Here's where everyone stands going into the 'Game of Thrones' finale

From the very first shot of its opening credits, Game of Thrones has visually and thematically stressed that the machinations of its characters and plot are all part of an actual game. 

Westeros and Essos are the board, the powerful are its players, and those who get in their way are the unfortunate pieces whose lives tally the game’s victories and defeats. 

It its eight seasons on TV, Thrones has shown how the maneuvers of the players have changed the board and the way the game is played. What began as a simple blood feud between the Lannisters and Starks evolved into a convoluted war involving Greyjoys, Tyrells, Martells, Targaryens, and more — but all of those movements led to the defining moment of "The Bells," wherein Daenerys Targaryen burned King’s Landing to the ground in a blaze of dragonfire.  Read more...