House Stark Preview — Winter Has Come

The Starks have taken it on the chin a lot over the course of this series. Ned was beheaded. Walder Frey had Catelyn and Robb killed at a wedding. Ramsay shot Rickon with an arrow, Jon Snow was murdered by his own men, Sansa was forced into one disastrous marriage after another, Arya was blinded, and Bran became a paraplegic living in a cave. It’s been rough, to say the least.

But things were starting to turn around for the group in season 6. Sansa, fed up to here with always being the pawn, teamed up with Jon Snow to take back Winterfell. Arya got her sight back, killed her nemesis the Waif, and extricated herself from the Faceless Men cult before showing up at the Twins and slicing Walder Frey’s throat. And Bran accidentally summoned the Night King to the Three-Eyed Raven’s cave, went back and time to give Hodor a mental disability, and got his mentor, friend, and direwolf killed, but at least he’s heading south of the Wall.

If all goes well, the surviving Starks may reunite before long. Bran, at least, is almost definitely headed for Winterfell (and he better give Meera Reed a nice fruit basket once he gets there as thanks for lugging him all over creation). Arya may be headed back that way, too, although that’s an open question at the moment. And at Winterfell itself, Jon, as the new King in the North, has made it his mission to educate everyone about the coming White Walker menace. He is ably supported in this mission by the even-tempered Davos Seaworth, the fiery Lyanna Mormont, and the bellicose Tormund Giantsbane, Jon’s main contact with the wildling clans currently residing in the North.

Sansa is on his side, too, we assume. Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa, has hinted that Sansa feels a little slighted that Jon was chosen to lead the North over her, and if there’s any hint of rivalry between the two half-siblings, you can bet that Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish will drown it in gasoline and light it on fire. He’s at Winterfell, too, and in nominal control of the Knights of the Vale. He wants to rise as high as he can in the world, and has already spent a lot of time grooming Sansa to be…what? His partner? His second-in-command? His *gag* wife? Their relationship is complicated, and we’re betting season 7 explores it further.

Next: Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger) resolves a long-simmering mystery about Arya Stark

There are other members of Team Stark we’re eager to get a look at, including Brienne of Tarth and her squire Podrick. Whatever Sansa does, you can get they’ll support her. And while they’re not at Winterfell, don’t forget that Samwell Tarly is technically working on Jon’s behalf, as well, studying in Oldtown so he can become a maester and help in the wars to come.