The Austrian Prime Time has published an interview with Liam Cunningham (Davos) and Carice van Houten (Melisandre). Their double act is entertaining, as always. I have translated the content that has to do with the coming season from German below. For the rest (well worth it), please consult your local linguist, or rely on your own knowledge of the language and/or Google Translate.
A bonus hint: Liam mentions that there will possibly be more scenes with him and Shireen this season.
What can we expect from Melisandre in season 5?
Carice: (Laughs.) How can I answer that without spoiling anything? Season 5 is my favourite season so far. I had more screen-time than ever before, and Melisandre’s focus shifts in season five. More than that I cannot give away.
Liam: She undergoes an incredible development in the new season.
C: It is a good year for me.
L: Yes, for you perhaps. But not necessarily for some other characters! Maybe, perhaps …
C: There is a scene in the script – when I read it …
L: Careful now!
C: I was shocked.
L: Yes, I think we read it at the same time, and I just thought to myself: ‘What?!’ There were definitely some WTF-moments in there.
How does the relationship between your character and Jon Snow develop this season? At the end of season 4 Davos and Jon meet in the north by the Wall.
L: Well, eventhough Stannis and me would wish for Jon Snow to accompany us on our quest, there’s the problem with the Night’s Watch. He has sworn his life to them. This makes the situation a bit complicated. Either way, at the beginning of season 5 Team Stannis is for the first time in a good position. Blackwater was a disaster. We found ourselves powerless for a long time after that.From the beginning, episode 9 in each season was always a very special episode. Will that be true in season 5 as well?
L: Well, that pattern was different in season 4, I think. In season 4 it was episodes 8, 9, and 10 that were special. So that has changed.
C: And of course the second episode.
L: Yes, Joffrey’s death! That was a big moment. It was, in a certain way, the beginning of an end for King’s Landing. In the first three seasons the story was always structured so that the ninth episode was the climax. But with the fourth season that has changed. We will not – I can reveal as much – return to the old pattern. In season 5, everything is bigger and darker. The high points are distributed over the entire season.
It is not only Melisandre’s big season that we can look forward to. Lena Headey in a recent interview for Entertainment Weekly likewise considers S5 to be a big season for Cersei. Lots of juice to look forward to, then. And all quite true to the books, considering what Lena tells us (follow the link for more). Of her role in the next set of ten episodes, she says:
Not that it was a love fest, but at least [Cersei] had guidance from her father. And sadly, she doesn’t really know much about their finances and political allies. She thinks she’s found an influential power group to join and manipulate, but she invests in the wrong people. She just has too much hatred for certain people, so she doesn’t help her cause.
There’s some great scenes with Margaery and Cersei this season. I think everyone will dig that. There’s a stab one way, then a good stab the other way—they’re fun and dangerous. And also, there’s a moment between Cersei and Olenna which is awesome as well. She’s got two thorns deeply in her side.
RENLY!
“I had more screen-time than ever before”
“She undergoes an incredible development in the new season”
Though not exactly unexpected, that’s great to know for certain!
You forgot about the part concerning Shireen.
Edit: Oh, sorry, you mentioned it.
I read the original and, regarding violence in media, Carice mentions she’s a fan of the very violent Paul Verhoeven —of RoboCop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers fame. Damn, she’s got good taste.
What a wonderful interview. It was such a fun and interesting read.
She was in Verhoeven’s Black Book.
Luka Nieto,
Carice was in Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book 🙂
I really have absolutely no idea what Davos is going to be up to this season. Still hoping to see
already claiming b4 seeing
I’m so thrilled for Carice! Looks like it’s Mel’s time, finally!
One of Roose Bolton’s leeches,
If only Cersei had Melisandre as her right hand, they could shadow baby Tyrion’s ass and be done with it! Love Lena and Carice, they give their characters such compelling presence, it’s always a pleasure to see what they do with a scene. They are a credit to Thrones.
I loved Carice in Black Book and Black Butterflies. The interview makes me so pumped for their time with Jon. Liam saying they want Jon to join them, confirms that Stannis will make that offer. I’ve been waiting for that scene for a long time now.
The other is of course that Mel’s focus shifts, hopefully to Jon.
There’s some really interesting quotes there… Even as a book reader, I’m excited to see what happens with/pre/post
Morna the Witch,
Definitely! Carice was Oscar worthy in that film Black Book! This actress is so underrated, it’s not even funny. She brought up a great point in the interview about a lot of female roles being the token ‘girl’ to the movie hero. There is something so wrong with the movies, ever since the blockbuster of Star Wars changed the game. If you really think about it, Hollywood was built showcasing the power of women in the movies. If we can’t get back to that, they are right – tv is the only place these actresses can find the work they deserve.
I’ve translated my favourite (the funniest) parts of the Carice/Liam interview here: http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/126976-season-5-casting-news-and-speculation-v15-spoilers-all-the-way/page-9
(I’m there called “The Onion Sleight”)
Love those two together, they’re always to hilarious and lovely!
There are some cast members whose interviews are a little boring and predictable. Carice and Liam, on the other hand, are fantastic, and you really get the impression that they are exhilarated by being involved in the show. Along with John Bradley, I would say that they are amongst my favourite interviewees from the show.
Also, thanks for translating this Marko; my German is definitely slacking since my school days.
Oh I can’t wait to see Olenna and Cersei cooly volleying off each other! Maybe Cersei is the one they’ll never find what’s left of?
That was a great interview, love that they call themselves Stan, Mel & Dave on set. 🙂
There is a really good passage where Liam compares GoT to our real world politics with politicians doing their own thing and giving a damn f*** about the smallfolk just like in Westeros. So sad but so true.
Luka Nieto,
From what The Onion Sleight / Messy Justin Massey translated over at Afoiaf, I’m so pumped by Liam mentionning the conflict over Jon’s vows with Stannis will play a part in S5 !
wizardeyes,
Those spoilers were confirmed as fake by Sue, unfortunately.
wizardeyes,
Good to know…I also like the notion that Mel’s big transformative notion this season will be the truth about AA at the same time as a certain resurrection that will hopefully take place on screen as well.
And I can’t WAIT for Cersei/Olenna!
ProfessorArtNerd,
I’m pretty sure that’s going to be
Littlefinger
I could listen to Carice talk all day i think
I’m very excited for Jon and Melisandre’s scenes. I’m sure somebody could make a funny montage of them using Chris DeBurgh’s Lady in Red.
new tv guide article
http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/game-of-thrones-returns-with-family-feuds-surprising-alliances-and-dragons/
I dont know how to do spoiler tags, sorry. It’s just speculation anyway
Darjan,
It’s not Dillane.
These were great…. Cant get enough Melisandre, really excited to see her development. It will be nice to see a fallible side to her on screen (recognizing her mistakes/second guessing herself).
Liam is funny- almost says too much…. “quest” is an interesting word to use, considering show watchers shouldn’t know about any quest, unless it involves WW
STOKED! Just 10 days!
Darjan,
It’s mentioned how to do this at the top of every comment section. [ spoiler ] spoiler here [ / spoiler ] without the spaces.
Darjan,
I think Shireen will actually be Azor Ahai for some reason.
Hey, do you guys think if jon dies, and is brought back to life, that would release him from the whole “giving his life” to them thing that Mel mentions?