And the meek shall inherit Westeros: How Game of Thrones celebrates reversals of fortune

BRIENNE OF TARTH 1.0: MAJOR QUEST FAIL.

Brienne has the soul of a lioness, a will of steel and a heart of gold, but she’s had a seriously poor run of luck on the show. A devotee of Renly Baratheon, she defeated Loras Tyrell in single combat and won a place on Renly’s kingsguard. Unfortunately, he was assassinated shortly thereafter.

Picking herself up, Brienne became the sworn sword of Lady Catelyn Stark, who was later murdered at the Red Wedding while Brienne was away, carrying out Lady Catelyn’s orders and escorting Jaime Lannister back to King’s Landing. During that trip, she and Jaime were captured by Locke, who forced Brienne to fight a bear. When the pair finally got to King’s Landing, Brienne’s luck started to turn — Jaime wanted Brienne to keep her oath to Lady Catelyn, so he gave her the Valyrian steel sword Oathkeeper (and the squire Podrick) and tasked her with finding Sansa Stark. Brienne found Arya Stark instead, but Arya rejected Brienne’s protection and slipped away.

BRIENNE OF TARTH 2.0: MAJOR QUEST ACHIEVED

In Season 5, Brienne’s loyalty and determination finally paid off, early bumps in the road notwithstanding. After encountering Sansa Stark on the road, she followed Sansa and Petyr Baelish to Winterfell. Stationed nearby, she slipped a message to Sansa: if she was ever in trouble, all Sansa had to do was light a candle in the Broken Tower and Brienne would come running.

Well, Sansa got in trouble and lit that candle, but Brienne was busy killing the man who’d murdered the unrequited love of her life. It happens. But soon after that, Brienne and Pod rescued Sansa as she and Theon were fleeing the castle, and Brienne was overjoyed when Sansa accepted her offer of fealty. Quest achieved at last.

Brienne has also tangled with romantic feelings for Jaime Lannister (and perhaps, in an alternate universe, for Tormund Giantsbane), but is happiest in her element, armed with sword and shield and protecting Sansa Stark.

Next: Westeros' Own Doctor Frankenstein