At the start of the series, Jon Snow was living in Winterfell as the bastard son of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North.
He volunteered to "take the black" and join the Brothers of the Night's Watch after Eddard Stark was named the Hand of the King.
The last episode of season five ended with Jon Snow being stabbed repeatedly by his Brothers of the Night's Watch. As predicted by many, he was brought back to life by Melisandre in season six.
When we first met her, Sansa Stark was the eldest daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark in Winterfell. She adored love stories and longed for the excitement of the capital.
Sansa has toughened up quite a bit over the seasons. After escaping her traumatizing marriage to Ramsay Bolton, she reunited with her older brother Jon and the two attempt to take back Winterfell.
At the start of the series, Arya Stark was the tomboyish little Stark sister that hated everything her sister Sansa loved.
While Sansa dreamed of fairy tales and embroidery, Arya preferred archery and combat.
Arya was forced to grow up quickly. After a long trek across the country, she was blinded after disobeying her orders from the House of White and Black and murdering a man she was not meant to kill. She earned back her sight and then escaped again.
Last we saw Arya, she was walking down the streets of Braavos with a bloody stomach, her fate still up in the air.
We were introduced to Bran Stark, the second youngest son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark, as a kid who loved climbing as much as he loved his direwolf, Summer.
During one fateful climb, he accidentally witnessed Jaime and Cersei Lannister committing both incest and adultery, and was pushed from the top of a tower.
When he woke from his coma, Bran had lost the use of both his legs.
Bran was absent in season five, but returned in a huge way in season six. Besides having lost his ability to walk, he is getting trained to become the Three Eyed Raven.
During one of the show's most tragic moments, Bran's warging leads to Hodor's death.
Theon Greyjoy was the super tough ward of Eddard Stark, and harbored plans to reclaim his family's former glory.
Theon spent much of the first season feeling frustrated by his low position in the Stark household and took pride in being the last living son of Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Isles.
Theon escaped Ramsay Bolton's sadistic grasp and saved Sansa. He returned to the Iron Isles and teamed up with his sister Yara to take the vacant throne. However, he's no longer the man he used to be.
Tyrion Lannister was known in the Seven Kingdoms for his quick wit, and love of both wine and whore houses.
After five seasons, Tyrion has proven himself a capable player in the Game of Thrones.
Across the Narrow Sea, Tyrion is forced to help keep the political stability in Meereen after Daenerys Targaryen flees from the city on her dragon, Drogon.
Cersei Lannister spent the first season engaged in a power struggle to seize the Iron Throne for her family.
She plotted to kill her husband King Robert Baratheon — and succeeded — before taking over the small council and making her eldest born son Joffrey the King of the Seven Kingdoms.
She's been through a lot since season one, including the infamous Walk of Atonement. Now, she's doing everything she can to maintain the king's fragile power over King's Landing.
Jaime Lannister starts out the series as an incestuous, child-murdering (he tried at least) villain.
In the first episode, he cavalierly tossed the 10-year-old Bran Stark out of a tower window after Bran caught Jaime and his twin sister Cersei having sex. "The things I do for love," Jaime sighed.
Over the course of the show, Jaime has grown a conscious — and lost a hand.
The gold hand he wears after his own was cut off impedes Jaime from being the formidable Knight of the Kingsguard and swordsman that he once was.
He also suffered a major loss when his daughter Myrcella was murdered at the end of season five. In season six, Jaime clashed with The Faith and the High Sparrow. Now, he's on a quest in Riverrun.
Tommen Baratheon is the youngest son of Cersei Lannister. He was believed to be King Robert's son, but is really the offspring of Jaime Lannister, Cersei's twin.
Tommen is now King of the Seven Kingdoms after the death of his brother Joffrey.
Tommen, now played by actor Dean-Charles Chapman, has had a turbulent time in season five and six: he had to deal with getting both his mother and his wife out of prison. Thanks to some close talks with the High Sparrow, the king has become a man of faith. This spells trouble for King's Landing.
Lancel Lannister was King Robert Baratheon's timid squire.
Though seemingly cowardly, it's worth remembering that he also helped kill King Robert and bedded his cousin, Cersei Lannister.
Now he's a member of a religious cult in King's Landing known as the Sparrows.
He's gone through a transformation, both physically and psychologically.
Samwell Tarly was introduced on "Game of Thrones" as a self-admitted coward who joined the Night's Watch.
He quickly befriended Jon, who took pity on Sam's inability to fight or stand up for himself.
He's since bravely killed a White Walker, and is on his way to Old Town to study at the Citadel to become a maester.
Gregor Clegane, or "The Mountain" as he's known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, was a tall, ferocious warrior, before being mortally wounded.
A fan theory suggests the new Knight's Guard member — "Robert Strong" — is none other than a resurrected Gregor Clegane.
Many fans believe that after Gregor Clegane was killed by Oberyn Martell, The Mountain was resurrected by Cersei's henchman Qyburn to be her un-dead champion against the Faith.
You can read more on this bizarre — and probable! — theory, here.
Loras Tyrell, aka the Knight of the Flowers, jousted with The Mountain at the Hand's Tournament.
He also was quite intimate with Renly Baratheon, the brother of King Robert.
Loras has since been arrested by the Sparrows, and is set to stand trial for the accused crime of homosexuality.
Eunich Varys was a cunning council member for King Robert who knew all the goings-on across the Seven Kingdoms.
As Master of Whisperers on the king's small council, Varys knew everything that went on in the Seven Kingdoms as well as across the Narrow Sea.
Because his "little birds" tell him all the gossip, he is sometimes called "the spider."
At the start of the series, Petyr Baelish (also known as "Littlefinger") was the owner of a brothel, member of the small council, and master of coin in King's Landing.
He and Varys often went toe-to-toe about who had more informants and information. If there was a scandal or scheme, Petyr knew about it.
In season one, Jorah Mormont was an exiled Northern lord who swore allegiance to the exiled Targaryens, Daenerys, and Viserys.
Secretly, throughout the entire first season, Jorah was serving as a spy for King Robert. He soon ditched his role as a spy, however, after he fell in love with Daenerys and swore fealty to her.
Though they've had their ups and downs, Jorah remains loyal to Daenerys. When he comes down with a pretty bad case of Greyscale, she sends him away to find a cure.
After Daenerys discovered Jorah was serving as a spy, she exiled him from her service. To gain her favor again, Jorah brought her Tyrion Lannister, but contracted the fatal disease Greyscale in the process.
In season one, The Hound (Sandor Clegane) was Joffrey Baratheon's personal bodyguard. After the Battle of the Blackwater in season two, he leaves King's Landing.
The Hound was presumed dead since the season four finale — killed by Arya. However, he returned in the latest season.
The Hound might be participating in the highly rumored Cleganebowl. Tech Insider's "Game of Thrones" expert Kim Renfro explained the possible epic fight.
In season one, Daenerys Targaryen was nothing but a pawn in her brother Viserys' game, and the meek child bride of Khal Drogo.
The young Daenerys spent season one learning to rule, and blossomed into her role as Khaleesi of the Khalasar as Khal Drogo's wife.
Now one tough broad, she's traveling the land freeing slaves, conquering cities, and amassing loyal followers. She has become a strong contender for the Iron Throne.
There's a theory going around that Khaleesi will soon become the show's villain. You don't want to mess with this queen.
