The new season of Game of Thrones starts on Sunday night and I am excited. I have been rewatching old episodes, listening to Game of Thrones podcasts. I am ready. As we gear up for season seven let’s take a look at the seven people who hold the real power in Westeros. 

Honorable Mention: Lyanna Mormont

The first one to declare her loyalty to Jon Snow and helped in proclaiming him the King of the North. She may be small but can clearly inspire those around her, even when they are well her elder. It also helps that she was the stand out star of season 6. If I don't see more Lady Mormont we riot. 

7) Arya Stark

Does she have a chance at the Iron Throne? I doubt it. But you know what she does have the power to do? Change her face into anyone she wants to be. She has become one of the best killers in the game and can cross anyone off her list. She also has the power to kill a couple of Freys, chop them up, and make them into pies without being caught. Now that is a power play. Now that she finally has a name back, she is going to become a major x-factor the rest of the way. 

6) Petyr Baelish

You know who knows nothing? Jon Snow. He can't see the danger standing right next to him because Littlefinger has situated himself as Winterfell's biggest ally. But Petyr Baelish is the man who saved Jon Snow from the Boltons. As the Lord of the Vale, the Starks are indebted to him for his help, and he will be needed by Jon Snow in the wars to come. Littlefinger can use that to his advantage as his goal remains singular—sit on the Iron Throne. And I wouldn't doubt his abilities if it wasn't for some dragons, along with his blind spot for Sansa. If Littlefinger doesn't wake up he will only go as far as she lets him. 

5) Tyrion Lannister

The new hand of the Queen is giving advice to someone who is more than willing to listen to him. He has been playing the game of thrones for years and was quite successful as the previous hand, even stopping an invading Baratheon army. With no one to snatch power away from him, he looks like he is in the position to be the right-hand man to the ultimate power when everything is said and done. 

4) Jon Snow

He once swore that he would hold no lands and wear no crowns. But that was before he was stabbed and murdered and his contract was nullified. Sure he tried his best to lose the Battle of the Bastards and only lived due to the last minute save by the Knights of the Vale, but he has still put House Stark back in a position of power as the King of the North. With an army of Wildlings as his allies, he is ready to take on threats to the south and the north. 

3) The Night King

He doesn't have a lot to say, but with a simple lift of his arms he was able to raise an army and tell Jon Snow "Come at me, bro". He has command of a land that very well may be bigger than all of Westeros. And if that isn't enough, his men will do anything he wants. "Hey guys, do me a favor and throw yourselves off that cliff?" His army gladly does it and then keeps going. That's a motivating leader right there. Once he figures out how to get rid of that wall he is going to be a force that everyone is going to have to come together to beat. Best of luck. 

2) Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragon. By the time Dani gets through all her nicknames the first episode may be over. But she has the power to back those names up. Not only does she control the Unsullied and three enormous dragons, but now she has ships courtesy of the Greyjoys and control of the Dothraki. And if we learned anything from Robert Baratheon, you never meet the Dothraki in an open field. She is coming for the crown and is in the best position to win it when this is all said and done, but as of right now she is still chasing the title.

1) Cersei Lannister ​

Not only is this summer movie season but it's also summer TV season. It used to be that in the summer there would be nothing to watch. But now with companies like Netflix and Amazon so heavily in the TV game, we have a lot of bingable new shows to watch. So clear your weekend and get the couch ready because summer TV is coming.

A warning – I will be talking about previous seasons of the shows I mention. So if you are not caught up look away from the description.

Honorable Mention/Show I should be excited about but know nothing about:
Twin Peaks (May 21st on Showtime)

I’ve seen the promos, I’ve seen the interviews, I’ve seen friends on social media going crazy for the show but I have no idea what Twin Peaks is. I know it was one of the top rated shows on ABC in 1990, and that in 1991 the ratings dropped so dramatically that the series was canceled. I know that it was created by David Lynch and he is coming back to direct every single episode. But because Lynch has forbidden his cast members from talking about the plot I know nothing else about this show.  All that being said I really need to know – should I watch the new season? Should I go back and watch the first two seasons? Also what the heck is this show even about? Keep me posted Twin Peaks fans. 
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5) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (May 19th on Netflix)

As of this printing, the new season of Kimmy Schmidt is already out on Netflix which means there is a chance some people have already watched the entire season. But most likely if it's raining or if it's too hot outside you will be watching it this weekend. It looks like this season will feature Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) in college with more appearances from Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm). But really all I want to see is Lillian (Carol Kane) helping Titus (Tituss Burgess) into his yellow dress and going full ‘Lemonade’ on someone. This show is so incredibly upbeat and quotable. Don’t think so? While I'm watching the show with my partner I don’t think I can make it through a conversation with her without hearing a line from the show. F 10 Cincos 4 Lyfe.

4) House of Cards (May 30th on Netflix)

I don’t know if I’m actually ready to watch this season given how American politics has played out over the past year. Season 5 looks to pick up just weeks before the election after a damning article about Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his rise to power has come out. I have no idea how the Underwoods will come back from that but I also could not have predicted this Presidency so I am sure the outcome will be far less outlandish than I imagine. You have to wonder if we will see any parallels to the current administration and just how far Frank and Claire (Robin Wright) will go to keep power and make the terror.
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3) Orange is the New Black (June 9th on Netflix)

It's kind of impressive that the weakest thing about this show is the main character. Luckily whoever's in charge of the writing has pushed Piper (Taylor Schilling) to the background and made room for some of the other more colorful characters at Litchfield. This season will be dealing with the fallout to one of the fan favorites being murdered and the prisoners demanding better treatment since the day-to-day operations were taken over by a corporation. The show mixes social commentary with humor and I am excited to see how much of each we will get this season. ​

2) GLOW (June 23rd on Netflix)

The only new series on the list but this show is right in my wheelhouse. In fact, while I was in college I did a multimedia video project about a similar group in Boston called B.L.O.W.W. This new Netflix series is a fictional retelling of an actual group of women wrestlers from the eighties that stars Alison Brie and Marc Maron. The series gets increased credibility due in part to the fact that Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan is helping produce the show. Give me a Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka jump off the top of the cage before the series ends and that will be enough for me. 

1) Game of Thrones (July 16th on HBO)

Oh my God we've been waiting so long for this show to come back. It's been over a year now and adding to the frustration is we only have 13 episodes left with seven episodes this season and six the next. That seems like a lot to cram in when there are two more books worth of content left to unfold. But that means there will be no messing around this season. Winter is here, Cersei is on the throne, and Dani is coming for it. Bring on the white walkers and that opening theme music because I am ready for it.