Game Of Thrones Series 5: Complete Story Recap Ahead Of Episode One

Unless you've been living in a cave in deepest darkest Westeros, you'll know that Game of Thrones returns to our screens next week.

The HBO fantasy drama based on George RR Martin's books has become a smash hit worldwide since it first aired four years ago.

A growing legion of fans are now gripped by the power games, bloody battles and family fallouts from the fictional world of Westeros and beyond.

But with a huge cast of families, love interests, heroes, heroines, warriors and royalty, even the most die-hard 'Thrones fans have found it hard to keep up at times.

So with GoT about to take over our lives again, here's a recap on the latest goings-on.

Obviously it CONTAINS SPOILERS

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO DAENERYS AND HER DRAGONS?

Daenerys Targaryen, the 'mother of dragons' has amassed an army of thousands in her quest for the Iron Throne, but faced all manner of problems in Series 4.

First there was the revelation that her loyal bodyguard and advisor Ser Jorah (aka'Lord Friendzone') had previously spied on her.

Then there were parenting problems. Her trio of dragons are increasingly independent and hostile to the point of, erm, burning children to death.

She had no choice but to lock two (Viserion and Rhaegal) away. The third, Drogon, has gone AWOL.

Can she maintain control and her march to Westeros without her most powerful weapons? Series 5 should be a big one for Khaleesi.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE IMP?

Speaking of 'going AWOL', poor old Tyrion Lannister had a tough time of it in Series 4.

'The Imp' was wrongly accused of King Joffrey's murder and after being stitched up by love-of-his-life Shae in court, faced death until he demanded a trial by combat.

Things went from bad to worse when his champion, Oberyn Martell fought on his behalf, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory by getting his head caved in.

When all appeared lost for Tyrion, he was whisked away from King's Landing thanks to spymaster Varys and his brother Jamie.

Tyrion was determined to leave with a bang, however - and killed his father Tywin with a crossbow on the way out as the Lannister patriarch sat on the toilet.

Everyone's favourite fantasy dwarf has now fled across the Narrow Sea.

The trailer for Series 5 drops a tantalizing hint that Tyrion 'could help someone else climb to the Iron Throne'. Could a new allegiance be on the way for The Imp?

WILL ARYA STARK EVER BE REUNITED WITH HER FAMILY?

Tomboy Arya - who fled Kings Landing when tyrannical teen Joffrey executed her dad - has been on the move since Series 1.

She came close to a Stark family reunion in Series 3, but turned up minutes after her brother and mother had been brutally slaughtered in 'The Red Wedding'.

Since then, she's been cupbearer to the unsuspecting Tywin Lannister, captured by 'The Hound' Sandor Clegane, then fled to the free city of Braavos at the end of Series 4.

She's gone from playful youngster to hardened murderous teen, but will Arya ever see the remaining Starks? We haven't read the book so we've got no idea - but with George RR Martin's penchant for plot twists, we wouldn't rule it out.

SANSA STARK GETS ATTITUDE

Arya's sister Sansa also found herself in unfamiliar territory in Series 4.

After fleeing King's Landing in the wake of Joffrey's death with 'Little finger' Lord Baelish, they sought refuge with her aunt Lysa Arryn.

Things became complicated when a jealous Lysa tried to kill Sansa, only for Baelish to step in and push his own wife to her death through the 'Moon Door'.

Under the influence of Baelish, Sansa's character changed and she had a dramatic makeover at the end of Series 4 -  adopting an all-black femme fatale look.

A passive and victimized character so far, Sansa's transformation means she'll be one to watch in Series 5.

JON SNOW FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Jon Snow had a real 'coming of age' in Series 4, heroically defending Castle Black with his fellow Night's Watch brothers.

The epic episode 9 battle came at a price though when his estranged love, the Wildling Ygritte, died in his arms during an emotional finale.

After the battle Jon sets off to kill Mance Raider - 'The King Beyond the Wall' - but has his plans were foiled when Stannis Baratheon, another claimant to the Iron Throne, arrived on the scene.

What next for Jon Snow? Will he now do the bidding of Stannis or break out on his own?

ARE THE LANNISTERS IN TURMOIL?

The Lannisters - for so long the ruling family in Westeros - face fresh crisis at the start of Series 5.

Patriarch and puppet master Tywin is dead - killed on the toilet by his fleeing dwarf son Tyrion - and King Joffrey is long gone.

Then there's the 'special relationship' between Queen Regent Cersei and her brother Jamie. Their incestuous ways continued in Series 4 in a scene where Jamie raped his sister by their son Joffrey's tomb - particularly shocking even by Game of Thrones standards.

The Series 5 trailer shows that Cersei appears hell-bent on catching and punishing Tyrion. Joffrey's younger brother Tommen Baratheon sits on the Iron Throne.

Also, don't forget young Myrcella Baratheon - the middle child between Joffrey and Tommen. She was last seen in Series 2, when Tyrion sent her off to Dorne to be betrothed to Prince Trystane. The Princess - another incestous child of Jamie and Cersei - will return in Series 5.

It's never boring with the Lannisters - the clan who take 'dysfunctional family' to a whole new level.

WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE?

The beauty of Game of Thrones is that the characters above are far from the main event - there are plenty of key plots and sub-stories bubbling away in the background.

One of the most brutal moments of Season 4 saw Oberyn Martell meet a bloody end when he had his eyes gouged and head crushed in combat by The Mountain.

The Red Viper's vengeful family are set to feature in Season 5, including the 'Sand Snakes' Nymeria, Obara and Tyene, who are his daughters, as well as Doran, Oberyn's brother.

The end of Season 4 also saw another Stark - young Bran - discover that, although he won't walk again, he will be able to fly. The second youngest of the Stark offspring is not said to feature in Season 5, however, so we won't focus on him too much.

Then there's the Tyrells. Margaery was briefly Queen until her new husband Joffrey died at his own wedding. She's now betrothed to his successor and younger brother Tommen. Elderly matriarch Olenna Tyrell, who had a hand in Joffrey's murder, is also set to reappear this Season.

And what of Theon Greyjoy? After facing more psychological torture in Season 4, he remains in the hands of sadistic captor Ramsay Snow. Snow, meanwhile, has been recognised as a legitimate son by the scheming Roose Bolton, who appears to have taken control of The North.

Game Of Thrones Series 5 airs on Monday April 13 at 9pm on Sky Atlantic