Game of Thrones season three catchup - where did we leave off?

by Daniel Falconer | 5 April 2014

Joffrey's happier than ever / Credit: Sky Atlantic

It's almost that time of year again, when we settle down in front of the television and prepare ourselves for the worst - especially following season three's infamous Red Wedding.

Why we insist on continuing to watch a television series that makes us feel so awful at home is a tough one to call, but with fantastic writing and an intense, intricate plot that sometimes proves hard but worthwhile to follow, we stick around for Game of Thrones, and I imagine this time round will be no different.

So, where did we leave off? Well, Robb Stark's army and mother had all been murdered by the Frey's commands at The Twins, and Roose Bolton was prominent in getting them there and stabbing the family in the back - quite literally.

Roose isn't the only one who's a bit of a fiend, and though we all despise Theon for his betrayal of the Stark family, we can't help but sympathise with him while Roose's bastard son castrates him, tortures him and rips his identity from him, renaming him Reek because of his awful stench.

Preparations are made for King Joffrey's wedding / Credit: Sky Atlantic

Tywin Lannister thinks that everything should be just fine and dandy now - all the Stark men are dead (he believes Theon really did murder Bran Stark) - and he has what he believes is the final surviving Stark family member captive at King's Landing, and married to his son Tyrion.

Bran is of course actually with the Reeds and Hodor, hoping they can get north of the Wall, but eventually decide to take shelter in an abandoned castle that belongs to the Night's Watch, before Sam the Slayer arrives with Gilly and her baby causing fright, but soon becoming close friends.

Recognising Bran after the stories he's been told from Jon, Sam hopes he can convince the group to join them in heading toward Castle Black, but Bran has other ideas and believes he's the only one who can stop the White Walkers from taking over, and so Sam shows the group the way through the Wall so they can continue their mission.

Sam and Gilly press on and eventually arrive at Castle Black, confronted by Maester Aemon who takes pity on the girl and her baby, allowing them to stay in the Castle ranks. He also tells Sam it's time to let everyone know of the horrors that's going on north of the wall, and so letters are drawn up and sent out to everybody throughout the kingdom.

Then there's Arya who most people think must be dead, but was actually just moments away from being reunited with her family. Back on the road with The Hound, she's eager for revenge more now than ever, and so when the opportunity comes to take on some of those who took part in the Red Wedding murder, she has no trouble in slicing them down.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise between the Lannister family, and though they are in danger of imploding on themselves and Cersei has finally realised her son truly is a maniac, they seem to hold all of the cards when it comes to locking the Iron Throne down.

Jaime returned with one hand and Brienne of Tarth, eager to get back into his sister's arms and take back his place as Lord Commander of the King's Guard, but that's looking less likely as his father continues to push to control what's going on in the city. He doesn't mind Joffrey sitting pretty on the Throne, so long as it's he who is actually behind all of the moves being made.

Shae refuses an offer to leave the city / Credit: Sky Atlantic

Tyrion's whore-turned-lover Shae is mad that she's not getting the attention from her Giant of Lannister following his wedding, and when Varys offers her jewels to leave the city it just makes matters worse. She's sticking around, and seems to be a loose cannon, getting angrier by the minute by the lack of time she can spend with her man.

Stannis is busy with his conflicted mind, but it seems that Melisandre has truly proved her worth to him, and whilst they have Gendry - the bastard son of King Robert locked up and ready to murder for his King's blood at any point they choose, Davos Seaworth has other ideas.

Davos helps Gendry escape / Credit: Sky Atlantic

He helps Gendry escape and for his crimes, is sentenced to death by Stannis. However, he warns his ruler of what's across the wall and persuades the Red Lady and her lover to keep him around - for now.

Another bastard by the name of Jon Snow had ran away from the Wildlings, and Ygritte isn't happy with the man she loves, firing three arrows into him as he gallops off into the distance, before arriving at Castle Black just in time and falling from his horse, gravely injured.

Finally, there's Daenerys. She's been walking around kicking butts and taking names for quite some time now, and the latest city she's laid claim to is that of Yunkai.

The slaves love her for freeing them, and they all start shouting "Mhysa!" (Mother) as she tells them of how their new lives will be a million times better than their old ones.

Daenerys is adored / Credit: Sky Atlantic