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

QYBURN 1.0: DISGRACED MAESTER

When we first meet Qyburn, he’s near death, having survived a wound after Ser Gregor Clegane ordered all the prisoners at Harenhall killed. Robb and Talisa Stark nursed him back to health, and we learn that Qyburn was a former maester of the Citadel who was disgraced and stripped of his chain due to his bizarre experiments on living human beings. He’s not in a good place, although his fortunes improve after he treats Jaime Lannister’s involuntarily amputated arm and accompanies him back to King’s Landing.

QYBURN 2.0: UNLEASHED DR. FRANKENSTEIN AND HAND TO THE QUEEN

Once in the capital, Qyburn’s talents are immediately noticed by Cersei Lannister, who is unencumbered with concerns about ethics and morality. Qyburn replaces Grand Maester Pycelle as Cersei’s personal physician, and Cersei soon gives Qyburn Pycelle’s laboratory, as well, giving him free reign to work on reanimating the mortally wounded Gregor Clegane.

Qyburn becomes Cersei’s trusted confidante. After Varys leaves the city, she even appoints him Master of Whisperers, complete with a seat on the Small Council. Now a true player in the great game, Qyburn remains loyal to Cersei during her humiliation by the High Sparrow, and provides her with both the reanimated Mountain as a personal bodyguard and information about strangely placed caches of wildfire. That comes in handy, too.

While Cersei is busy leveraging that, Qyburn has his little birds — formerly Varys’ little birds — assassinate Pycelle, and Cersei rewards him by naming him Hand of the Queen. Qyburn crowns Cersei as the new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and now has a position of immense influence and power.

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