By Character Guide June 8, 2014

Quick Character Cheat Sheet for Ep. 9 “The Watcher on the Wall”

Tonight’s episode is fantastic. However, it is a little complicated in some ways so the recap will take a little longer than usual. In the meantime, here is a cheat sheet to help follow through the flurry of secondary characters. I hope you love the episode as much as I did!

250px-Aemon-HD Maester Aemon. Once upon a time, the old blind man was Aemon Targaryen. He would have been king if he hadn’t said the words and become a member of the Night’s Watch. Now he is a maester of the Citadel who has sworn to serve the Night’s Watch. (Portrayed by Peter Vaughan.)
 Tormund4x01 Tormund Giantsbane is the second in command of the Wildling army. He is a highly respected leader of the Free Folk. He is played by Kristofer Hivju.
 magnar-styr Styr is the Magnar (leader) of the Thenn, a terrifying and cannibalistic Northern tribe who are also reknowned for the intelligence and skill in battle. He often makes references to eating people. The scars on his face are deliberate and due to a ritualistic practice of scarification.
 Alliser-Thorne
 Ser Alliser Thorne is the abrasive Master-at-Arms at Castle Black, who gave Jon and Sam such a hard time when they were new recruits. He sneered at Jon as “Lord Snow” and derided Sam as “Lady Piggy”.
 Grenn Grenn was a recuit at the same time as Jon Snow. He becomes a ranger.
 pyp Pyp was also a recruit with Jon and Sam. He becomes a steward.
janos-slynt In Season 1, Janos Slynt was the corrupt City Watch commander who betrayed Ned Stark and killed his men outside Littlefinger’s brothel. When Tyrion becomes Hand, he sends Slynt to the Wall to prevent any further treachery. Janos is a fitting name since it sounds like Janus, the two-faced Roman god from whom January takes its name. Janos Slynt is now part of the Wall’s leadership.
 mance-rayder Mance Rayder (not shown in tonight’s episode) is the first in command leader who united the Free Folk and forged them into a 100,000 man strong army. He is played by the marvelous Ciaran Hinds.

Jamie Adair is the editor of History Behind Game of Thrones, a website about the history behind George RR Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels and the hit TV show, "Game of Thrones."

2 Comments

  • Reply June 10, 2014

    Carmed_up

    Thanks for the cheat sheet. However, I wonder if we can place a name for the giants who rode mammoths and shot giant arrows at the hapless humans. Well, yes, they’re not much of characters, I know.

  • Reply June 10, 2014

    Olga Hughes

    Mag the Mighty was the giant who breached the gates.

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