Here's Jon Snow's 'White Walker squad' and how they all know each other

Game of Thrones generally saves its biggest plans for the penultimate episode, so next week Jon Snow, Beric Dondarrion, Gendry Baratheon, Jorah Mormont, Sandor Clegane, Thoros of Myr, and Tormund Giantsbane all heading north of the Wall in a (frankly ridiculous) attempt to capture a wight and use it as proof of the White Walker threat.

Fans are hyped, giving the all action team all manner of nicknames. From the Suicide Squad...

To the Magnificent Seven...

To even the Reservoir Dogs...

The "Eastwatch Seven" are a special bunch, but how do they all know each other? Here's a look at some of the hardest fighters left in Westeros and when they’ve come (steely) face to (steely) face in the past.

Jon Snow

The King of the North is the de facto leader of the Eastwatch Seven, and for good reason considering knows the majority of the team’s members.

Jon first met The Hound all the way back in Season 1 when Sandor Clegane joined Robert Baratheon in his visit to Winterfell. The meeting wasn’t a nice as Jon’s with Tyrion, but we imagine these two will get along, if only because they’re two of the best fighters in Westeros and are rather fond of Arya Stark.

Jon met Tormund during Season 3 when he became a Wildling. The two are best mates now, having climbed the Wall together and defeated Ramsey Bolton in the Battle of the Bastards. Tormund once gave Jon advice in foreplay, and then when Jon came back to life Tormund joked about him having a small cock. Tormund is an ace best friend.

Jon only just met Jorah Mormont, but there is a deep mutual respect between the two because of Jorah’s father Jeor Mormot. The former leader of the Night’s Watch, Jeor Mormont looked after Jon during his time at the watch, grooming Jon to eventually take over from him as head of the Night’s Watch. When Jon saved Jeor’s life from a wight in season 2, Jeor gifted him with his Valyrian steel sword – the Mormont family heirloom - Longclaw. Jeor often spoke to Jon about his disappointment in Jorah, but in the ASOFAI books, he told Sam to let his son know he forgave him. We imagine Jorah and Jon to have a weird “estranged brothers” style relationship, which probably isn’t helped by the fact Jorah loves Daenerys and Dany stared *awfully* long at Jon before he left for Eastwatch. 

Jon’s relationship with Gendry Waters/Baratheon is the newest, having only just met in the previous episode, but they seem to be getting along fine. Gendry’s approach seems to be “you’re Ned Stark’s bastard, I’m Robert Baratheon’s bastard, let’s be best mates like they were” and it seems to be going to plan.

Of course the problem there is Jon Snow isn’t Ned Stark’s bastard, he’s actually Rhaegar Targaryen’s son. As in Rhaegar, the man Robert Baratheon murdered to become king. That could make things awkward… 

The Hound

Sandor Clegane has travelled a lot during his time in Game of Thrones, and as a result knows four members of the Eastwatch Seven.

As detailed above, The Hound met Jon Snow in season 1 during a visit to Winterfell. Considering Jon’s closeness to his sister Arya, and the Hound’s history with the youngest Stark daughter, we imagine they’ll get along fine.

The Hound met Beric Dondarrion in season 3 after he was captured by the Brotherhood without Banners. Facing a trial by combat, The Hound found himself on the backfoot once Beric Dondarrion activated his “sword of fire” special move, but he eventually overcame his fear of fire and killed Beric.

It was after killing Beric that the Hound met Thoros of Myr, who used a prayer to the Lord of Light, R'hllor to bring Beric back from the dead. The Hound, Beric and Thoros were reunited near the tail end of season 6 when Beric convinced Clegane to travel with the Brotherhood north of the wall for ~reasons~. They seem to be getting along, but we’re not going to call the Hound a believer in the Lord of Light just yet. 

The Hound *possibly* has knowledge of Gendry, as the Baretheon bastard was living with the Brotherhood without Banners connection in season 3 when The Hound had his duel with Beric. G If they do remember each other things may get frosty, as Gendry’s only real knowledge of Sandor Clegane came from Arya, who had not yet learned to grudgingly like The Hound at the time. 

Thoros and Beric

Thoros and Beric’s histories are deeply intertwined. Near the end of season 1, Thoros teamed with Beric Dondarrion in an ill fated quest to bring The Mountain to King’s Landingon Ned Stark’s orders. After being ambushed by the Mountain sometime after the pair then became the Brotherhood without Banners that The Hound and Gendry met in season 3. 

Thoros is of particular interest however, as in a season 3 conversation with Melissandre he revealed that he had been around in Westeros much longer than initially thought. Thoros said he was came Westeros on the orders of the High Priest of R'hllor, tasking him with turn King Robert Baratheon away from the religion of Seven and onto to the Lord of Light. Thoros largely failed in his quest, choosing to drink and philander in Westeros, but it was during this time he met Jamie Lannister….

Mentioned VERY early in season 1 by Jamie Lannister, Thoros fought Jamie at Siege of Pyke, an event that was part of the Greyjoy Rebellion that occurred nine years (in Westerosi time) before the start of the show. As the name suggests, the Greyjoy Rebellion saw Balon Greyjoy (Theon’s dad) attempt to secede from the Iron Throne and bring independence to the Iron Islands.

The rebellion brought devastating losses for the Greyjoys:  Theon’s brothers Prince Maron Greyjoy and Euron Greyjoy were killed, Theon was taken into the care of Ned Stark as punishment and Euron Greyjoy (Theon’s uncle who is now teaming with Cersei), went into exile. Thoros was the very first solider at the Siege of Pyke, apparently entering the castle with a “sword of fire”. Second in the queue? Jorah Mormont.

Jorah Mormont

We’ve dealt with Jorah’s relationships with Jon and Thoros above, but it’s his association with Tormund that’s the most interesting.

As mentioned before, Jorah’s dad, Jeor Mormont the former Head of the Night’s Watch. Tormund, being one of the most infamous Wildlings (and their new de facto leader) hated Jeor, viewing the Mormont father as little more than a butcher and monster to the Wildling people. Jorah tried defusing their initial meeting by saying Tormund has killed plenty members of the Night’s Watch, but we reckon this will be the most fraught pair up.

Tormund Giantsbane

Tormund is Jon Snow’s best mate. Tormund is one of the fiercest fighters in Westeros. Tormund fancies Brienne, aka “The Big Woman”. You should know Tormund because Tormund is ace.

The leader of the Freefolk hasn’t travelled south farther than Winterfell, and as such he only personally knows Jon Snow out of the Eastwatch Seven. We reckon he’ll make it out of the suicide mission with a few more mates mind… 

Gendry Baratheon

Gendry’s relationship with the Eastwatch Seven lies in his time with the Brotherhood without Banners in season 3. Gendry initially enjoyed his time with the Brotherhood, forging weapons and learning how to fight under their tutelage along with Ayra Stark. It was there that he witnessed the Hound kill Beric in a duel and Thoros use the Lord of Light to revive him.

However close to the end of season 3, Beric and Thoros sold Gendry to Melissandre so that he might be sacrificed in a blood magic for ritual in season three. While he was eventually freed by Ser Davos, Gendry doesn’t take too kindly to Beric or Thoros. We reckon all that rowing must’ve rubbed him up the wrong way.