The ultimate 'Game of Thrones' character catch-up ahead of the final season

From Jon Snow to Arya Stark, here is where we left off with the major players.

April 14, 2019, 4:03 AM

"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die," Cersei Lannister told Ned Stark in season one, shortly before he's beheaded.

Now as the final season of "Game of Thrones" approaches, we will see the rest of the drama unfold -- and along with it, who lives and who dies.

But first, a reminder on where some of our favorite characters stand since the last season.

Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys experiences the loss of one of her "children," her dragon Viserion. We last see her with Jon Snow in a passionate embrace in bed. We have also just learned that they are related and she is, in fact, his aunt.

Jon Snow

Jon escapes the White Walkers with the help of Benjen Stark and makes it back to Daenerys. We find out his real name is Aegon Targaryen and that his parents were Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Bran says he is the true heir to the Iron Throne.

Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger

Littlefinger died at the hands of Arya Stark. He thinks he's tearing Sansa and Arya apart, but it turns out they've been working together to expose his evil ways. Arya cuts his throat in the last episode of season seven.

Tyrion Lannister

Tyrion is still serving Daenerys. We last see him outside her room, where she and Jon Snow are in a passionate embrace.

Arya Stark

Arya executes Littlefinger, slicing his throat with the Valyrian steel dagger Bran has given her. At one point it looks like she might be out to get Sansa, but it was a ploy to get Littlefinger. The two sisters remain close.

Sansa Stark

Sana teams up with Arya to take down Littlefinger. She's also still holding down Winterfell while Jon is away, as the Lady of Winterfell.

Sandor Clegane aka The Hound

We last see the Hound at King's Landing, with Jon and Daenerys. He takes the crate out which holds the White Walker, as proof to Cersei that the army of the dead is coming. The group's goal is to try and stop their current war with Cersei for the time being in order to defeat the White Walkers.

Brienne of Tarth

Brienne goes to King's Landing on Sansa's behalf as well to join the group with Jon and Daenerys. She sees the Hound there and lets him know that Arya is still alive.

Cersei Lannister

Cersei agrees to help Daenerys and Jon fight the army of the dead, but then she tells her brother Jaime she was lying. She has lost all of her children but is pregnant again. At one point, it appears like she might have Gregor Clegane, aka the Mountain, kill Jaime, but he is able to walk away unharmed.

Jaime Lannister

Jaime leaves Cersei to go fight alongside the living in the battle against the dead. As he rides away on his horse, snow begins to fall in King's Landing.

Theon Greyjoy

Theon tries to stop his men from leaving his sister, Yara, behind. She is currently a captive of Cersei. Theon battles with one of the men, and wins, rallying the others to stay and try to save Yara.

Bran Stark

Bran is now the new Three-Eyed Raven, meaning he is all-seeing and all-knowing. We have traveled with Bran into the past and seen events unfold, as well as gone with him to see the White Walkers in the present time. In the last episode, we saw Bran travel back in time to see Rhaegar wed Lyanna, ultimately leading to Jon Snow's birth.

Samwell Tarly

It is Samwell's arrival at Winterfell and visit with Bran that reveals Jon Snow's true identity. Samwell says he saw a High Septon's diary at the citadel and it showed he wed Rhaegar and Lyanna in a secret ceremony.