommen officially becomes the new King as he begins to fall for Margery. Meanwhile, Littlefinger arrives in the Vale with Sansa, who is posing as his niece. Shortly after arriving, he marries Lysa Arryn before revealing that the two conspired to kill Jon Arryn and frame the Lannisters. On the road, Brienne learns that Pod has no real skill as a squire but is impressed by his dedication to those he believes in. Meanwhile, North of the Wall, Jon, and his men raid Craster’s Keep as Bran and his party escape. The Night’s Watch Loyalists make quick work of the Mutineers and burn the Keep down as they ride South again.
Back in Essos, Daenerys learns Astapor and Yunkai have reverted to slavery after she left and puts her invasion of Westeros on hold. She names herself Queen of Slaver’s Bay and decides to fix the systemic issues before leaving. Meanwhile, in Braavos, Stannis pleads his case for a loan to the Iron Bank but they deny him. It’s only after Davos vouches, rather convincingly, on his behalf that he acquires the funds to hire the Golden Company and replenish his forces.
Across the sea, Yara raids the Dreadfort attempting to rescue Theon but he refuses to go with her. Ramsay rewards his loyalty before asking him to pose as himself to the Greyjoy men holed up in the stronghold, Moat Cailin. Ramsay brutally kills the men after they allow him entry. In King’s Landing Tyrion stands trial for his alleged crimes. It’s obvious from the jump that Tywin and Cersei have stacked the deck against him though. After a gut-wrenching testimony against him from Shae, he defiantly demands a trial by combat in what is probably the best dramatic scene of the entire series.
Cersei immediately appoints the Mountain as her champion in the impending trial. Tyrion asks both Bronn and Jaime to be his but both men refuse to fight the huge, older Clegane brother. Oberyn, however, sees an opportunity for revenge and resolves to be Tyrion’s champion. Across the sea, Daenerys and Daario begin a relationship before the latter is sent to take back Yunkai. At the Wall, Jon pleads with Thorne to seal the tunnel ahead of the Wilding attack but he refuses. On the road, Brienne and Pod learn Arya is alive and decide to make their way to the Vale, hoping she is doing the same. In the Vale, things aren’t going great as Littlefinger kisses Sansa, unknowingly, in view of Lysa. The woman flies into a jealous rage and threatens to throw Sansa out the Moon Door but Littlefinger intervenes, pushing Lysa to her death.
In the aftermath of Lysa’s death, Sansa reveals her identity to a council before lying to them, clearing Littlefinger of his crimes. Arya and the Hound arrive at the Vale shortly but after learning Lysa’s death the two decide to stick together. Meanwhile, Roose legitimizes Ramsay for retaking Moat Cailin and Ygritte spares Gilly as the Wildings attack Mole’s Town. In King’s Landing, Tyrion’s trial by combat begins. It seems like Oberyn will lose but the battle quickly turns in his favor. He becomes too greedy in his quest for a confession as his toys with the dying Mountain and things go south. The giant man grabs him and crushes his skull with his hands before dying. Tywin announces that Tyrion is to be put to death.
At the Wall, Gilly arrives and Sam hides her underground before Mance and his forces begin their attack on Castle Black. Thorne confesses they should’ve sealed the tunnel but there’s no time to do that now as the battle begins. The men on the Wall do a good job of holding back the Wildings from the north but Ygritte and Tormund’s group attacks from the south. As they do, a giant breaches the tunnel and a small, devoted group of Night’s Watchmen give their lives to ensure he doesn’t get through the gate.
In the fray, Jon finds Ygritte, who refuses to shoot just before she is shot herself. Jon holds her as the battle rages around them. As dawn breaks on Castle Black, it’s clear the Night’s Watch have won but it will be short-lived as Jon knows they’ll return again come nightfall. He then resolves to go North of the Wall to kill Mance himself and end the war.
He finds himself in Mance’s tent negotiating though. And before the men can reach an agreement, Stannis and the Golden Company raid the camp, killing many of the Wilding forces. Further north, Jojen is killed moments before Bran and his party are saved by the Children of the Forrest and brought to the Three-Eyed Raven. Back in the Vale, Brienne and Pod find Arya and the Hound. Brienne and the Hound have a brutal fight that leaves the younger Clegane clinging to life. Surprisingly Arya refuses to kill him, leaving him for dead as she finds a ship sailing for Braavos and plans to reunite with Jaqen H’ghar.
In King’s Landing, Jaime comes to Tyrion’s aid, freeing him to escape with Varys. Before meeting the eunuch though, Tyrion goes to confront his father. His father isn’t in his bed though, only Shae. Tyrion tearfully strangles her before finding his father on the toilet. He puts two crossbow bolts in Tywin and leaves for Essos with Varys as alarm bells sound. In Essos, Drogon has gone missing and killed a small child. As a precaution, Daenerys reluctantly chains up her other two dragons in a tomb.
Game of Thrones season 8 premieres April 14th on HBO.
