For non-readers
So what’s the situation in Westeros?
We’re working on a few different ways for you to get reacquainted with the current state of affairs. To catch up on the Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, and Martells, check out our Great Houses of Game of Thrones.
Also check out our geographical breakdown below.
Yes, that’s all good, but what sorts of things am I going to see this season?
Just based on the pictures and reports from filming, and not actually the events from the books, what follows is what we know. (Spoiler alert: this will give clues about the shape of the season, but not details.)
Beyond The Wall
The only major character currently beyond The Wall, Bran Stark, has just met Bloodraven for the purposes of magical training. However, Bran and his crew will not be appearing in the fifth season, and we haven’t heard of other scenes being filmed in the far North–although the Wildling battle depicted in the trailer will occur there, at a place called Hardhome, according to the Day in the Life special.
The Wall
The leaderless and decimated Night’s Watch has held off Mance Rayder’s army, then won a stunning victory when the forces of Stannis Baratheon arrived. Stannis also brought along his red priestess Melisandre, who seemed very interested in Jon Snow….
We know very little about filming at The Wall. Our main source has been Kit Harington, who’s done a bunch of interviews including claims that Season 5 will be the biggest season of Thrones yet and talking about a scene that took a month to film. In the trailer, Jon and several Wildlings are clearly involved in some sort of military action, which seems likely to be that month-to-film scene at Hardhome.
The North
With the well-trained Theon Greyjoy in tow, Warden of the North Roose Bolton and his newly-legitimized son Ramsay have begun to push the Ironborn out of the North and reclaim its lands for the crown.
We haven’t heard much about The North either, but we do know that Charlotte Hope, who plays Ramsay’s lover Myranda, will be appearing in more episodes this season. We’ve also seen some photos of a burnt-out Winterfell, suggesting that Game of Thrones will return to its starting point for the first time since Season 2. Alfie Allen, who plays Theon Greyjoy, says that some new characters will be interacting with him and the Boltons, although we’re short on clues as to who they might be.
The Riverlands
After the Red Wedding, House Frey was named Lords Paramount over the Riverlands. Since then, we’ve only seem this location as scenery as Arya Stark and The Hound crossed them in Season 4.
This doesn’t seem likely to change—David Bradley, who plays Walder Frey, has said he won’t be appearing in Season 5, and we haven’t heard any suggestions of filming from the actors playing members of House Tully or the Brotherhood Without Banners–Richard Dormer, who plays Beric, confirmed as much.. This may, sadly, mean a season without Hot Pie. On the other hand, a quick moment in the trailer did look like a chase around Hot Pie’s inn.
Season 5 Trailer Horse chase 2
The Iron Islands
We haven’t heard much from House Greyjoy since Yara’s failed attempt to rescue Theon. The Greyjoys have notable roles in the fourth and fifth novels, but somewhat surprisingly, they’re not being included in Season 5. Whether this means no Balon or Yara at all, or just no new characters, is still unknown.
The Vale
Sansa Stark has emerges as a political force alongside Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish, who is rallying the banners of the Vale behind Robin Arryn. Meanwhile, Brienne of Tarth very nearly succeeded in her mission of finding Arya Stark before the girl escaped.
We know that Sophie Turner and Gwendoline Christie have been filming, with Turner promising “a traumatic scene” for Sansa. We also know that Aidan Gillen was spotted in Dubrovnik during the King’s Landing filming. The trailer indicates major moves for Sansa and Littlefinger, though.
King’s Landing
In virtually the last moments of Season 4, Tyrion Lannister assassinated his father Tywin and fled the city, potentially throwing the entire political system into chaos. The young, easily manipulable King Tommen rules. His mother, Cersei, has already taken her role as Queen Regent. Meanwhile Tommen is arranged to marry Margaery Tyrell, who also wants influence over the king.
Lannisters and Tyrells are all over photos of King’s Landing, unsurprisingly, and we may get more Loras Tyrell specifically. The biggest new group to appear: the religious hierarchy of the Seven. We’ve seen pictures of a group called the Faith Militant and religious figures The High Sparrow and Septa Unella have been cast. “Day in the Life” also depicted an early-season scene where Cersei visited the faithful. The trailer also shows Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), who had supposedly departed during Season 4. Good to have her back.
The Westerlands
We haven’t seen any of the Westerlands since Robb’s brief invasion in Season 2, but we may see some of the Lannisters’ home, Casterly Rock this season. We’ll be getting flashbacks to a young Cersei Lannister.
Dorne
For the first time, Game of Thrones is journeying to the southernmost part of Westeros. The only major Dornish characters we’ve seen before were Oberyn Martell and his paramour, Ellaria Sand, and we all remember how that ended.
Most of the major casting news has focused on Dorne, so it’s clearly going to play a major role in Season 5. Oberyn’s brother, Prince Doran, and the Viper’s bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes, have all been prominently cast and marketed. Ellaria Sand is returning to her homeland, and two major characters from King’s Landing—Jaime Lannister and Bronn of the Blackwater—are going with them.
The Free Cities
We haven’t seen much of the Free Cities so far—a glimpse of Illyrio’s mansion in Pentos in the pilot, and Stannis’ journey to Braavos in the middle of Season 4. That’s going to change in Season 5—we know that Arya is on a boat to Braavos, and the Thrones costumers have done a lot of work on depicting its style.
And while it’s unclear exactly where the boat that Tyrion and Varys is going to, the Free Cities are the most likely destination.
Slaver’s Bay
Daenerys Targaryen has settled into Meereen to learn how to rule, and almost immediately had to exile her oldest advisor, Jorah Mormont, and chain two of her dragons. Dany’s got a big role to play in Season 5—the trailer indicates a lot going on in Meereen, including the statues at the top of its pyramids collapsing. There’s also a shot of a dragon breathing fire.
Season 5 Trailer Fall of the Harpy
We also know of a major scene being filmed in a massive bullring in Osuna, Spain. You can check out some pictures—but beware of spoilers.
Speaking of spoilers, if you’re a reader, let’s get right to brass tacks, shall we?