Here’s a recap for Game of Thrones season 7. HBO’s hit show first burst onto screens in 2011 and became a genuine cultural phenomenon boasting millions of fans worldwide. Based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the show focuses on the ongoing battles between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and features a sprawling ensemble cast.

Before its eighth and final season aired this year, Game of Thrones scored a total of 47 Emmys – the most won by a prime-time series. Though its climactic season was one of the show’s most controversial it’s likely Game of Thrones will repeat its Emmy success this year after season 8 was nominated for a record-breaking 32 awards. But before that came Game of Thrones penultimate seventh season – a season packed with action and character deaths that tied up a few loose ends before viewers headed into the shows’ final season. Here's a round-up of the major plot points and revelations from Game of Thrones season 7.

Related: The Most Important Locations of Game of Thrones Season 7

Game Of Thrones season 7 opens with Arya Stark avenging the Red Wedding by offing the men of House Frey while disguised as Walder Frey. Arya is later reunited with her siblings Sansa and Bran – now the Three-Eyed Raven – at Winterfell. The scheming Littlefinger tries to drive a wedge between the sisters but eventually gets his comeuppance and is executed by Arya.

Game of Thrones Season 7 Finale Kings Landing

Daenerys arrives at Dragonstone, the ancestral home of House Targaryen. After Sam discovers Dragonstone is home to a dragonglass mine – a substance capable of killing White Walkers – Jon Snow heads there to request Dany’s permission to mine it to defeat the Night King and his army. Elsewhere in Game Of Thrones, the Lannisters are up to their usual tricks. Cersei avenges her daughter Myrcella’s death by poisoning Ellaria Sand’s daughter Tyene and forcing her to watch her die. Later her brother-lover Jaime kills Olenna Tyrell who reveals it was she who killed Joffrey before dying and Cersei also reveals she’s pregnant yet again with Jaime’s child.

Meanwhile, Jon heads north of the Wall and captures a wight to prove their existence and gain support for the war against the White Walkers, but he and his group find themselves surrounded by the Night King’s minions. Luckily, Dany comes to their rescue but loses her dragon Viserion when the Night King fatally spears him, before reanimating him as part of his army.

In the Game Of Thrones season 7 finale, it’s revealed Jon is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark after they married in secret, making him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. It also means Jon and Dany are nephew and aunt which makes the fact they consummate their romance in the season finale rather icky. Game of Thrones season 7 ends with the undead Viserion blasting a hole through the Wall as the White Walkers and the Army of the Dead march on through.

Next: Every Season Of Game Of Thrones Ranked