Game of Thrones is back for its eighth and final season, so we've put together a guide to the massive cast of characters who will be returning, as well as the latest new additions.
After seven seasons, an impressive number of major characters have been killed off, but there are still dozens left for the final battles - between the living and the dead, and between Cersei and... everyone else. While most of the major players have been in place for a while, there are some new characters being introduced for the final season - although there's no telling who will make it through to the finale.
From the Starks to the Lannisters, and from King's Landing to Westeros, here are the characters set to appear in Game of Thrones season 8 - and who they're allied with.
Game of Thrones Season 8's Returning Characters
The biggest names returning are those that even the most casual fan should have no issue remembering. Jon Snow, a.k.a. Aegon Targaryen (Kit Harington), is now King in the North, focused on dealing with the White Walker threat, and in the season 7 finale became... intimate... with Daenerys. Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), is making her final bid for the Throne, with two dragons behind her (Rhaegal and Drogon), and will be standing with Jon Snow against the army of the dead. Here are the other characters returning in season 8:
- Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner): Now Lady of Winterfell and a true survivor, Sansa has reservations about the alliance with Daenerys
- Arya Stark (Maisie Williams): Returned home to Winterfell after training with the Faceless Men in Braavos.
- Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright): Returned to Winterfell after becoming the Three-Eyed Raven north of the Wall.
- Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey): Currently reigning Queen in King's Landing and planning to sit out the war with the Night King.
- Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage): Now Hand of the Queen to Daenerys and standing against his family.
- Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau): Left his sister's side in the season 7 finale to join the fight against the undead.
- The Night King (Vladimir Furdik) - Leader of the White Walkers and their army of wights, currently marching south.
- Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie): The former Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon and the protector of the Stark daughters.
- Podrick Payne (Daniel Portman): Brienne of Tarth's loyal squire, who joins her at Winterfell.
- Bronn (Jerome Flynn): A mercenary who has worked for both Jaime and Tyrion Lannister, and is currently in King's Landing.
- Gregor 'The Hound' Clegane (Rory McCann): Ex Lannister bodyguard and warrior who is now allied with the Starks.
- Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan): An heir to the Iron Isles, and currently captured in King's Landing.
- Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen): Former ward of the Starks who is now on his way to rescue his sister.
- Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk): Yara and Theon's uncle, who is on his way to hire the Golden Company for Cersei.
- Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen): Recently cured of Greyscale and returned to the service of the Queen.
- Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel): A former slave turned translator and advisor to the Queen.
- Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson): The leader of the Unsullied army.
- Varys (Conleth Hill): The master of Whispers, who is now allied with Daenerys.
- Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies): Lord of Riverrun and the younger brother of Catelyn Stark.
- Robin Arryn (Lino Facioli): Lord of the Vale and cousin to the Starks on their mother's side.
- The Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson): Serving as a resurrected bodyguard to Cersei.
- Qyburn (Anton Lesser) : The disgraced Maester who 'saved' the Mountain is now serving as Cersei's Hand of the Queen.
- Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham): Stannis' former right-hand man is now standing with Daenerys and Jon at Winterfell.
- Samwell Tarly (John Bradley): Jon Snow's loyal friend, and one of the only people who knows his true identity.
- Gilly (Hannah Murray): Sam's romantic partner and mother to Little Sam, a son of Craster.
- Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer): A many-times resurrected fighter and leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners, who was last seen at the fall of the Wall.
- Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju): A wildling leader who was with Beric when Viserion destroyed the Wall.
- Edd Tollett (Ben Crompton): An old friend of Jon Snow's and current leader of the Night's Watch.
- Lyanna Mormont (Bella Ramsey): The fierce young ruling Lady of House Mormont
- Gendry Baratheon (Joe Dempsie): The illegitimate son of King Robert, now working at Winterfell as a blacksmith.
- Melisandre (Carice Van Houten): A priestess of the Lord of Light who believes Jon is the second coming of Azor Ahai.
Game of Thrones Season 8's New Characters
The appearance of the Golden Company also means the introduction of a new character, the leader of the sellsword band, Harry Strickland (Marc Rissmann). He's not the only character arriving in Westeros this season, either. Two potential Freys are going to become part of the show, with 'Sarra' (Danielle Galligan) and 'Willa' (Alice Nokes), assumed to be two of the only surviving Freys after Arya's revenge bloodbath.
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There's no way to know which of these characters will make it into the final episode - or even past the first! There may even be a few other reappearances - Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick) could return, despite having stomped off home after leaving Bran at Winterfell, or Daario Naharis (Michael Huisman), Dany's man left in charge of Meereen. With a cast as massive of that of Game of Thrones, anything could happen - and fans are going to be glued to their seats to find out who actually wins the throne in the end.