Warning: spoilers below!

In a world where nothing is sacred and no one is safe, the outcome of The Great War for the Iron Throne is anyone’s guess. Game of Thrones Season 7 is poised to debut on July 16, and we wanted to arm PlayStation Vue subscribers with a skimmable guide to the biggest developments last season so you’re ready for the big day.

There’s Snow Place Like Home

Season 6 begins with Jon Snow dead — killed by his brothers of the Night’s Watch.

After many attempts, the Red Woman Melisandre resurrects John Snow; we also learn that Melisandre is much older than she appears. After executing his treacherous brothers, Snow leaves the Night’s Watch for good.

Meanwhile, Sansa Stark and Theon Greyjoy escape Winterfell while the villainous Ramsay Bolton murders his father, stepmother, and new baby brother. These killings make Ramsay Warden of the North.

Sansa reunites with Jon Snow, and they decide to take back Winterfell, sparking the Battle of the Bastards. Jon Snow and the scrappy Wildling army attack Ramsay Bolton’s larger force. Just when it seems that Jon Snow will fail, the knights of the Vale sweep in and crush Ramsay’s army.

Afterwards, Jon Snow is named King of the North. It’s later revealed that he is the son of Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, which makes Snow cousin to Arya, Bran, and Sansa Stark — and the nephew of Daenerys. In other words: Jon Snow is a rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

The Calm After the Storm

Meanwhile in the East, Daenerys is taken prisoner by the Khalasar and forced to join the downtrodden widows led by Dosh Khaleen.

Jorah Mormont and Daario Naharis join forces with Daenerys and return to Meereen, but not before Daenerys sets fire to her captors and earns the following of the surviving Khalasar bloodriders. Ser Jorah reveals himself and regains Daenerys’ trust. She orders him to find a cure for his debilitating Greyscale disease.

Elsewhere, Tyrion Lannister and Varys rule the city of Meereen in Daenerys’s absence. Upon her return, a fleet of slaver ships launch an attack on the city. At great risk, Tyrion releases Daenerys’ captive dragons to save Meereen.

Theon and Yara Greyjoy show up in Meereen and offer Daenerys the Iron Fleet to sail across the Narrow Sea to Westeros and claim the Iron Throne.

“I Choose Violence”

At King’s Landing, the tension between Jaime Lannister and the High Sparrow rises. With a little help from the Tyrell army, Jaime confronts the High Sparrow and attempts to free Queen Margaery Tyrell. He discovers that the High Sparrow is manipulating the child king Tommen — there will be no freeing the Queen.

Elsewhere in King’s Landing, Cersei Lannister declines an invitation from the High Sparrow. This creates a confrontation, and Cersei’s silent hulking bodyguard, revealed to be an undead Ser Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane, beheads a Sparrow in the scuffle. Naive King Tommen punishes his mother by putting her up for trial in the Sept of Baelor alongside Ser Loras Tyrell, and denies her trial by combat.

On the day of the trial, Cersei uses planted Wildfire charges to destroy the Sept, killing the High Sparrow, Ser Loras Tyrell, and Queen Margaery. King Tommen, Cersei’s son, jumps out of a window in grief after witnessing the death of his wife, Queen Margaery. By default, Cersei becomes the new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms — again.

Let’s Not Forget

Elsewhere in the world, other important characters are on their own journey that will surely lead back to Westeros.

Bran Stark and the White Walkers
Bran is still beyond the Wall and having visions. He discovers that the Children of the Forest created the undead White Walkers to protect themselves against the First Men, and his visions reveal Jon Snow’s true heritage. The White Walkers are marching south toward King’s Landing, setting the stage for a climactic final battle.

Dragons
Mystical creatures and Daenerys Targaryen’s loyal pets. Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion have an important role to play in the war for the Iron Throne. Will they even the odds against the White Walker horde?

Samwell Tarly
Samwell visits home and receives an unwelcome greeting from his surly father. With Gilly in tow, Sam steals his family’s ancestral sword, the Valyrian steel Heartsbane, and makes off for the Citadel to become a maester. Helpful hint: White Walkers are vulnerable to Valyrian steel.

Arya Stark
Arya regains her sight, but she intentionally fails another assassination. As punishment, the Faceless Men send the Waif acolyte to kill Arya. Arya defeats the Waif and leaves the House of Black and White for good, heading home.

Petyr “Littlefinger’ Baelish
Master manipulator and Lord Protector of the Vale, Petyr still commands a powerful army. His goal is to sit on the Iron Throne with Sansa as his queen. He questions Jon Snow’s right to be King of the North and puts doubts in Sansa’s head about Jon’s loyalty.

The Walls Are Closing In

The playing field is set and the pieces are moving toward a final conclusion. Who will be the last pawn standing? Will it be fan-favorite Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons? Or the underdog Jon Snow, now revealed to be of royal lineage? Will it be the cunning Cersei Lannister, who always seems to be one step ahead? Or will a surprise contender like Lord Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish swoop in to steal the prize? No matter the victor, you either win or you die.

Season 7 of HBO’s Game of Thrones premieres July 16. Watch live on PlayStation Vue or catch up with every episode available now On Demand. Start your free trial today.