Westeros: seven kingdoms under a fragile Iron Throne; winters and old threats still whispered.
Houses Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, Targaryen (in exile), Greyjoy, Tyrell, Martell and others drive power.
Beyond the Wall: wildlings, and something colder. Across the Narrow Sea: exiles and sellswords.
You are still early in Season 1. Prior seasons (if any) are fully in force; this season's finale geometry is not.
Season 1 is the fall of honorable order: Ned's investigation of Jon Arryn's death exposes that Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are Jaime and Cersei's children, not Robert's.
War begins in earnest: Robb wins early field victories; Jaime is captured by the North; Tywin maneuvers from Harrenhal direction.
Focus on who wants what, who is allied, and which institutions are pressuring the cast.
Mid-Season 1: conflicts have escalated past setup. Re-check alliances and locations on the relationship map.
Dany's arc transforms from abused exile to khaleesi with living weapons. Jorah Mormont advises her; Viserys is killed earlier for his abuse.
If a fact only lands in the season finale, it is not in this pack yet.
Late Season 1: most season machinery is in motion. Confirm each beat against episodes you actually finished.
At the Wall, Lord Commander Mormont leads a great ranging plan; Ghost and Jon's bastard identity shape his bonds (Sam, Grenn, Pyp).
Season 1 path through S01E07: E1 "Winter Is Coming" → E2 "The Kingsroad" → E3 "Lord Snow" → E4 "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" → E5 "The Wolf and the Lion" → E6 "A Golden Crown" → E7 "You Win or You Die".
Recent stretch to re-anchor: E4 "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" → E5 "The Wolf and the Lion" → E6 "A Golden Crown" → E7 "You Win or You Die".
Cutoff discipline: every fact above ends at S01E07. Do not import anything from S01E08 ("The Pointy End") or later.