Game Of Thrones - Most & Least Favourite Season

The series begins with Ned Stark (Sean Bean) being asked to be the chief advisor (known as the Hand of the King) to lecherous King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy). Ned and his wife Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) receive a letter from Catelyn's sister, Lysa (Kate Dickie) that gives them reason to believe that rival House Lannister – to which the King's wife Cersei belongs – was the cause of the previous Hand's death. Ned must travel south to help the king and find out who killed the previous Hand of the King, Jon Arryn (John Standing), while trying to protect his family from the Lannisters. As he tries to uncover the reasons behind Jon Arryn's death he uncovers the dark secrets about the Lannisters that Arryn himself died trying to expose.

Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea in the continent of Essos, the exiled, arrogant Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd), son of the former king whose throne was usurped, believes he still has the rightful claim to the throne. He marries off his younger sister, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), whom he has psychologically and physically abused for years, to the leader of the Dothraki warrior tribe, Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), in an exchange for an army to return to Westeros and take the throne. However, Daenerys' growing love for Drogo and newfound mental strength as the Khaleesi of the tribe mean Viserys' plans go unexpectedly and powerfully awry.

And at the wall, Ned's bastard son Jon Snow joins the Night's Watch, an ancient brotherhood sworn to watch over the massive Wall that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the dangerous unknown beyond. But an ancient force, long believed dead, threatens the land.

Having won three victories, Robb Stark offers the Lannisters peace in exchange for the North's independence, sending Theon Greyjoy to gain Balon Greyjoy's support and Catelyn Stark to seek Renly Baratheon's. Cersei Lannister rejects Robb's terms. Meanwhile, Tyrion Lannister exiles Janos Slynt, head of the Gold Cloaks, to the Wall, promoting Bronn to commander of the watch.

Catelyn arrives at King Renly's camp to negotiate an alliance, and Brienne of Tarth wins the right to join Renly's guard. Catelyn and Brienne witness Renly's murder at the hands of dark magic sent by the 'Red Lady' Melisandre, an emissary of Renly's brother and rival claimant to the Iron Throne Stannis Baratheon. Catelyn and Brienne flee Renly's camp and rejoin Robb's army as Renly's supporters switch their allegiance to Stannis. Meanwhile, Theon betrays the Starks by siding with his father and seizing Winterfell by force. Robb receives news of Theon's plans and sends men to retake Winterfell, while inside the city the Starks' allies form plans to sneak Bran and Rickon Stark out.

Robb learns that his mother Catelyn has secretly freed Jaime Lannister, now escorted by Brienne of Tarth, in order to ransom her daughters Sansa and Arya; he also enters into a romantic relationship with Volantene healer Talisa Maegyr. Yara Greyjoy arrives at Winterfell to bring Theon back to the Iron Islands, after his botched attempt to recapture the Stark boys.

Tywin Lannister leaves Harrenhal, which allows Arya, Gendry and Hot Pie to make an escape with the help of the enigmatic Jaqen H'ghar. In King's Landing, Cersei attempts to blackmail Tyrion by abducting the prostitute, Ros, whom Cersei believes to be his secret lover. Leading the defense against Stannis' attack on King's Landing, Tyrion destroys many of the attacking craft with an exploding ship full of wildfire, and is forced to lead a counterattack as King Joffrey Baratheon and his bodyguard Sandor Clegane each desert the battlefield. Stannis's forces make it inside the castle, but Tyrion leads his men behind the Baratheon forces via underground tunnels and attacks. Baratheon is defeated when Tywin's forces arrive at King's Landing shortly after.

Following Khal Drogo's death, Daenerys and the remnants of her khalasar find refuge in the city of Qarth, where they are taken in by the merchant Xaro Xhoan Daxos. However, Xaro conspires with the warlock Pyat Pree to kill most of Daenerys' servants, kidnap her dragons and assume control of Qarth. Daenerys is lured into a showdown with Pyat Pree at the House of the Undying, where her dragons kill Pyat Pree. Daenerys seals Xaro in his own vault as punishment for his treachery and leaves Qarth with Jorah and her remaining servants.

Whilst on a ranging beyond the Wall, Jon Snow captures a Wildling, Ygritte, who soon leads him into a trap where he himself is captured by Ygritte's fellow wildlings. Amongst the wildlings' prisoners is fellow ranger Qhorin Halfhand, who convinces Jon to kill him in order to gain the wildlings' trust so he can get close to their leader, King-beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder. The rest of the rangers set up camp at an ancient fortification, the Fist of the First Men, where they come under attack from an ancient enemy, the White Walker

After defeating Stannis Baratheon at the Battle of the Blackwater, the Lannisters hold a firm grasp on the Iron Throne. They are threatened by their new ally House Tyrell, powerful and manipulative players of the game. Tyrion Lannister struggles with losing the power he had as Hand of the King, and feels his father doesn't appreciate the service he provided the family as Hand. Meanwhile, Jaime Lannister continues his attempt to return home, and begins to form a bond with his road companion, Brienne of Tarth.

The Starks find themselves losing the War. They have lost the support of Lord Walder Frey, after Robb Stark broke his vow to him by marrying Talisa Maegyr, and many members of Robb's army are losing faith in him. His relationship with his mother has also turned icy after her freeing of Jaime Lannister, though the reported deaths of her father and the younger Stark boys brings them closer. In reality, Bran and Rickon Stark are alive and continuing their journey north, with new strange allies in the Reed siblings. It was Theon Greyjoy who faked the Stark boys' deaths, and is now being physically tortured under an unknown person's command. However, a mysterious boy claiming to be sent by his sister plans to aid his escape. Arya Stark, on her journey home with companions Gendry and Hot Pie, finds herself entangled with The Brotherhood without Banners and Sandor "The Hound" Clegane. Sansa Stark remains in King's Landing a prisoner of the Lannisters, but is now being offered help by both the treacherous Petyr Baelish and the Tyrells.

At Dragonstone, Stannis Baratheon appears a broken man after being crushed at the Battle of the Blackwater. His advisor Ser Davos is imprisoned after attempting to kill Melisandre, who still believes her god, the Lord of Light, will help Stannis return to prominence.

Beyond the Wall, Jon Snow joins Mance Rayder's wildling army, but with hidden intentions. His vows are tested more than ever by a growing romance with wildling Ygritte, as he finds that he will have to choose between her and the Night's Watch. The latter has been largely decimated by a White Walker attack, and a group of them is making their way back to the Wall. However, many of the rangers find themselves also questioning their vows, putting Lord Commander Mormont's and Samwell Tarly's lives in danger.

Across the Narrow sea in Astapor, Daenerys Targaryen continues her quest to reclaim the seven kingdoms. She has a new companion in former King's Guard member Barristan Selmy, and is still advised by Jorah Mormont. She contemplates buying the Unsullied, an elite army of harshly trained eunuchs. They are controlled by a cruel master with an intelligent young translator, Missandei.

In King's Landing, guests begin arriving for Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell's wedding. Amongst those in attendance is the vengeful Oberyn Martell, Prince of Dorne, who blames Tywin Lannister for the death of his sister, niece and nephew at the hands of the Mountain, Ser Gregor Clegane. After Joffrey is poisoned at his wedding by Margaery's grandmother, Olenna Tyrell, a distraught Cersei Lannister is quick to blame her younger brother, Tyrion, for the death of her son. Tyrion struggles to survive these accusations as he is pitted against both his father and his sister while he is abandoned by all those he once held dear, including his former lover Shae. Outraged at the kangaroo court presiding over his trial, Tyrion demands a trial by combat. Cersei chooses the Mountain as her champion and Oberyn offers to represent Tyrion. The trial ends in a victory for the Mountain and Tyrion is sentenced to death by his father. Before he can be executed, Tyrion is freed by his brother Jaime, who tells him Varys will smuggle him to the Free Cities. Tyrion, discovering that Shae had been sleeping with Tywin, strangles her before shooting Tywin and fleeing Westeros with Varys.

In the aftermath of Joffrey's murder, Tyrion's wife Sansa Stark – still grieving the loss of her mother and brother – successfully escapes King's Landing with the help of Petyr Baelish. Baelish smuggles her to the Vale, where she comes into conflict with her jealous aunt, Lysa Arryn, who mistrusts the relationship between Petyr and Sansa. After Lysa witnesses Littlefinger kiss Sansa, she attempts to throw Sansa through the Moon Door, only for Littlefinger to intervene and push Lysa to her death. When Littlefinger is interrogated, Sansa defends him. She then joins him and her cousin Robin Arryn in a tour of the Vale.

Meanwhile, with the Riverlands under Frey rule and Winterfell still in ruins, Arya Stark and her captor Sandor Clegane make way for the Eyrie. During their travels, they encounter and kill the sadistic Lannister soldier Polliver and the outlaws Rorge and Biter. However, the duo arrive at the Eyrie days after Lysa Arryn's death and are denied entry; they then encounter Brienne of Tarth and her new squire Podrick Payne, who have been tasked by Jaime to bring the Stark sisters to safety. Brienne and the Hound fight, ending with the Hound grievously wounded. Though he begs Arya to end his suffering, she only takes his silver and leaves. She encounters a Braavosi ship captain, who gives her passage after she shows him the coin Jaqen H'ghar gave her, and saying the words "valar morghulis".

Bran Stark, accompanied by the Reeds and Hodor, continues his mission north of the Wall trying to find the three-eyed raven he has been dreaming about. Despite being held up by the mutineers at Craster's Keep and a wight attack that kills Jojen, Bran finally meets the three-eyed raven, who tells him that Bran will fly.

At the Wall, a recently returned Jon Snow tries to warn his leaders about Mance Rayder's impending attack on the Wall from both sides. The southern attack is being led by Tormund Giantsbane and Ygritte, who have recently joined forces with another Wildling tribe, cannibalistic Thenns. Jon Snow must also contend with the mutineers at Craster's Keep, led by the deranged Karl Tanner. Meanwhile, Jon's sworn brother Samwell Tarly struggles with his feelings for the wildling girl, Gilly, and the impact she is having on the Night's Watch. The Wildlings launch a massive attack on Castle Black, leading to the deaths of many brothers and Wildlings, including Ygritte, Pyp, and Grenn. Jon Snow bravely goes beyond the Wall to assassinate Rayder, only to be spared by the sudden arrival of Stannis Baratheon and his forces, who overwhelm the Wildlings and rescue the Night's Watch. Davos Seaworth and Stannis had successfully negotiated with the Iron Bank of Braavos to shift their support from the Lannisters to the Baratheons of Dragonstone, using the money to fund the offense on the Wildlings.

In the North, Roose Bolton aims to cement his hold on the North. To this end he orders his hunter Locke to kill Jon Snow and track down Bran and Rickon Stark (an ultimately unsuccessful venture), and sends his bastard Ramsay Snow to take Moat Cailin, a fortification occupied by the Ironborn. Ramsay uses the enslaved Theon Greyjoy, forced to assume the identity of Ramsay's serving man Reek, to secure Moat Cailin. Roose rewards Ramsay by legitimizing him as a Bolton, and moves his seat to the former Stark stronghold of Winterfell.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen continues her conquest of Slaver's Bay by taking control of the largest city, Meereen, by instigating a slave uprising. However, Daenerys alienates herself from the former masters of Meereen by ordering 163 masters crucified as justice for 163 slaves they had publicly crucified to intimidate her. Daenerys decides to remain in Meereen to learn to rule, and begins a relationship with the sellsword Daario Naharis. However, Daenerys is shocked to discover that her trusted advisor Jorah Mormont had spied on her for Robert Baratheon, and exiles him from Meereen. Daenerys faces further struggles when she learns that her dragon Drogon has begun killing humans; while she is unable to capture Drogon, she is forced to chain her other two dragons as a precaution.

In Meereen, the insurgent "Sons of the Harpy" have started to revolt against Daenerys Targaryen's regime by murdering citizens and Unsullied, also taking the life of Barristan Selmy. In order to regain peace and control, Daenerys complies with the request of re-opening the fighting pits while taking Hizdahr zo Loraq as husband.

Tyrion Lannister arrives in Pentos along with Varys, and they begin their journey to Meereen together. They pass through Volantis, where Tyrion is abducted by Jorah Mormont, who takes him to Meereen as a way to redeem himself to Daenerys. Daenerys takes Tyrion as her advisor, but orders Jorah exiled once more. After the Sons of the Harpy mount an attack on Daenerys and her retinue at the fighting pits, Jorah saves her life. Drogon reappears and Daenerys flies away on his back, ultimately landing in the Dothraki sea, where she is captured by Dothraki horsemen. Jorah and Daario Naharis leave to search for Daenerys, while Tyrion, Varys, Missandei, and Grey Worm remain to rule Meereen.

At the Wall, Stannis Baratheon has Mance Rayder burned alive for treason. Stannis promises Jon Snow legitimacy and rule of Winterfell should he ride with him against the Boltons, but Jon declines the offer and stays at the Wall. As newly elected Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, Jon forms an alliance with the Wildlings, much to the dismay of the rest of the Night's Watch. They begin evacuating Wildlings at Hardhome, when the settlement suddenly comes under attack from White Walkers and their wight armies. Though many die and are revived as wights, the brothers still manage to rescue a large number of Wildlings and Jon leads them through the tunnel to Castle Black, south of the Wall. After Samwell Tarly and Gilly leave for Oldtown and Maester Aemon passes away, the majority of the Night's Watch become disillusioned with Jon's leadership and see him as a traitor. They lure Jon into a trap and stab him, leaving him to die.

In the Vale, Littlefinger puts Robin Arryn in the care of House Royce and leaves for Winterfell with Sansa Stark. Brienne, still loyal to the oath she swore to Catelyn Stark, follows them with her squire Podrick. In Winterfell, Sansa is reunited with Reek and marries Ramsay Bolton to form an alliance between the Vale and the Boltons. Ramsay subjects Sansa to physical and psychological abuse, including raping her on their wedding night while forcing Reek to watch. After Reek reveals to Sansa that he did not kill her brothers Bran and Rickon, the two escape together, jumping off the castle walls.

At his camp in the North, Stannis reluctantly acquiesces to Melisandre's demands to burn Shireen alive as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light. As a result, Melisandre flees for Castle Black, Selyse commits suicide, and half of the Baratheon forces desert. The remaining Baratheon forces march on Winterfell, but are swiftly defeated by the Boltons. In the aftermath of the battle, a wounded Stannis is killed by Brienne of Tarth.

In King's Landing, Lancel Lannister becomes a member of the devoutly religious "Sparrows". Following the wedding of Margaery Tyrell and Tommen Baratheon, Cersei Lannister begins losing control of Tommen, and with him, her power source. She tries to regain her status by authorizing the revival of the Faith Militant, the military wing of the Faith of the Seven. The Sparrows quickly begin imposing their puritanical views upon King's Landing by ridding it of all "sins", in the process also seizing Loras Tyrell for being homosexual. They proceed to imprison him, as well as Margaery and Cersei herself for committing various sins. Cersei is released after confessing to adultery with Lancel and being forced to march naked through King's Landing, but receives consolation from Qyburn's successful reanimation of Ser Gregor Clegane.

In Dorne, the Sand Snakes, the bastard daughters of Oberyn Martell, seek vengeance against the Lannisters for the death of their father, along with his paramour Ellaria Sand. After a threatening message arrives in King's Landing from Dorne, Bronn and Jaime Lannister travel to Dorne to rescue Myrcella Baratheon. Oberyn's brother Doran Martell discovers that Ellaria Sand had sent the message and allows Jaime and Myrcella to leave for King's Landing, provided Myrcella's betrothed Trystane Martell joins them and obtains a seat on the Small Council. En route to King's Landing, Myrcella dies, having been poisoned by Ellaria.

Arya Stark arrives in Braavos and starts training with the Faceless Men, guided by Jaqen H'ghar and another young woman, the Waif. After developing the ability to lie convincingly, she is given the task of assassinating a dishonest insurance agent. However, after Meryn Trant's arrival in Braavos, Arya neglects her mission to steal a false face from the House of Black and White and assassinate him instead. Upon her return to the temple, Arya is struck blind.