House Lannister
House Lannister was at the forefront of some of the most turbulent and captivating storylines of Season Four. With Joffrey poisoned at his own wedding (to universal relief), Tyrion on trial for his murder, and the climactic demise of Tywin Lannister – who was perceived by many as the true ruler of the realm – it was with great anticipation that viewers found out how King’s Landing would recover from its leading family being so well and truly rocked.
Tyrion Lannister:
Many a Game of Thrones fan’s favourite character, Tyrion is the dry-witted “god of tits and wine” we all know and love. After killing his father, Tywin, at the end of Season Four, climbing in a crate and boarding a boat to who-knows-where, we were all very keen to see where Season Five would take him.
With the aid of the loveable Varys, Tyrion arrives in Pentos with his only goal being to drink himself to death. After much persuasion, Tyrion agrees to go to Meereen with Varys to meet Daenerys Targaryen and help restore the Targaryens to the Iron Throne. After being cooped up in a carriage, Tyrion insists on passing through Volantis on foot and is promptly captured by Jorah Mormont, with whom he is attacked by Stone Men whilst passing through Old Valyria. Unbeknownst to Tyrion, Jorah is infected with deadly grayscale. After being captured – again – by slavers and, as always, fighting his way free with wit and determination, Tyrion finally meets the Khaleesi face to face. After persuading Daenerys to spare Jorah’s life on multiple occasions, a surprise attack from the Sons of the Harpy at the opening of the Great Games causes Daenerys to flee on her dragon, and leave Tyrion and his old friend Varys to hold the fort in Meereen.
Whilst Tyrion’s arc is perhaps not as dramatic in Season Five as it has been before – no murder accusations, actual murder or forced marriages, after all – it’s impossible not to be constantly curious as to what will happen next to everyone’s favourite dwarf. And by finally bringing Tyrion and Daenerys together, the series is bringing a vital storyline crossover that will no doubt bring exciting things to Season Six.
Cersei Lannister:
The ultimate fallen-from-grace story of Season Five, Cersei Lannister is most definitely one of the most love-to-hate characters in the Game of Thrones world. Whilst mourning her father’s death, she cites Tyrion as her and Jaime’s biggest enemy, partly blaming her brother/lover for Tywin’s death thanks to his release of Tyrion. After receiving a stuffed red viper holding her daughter Myrcella’s necklace in its jaws, sent in a box from Dorne, Jaime promises her he will “bring their daughter home”. Cersei can do doubt see her power waning as she tries to turn King Tommen against his wife, who in turn is feeling powerful and throws many a backhanded compliment at her mother-in-law. After visiting the High Sparrow and asking him to reinstate the Faith Militant, a military order dedicated to defending the Faith of the Seven, Loras Tyrell is arrested for homosexuality. Very pleasingly for Cersei, Margaery is imprisoned after Loras’s trial for giving false testimony; little does she know, however, that she herself will soon be arrested by the High Sparrow for adultery. After days of imprisonment, she confesses to an affair with Lancel Lannister – although not with Jaime – and is forced to have her hair cut short, be stripped naked and escorted through an angry mob. Weeping and with badly injured feet, Cersei makes it to the Red Keep and is greeted and cared for by Qyburn.
Somehow, in some way, Season Five has made us feel kind of sorry for Cersei. Crashing from ultimate power to being spat on by prostitutes, she is the fallen queen we also hoped we’d see, and yet whose downfall we aren’t necessarily 100% happy to witness. Season Five has most definitely given Cersei much more dimension than she has ever had before, and it will most definitely be interesting to see where Season Six takes this disgraced monarch.
Jaime Lannister:
Who knew we’d end up rooting for Jaime Lannister? Since Season One, Jaime’s character has changed and developed quite possibly more than any other, and Season Five most definitely continues in the same vain.
His arc begins in much the same way as Cersei’s, mourning his father and vowing to bring his daughter home from Dorne, despite Cersei’s mocking. After recruiting Sir Bronn for his mission to bring Myrcella back to King’s Landing – with the use of beautiful women, of course – they travel to Dorne, with Sir Bronn insinuating that he knows Myrcella’s true parenthood (who doesn’t by now?). Discovered by Dornish soldiers upon their arrival, a fight ensues which eventually ends in Jaime and Bronn burying the soldiers and using their clothes as a disguise. After finally reaching Myrcella, they are ambushed by the Sand Snakes, who planned to kill Myrcella in revenge for Oberyn Martell’s death, and both he, Bronn and the Sand Snakes are arrested. After explaining the threatening viper message Cersei received as reasoning for coming to save Myrcella, Jaime, along with Bronn, Myrcella and her betrothed Trystane, return to King Landing. But after being kissed on the lips by Ellaria Sand – still determined to seek revenge for Oberyn’s death – Myrcella collapses and dies in Jaime’s arms, just moments after being told, and gladly accepting, that he is her father.
Yet another sad ending for Jaime Lannister. We may never have predicted we’d feel so sorry for him, but by now there’s no way we couldn’t. Now with two of his three children dead, his sister eternally shamed and his brother who-knows-where, Jaime has very quickly been left with very little he loves left. Let’s hope things start looking up for him in Season Six… hope being the operative word.
Words by Amie Bailey