Samwell Tarly (played by John Bradley) in Game of Thrones – better known as Sam – is a bookish, somewhat timid member of the Night’s Watch, sent to join the order by his father. His close friendship with Jon Snow (Kit Harington) has somewhat brought him out of his shell and allowed him to study in Oldtown to become the new Maester of the Watch. Sam’s temperament as a lover of learning and pacifist saw him shunned from his family, as his father, Randyll Tarly (James Faulkner) is one of the most skilled military commanders in Westeros.
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Game of Thrones
Randyll took Sam aside and told him he was unworthy to inherit the Tarly lands and titles, despite being the eldest son and heir.
The Tarly family stronghold is a castle known as Horn Hill, with the head of the house known as Lord of Horn Hill.
Sam instead was sent to The Wall to take the black and join the Night’s Watch.
The Tarly legacy was promised to Sam’s younger brother Dickon Tarly (Tom Hopper) who is dedicated to his father and a skilled fighter, making him the favoured son.
Both Dickon and his father Randyll perished at the hand of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) when they refused to accept her as their queen following the Battle of the Goldroad – which saw the Lannister/Tarly army ambushed by the Dothraki.
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Their horrific deaths came by dragon fire, as Daenerys orders Drogon to set them alight, in one of her most shocking acts to date in the series.
The Tarly family originally swore fealty to House Tyrell of Highgarden, but have since sworn allegiance to House Lannister following the extinction of House Baratheon.
The Tarly sigil is a striding red huntsman on a green background, and their house words are “First in Battle”.
Lord Randyll Tarly fought alongside Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) after being promised the title of Warden of the South after the war.
Despite House Tarly’s allegiance with the Lannisters, Sam is allied with Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch.
After Dickon and Randyll’s deaths, Randyll’s daughter Talla Tarly has become the new head of the House and Lady of Horn Hill.
The fate of the remaining Tarly family members will be revealed in the final season of Game of Thrones.
Sam is a key character in the series, and his historical knowledge after being sent to study at the Citadel may prove vital in the coming battles against White Walkers and other enemies.
Sam has already proven himself by discovering the location of much-needed dragon glass, which is one of two known substances capable of killing White Walkers.
His nouse and nimble fingers also saw him cure Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) of greyscale – a usually fatal disease which leaves flesh stiff, dead and stone-like to the touch.
Finally, his research paid off when at the end of season seven, Brandon Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) reveals his discovery that Jon is actually the son of Rhaegar Targaryen (Wilf Scolding) and Lyanna Stark (Aisling Francosi), to which Sam responds that Rhaegar had annulled his marriage to Elia so that he could marry Lyanna.
Both Sam and Brand then realise that Robert’s Rebellion was built on a lie and that Jon (whose birth name was Aegon Targaryen) far from being illegitimate, is the true heir to the Iron Throne.
Game of Thrones season 8 will air on HBO in the US on April 14, 2019, and on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK on April 15
