Previews

HBO Asia version of Game of Thrones trailer offers new footage

Posted on by Sue the Fury

The new Game of Thrones trailer showing on HBO Asia is similar to the most recent USA ones but there are a few new shots, including one of Ellaria bowing before Doran Martell, and more. The clip is currently available on Youtube.

UPDATE: HBO has uploaded a newer version of the preview including footage of Dany entering the dragon’s dungeon, and a few other new shots:

Sue the Fury: What do you make of the new shots? Ellaria’s presence in the trailers makes it seems more and more that she’ll be like Arianne in A Song of Ice and Fire and much less like her own book-counterpart.

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Sue the Fury
Susan Miller, Editor in Chief of WatchersOnTheWall.com

223 Comments

  5. This is the trailer I saw a few days back and mentioned in a couple of other comments. That shot of Dorne is absolutely amazing. But I swear that on the version I saw there was a new shot of dany on a dungeon-like place (I live in Brazil, and someone else from south america said here, on the comments section, that they saw that too). But everything else is exactaly the same, wich drives me crazy.

  6. Not sure if this has been posted yet. Nothing that revealing but Maisie mentions she’s been using knives a lot this season.

  7. Greenjones,

    lol

    But yeah there are several new shots. The others aren’t earth-shaking but it is nice to see new angles of Hardhome. There’s always info to be gleaned from a new shot.

  8. Looks like its all kicking off at Hardhome and Dorne looks beautiful

    Can’t wait to see scenes with Doran!

  9. Any guess who the person is, that all the slaves are reaching out to around 0:09 with the “loved by millions” line. Looks like it could be the “Asian actress” they put a casting call out for?

    On an unrelated note, is

    Quaithe

    possibly going to appear in season 5?

  10. Fancy word for a sellsword,

    She kinda pops up in the books around this time but I think they’d have to flesh out the role if she’s to turn up in the books too. Maybe take on some of the Green Grace’s responsibilties.

  11. Fancy word for a sellsword:
    Any guess who the person is, that all the slaves are reaching out to around 0:30 with the “loved by millions” line.

    That’s most likely a Red Priestess in Volantis giving a speech to the slaves.

  14. Sue the Fury,

    And that’s why Abyss‘s gifs are oh so helpful. I need a good gif to fully appreciate a new shot.

    EDIT: 😉 What’s with some folks saying they can’t edit? I can do it just fine…

  17. Just a thought, but the shot of the slaves bowing to someone might be people in a different part of Essos reenacting the “mhysa” scene in which Daenerys saves the slaves. Tyrion sees the tales spreading and realizes just how loved she is? Maybe? I dunno.

  18. That shot of the wilding woman carrying Jon back toward the boats… (Admit it’s tough from the gif to see if it’s Jon or another Black Brother)

    She looks just like Birgitte Hjort Sørensen who starred in the internationally popular show Borgen.

    Her IMDB page has her working on a new HBO pilot, so I’m just gonna bet it is her.

  19. SerCountryFriedSteak:
    That shot of the wilding woman carrying JON back toward the boats…

    She looks just like Birgitte Hjort Sørensen who starred in the internationally popular show Borgen.

    I don’t think that’s Jon, I think I see a mop of grey hair

  20. Seriously from what I’ve seen, Hardhome may be one of my favorite part of the upcoming season. It look really well done, Wildlings fight, not for glory or resentment, but for their lives. It can’t really be worse than Craster’s, I did not like that one bit.

  23. Greenjones,

    Editing comments does not work from my iPad, but works fine from my (non-apple) laptop.

    Edit: now apparently works with both, but a few days ago I could not edit from my iPad.

  29. Patchface:
    Greenjones,

    Editing comments does not work from my iPad, but works fine from my (non-apple) laptop.

    Edit: now apparently works with both, but a few days ago I could not edit from my iPad.

    Now I cannot edit anymore! Lol

  33. Patchface,

    Nice. I still can’t edit from my iPhone but I’m guessing they’re working on that. It’s probably due to the new IOS update or something

  34. Patchface,

    My editing capability comes and goes as well. Usually after I post it is out for a few minutes, then it comes back after a refresh or two. Very odd. Using Chrome on a laptop.

    EDIT: It was out for 3 minutes with this last post but now it is back.

    Rygritte,
    Val? Yeah…right. No Val teasing allowed. :/

  36. TheTouchOfFrost:
    TheTouchOfFrost,

    *show not books. Damn this lack of being able to edit!

    What seemed to work for the disappearing edit. I notice after posting a comment, my “Name” and “Email” information on the comment form cleared out. If I put in my name and email address again and just refresh the page (not submit) , the edit ability on my previous post shows up

  39. Can anyone find out the name of the actor/extra playing Dareon in season 1? The wounded black brother being carried has similar hair and similar coat. Is it possible we see more of Dareon this season?

  42. I’m getting close to becoming totally convinced the post on this very site about what happens at Hardhome is accurate.

  44. Luka Nieto,

    The Tormund one. They’re separate reports, neither of them from known sources but the Tormund one appears to be legit. The Jon Snow one sounds like bull.

  47. Patchface,

    Read at your own risk. One of them in particular may be true. Honestly, my recommendation is that you don’t read it at all. But you asked for it, so I will oblige:

    Tormund dies lighting himself and many wights on fire, saving Jon Snow, at Hardhome. The other one, which I don’t believe at all, is that Jon dies at Hardhome and the White Walkers take him away.

  49. Patchface,

    I’m out… I wish I had not read these rumours…. instead I want to see a Jon/Tormund bromance on screen… I love these characters so much, they should make a spinoff 🙂

  51. Luka Nieto,

    The Tormund one seems to be accurate. Thankfully it’s being accurate would mean necessarily that the other one is wrong, since it implies that Jon gets away alive.

    The Jon info was just a comment on a reddit thread and may have just been spec. It was the redditor in question’s only post, so I doubt he’s any kindof legit source.

  53. AdmiralKyrd,

    Woah. Definitely looks like her.

    Cool to see new characters we hadn’t heard about at all, right?

    Greenjones,

    Is there any evidence? Aside from it making more sense than the other rumor, and the fact that Tormund is indeed fighting at Hardhome, is there any actual evidence? Something concrete?

  55. Since both rumours contradict each other, I’d rather have the Jon one be true… at least it leaves room for … you know…

  56. Luka Nieto,

    Many thanks! I don’t know what to say… The Jon thingy appears to be BS.

    The Tormund one seems more likely indeed, but then we are left with no established wildlings characters…

  57. ace,

    The eidt option comes up for me sometimes but not others. Not too fussed. Everytime I post it’s a little bit more exciting to see what will actually happen!

  59. Luka Nieto,

    This gives me some hope that the fat lord we see in that shot of Sansa entering Winterfell will have a few lines to say.

  63. Abyss,

    Could it be Edd? There’s been a distinct lack of Edd which makes me think he may have been left in charge back at Castle Black. If he’s dead then we riot!

  67. SerCountryFriedSteak:
    That shot of the wilding woman carrying Jon back toward the boats… (Admit it’s tough from the gif to see if it’s Jon or another Black Brother)

    She looks just like Birgitte Hjort Sørensen who starred in the internationally popular show Borgen.

    Her IMDB page has her working on a new HBO pilot, so I’m just gonna bet it is her.

    I absolutely loved her in “Borgen”, she’s a really great Danish actress!

  70. I think Jon will get to Hardhome with Tormund to rescue the wildlings and things will get to shit and then the wights appear and everyone tries to escape with the Night’s Watch and maybe Tormund dies 🙁

  78. Luka Nieto,

    I hope we will at least be seeing some of the traveling from the Vale to the North. I wouldn’t mind seeing Moat Cailin again and all those flayed corpses.

  81. Luka Nieto,

    🙂 Why would any dignitary not want to have a nice dinner with Howland? It’s on the way and the crannogmen would be sweet allies.

  83. RandomSand:
    This is the trailer I saw a few days back and mentioned in a couple of other comments. That shot of Dorne is absolutely amazing. But I swear that on the version I saw there was a new shot of dany on a dungeon-like place (I live in Brazil, and someone else from south america said here, on the comments section, that they saw that too). But everything else is exactaly the same, wich drives me crazy.

    Yeah, I also live in Brazil and I saw that trailer. I think it shows Dany in the dungeons where she locked up Rhaegal and Viserion and their chains and then it cuts to the familiar scene in which one of them breathes fire in the camera.

  84. Does anyone have a HD version of the Sand Snakes / Ellaria screen caps with Doran? The way their hands are positioned, is it possible that they’re being presented as prisoners after their schemes have been foiled, as opposed to when they meet him at the start of the season to complain that he isn’t seeking vengeance?

  85. Darren,

    That’s very likely.

    Their hands look cuffed and Ellaria is being submissive towards Doran, which certainly isn’t the case in the pictures we’ve seen of their first scene together.

  88. AdmiralKyrd,

    Huh. That is very similar if it’s not her. I wonder if they’re sneaking her in to be a Val equivalent for season 6? Or maybe it’s more of them offering quick, single episode cameos to established actors, like the Malko character?

  90. Darren,

    It’s possible, but not certain. I can’t tell if they’re cuffed or if they’re just standing with hands folded in front of themselves as a sort of standing at attention before the Prince. I will say Hotah isn’t really positioned as though he’s trying to hold them in place. They’re all in their armor, which means it could be right after the Queenmaker scene, but it could also just be immediately after their training sequence when the fight with Jaime happens.

  93. whew! I just realized that two shows Ive been looking forward to for a year are on the same nigh but fortunately at different times: : GOT starts the 12th at 9, and Wolf Hall on PBS at 10. What a great way to spend Sunday night: two hours of intrigue and mayhem, then wake up Monday morning to teach. …

  94. ash,

    Have you guys not had Wolf Hall yet? It’s exceedingly good!

    Think you’re getting Poldark soon too which although not as deep is still quite good fun and more of an easy-watcher.

  96. Im a Dane, and I’ve seen Birgitte Hjort Sørensen in Borgen and a lot of other Stuff, she’s kind of a new promising actress in Denmark right now (for a couple of years actually) and appears in many things. I Was surprised as well, but the wildling woman looking back at the camera, that is her without a doubt! Now, i find it hard believe, since she’s also been used in British Series Barneby, and apparantly is in scorseses new series as well, that they would just have her be an almost extra. Val seems like something the show would avoid. They would want the flirting, but they already have that with melisandre. That being said, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen (given the dark having to do with lighting in the shot) fits Val almost perfectly. A scandinavian blond beauty who is known for playing young, strong, independant woman. Maybe a short version of val. John goes to hardhome to negotiate, meets her while there, flirts, and then we have another familiar face in the hardhome battle which by the Way looks amazing

  98. Anyone has an idea who the woman surrounded by peasants in the trailer is? She’s been in a couple trailers already and I can’t think of anyone from the books

  100. Jofrey’s Cunt,

    Torch some gondolas too! Also, if you’ve not seen the film ‘Don’t Look Now’ don’t go anywhere near small people wearing red!

    Abyss,

    Not quite sure how cyber-vandalism works. I have no hacking skills so I assume I can just punch my monitor until something happens?

  101. Josla,

    Red Priestess, ala Melisandre, in Volantis. She’s wearing a red robe and has the same exact little fire goblet thing next to her. Taking the place of the Red Priests that (in the books) were in Volantis preaching about Dany when Hugo Hill and his companion walks through….

  102. James:
    Josla,

    Red Priestess, ala Melisandre, in Volantis.She’s wearing a red robe and has the same exact little fire goblet thing next to her.Taking the place of the Red Priests that (in the books) were in Volantis preaching about Dany when Hugo Hill and his companion walks through….

    Don’t remember them but thanks dude! I thought she might have been someone important lol

  105. Abyss,

    I tend to rip screens down at the cinema if I don’t like the way a film is going too!

    On a slightly more serious note. I wonder if the shows producers were at all influenced by the V for Vendetta/Guy Fawkes masks that Anonymous and the like use when working out how to do the Sons of the Harpy?

  108. Varys is one of my favourite characters but that cheerleading Dany speech makes me detest him. Please god let Dany die a horrible death in TWOW.

  110. TheTouchOfFrost,

    Wait, another Poldark? I was in love with the one they did back in the 80s. And yeah, the tv Wolf Hall doesn’t start yet tho I have seen a few scenes from some brit friends. I am sooo psyched. Plus I am going to NYC in April and will see the Broadway production!’

  111. Al Swearengen:
    Varys is one of my favourite characters but that cheerleading Dany speech makes me detest him. Please god let Dany die a horrible death in TWOW.

    Not happening so keep on whinning and crying, you’re just as annoying as the character you claim you hate.

  112. James:
    Josla,

    Red Priestess, ala Melisandre, in Volantis.She’s wearing a red robe and has the same exact little fire goblet thing next to her.Taking the place of the Red Priests that (in the books) were in Volantis preaching about Dany when Hugo Hill and his companion walks through….

    I love this part, it gave me goosebumps reading it. I am glad they are including it on screen.
    I feel this season the prophecies will start being mentioned more in preparation for The Wars yet to come. I’m ready!!!

  113. Holy crap. Doran in his chair! Doran in his chair! Great composition in that shot. Looking forward to just looking at Dorne…

  115. They appear to be utilizing Ellaria to perform Arianne’s role. In the books, Ellaria virtually disappears. This way, they can use Indira Varma to streamline the story rather than going through the process of casting a new actress. So, now I regret getting my knickers in a twist over the non-casting of Arianne.

    As an added bonus, if they cast Elia Sand in Season 6, I can picture epic eyerolls from Indira Varma when “Lady Lance” misbehaves.

  117. I was going to say the NW man was Grenn, since the hair is similar, before remembering he was dead :/

    I think I like her chances of surviving this one. She looks resourceful.

  118. Has the actor playing Tormund read the books?

    ash:
    TheTouchOfFrost,

    Wait, another Poldark? I was in love with the one they did back in the80s. And yeah, the tv Wolf Hall doesn’t start yet tho I have seen a few scenes from some brit friends. I am sooo psyched. Plus I am going to NYC in April and will see the Broadway production!’

    The pilot for Poldark was very good (haven’t seen the original), the second episode was a bit slower but it was still good. Wolf Hall is really good, it’s very old-fashioned TV, slow, thoughtful and pensative. I’m three episodes in and I like it so far.

  119. Ghasterly Rock:
    I was going to say the NW man was Grenn, since the hair is similar, before remembering he was dead :/

    I think I like her chances of surviving this one. She looks resourceful.

    I think she looks more scared shitless myself.

  120. The Hardhome sequence is very unsettling, it doesn’t feel like it’s from Game of Thrones I don’t know it’s weird……this is probably the scene that I’m looking forward the most.

  122. I wanna hear some random end game predictions here are My random end game predictions (show and books) . John and khaleesi have a baby , john stark is king there child is the heir and everyone in the realm is happy about it .Briene is leader of kings guard , Jaime kills a dragon than being named the dragon slayer. ( goes in the book and is the most popular kingsguard that ever live ) Hound kills moutain in clegange bowl . Hound bangs Sansa . Sansa has hounds child . Tyrions finds out after the fact and is cool with it . Dany is the princess that was promised , Jon is azor ahai. Tyrion Jon and dany are all blood relatives , that makes them the three heads of the dragon , but there will be more dragons in the winter fell crypts . Several will die but Jon dany and Tyrion will all have there own dragon. Not the three in meereen right now . Just drogon lives. Everyone else will die . The wall will be obliverated kings landing will be obliverated . The new capital of the seven kingdoms will be in dorne .

  123. SerDuncanTheTall,

    I knew I was not going crazy! 😉 I have no idea why they wold cut that on the HBO asia version, but at least we got it now.

    The fifth season is really close, it seems like it was yesterday that we were speculating over casting and now we are less than a month away from it. The hype is real.

  124. RandomSand,

    I know, right? It does feel like yesterday that we only got a few scraps of filming and casting news about twice a month or so. And suddenly… the show’s back in less than a month, now. It kinda sneaked up on me, which is a great feeling.

  125. Maester of Ceremonies:
    They appear to be utilizing Ellaria to perform Arianne’s role. In the books, Ellaria virtually disappears. This way, they can use Indira Varma to streamline the story rather than going through the process of casting a new actress.So, now I regret getting my knickers in a twist over the non-casting of Arianne.

    In truth, I rather suspected this would be the case ever since they cast Indira Varma. It made little sense to use her for a relatively small part. And given that we’ve always known they were going to have to streamline AFFC/ADWD to a certain degree, it made sense to me that they’d give her the function(s) of Arianne.

    She’s a great actress, and I’m happy she’s going to have a lot to do this season. 🙂

  126. John M W,

    I’m dreading the criticism from book readers… I’ve already seen some of it. “Oh, they completely butchered Ellaria’s character, making her into yet another woman who only cares about revenge, as they did with Cat. “ These are some of the same people frothing at the mouth because Arianne has been cut. Apparently, they don’t understand the concept of amalgamation. D&D did not look at Ellaria and said “ugh, boring”; they decided to use a established character played by an outstanding actress to fill the role of another character —Arianne.

    I would also remind them that the motivations of these character have little to do with Oberyn or any character we’re already acquainted with; Arianne’s main reasons for her actions are her disagreements with her father. If you’re introducing a whole new storyline in the fifth year of a seven year show, you’d better connect it to an existing storyline! And they did, by making Ellaria the agitator and sending Jaime to Dorne instead of a nobody like Balon Swann.

    But no argument will sway them… and that’s my dread, that I’ll be tempted to relentlessly defend the amalgamation of Ellaria and Arianne as the kind of wise adaptation choice it is, instead of D&D spitting on both Ellaria and Arianne. Oh well…

  127. Luka Nieto,

    You’ve pointed out exactly why I tend to avoid the comments here when the show is airing. 😉

    IMO, it’s a great adaptation choice. Rather than introducing a new character, who the audience then has to warm up to – an existing character, who we already care for, is used. We are already emotionally invested in her desire for revenge, because we have witnessed first hand the love shared between her and Oberyn – as well has the horror as she witnessed his death.

  129. Luka Nieto,

    Hopefully that is indeed what they are doing with Ellaria. She is worth exploring more, especially with that wonderful actress. I thought GRRM dismissed Ellaria too easily….relegating her and her attitude to a passive post-RV-death mourner. I had a hard time with that….but like you stated, Arianne took on that post-RV energy….it is a cool amalgamation.

    But don’t discard the “frothers” either. They make for a much more interesting fandom, don’t you think?

  130. ash,
    Veltigar,

    Yep. It’s a remake of it with the excellent ladie’s favourite Aiden Turner leading the cast. I was too young for the original (luckily I was bang on time for Sharpe!) but it’s an iconic show over here in the UK. Find it interesting they touch on the British side of the American War of Independence. Certainly gonna stick with it for the foreseeable future.
    At first I thought Wolf Hall was going to be like the 90s series ‘Cadfael’ which wouldn’t be a bad thing as it was quite entertaining for what it was but it’s got a lot more depth to it than that.

    Ispahan75,

    Stripping it right down I think they serve exactly the same purpose: As an advisor to Dany. The Green Grace of Mereen that is. I mean she doesn’t do a great deal but still more than Astapor’s and Yunkai’s whom are barely worth mentioning.
    The Green Grace gives Dany advice and Quaithe gives her a warning. If they wanted to combine the two (if they’re even needed) into Quaithe it would be an example of sensible and efficient streamlining.

  131. I wouldn’t call Ellaria passive. She was passionate in her anti-revenge stance. I loved it because it pointed out just how stupid the constant revenge-seeking is, it only leads to more death. Book-Ellaria was right. The Sand Snakes were being foolish, in wanting revenge just like their father did.

  133. If the shot of Rhaegal breathing fire is in episode 1, it is strange that it looks bigger than Drogon does in the other trailer.

  135. Sue the Fury,

    In the show, is Ellaria the mother of all the SS? Was that specified during S4? If not, I wonder if they will mention that? I thought her “passivity” (yes, perhaps that is too strong a word for her) was more related to the protection of her young daughters than anything else, but I doubt they exist in the show.

  136. Luka Nieto,

    Exactly, though I still expect Drogon to be a little bigger than what we’ve seen in the trailer (if that scene does indeed happen in 504) when his scene in Daznak comes

    Rhaegal also looks bigger and frankly scarier because we see him from the front, while so far we’ve only seen Drogon from his profile. And yes, the fact that we have nothing to compare him with makes him look bigger than he probably is.

  137. Balerion The Cat,

    Oh, I also expect Drogon to be enormous in 5×09, no doubt 🙂

    Hodor’s Bastard,

    In the show, Ellaria is the mother of one of the Sand Snakes we will meet: Tyene. Presumably also the youngest four, as in the books, but not Obara (“a peasant”) or Nym (“an eastern noblewoman.”) All of this was revealed by HBO’s press release after Comic Con.

    In Season 4, Oberyn mentioned he had eight daughters. So all the Sand Snakes exist in the show as well, even though only three have been cast (the only three who featured in Dorne in AFFC & ADWD.)

    And anyway, it’s not like Ellaria has to become a mindless revenge machine. People are complicated. I’m sure they’ll show Ellaria’s worries about the safety of her little Sand Snakes as well.

  138. Hodor’s Bastard,

    In the press release, it was specified that Obara and Nymeria are not her daughters, but that Tyene is in fact her daughter (hence her different look). I assume the youngest four will remain her children as in the books. As for Sarella, that’s up in the air at this point.

    Btw, Dailynews interactive just shared a new bit of info on season 5:

    “Michiel Huisman joined the cast at the beginning of season 4, even though his character, the charismatic mercenary Daario Naharis had been played by someone else the year before. HBO fans might also recognize Huisman from the series, “Treme” in which he played Sonny, a drug-addicted musician. That show, filmed on location in New Orleans, left such an impression on Huisman that the Dutch actor bought a home there. In an episode this season on “Game of Thrones” his character spends a few minutes threatening someone with a pair of fast-spinning knives. To prepare for the scene, Huisman practiced spinning knives so much it became something of a hobby. “When I went home and read that in the script, I decided to take every opportunity I’ve had since then to twirl knives and learn new tricks,” Huisman told The Daily News. “When we’ve been on the set or taking breaks while other people would go and smoke cigarettes, I’d twirl knives.”

  140. Luka Nieto,

    I am one of those who was initially disappointed when Arianne was eliminated. However, I think that the “amalgamation of Ellaria and Arianne” will prove to be a wise choice. I loved Ellaria in the books. She disappeared much too quickly once she returned to Dorne. So more of Ellaria – and Indira Varma – works perfectly for the show. And I think that she can maintain a cautious stand on vengeance rather than the “constant revenge-seeking” expressed by Obara, etc.

  142. Balerion The Cat,

    Actually, I find Drogon much bigger than he appears to be at this point in the books.

    At the pit they could reach its neck easily with a spear. I doubt they could do that with the size shown in the trailer.

  143. Indira Varma is fantastic, for mine her and Jonathan Pryce are gonna own this season

  144. mariamb,

    Yes, I suspect a big role for her now that she’ll fill two roles. She seems to have been upgraded to main cast even, so that’s a good sign as well.

    Roose On The Loose,

    Can’t wait to see Pryce nail it, always been a fan of his work. And I except Siddig to be amazing as Doran as well.

  145. Patchface,

    Actually looks like they’d be able to still reach Drogons neck with a spear. You’re over-estimating how big he looks in the trailer. He was up on a balcony much higher than Danny and was leaning down, he wasn’t even close to being on the ground. If he was on the ground, they could definitely reach his neck with a spear based off his size in the trailer, unless he is standing up on his back 2 legs up right with his neck high.

  146. Daphne, Also, the muddy ground looks similar. It was a shot supposedly posted by crew on Fbook that contained some alleged crew, small fires burning, and people said they saw nooses in it though I never did. Nobody could verify its authenticity. The shot I posted was a cropped version someone saved.

  147. Seems like you could transition from bloodthirsty Ellaria to anti-revenge Ellaria with the death of a Sand Snake, I guess, Tyene.

  148. Felt Pelt,

    I’ve thought about this as well. In the scene that Canal+ featured from 5×09, they’re all talking apparently in peace —Doran, Ellaria, Trystane, Myrcella and even Jaime. No Sand Snakes, though.

    I don’t know if a Sand Snake will die, but something tragic may happen that could turn show|Ellaria post-Oberyn’s death into book|Ellaria post-Oberyn’s death. Who knows if they will go that route, but they certainly could. Considering Tyene and Nym in TWOW have pretty relevant missions in King’s Landing, while Obara goes in a comparatively pointless side-quest that there’s no way is gonna happen in the show, Obara may be the one who dies.

    I’m not sure I believe the theory, but it’s possible.

  149. Luka Nieto,

    I don’t. I would guess the new shot in the trailer is actually from the final Dorne scene this season, where

    Ellaria and the SS swear their allegiance to Doran, and he gives them all missions similar to the final Areo chapter from ADWD. Obara can easily be given another mission, e.g. gathering a Dornish army/working with Doran in Sunspear.

  150. Dutch maester,

    Well, you convinced me back 😉

    That dramatic shot has a kind of “climactic” feeling, does it not? And yes, I’m not one of those who believes they must off a Sand Snake just for the sake of it. They certainly can give Obara something else to do; stay with Doran and Areo, for a start, because they’ll certainly want to keep Doran around in the future. But still, killing a Sand Snake is a possibility, however remote I may personally think it is.

  151. Dutch maester,

    The question is what is Doran’s master plan or lack thereof

    in the book he had quentyn going after Dany and eventually sent Arianne to meet up with Aegon, all unbeknownst to Arianne when she was full revenge. She settled down after she realized she would get Dorne and Quentyn was trying to woo Dany. Ellaria doesn’t have that to fall back on, so her change of heart would have to be different, maybe more pure. Trystane is really the only one that could court a Targaryen at this point. So what is Doran’s master plan?

  152. Luka Nieto,

    Oh, sure, it’s not impossible, but indeed: It looks like a beautifully shot climactic final moment (that would take place after Jaime has left)! 😀

  153. Dutch maester,

    Either it’s a climactic moment or Doran’s introduction. That said, we’ve seen pictures and dialogue (in the EW issue) from Doran’s intro, in which Ellaria (instead of Obara, as in the books) marches angrily into the Water Gardens only to be stopped by Areo, and the Sand Snakes don’t seem to be present, so I don’t think that’s it.

    Valyrian Lance,

    Essentially the same goal: Fire and Blood —allying himself with Dany. Of course, he’ll have to go about it in a different way. Maybe in the show he’s in league with Varys, which probably means Doran will be successful in allying himself with Daenerys (while Quentyn dies in ADWD so the plan is fucked.) In TWOW it seems Doran will use Arianne to ally himself with Aegon instead, but Aegon seems to be gone. The show needs a large army in Westeros right now —it could be the Dornish, instead of the Golden Company under Aegon.

  156. Dutch maester,

    That’s what I think as well.

    Doran sends Myrcella off with Jaime. He then reveals his plan to marry Trystane to Dany…perhaps with assistance from Varys.

  157. mariamb,

    I’ve also thought a Varys reveal in Dorne could be cool, but it could only happen either in 5×09 or 5×10, which would mean Varys can’t kill Pycelle and Kevan this season, and it kinda has to happen, right?

  158. Luka Nieto,

    It can still happen. People can travel as fast as the plot wants, especially in a finale (Sam WALKING from the Nightfort to the Wall within the S3 finale comes to mind).

    though, tbh, I don’t see Varys actually going to Dorne. Doran might reveal he’s working with him, though.

  159. Valyrian Lance,

    As others said Doran´s plans will be most likely about Trystane/Dany marriage. Ellaria can have change of hearth for various reasons (if that happen, i hope so, but it is not 100% sure that she will have her anti-revenge speech).

    Fanfiction theory: Tyene was close to Arianne in the books, she will be “close” to Trystane in the show. She will seduce Bronn to help her to kill Myrcella, Areo will prevent it by killing Bronn. Ellaria will be horrified about her daughter´s actions and will change her hearth about revenge.

  160. Dutch maester,

    I can see a version of the Fire & Blood speech occurring near the end of ep10 with Doran speaking to Ellaria and the SS, then his voice is overlayed (a la LF’s S3 “Climb” monologue) onto a series of shots showing Varys doing his deed and possibly others around Westeros paving the way for Dany’s inevitable arrival. Could be quite impactful and daunting as the season closes.

  161. Hodor’s Bastard,

    That’d be quite cool, actually. It would be an amazing last scene —Doran’s speech, the ADWD epilogue, and Dany’s last ADWD chapter, one after the other. It would pump people a lot for Season 6.

  162. Luka Nieto:
    Felt Pelt,

    I’ve thought about this as well. In the scene that Canal+ featured from 5×09, they’re all talking apparently in peace —Doran, Ellaria, Trystane, Myrcella and even Jaime. No Sand Snakes, though.

    What scene? Do you have a link?

  163. Luka Nieto,

    I’m honestly confused why people insist that this has to happen. I always found that scene to be unnecessary in that it only provides Varys with an opportunity to monologue about his plans for Aegon (who is hopefully cut anyways). Actually killing Kevan and Pycelle almost feels redundant and detracts from Cersei herself being responsible for self-sabotaging Lannister rule and perpetuating hostilities with the Tyrells. For me, it’s an easy cut, especially if it provides an opportunity for Varys to show up suddenly in Dorne for a twist late in the season.

  165. Dogs,

    Except it won’t be simply Kevan & Pycelle….it will be Tommen as well, hence addressing the expected prophetic dream of the first S5 scene. Varys and his little birds will start paving the way, quite harshly.

  167. mariamb: Doran sends Myrcella off with Jaime. He then reveals his plan to marry Trystane to Dany…perhaps with assistance from Varys.

    I like this. Obara will escort Trystane to Meereen where they get burnt. Varys will leave Tyrion with Jorah when they see him getting his twarg on in the brothel. Varys will go to Dorne for a second before he jetpacks straight to King’s Landing & kills Kevan & Pycelle while Tyene poisons Tommen.

  168. Luka Nieto:
    Hodor’s Bastard,

    That’d be quite cool, actually. It would be an amazing last scene —Doran’s speech, the ADWD epilogue, and Dany’s last ADWD chapter, one after the other. It would pump people a lot for Season 6.

    Agree. Very cool.

    Hodor’s Bastard,

    You truly believe that Tommen will die this season at Varys’ hands? I know it is a possibility…and I kind of like the idea. Nothing against the character of Tommen or Dean-Charles Chapman but I believe that the finale needs to deliver more than the deaths of Pycelle and Kevan. In the book, the true shocker was the reveal of Varys’ plans. In the show, we will know that he is plotting based on the “who says its a him” comment. I am hoping for a more drastic move on his part.

  170. Bogden,

    How do you know?

    Rygritte,

    I don’t think the Trystane part lines up with what we know.

    Trystane is still in Dorne by the end of season five. And by that time, Meereen will be on the brink of an all-out war, whether you believe it will be against Yunkai or only the Sons of the Harpy, and the dragons will probably have been freed by the slave masters who were trying to kill them, as some casting news indicated.

  177. What I think would work best is in the whole Dorne situation would be

    to have Ellaria and the SS trying to kill Myrcella for revenge but Doran wanting to stop it. I’d have Ellaria or Obara (the two I imagine to be most revenge hungry) killed off and the other SS be angry until Doran reveals his plans to them to get them onside. We really don’t need all four of them moving forward as without Aegon what do they actually have to do?
    I still think pushing Trystane as either Aegon or an Aegon proxy could work (Dorne may just want to take the Throne on their own). Not sure how Myrcella would work into this though…perhaps Doran’s plan is now the Queenmaker plot?
    Having Tyene seduce Bronn would be ridiculous. It would be completely out of character for him as he wouldn’t risk all he his earned ( a title, land, wealth) for a young girl. If he dies I can see it being because he’s about to escape with Myrcella which would ruin Doran’s plans.
    I’m pretty against Dorne siding with Dany. It removes any sort of resistence (originally to be provided by Aegon) to her inevitable march on the throne. Think it’s also daft that all these people are now apparantely in her corner yet hven’t lifted a finger to help her over the years!

  178. TheTouchOfFrost,

    Ellaria is alive and well in 5×09, when they’re all calmly seated around a table. So it can’t be Ellaria. The Sand Snakes are not present, though, so one of them could die. Still, why not just have Ellaria and the Sand Snakes be the Queenmakers?

    As for those supporting Dany not having sent any help earlier… the same goes in the books. Varys and Illyrio need Dany and her dragons for Aegon, yet they didn’t do more than send Barristan and a sumo/gladiator. And Doran supports Dany completely, yet only now has he sent Quentyn. Why? News travel slow.

  179. Luka Nieto,

    Could all kick off in that last episode though! We may all be expecting far too much death from Dorne. Perhaps no one dies?!

    To be fair they sent Quentyne off quite a while ago when they heard about her whereabouts. Took him a while to get there though! If this was all part of Varys’ masterplan and Doran knew about it then it looks stupid. As far as I’m aware Doran didn’t know about either Dany’s whereabouts or Aegon’s existence until they raised their heads and then he swiftly sent out his offspring to try and form alliances.

  180. Luka Nieto,

    At this point, the only part of the story that couldn’t be true is that Tormund dies. We know the wights and the Walkers come, and we heavily suspect the Night King is among them. We know that Tormund is there fighting wights off and is in rough shape. I think it’s a pretty plausible theory as this seems like the role they’d have Tormund play in this whole mission given his relationship with Jon.

    And if he somehow got away, you’d stage this massive action setpiece with the biggest villain of the story showing up for his first encounters with our heroes, and everyone important gets away with no consequences. I don’t think that’s likely.

    Tormund’s a goner.

  181. TheTouchOfFrost,

    I think it will be more like

    the sandsnakes wanting to hold Myrcella as a hostage locked up while jaime arrives to get her out of dorne they will go after jaime intending to kill him which will make Doran send aero because killing jaime would start an all out war too soon for his plans and then someone will die when it all goes down either Bronner or tyene. I highly doubt there will be a queenmaker plot. Maybe tyene hurts myrcella and aero gives her the axe in return. Thus Ellaria Will realize how stupid she has been and revert to her book arc

  182. crabbers son,

    A menacing-looking Ellaria is taken into custody by Doran’s men some time in the season, as we see in the trailer. Where does that fit?

  183. Luka Nieto,

    I honestly sort of wonder if the 509 title card in that footage is sort of a fakeout. Like, they filmed multiple scenes in that room, and showed us the card for 509 but the scene from 505 or or something. Everything falls into place much more nicely if that scene is immediately after Jaime’s capture and release in the mid-season.

  184. crabbers son,

    The casting announcement released by HBO made note of Myrcella being Tommen’s older sister while describing her. I have to believe that was intentional, and that the queenmaker plot will happen.

  186. crabbers son,

    That doesnt really work since from Tyene audition we know nobody will die in that fight between Jaime/Bronn and Sand Snakes. And idea of Doran leting Areo to kill one of his nieces is really ridiculous.

  187. TheTouchOfFrost,

    [spolier]Well if I remember correctly, one of the audition tapes has Tyene and Bronn exchanging dialogue after being intimate, with her poisoning him and having him admit she is the most beautiful woman he has been with in return for the antidote.[/spolier]

  189. I still don’t think any of the sand snakes will die. Here’s my interpretation of how it could go:

    5×02: Ellaria faces Doran in Sunspear. Later, she discusses Doran’s attitude with the SS. Trystane & Myrcella reintroduction.
    5×04: Jaime and Bronn arrive in Dorne and kill the guards on the beach. The Sand Snakes learn of his arrival and follow him.
    5×05: J&B arrive in the Water Gardens and find T & M, attacked by SS, fight stopped by Areo. Doran talks with Jaime and Bronn. SS plot to Queen Myrcella before Doran allows her to return to KL.
    5×06: Some version of the Queenmaker plot involving Areo and Jaime.
    5×07: Fallout of the QM plot: SS in prison with Ellaria. Jaime checks on Myrcella.
    5×09: Scene from the video. Doran allows Myrcella to go with Jaime. After they leave, he delivers a version of the Fire & Blood speech to Ellaria and Trystane.
    5×10: Doran releases the SS and reveals his true plans. Ellaria and the SS kneel and pledge their allegiance to him (as in the new shot) and receive missions.

    Doran: “Be careful, though. King’s Landing is a pit of snakes”.
    Nym: “Why, Uncle, we love snakes”.

  190. tyjon: Well. perhaps angry caged dragons grow faster than contented ones,

    They don’t. The free ones get the biggest. The caged ones are stunted.

  191. Crabber’s Son,

    I don’t know. I have a hard time guessing what they’ll do in Dorne. I’m still bummed out that the Griffs and Arianne were cut. I just hope Doran will be portrayed well and he will still have his

    ‘Fire and Blood’

    speech.

  192. tyjon,

    Pretty sure that was just banter. Must admit I thought that dialogue was pretty cheesey so I hope it’s not legit or has been changed. Arys and Bronn are nothing alike. If he’s seduced by Tyene it ruins the character. Now if he’s paid to be a part of it…

  193. Dutch maester,

    I agree with that. I can see them doing something similar to the littlefinger/olenna reveal last season.

    Doran reveals he’s been plotting with a powerful man in King’s Landing. Cut to Varys in KL and murders of Pycelle/Kevan or Olenna. Or even Tommen: this would give Dorne power in KL via Myrcella/Trystane and prepare for Dany’s arrival. If Aegon is cut, I think this is more likely than Doran trying to marry Trystane to Dany. Like in the books, we end up with dornish power in KL before Dany’s arrival, except without Aegon.

  199. TheTouchOfFrost,

    Arent auditions almost never actually in the show? Maybe it was just trying to capture her character but maybe the scene doesnt happen.

    Dutch maester,

    Episode 1: Doran talks to Ellaria on the balcony overlooking the gardens.

    Episode 2: We have the threatening message from Ellaria and the Sandsnakes in Kingslanding. Cersei fears for her daughter’s safety in Dorne as Ellaria Sand seeks revenge for Oberyn’s death.

    Episode 3:Jaime and Bronn on a boat.

    Episode 4:Jaime and Bronn arrive, they are spotted by a Dornish patrol. Bronn pretends to give up his sword but throws a dagger into one of the three men’s throat. They kill the other 2 and steal their clothes. The sandsnakes torture the ship’s captain to learn whom he brought to dorne.

    Episode 5:Jaime finds Myrcella and Trystane kissing. He approaches them and Trystane first reaches out his hand but realizes Jaime is there to take her so he draws his sword. Bronn knocks him out. They take Myrcella but then we have the battle in the gardens against the sandsnakes. Jaime and Bronn are captured.

    Episode 6: This is where it gets tricky. In this situation I dont see Ellaria all of a sudden going we should make Myrcella queen. The scene where she looks all sinister seems to be in some sort of dungeon. Maybe she wants to finish Jaime off. We also have Aero blocking her in another shot. So I think they may pull a Rickard Karstark where they break in to the dungeon to kill Jaime but are stopped by Aero.

    Episode 7: No idea. Maybe a scene where Doran speaks with Ellaria. The trailer shot of her kneeling. Fire and Blood speeech.

    Episode 8:Hardhome

    Episode 9:Jaime is escorted to meet with Doran and Ellaria (who looks a lot more passive now). They allow Jaime to take Myrcella. Trystane is outraged.

    Episode 10:Mystery main character arrives in Dorne it has to be either Brienne or Varys. Doran tells Trystane his bride will not be Myrcella. He is to wed Dany because he is a Targaryan, like his father before him. Que star wars theme. Brienne walks in without Podrick and goes “wheres Jaime I just teleported here,I must speak with him, I found Sansa stark!”

  200. Jorn,

    I dont think killing Tommen is going to happen as a result of Varys or Doran. I think Tommen will die due to something cersei does. For example Robert Strong going crazy. I think Jaime will come to an agreement with Doran for the safety of his children in return for them giving up their claim to the throne.

  201. Crabber’s Son,

    I think auditions are almost always real scenes. They don’t really have the bandwidth to be writing scripts for scenes they don’t intend to film. They’re early drafts of the scenes, and in sure they change, and occasionally get cut, but for the most part they’re real scenes. I know season 4 we got a leaked video of a Styr audition that was pretty much word for word the introductory scene we got for him in the show.

  202. Sue the Fury,

    Well, all right then. I have to say that I was really starting to feel pretty good about that particular theory, especially after the second trailer.

    Divergence from the book or not, Hardhome is shaping up to be a truly impressive battle, and a major set piece for this upcoming season. I certainly don’t need the every battle on the show to claim the life of a recognizable character in order to fulfill some sort of blood quota. But I do like those battles to have lasting consequences for both the characters and the audience, and that includes the emotional weight that survivors have to carry after seeing their friends and allies fall. In addition to the expected loss Ygritte, the surprising losses of Pyp and Grenn were two of the many things that helped “The Watchers on the Wall” to slightly surpass “Blackwater” in my esteem (the only named casualties in that battle were Mandon Moore and Matthos Seaworth – not exactly fan favorites).
    Even without the loss of a major character, the fallout from Hardhome should still be significant, and the appearance of the Night’s King (I assume that’s still in play?) will certainly be an iconic moment. But I thought that Tormund’s rumored death scene sounded amazing, and that seeing him sacrifice his life to save Jon would have taken the sequence to an even higher level. To be perfectly honest, it would have been worth losing a character like Tormund for – few characters in this world have had a more valiant or honorable end. As a likeable, charismatic character who has a good relationship with Jon (one that I expect will be developed more this season), Tormund’s loss would hurt – but it would also serve as a lasting marker of just how unspeakably dangerous the White Walkers are.
    I certainly won’t be sorry to see Kristofer Hivju continue on the show – he’s great in the role! But ultimately, I do consider Tormund to be secondary player in the series. I thought that he could have died without inextricably altering the endgame, and that the tradeoff would have been worth it.

    Oh well. I had every confidence that the Hardhome sequence would be spectacular before this particular rumor materialized, and I still hold that belief. I’m looking forward to seeing it as much as ever. 🙂

  204. Crabber’s Son,

    The previously leaked GoT auditions have always been almost word for word in the show (e.g., Styg.)

    Sue the Fury,

    Oh wow. Thanks! 🙂

    That’s very nice to hear.

    Still, it’s a major setpiece, there’s gotta be consequences… Is Edd a goner? Then again, maybe Hardhome is the show’s equivalent to the Pink Letter; maybe the consequences are not so much for the fight itself but for Jon’s decision to go there in the first place; that is, Jon’s death when he comes back to the Wall, which would make sense. So there wouldn’t be consequences within the episode, but hey, this is not gonna be an episode-wide battle either; it’s a huge set-piece, but not exactly a “battle” at all, so people don’t have to be disappointing if there’s no huge consequences within the episode. I think seeing the Night’s King and an army of wights attack will mollify us, hehe.

  207. Luka Nieto,

    I really don’t think

    Ed dies at Hardhome, or anywhere else for that matter. It is the same common sense reasoning that made me skeptical about the alleged report of Tormund’s death (good that was clear out!). If Dolorous dies there are no developed supporting characters left among the black brothers, with all the other deaths reasonably expected to occur this season. And they kinda have to have someone for the sake of continuity.

  214. I had no idea people were so invested in the Hardhome “theories” or I would have debunked them eons ago. They were both invented by the same “source”.

  217. My crackpot theories, in no particular order.

    – Bronn dies in S5. Obara and Areo will be Jaime’s new travel companions, as he heads to reunite with Brienne.
    – Brienne, stubborn to her oaths, will follow Sansa north. She and Pod will cross paths with Stannis. Brienne’s oathbreaking dilemma with Stoneheart will be transferred to Stannis/Melisandre.
    – Sansa and Theon will escape Winterfell, and they will encounter the Brotherhood, now led by the Blackfish. (Sansa will also find Arya’s lost direwolf Nymeria.)
    – Varys will pop up in Dorne, he won’t return to King’s Landing.
    – Littlefinger goes back to KL to answer for his brothels. He’ll meet the High Sparrow and scheme with Cersei.
    – It will be Littlefinger who’ll kill Pycelle. . .and Olenna. Kevan will still be alive.
    – Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion will all get loose. They will fly to Westeros on their own, causing havoc. So Dany follows them, not to invade and conquer, but to get the dragons back. They’ll lead her and her supporters North, to Jon Snow. (Or maybe Bran wargs them and lead them North.)
    – Arya will cross paths with Tyrion, and join him with Dany.
    – Dany and the dragons will die up North in the battle with the Others/White Walkers. She’ll never take the throne.
    – Cersei, the Martells, and the Tyrells rip KL and the monarchy apart. The burned out Red Keep in Dany’s vision will be Cersei using wildfire, or the dragons having done it independently.
    – Tommen/Myrcella, Margaery, Loras, Sand Snakes Nymeria and Tyene are among the King’s Landing casualties. Cersei takes her last remaining heir and flees to Casterly Rock.
    – Sam will find and retrieve Rickon.
    – Stannis and Melisandre will die in the battle with the Others.
    – After the battle, Tyrion and Jaime will settle their score with Cersei, burning Casterly Rock to the ground.
    – If Shireen survives, she’ll take the Iron Throne.

    They’ll all be wrong, of course. Feel free to laugh.

    🙂

  219. Crabber’s Son,

    Honestly don’t know. It seemed an odd scene as wondered why they’d jail them together when the were previously trying to kill eachother! Hope it’s at least adapted it a bit as it just comes off as really cheesey as is!

  223. Luka Nieto: The actor said he had a good fight scene. If he dies, let’s hope he goes like a champ.

    He is going to carve some cake, then choke on a locust.

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