Written by Ryan Fujitani

Season six of Game of Thrones is upon us, and based on what happened last season, it's safe to assume winter has finally arrived. The series incorporated yet another far-flung location in season five -- Dorne -- and while many found the associated storylines a bit undercooked, the new characters introduced had an immediate impact.Meanwhile, perennial fan favorites and important players also underwent some serious changes, and we here at RT know how easy it is to forget who's who, what they've done, and why. With that in mind, here's a quick, handy guide to reacquaint you with the most crucial (and mostly still alive) characters in Game of Thrones as we head into season six.