Every Time a Woman Has Saved the Day on Game of Thrones

Be warned: Spoilers for Game of Thrones, including last night's episode, ahead.

As the Battle of Winterfell unfolded on the eighth season's third episode of Game of Thrones, viewers caught on to a pattern: In scene after scene, women were the ones dealing the biggest blows to an army of undead White Walkers, providing a fighting chance to the army of the living.

Men were dropping like flies, while the few left—the Hound and Samwell Tarly among them—went running from the fight. Meanwhile, women like Lyanna Mormount and Brienne of Tarth were the ones who kept going. And then there was Arya Stark, coming through with a death blow at the final minute to end the battle once and for all. (When was the last time you saw a female hero get that kind of moment? Exactly.)

It wasn't just dire straits sending the female characters into battle on last night's episode. Since the very beginning of the series, women have been put to the test in pursuit of family honor and the Iron Throne—and even if they haven't survived the fight, they've taken up arms with more heroism than Jon Snow in his first and second life combined. Some, like Dany, Brienne, and Arya, have fought when the men around them haven't had the means (or the courage). Others, like Sansa, have quietly strategized to get the men on the front lines out of trouble. Then there's Cersei Lannister—she hasn't necessarily been a hero, but she has proved to be a bigger threat than an undead army.

The women of Westeros are just getting their due in season eight, but they've been working harder than everyone else for the whole series. So let's take a comprehensive look back at the women who have saved the Seven Kingdoms time and time again—and give them the credit they deserve.

Daenerys Targaryen kills her first husband, Khal Drogo.

Daenerys Targaryen didn't become Khaleesi by choice in the show's first season. Still, she rose to the occasion and adopted Dothraki customs. At the end of the first season, Daenerys is faced with a difficult choice: Allow her husband to wither in a vegetative state or kill him. (To the Dothraki, strength is honored above all else; living with weakness is worse than dying.) She decides to smother Drogo, allowing him to die while his strength is still revered by the Dothraki people. It also gives her access to her first of many thrones.

Arya Stark saves Jaqen H'ghar and other prisoners.

In season one, Arya and Jaqen meet at King's Landing, where they are both in a party heading north to Winterfell. Along the way, the two are taken prisoner and eventually attacked by Lannister forces. Arya frees Jaqen from a burning cage by handing him an ax amid the battle; for her help, he reveals himself to be a Faceless Man of Braavos and offers to teach her his ways. Arya's selfless act in season two sets the stage for her to become "no one" in later seasons.

Daenerys Targaryen frees slaves in Essos.

Dany took her sweet time getting to Westeros, but it was for a good cause. After becoming Khaleesi, she spends several seasons traversing Essos, freeing people who are held in slavery by other rulers. (Note: No other ruler in Westeros has tried to free the enslaved in other nations.) On some occasions, such as with the Unsullied in Mereen, the freed slaves ultimately pledge their loyalty to her.

Olenna Tyrell kills Joeffrey Baratheon.

Joeffrey Baratheon terrorized several characters until his unexpected death at the Purple Wedding in season four. Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister were blamed for the death, but Olenna Tyrell, House Tyrell matriarch and total savage, admitted to organizing it before her own execution in season six. In mic-drop fashion, she used her last words to make sure Cersei knows the truth: "I want her [Cersei] to know it was me," she says. Chills.

Yara Greyjoy attempts to rescue Theon.

"I'm going to find my little brother. And I'm going to bring him home." This was Yara Greyjoy's mission during the season-five Assault on Dreadfort, in which she and a small crew of the Iron Born attempt to rescue Theon Greyjoy from Ramsay Bolton's capture. Theon has been brutally tortured and manipulated by Bolton; when Yara arrives to rescue him, he refuses to come with her as a result. She risked everything to reunite her family—and though she ultimately does not bring Theon back to the Iron Islands with her, it's a notable moment.

Meera Reed saves Bran Stark from the White Walkers.

Meera Reed pledges her service to protect Bran Stark after the sack of Winterfell. Her greatest act of heroism on behalf of the new Three-Eyed Raven comes at a crucial moment, when she carries him out of White Walkers' grasp beyond the wall while Hodor holds off the Walkers. Meera barely gets a thank-you for saving Bran's life. Where is the justice?

Brienne saves Sansa and Theon when they escape Ramsey Bolton.

Season six kicked off with an epic rescue: Brienne of Tarth (aided by Podrick) coming to rescue Sansa and Theon. The pair had just fled Winterfell but were being pursued by Ramsay Bolton's murderous dogs. Brienne stepped in to ward off his hunters and lead Sansa and Theon to safety, fulfilling her oath to Catelyn Stark.

Melissandre brings Jon Snow back to life.

The Red Witch had her less likable moments, it's true. Bringing Jon back from the dead was one of her redeeming moments, and one only she could do. Melissandre didn't always make the right choices following the call of the Lord of Light, but her actions in this case brought the true heir to the Iron Throne back to life.

Lyanna Mormount announces that she would fight by her men in the Battle of the Bastards.

All you need to know about Lyanna Mormount's epic pledge of allegiance to the North can be summed up in her season-six quote: “I may be small. I may be a girl, but I won’t be knitting by the fire while I have men fight for me.”

Sansa Stark sends for extra reinforcements before the Battle of the Bastards.

Returned to her rightful place in the Stark family, Sansa secretly sends a raven to Peter Baelish requesting extra forces from the Vale. Knowing Jon won't approve, she keeps her plans to herself—until the additional forces show up, effectively giving House Stark the reinforcements they need to win.

Arya Stark avenges her family.

Several members of Arya's family died in the Red Wedding at the hands of Walder Frey. Retribution came in season seven, when Arya killed Frey's sons and baked them into a pie—she then appears as one of the sons to serve Frey the pie and then slits his throat. Revenge: It's a dish best served by a girl who has no name.

Gilly finds the truth about Jon Snow's heritage.

Samwell Tarly gets all the credit for discovering that Jon Snow is the heir to the Iron Throne and a secret Targaryen. Never forget that the information really came from Gilly, who came across the information in an old document while she was learning to read.

Sansa and Arya Stark put an end to Littlefinger.

Petyr Baelish, a.k.a. Littlefinger, has quietly orchestrated chaos since season one, when he set in motion the events leading to Ned Stark's beheading. In season seven Sansa and Arya conspire to put Baelish on trial for his misdeeds. Sansa gets the honor of delivering his sentence to death for treason, and Arya slits his throat.

Melissandre lights up the Battle of Winterfell.

In two down-to-the-wire moments during the biggest battle in Game of Thrones history, Melissandre used her magic to light the swords of the Dothraki soldiers and the trenches surrounding Winterfell with flames. Both efforts bought only a little time against the White Walkers—but it's more than Sam or the Hound had to offer.

Lyanna Marmont makes a sacrifice.

The youngest fighter in the Battle of Winterfell sacrificed herself to a giant White Walker, killing it and herself in the process. Jaime Lannister could never.

Arya Stark kills the Night King.

Daenerys couldn't burn the Night King with fire. Jon couldn't come close enough to battle him. But Arya killed him by dropping her Valyerian steel dagger with one hand and stabbing him with the other. No one could kill the Night King—except the girl who is no one.

Halie LeSavage is the fashion associate at Glamour. Follow her @halielesavage.