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Who's winning Westeros? Jon Snow makes his case on 'Game of Thrones'

Kelly Lawler
USA TODAY

Spoiler alert! The following contains spoilers from Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 5, “Eastwatch.” Read our recap of Episode 4 here

Can't we all just get along?

The excellent fifth episode of Game of Thrones Season 7 made the case that working together is better than going solo, even in a world as tough as Westeros. But just because the various players are starting to unite (or are thinking about it), it doesn't mean they're on equal footing. 

We ranked the top 10 characters from Sunday's episode based on how well they're winning the battle for Westeros, and their own survival. See our rankings from Episode 4 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 2 here, and the premiere here.  

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1. Jon Snow 

Jon Snow

What a difference a week makes. After getting little to nowhere to warm Dany to his cold cause, Jon made inroads courtesy of Tyrion's insane plan to convince Cersei that White Walkers are real. Jon, it seemed, had done enough to convince Dany to try this plan, and to let him go. He then rounded up his very own Expendables/Avengers/Magnificent Seven/Suicide Squad to get it done. They may fail, but for now, nothing is getting in Jon's way. 

2. Daenerys Targaryen 

Tyrion and Dany

Dany only drops because Jon had such an impressive week. But Dany is in more or less the same place as last week, with her advisors concerned about her behavior and her military supremacy intact.

3. Sansa Stark 

Sansa

Arya may be questioning her motives but there's no denying that Sansa is an effective and popular ruler in Winterfell. It's a precarious position, though, because it appears Littlefinger is helping her behind the scenes, and his help comes with strings and occasionally backfires. 

4. Cersei Lannister

Cersei (Lena Headey) in 'Game of Thrones.'

Cersei still sits firmly on the Iron Throne and has powerful allies behind her. She is not as panicked as Jaime is by Dany's forces, but she's not being stupid, either. This whole pregnancy could mix things up, or it could be a complete fabrication. We lean towards the latter. 

5. Tyrion Lannister

Tyrion

He may not have been able to convince Dany not to burn Dickon and Randall Tarly (RIP), but he did manage to sell his ridiculous plan and get himself in a room with his brother again. But if yet another one of his schemes fails Dany, he could find himself falling very fast down this list -- or worse. 

6. Arya Stark

Arya

Arya learned a lot in her time away from Winterfell, but that doesn't mean she's a better spy than Littlefinger (more on him below). She's a little too confident as she breaks into his room. She may be shaken by what she read in Sansa's letter, but Littlefinger likely will run straight to Sansa to inform her of Arya's snooping. The joyful sisterly reunion was so short.

7. Jaime Lannister

Bronn and Jaime

He survived his plunge into the river last week, and avoided being captured by Dany's forces. But his shaky relationship with Cersei and his problems fighting with his hand, as Bronn pointed out this episode, make us worried about his future. 

8. Gilly

Sam and Gilly

Sam does not deserve to be on the list after he ignored Gilly's Westeros-shattering reveal. But Gilly, just learning to read and significantly more level-headed than Sam, might use this information at a later date. We're keeping an eye on her. 

9. Littlefinger

Littlefinger

We see you, Littlefinger, doing whatever shady things you do up in Winterfell. We don't like it and you better hope it doesn't hurt Sansa. But you keep managing to make yourself influential, don't you. 

10. Gendry

Gendry

Gendry gets onto our list simply because he's survived all his seasons off the air. Good job, Gendry! We're so glad you're not still rowing.