Who Lived and Died in 'Game of Thrones' Season 5?

Mance Rayder Game of thrones

Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO

The first major casualty of season five came in the premiere, when wildling leader Mance Rayder refused to swear allegiance to Stannis Baratheon and found himself burned at the stake for his insubordination. A well-placed arrow from Jon Snow ended his suffering before the fire could finish him off, but was it truly Mance on the pyre? Fans of George R. R. Martin’s novels know that Mance’s death in the books wasn’t exactly as permanent as it appeared, leading some to speculate that he may still be alive in disguise — although the show gave no indication of a switcheroo.

Verdict: Dead … we’re pretty sure.

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Mossador Game of thrones

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Daenerys Targaryen made a major miscalculation when she chose to execute one of her loyal followers for taking the law into his own hands and killing a captured assassin. Mossador’s very public death further heightened tensions between the freed slaves and their former masters in Meereen, almost setting off a civil war with Dany caught in the middle.

Verdict: Dead.
Janos Slynt Game of thrones

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Janos Slynt was a mutineer before mutiny became the new black at Castle Black. Publicly disobeying Jon Snow’s orders (before doing his best to grovelingly backtrack) earned him a trip to the chopping block, proving that the new Lord Commander meant business.

Verdict: Dead.
Barristan Selmy Game of thrones

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One of Daenerys’ most trusted advisors, the legendary knight went out in suitably heroic fashion, taking down a horde of Sons of the Harpy assassins before finally succumbing to his wounds.

Verdict: Dead.
Grey Worm Game of thrones

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Luckily, Barristan’s assist helped Unsullied leader Grey Worm survive to take down the rest of the Sons of the Harpy who were attempting to overpower them, leaving him wounded but still around to fight (and love) another day.

Verdict: Alive.
Maester Aemon Targaryen Game of thrones

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The beloved maester of Castle Black had possibly the only peaceful death in “Game of Thrones” history — he died of old age in his bed, surrounded by friends.

Verdict: Dead.
Jorah Mormont Game of thrones

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After an unexpected encounter with the Stone Men in the ruins of Valyria, it was revealed to the audience that Jorah was infected with greyscale during the melee. He’s not dead yet, but unless someone can find a cure, his days might be numbered.

Verdict: Alive… for now.
Shireen Baratheon Game of thrones

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In one of the show’s most brutal and shocking moments to date, Stannis chose to sacrifice his daughter, Shireen, to the Lord of Light — hoping that the power of her blood would secure his victory against the Boltons. Fittingly, after such a heinous choice, it all proved to be for naught, as Stannis soon shared his daughter’s fate.

Verdict: Dead.
Hizdahr zo Loraq Game of thrones

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Daenerys’ Meereenese trophy husband spent most of the season whining about how she needed to reopen the fighting pits to allow the citizens to kill each other for sport — so it was fitting that he met his demise in the arena he was so fond of, as one of many victims of the Sons of the Harpy.

Verdict: Dead.
Selyse Baratheon Game of thrones

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After spending much of the season considering her daughter a nuisance, Stannis’ wife developed a conscience too late to save her daughter Shireen from being burned alive — and the subsequent guilt prompted her to hang herself.

Verdict: Dead.
Stannis Baratheon Game of thrones

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After sacrificing his daughter at Melisandre’s urging, Stannis marched on Winterfell — but his callous choice caused half his men to desert him (along with all his horses), and the ensuing battle with the Boltons ended in a crushing defeat for Stannis’ forces. Alone and injured, Stannis seemed to welcome death when Brienne of Tarth finally caught up to him and dispensed long-overdue justice for his role in the murder of his brother, Renly.

Verdict: Dead.
Myranda Game of thrones

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Ramsay Bolton’s sadistic lover was eager to add to Sansa Stark’s suffering, but Reek (aka Theon) finally came to his senses and pushed her from the wall at Winterfell, where she fell to a deliciously messy death.

Verdict: Dead.
Theon Greyjoy and Sansa Stark Game of thrones

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Rather than sticking around to see how Ramsay might react to finding his mistress splattered across Winterfell’s courtyard, Theon and Sansa decided to take their chances and jump from Winterfell’s wall — it remains to be seen whether the snow broke their fall or broke every bone in their bodies instead.

Verdict: Alive… we hope.
Meryn Trant Game of thrones

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Meryn Trant has been on Arya’s hitlist for years, but his proclivity for abusing underage girls vaulted him right to the top in the finale. Arya took advantage of her position in the House of Black and White by disguising herself as a prostitute to get the vicious Kingsguard alone, before dispatching him in a brutal, bloody stabbing spree, blinding him and reminding him that he was “nothing” before slitting his throat.

Verdict: Dead.
Arya Stark Game of thrones

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Unfortunately, Arya’s selfish act of vengeance didn’t sit well with her Faceless Man mentor, Jaqen H’ghar, who admonished her for misusing the power of their order. As punishment for her disobedience, Arya found her sight inexplicably stolen.

Verdict: Alive, but blinded.
Myrcella “Baratheon” Game of thrones

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Everything seemed amicable when Myrcella and her fiance Trystane set sail for King’s Landing, with Ellaria Sand even giving her a friendly farewell kiss. But after sharing a heartfelt moment with her uncle/father Jaime, in which she admitted that she knew the truth about her parentage, Myrcella began bleeding and collapsed in Jaime’s arms, apparently poisoned by Ellaria’s vengeful kiss.

Verdict: Dead — unless the ship’s captain keeps a stash of very specific poison antidotes on board his vessel.
Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane

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While The Mountain seemingly succumbed to his wounds from his battle with Oberyn Martell last season, Maester Qyburn took charge of Gregor’s care, assuring Cersei that he could save the imposing warrior with some unorthodox remedies. In the finale, Qyburn introduced a silent, towering warrior as the newest member of the Kingsguard — likely the result of Qyburn’s experimentation on what was left of The Mountain.

Verdict: Alive — or undead?
Jon Snow Game of thrones

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Despite trying to do what was best for the Seven Kingdoms by focusing on the threat of the White Walkers, Jon Snow’s biggest threat came from within the Night’s Watch. His brothers in black, resentful of his deal with the wildlings, lured him into a trap and pulled a Julius Caesar on him, lining up to stab him in the gut, “for the Watch.” Even more devastatingly, the killing blow was delivered by Olly, Jon’s protege, who left him bleeding out in the snow. While George R. R. Martin’s novels left Jon’s fate purposefully ambiguous, the episode’s director, showrunners and star Kit Harington seem confident about his demise.

Verdict: Dead… for now?

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Bran Stark Game of thrones

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You might be forgiven for thinking that Jon’s brother Bran is no longer with us, since he spent the entire season MIA — but when we last saw him in the season four finale, he was safe with the Three-Eyed Raven and Meera, learning to hone his Warging abilities.

Verdict: Alive — and wisely in hiding.

Mance Rayder Game of thrones

Mossador Game of thrones

Janos Slynt Game of thrones

Barristan Selmy Game of thrones

Grey Worm Game of thrones

Maester Aemon Targaryen Game of thrones

Jorah Mormont Game of thrones

Shireen Baratheon Game of thrones

Hizdahr zo Loraq Game of thrones

Selyse Baratheon Game of thrones

Stannis Baratheon Game of thrones

Myranda Game of thrones

Theon Greyjoy and Sansa Stark Game of thrones

Meryn Trant Game of thrones

Arya Stark Game of thrones

Myrcella “Baratheon” Game of thrones

Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane

Jon Snow Game of thrones

Bran Stark Game of thrones