OK, yeah, you’re right, we’re just going to say it: winter is coooomiiiiiiiiiing! And by that we mean — of course — the fifth season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. After Friday’s official trailer reveal for the upcoming Westerosi madness, the network went ahead and gave us another bit o’ TV bounty: a veritable buttload of photos from the season as well. What is this, Embarrassment of Riches Day?!
Needless to say, these photos may contain spoilers. Turn away now if you’re afraid of those, folks. Don’t know what a spoiler is? Well, they’re vague glimpses that some Internet commenters get mad about because these photos, videos, words, etc may potentially give away some part of the story to come. So if you’re the type to freak out about that stuff, just turn away now. Kapeesh?
In the seventeen — yes, SEVEN-FREAKING-TEEN! — photos from our latest small screen installment of the song of ice and fire, we’re given a glimpse of faces old and new, areas seen and unseen, and a heck of a lot of Jon Snow and Dinklage-beard. (Trust: we are not complaining.) Perhaps a bit surprising to some (a/k/a non-book readers) is the inclusion of Kristofer Hivju’s Tormund Giantsbane, showing that we’re far from done with the Wildlings yet, to say nothing of the heck of a lot of Cersei Lannister in these photos, looking stern and — dare we say it? — a little bit anxious and maybe worried? Guess that’s what happens when you don’t have your father around to save the day all the time.
There’s also a peek at Alexander Siddig’s Doran Martell, so that’s neat.
Have any fun theories about season five? Let’s hear ’em in the comments.
I have to say, I’m concerned at the show’s development of Tyrion & Jamie’s stories. While Tyrion does flee to Essos (I won’t get more spoiler-y than that here), Varys doesn’t go with him, & has some pretty important contributions to make to the King’s Landing story. Likewise, Jamie doesn’t go to Dorne at all. I suppose Jamie will take on that other character’s Dorne plotline, at least somewhat, but it’s hard for me to see how that might work out. I’m generally OK with the show departing from the books–when they’ve done so in the past, for the most part it’s been just fine–I’m just wary.