Game Of Thrones Season 5 Speculation - 33 Questions For The Last 6 Episodes This Season

This post will only make sense if you've seen all four leaked episodes of Season 5 and read The Winds of Winter.  If you haven't, then reading these posts might not make sense and will definitely contain MAJOR spoilers for Season 5 and beyond.

The questions are broken up by general location.


DORNE

1. Will Ellaria Sand attempt to crown Myrcella or kill her?

Will it be a Queenmaker plot (Trystane did audibly refer to Myrcella as his future Queen in Episode 3, though Tommen's death would cause that anyway.), an attempt on Myrcella's life or some third variation?


2. What is Doran's master plan?

With Arianne and Quentyn written out of the show, what is the "Fire and Blood" plan that Doran has been keeping in his pocket as he's otherwise been staying out of the Game of Thrones?  It must involve Quentyn, right?  Will he be betrothed to Dany?  Is he secretly Aegon / fAegon?  Is Varys involved?


3. Who will die in Dorne this season?

Much like the battle at the Wall featured the deaths of Pyp and Grenn, the plot in Dorne will require deaths of "face" characters in order to have proper impact.  Will Ellaria or one of the Sand Snakes die this season?  What about Bronn or Jamie?  Areo or Doran?  Given that one of the promotional videos featured every character but Bronn and Jaime and the scene appears to occur after Ellaria's plot has been foiled (I could be wrong about this) and Jaime has Valonqar story protection (I'm guessing that the Valonqar part of the prophecy has been excluded to avoid giving up the fact that Jaime will eventually kill Cersei), things aren't looking too good for Bronn, whose story has, for the most part, been wrapped up in the books.


BRAAVOS

4. Will Arya undergo blind training?

Dareon the singer is technically a member of the Night's Watch (Sam mentions him to Gilly in Season 3), but he hasn't had any presence on the show.  Even if he had, it seems obvious that Sam and co. aren't going to be stopping in Braavos this season.  If Sam and Dareon don't travel to Braavos, Arya can't be blinded in response to killing Dareon.  That doesn't, however, mean that she won't be blinded for some other reason / no reason.


5. Will Arya kill Meryn Trant wearing another face?

In the "Mercy" chapter from TWOW, Arya kills Raff The Sweetling while wearing the face of an actress named Mercy.  With Raff long gone and Meryn Trant taking his place on Mace Tyrell's (instead of Harys Swyft) mission to Braavos, it seems very obvious that Trant will be answering to the God of Death by the end of this season.  If Arya spends the entire season training, Trant may be the only person she kills this season and doing so may be the culmination of her Faceless Man training.  Will she already have learned how to wear another face by this point or will that be her reward for successfully killing Trant?


6. Will Meryn Trant's death give Cersei the opportunity to name Gregor to the Kingsguard to fight for her?

In AFFC, it's Arys Oakheart's death in Dorne that allows Cersei to name Ser Robert Strong to the Kingsguard to defend her in trial by combat.  With Arys written off of the show, will we experience the delicious irony of Arya's revenge against Trant inadverdantly giving Cersei the option that may end up saving her life?


KING'S LANDING

7. Will Cersei turn the High Sparrow on Queen Margery, or will that be replaced by her actions against Loras?

In episode 4, Cersei empowers the High Sparrow by empowering the Faith Militant and blatantly points him in the direction of Loras Tyrell.  It seems obvious from trailers and previews that Loras will be put on trial, but the question remains whether or not the result of this trial will be the sum total of Cersei's war on House Tyrell this season or if she'll eventually bring Maergary into the fray as well.  In AFFC, Maergary is accused of acts of adultery against her husband, with the primary evidence against her being a broken maidenhead.  Such evidence won't be valid on the show, as Tommen and Maergary's marriage has been consummated.  With this change of situation, will Cersei still try to have Maergary arrested (no proof of this is evident in the first four episodes) or stop with Loras?


8. What role will Littlefinger and Oleanna Tyrell play in King's Landing?

Two master schemers present in King's Landing during Cersei's otherwise (in AFFC) unchallenged reign of terror?  I have no idea how this is going to play out, but it's going to be a lot of fun!


9. What will Cersei do when she gets news of Sansa Stark in Winterfell?

I'm going to guess that Cersei will find out about Sansa because it's two juicy a plot point for her not to.  There are rumors that Brienne will fight against Gregor Clegane this season and the only way I can see that happening is if Qyburn revives Clegane mid-season and Cersei sends him to Winterfell, charged with murdering Sansa Stark.


10. Why will the High Sparrow have Cersei imprisoned?

Among the things that Cersei is charged with in AFFC, we can definitely rule out the murder of the previous High Septon (who is alive on the show) and unless things change dramatically, it's unlikely that she'll be charged with incest with Jaime, as that would bring down Tommen as well.  Lancel will likely have confessed his affair with Cersei, but having sex with your cousin isn't a crime in Westeros (countless cousins are married throughout the Seven Kingdoms) and if their affair didn't begin until after Robert's death, then she wasn't committing adultery.  What high crime could Cersei be accused of that would cause her to be arrested?  Conspiring to kill King Robert Baratheon seems the most likely charge, as Lancel has remained in King's Landing throughout this season, is the face of the Sparrow movement and brought up the murder of King Robert when interacting with Cersei in Episode 1.


11. Will Cersei's champion be "Gregor Clegane" or "Robert Strong"?

Since Balon Swann isn't being sent to Dorne with Gregor Clegane's skull and Cersei actively taking subversive action against Dorne, I see no reason for the Robert Strong subterfuge.  I think that Gregor Clegane will be "miraculously" healed by Qyburn and retain his identity.


12. Will Tommen survive Season 5?

I think that the Golden Shrouds prophecy needs to have some payoff this season and I think that will mean that either Tommen or Myrcella will die this season.  The tricky part of this is that the Golden Crowns element of the prophecy requires that Myrcella be crowned before she dies.  Does that require the death of Tommen or will her being crowned by the Sand Snakes and Ellaria suffice?  My TWOW theory is that one of the Sand Snakes in King's Landing will kill Tommen, but the show could save time by having Varys kill him as part of his ADWD epilogue attack.


MEEREEN

13. Where does Varys go after Tyrion is captured by Jorah?

King's Landing is his eventual destination, but I think that there's a good chance he could end up stopping in Dorne to meet with Doran Martell and unite Varys' For The Realm conspiracy with Doran's Fire and Blood conspiracy, either by revealing Dany's betrothal to Trystane or revealing Tyrstane's identity as Aegon or some third plan that I haven't thought up.  There was a report out of Spain that an actor was unexpectedly present in Dorne who "didn't belong there" and the reporter was sworn to secrecy, so it couldn't be Jaime or Bronn, so my best guess is Varys.


14. Will the Stone Men attack Jorah and Tyrion while sailing through Valyria or around it?

Greyscale is prominently mentioned in three episodes and the Stone Men of Valyria (which is NOT where they are in ADWD) are mentioned in two, so there's no doubt in my mind that we're being set up for Tyrion and Jorah to encounter them (I think this encounter is what causes them to be captured by slavers).  Since the boat that Jorah stole is hardly what I consider a long-range vessel and scenes in the trailers indicate Tyrion will be staring up at ruins (and Drogon), I think it's possible that they will try to save time (and add spectacle to the show) by attempting to sail THROUGH Valyria, something that NO ONE in ASOIAF does (though Euron Greyjoy does claim that he did), which would be awesome.


15. Will Jorah contract Greyscale?

As previously stated, Greyscale is being set up as a major plot point this season.  In ADWD, Jon Connington contracts Greyscale while rescuing Tyrion following the attack by the Stone Men.  To this point in the story (and I think for good), Jon Connington has been written out of the show, but since it seems like Greyscale is going to be significant in the big picture of the series, I think that someone will take Connington's place by contracting Greyscale and secretly bringing it to Westeros.  I think that Jorah Mormont will contract the disease rescuing Tyrion and then fill the role that Jon Connington plays in Dany's invasion (his unrequited love for Dany is even similiar to Jon Con's love for Rhaegar) of Westeros in future seasons.  If Greyscale plays a role in the endgame, this would be the best way of getting it to Westeros, in my opinion.


16. How will Tyrion end up in Dany's service and Jorah in the pits?

Tyrion will probably talk his way into it and negotiate some sort of opportunity for Jorah.  Alternately, Dany might decline to free Jorah, leaving him as a pit slave until he proves his valor fighting the Sons of the Harpy and Drogon.


17. Who are the Sons of the Harpy?

In ADWD, it's implied that the SotH are agents of the Great Masters of Meereen and that Dany's marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq appeases the Great Masters enough to cause them to cease their attacks.  If that's the case and Dany marries Hizdahr, why do the SotH attack Dany in the fighting pits, presumably after she marries Hizdahr?  Are they secretly acting under the orders of the Wise Masters of Yunkai who act as a phantom menace who only wanted the fighting pits re-opened as a trap to assassinate Dany?  Will former slaves take up the mask in response to the execution of Mossodor (unlikely, but who knows)?


18. Will Barristan and Grey Worm die as a result of their wounds?

Sad to say, but Barristan Selmy fits the description of the prominent character that dies with a lot of book material left behind.  I think that we witnessed his last stand in Episode 4.  Grey Worm has a few scenes left, at least, as the scene with Missandei in the trailers still remains, but that doesn't mean he won't die from his wounds later on.


19. Will Dany marry Hizdahr and will he survive his wedding festivities?

It seems likely that she will (otherwise, why make him such a prominent character), but his absence from scenes during the attacks in the fighting pits seems to indicate that he has either been killed by this point or has fled, possibly implicating him in the attack.


20. Will Dany leave Meereen on Drogon and if so, will she return before the end of this season?

Dragon-riding seems like an important moment in this series, so I think that will be in and it's possible that she'll spend some time in the desert, but I think she'll end up back in Meereen by the end of the season, even if her return marks her last scenes of the season.


21. How do Dany's other dragons escape?

With no Quentyn Martell to die springing them, the most likely method will be with the SotH attempting to kill them only to get barbecued for their troubles.  I've also considered the possibility of Daario Naharis and Jorah getting the Quentyn treatment, but with Barristan dying unexpectedly, I think it's unlikely another major member of Team Dany will die in this updated scenario.


WINTERFELL

22. What purpose will Brienne serve in proximity to Winterfell?


Roose Bolton and Sansa recognize her, so she can't be filling a Mance-like undercover role.  I still think that Yara Greyjoy will be captured by Stannis, so she can't fill that role either.  I can't quite put my finger on exactly what Brienne will end up doing, but I think she'll play a crucial role in Sansa's escape from Winterfell, assuming that happens.


23. Will Rickon re-enter the picture, as he does in ADWD?

It's entirely possible.  Jon and Sam should know that Rickon is still alive and Roose, Ramsey and Theon definitely do.  If word of this gets to Stannis, he may seek out Rickon, possibly tasking Davos with finding him.  Alternately, he could just randomly pop up at pretty much any time during the war in the North or never be mentioned again.


24. Which time-bomb will go on first and which explosion will have more impact on the story, Myranda or Theon?

We know that Theon will get involved, probably to protect Sansa and it seems obvious that Myranda won't handle her role in this triangle as well as Shae did, so suffice to say, shit will go down in Winterfell.


25. When and how will Ramsey's true nature be exposed to Sansa and what will happen in response?

We know that the true Ramsey will show up, but will he abuse Sansa or will Sansa witness him abusing someone else?  Reek?  Myranda?  The Winterfell worker?  A random extra?


26. Will Yara Greyjoy / the Ironborn make their presence felt this season?

She's been present in the last three seasons and she has a role to play this season, so it seems like she'll enter the picture at some point.


THE WALL

27. What will happen with Shireen this season?  Will it be connected to Selyse's distraught appearance in the second trailer?

Yikes, probably nothing good.  She's being left at Castle Black with her mother and her father won't be around to protect her if Selyse decides that she is going to sacrifice her to the Red God or something equally horrible.  If it happens during the Hardhome scenes, Jon might not be around to protect her either.  Would that upset Selyse and cause her to break down as she does in the second trailer?  Perhaps, if she came to her senses too late, though it's more likely she's received bad news about Stannis or Melisandre.


28. What will Samwell Tarley do this season and next?

I'm not ruling out the Citadel in Oldtown (and rumor has it that he consumates his relationship with Gilly in Episode 7) for next season, but there's no indication one way or another what Sam will do this season now that Jon is Lord Commander.


29. Who will die in Hardhome?

It appears that Jon and Tormund will survive, but of the other prominent wildlings and Night's Watchemen, some of them will have to die to make the impact of the battle feel real.  Rattleshirt seems like a definite candidate and Ed is possibly a goner as well.


30. Will "For The Watch" happen this season, will it involve Olly betraying Jon (and who else) and will it be left as a cliffhanger or be resolved this season / left for Season 6?

I think it will happen and Olly is being set up as one of the daggers.  I do think that Jon will be brought back or his survival will be strongly implied before the end of the final episode, though as I don't think his involvement in filming Season 6 could be kept secret.


MISSING PIECES

31. Will Euron Greyjoy be set up to appear in Season 6 / Will Balon Greyjoy die this season?

Maybe.  He seems like the most likely of the three, as Balon's death is required to avoid a major plot hole from Melisandre's prophecy.  Euron's rise to power could be detailed off-screen, setting him up to be a prominent figure in Season 6.  It's always possible that Daario has secretly been Euron the whole time (and it does work better than it would in the books), but that seems too silly to be possible.


32. Will Aegon Targaryen be set up to appear in Season 6 / Is Trystane Martell secretly Aegon Targaryen?

Maybe.  The actor playing Trystane definitely does look a lot like Viserys, but that could just be a coincidence.  I don't consider it likely that Aegon is involved in the show if he isn't Trystane, though and for that matter, I don't consider it very likely that he is him, either.  More likely, he's been written out of the show.


33. Will Lady Stoneheart be set up to appear in Season 6 / Ever?

Maybe.  There are many dangling threads left to be resolved in the Riverlands (the Brotherhood, the Blackfish, Gendry, the downfall of House Frey, and of course LS), but it doesn't seem like they will be touched upon this season, as there aren't any prominent characters in the Riverlands at the moment and Brienne and Jaime are otherwise occupied this season.