A lot of new information has come to light since I first wrote these summaries, so my plan for the final summary (which I plan to post on the Saturday, April 11th, the day before the season begins) is to post my original final summary and then all my revisions, which are based on new trailers, leaks, interviews and analysis.
TYRION LANNISTER
Tyrion will travel with Varys to Pentos, where they'll meet with Magister Illyrio. The trio (Varys may not leave Pentos) will travel together until Tyrion leaves for Volantis, where he'll visit a whorehouse and be captured by Jorah Mormont. Tyrion and Jorah will be attacked by the Stone Men, who sink their boat. They will then be captured and sold into slavery. They'll escape into Meereen where Tyrion will ally himself with Daenerys. The two will plot together until the re-opening of the fighting pits, where Drogon returns and Daenerys flies out of the city on his back. Tyrion will remain in Meereen during the fallout and the upcoming battle in Season 6.
Final Edits:
I'm now convinced that Illyrio's mansion will be featured in Season 5, but Illyrio himself will be absent.
There's plenty of evidence that Varys will accompany Tyrion to Volantis (shots from Volantis in the trailers, the episode description for Episode 3). It's likely that he'll be handed off from Varys to Jorah in Volantis as well, though whether he's Jorah's prisoner or not (I think he will be) is still a mystery.
There's been no confirmation of the Stone Men or the Sorrows as of yet, though the Season 5 poster certainly hints at this scene. I think that the Sorrows will be moved to somewhere around Valyria for the show. It's possible that the Sorrows is what Tyrion is looking at in the second trailer, but only if the image of Drogon flying overhead is a fake-out.
There have been several instances of dialogue from the first four episodes referring to the "Stone Men Of Valyria", which feeds my theory about the attack happening near Valyria and possibly while Jorah and Tyrion sail THROUGH Valyria (though there's nothing to confirm that awesome possibility). The apparant death of Barristan Selmy and absence of Jon Connington from the story also makes it possible that Jorah contracts greyscale after the Stone Men's attack.
It appears that Jorah will be purchased as a gladiator / slave and Tyrion will persuade Yezzan to buy him as well for entertainment purposes. Tyrion will somehow win his way into Dany's graces, while Jorah will have to fight his way through the pits to earn her trust again (if it's even an option).
Tyrion is present at Daznak's Pit when Jorah fights, the Sons of the Harpy attack and Drogon returns. What, if anything else, happens to him in Season 5 is unknown.
JON SNOW
Season 5 will open with the Night's Watch holding the first votes to determine the new Lord Commander. Stannis will offer to legitimize Jon, make him the Lord Of Winterfell and betroth him to Shireen. Jon won't take the offer, at first due to his vows / the rights of his brothers and sisters and later because Samwell's intervention, Denys Mallister's death and Alliser Thorne's endorsement / refusal to allow Janos Slynt to ascend lead to Jon being elected as the Lord Commander (in Episode 2). Jon will behead Slynt for insubordination, send Sam, Gilly and Aemon to Oldtown, advise Stannis on winning the North, oversee the faked execution of Mance Rayder and form a fragile alliance with the wildlings that have crossed the Wall, with Tormund Giantsbane as a liason. Jon will have several interactions with Melisandre, culminating with her sending Mance on a mission to Winterfell to rescue Arya, who Melisandre believes is riding to the Wall. Jon will send a rescue party to Hardhome, which will end disastrously. His actions in response to Hardhome and the Pink Letter will lead to his betrayal and death in a chaotic scene at the end of Episode 10.
Final Edits:
I'm still not sure when (or if, I guess) Jon becomes Lord Commander, but it appears that he will be "tempted" prior to becoming LC, both by Stannis (with power and legitimacy) and by Melisandre (sexually, it appears, as there's a scene where Melisandre undresses in the first trailer and this scene is apparently connected to Jon).
The visions promotions finally paid off with a video of Jon consulting with Mance Rayder. It seems that Jon is trying to convince Mance to join Stannis' cause and bring his Wildling followers with him. This fits with alleged script leaks indicating that Stannis forced Jon to do this. If Mance says yes, Stannis is supplied with the army he gets in the Mountains in ADWD. If he refuses, Stannis and Mel will execute him, which may be what happens. Leaked information from the premiere indicates that he is executed and that is real rather than a switcheroo.
The major storyline at the Wall (after the LC election) appears to be a disastrous rescue mission to Hardhome. I don't know what happens between these two events, but it looks like most of ADWD will be dropped.
There's still no news of Sam's storyline this season. He hasn't featured in either of the trailers or any of the promotional material yet, so whether he stays at Castle Black, travels to Hardhome or gets sent elsewhere by Jon remains up in the air.
My best guess regarding "FTW" is that it will either happen and be resolved this season or be saved for next season. This is because I believe that Jon will be coming back in some form in Winds and there's no practical way of concealing his return in Season 6 if he's dead at the end of Season 5.
SAMWELL TARLY
Sam will use deception to get Jon Snow elected as Lord Commander. He'll be dispatched to Oldtown by way of Braavos, along with Gilly, a Dareon-equivalent and Maester Aemon, taking the mission with less distress than he did in AFFC. Before arriving in Braavos, he'll have new interactions with Davos and Salladhor Saan. In Braavos, Sam will be rescued by Arya, fight with Dareon and rescued by a captain who agrees to take him and his companions to Oldtown. After Maester Aemon dies, Sam and Gilly consummate their relationship, which Sam handles much better than he does in the books. His season will end somehwere in episodes 8-10, when his ship arrives in Oldtown, though I don't think we'll see any more of Oldtown than possibly a CGI rendering ala the show's Season 4 introduction to Braavos.
Final Edits:
Your guess is as good as mine. Other than some interviews where it's confirmed that Sam interacts with Stannis, he's been left out of the promotional materials, which either means that what he's up to isn't very exciting or is so amazing that it has to be kept completely under wraps. There is a report on a reliable sex / nudity scene web site that indicates that Sam and Gilly will consumate their relationship around Episode 7.
DAENERYS TARGARYEN
Season 5 will open with the attack on Stalwart Shield at some point during Episode 1, launching the Sons of the Harpy storyline. During Episode 1 and 2, Dany will deal with the ramifications of the SotH and Yunkai and Slaver's Bay will declare war against Meereen. Through the middle of the season, increased activity by the SotH and the beginning of the Yunkish siege on Meereen will prompt Dany to arrange a betrothal with Hizdahr zo Loraq. Around Episode 7, Tyrion and Jorah will present themselves in Meereen and be brought before Dany, who hears Tyrion's epic speech and is persuaded to allow him to advise her, though Jorah will still need to prove himself. Dany and Hizdahr will be married in Episode 8 or 9 and the fighting pits will re-open, with Jorah fighting for his life in order to earn his way back into Dany's good graces. During or after Jorah's fight in the pits, the Sons of the Harpy will stage a massive attack on the fighting pits, causing chaos and drawing Drogon to the fighting pits, causing mass devastation and the death of Hizdahr zo Loraq.
Dany will mount Drogon and the two will fly away into the Dothraki Sea. Barristan Selmy will rule in Meereen in Dany's absence with help from Tyrion, Missandei and Grey Worm while the SotH amplify their attacks and Yunkai prepares to attack Meereen. A deseperate Jorah Mormont attempts to free Dany's dragons, only to get killed for his efforts. Yunkai attempts to end the siege at Meereen by flinging corpses infected with the Pale Mare over the city walls, forcing Meereen to prepare for a battle that will start in Season 6. Season 10 will close with Dany wandering in the Dothraki Sea before being confronted by a khalasar led by one of Khal Drogo's former bloodriders.
Final Edits:
Leaked information indicates that the interaction with Drogon from the end of the second trailer will take place at the end of the 2nd episode.
Since Tyrion and Jorah appear to be sold into slavery in Episode 7, they probably won't meet up with Dany until Episode 8 or so.
Most surprisingly is that the promotional material provides no indication that Meereen will be under siege this season. Based on this, I think that the show will look to save time and money by replacing the Battle of Fire with the insurgency led by the Sons of the Harpy (the forces of Slaver's Bay will likely play a "Phantom Menace" type role behind the scenes). This will also eliminate the Pale Mare plot point. It's also unknown whether or not Dany will depart Meereen on Drogon or merely be taken by Drogon to a safe location. The Dothraki will play a major role in Winds, so it might not be possible to write them out of the story.
I do still think that Hizdahr will be killed in Episode 9 when the SotH attack Daznak's, but I no longer thing that Jorah Mormont will die this season. I'm not sure how the other dragons will be freed, but the reason I think Jorah survives the season is because I no longer think Barristan Selmy will survive this season.
The EW article reveals that one of the actors (confirmed as male) filming in Northern Ireland (confirmed as where scenes in Meereen are filmed, though it's also the location of Castle Black and some other locations) who is a book reader (which describes Ian McElhinney, who plays Selmy) found out that their character dies unexpectedly this season, even though he had a lot of remaining story in Feast / Dance (which does describe Selmy but not Loras Tyrell, another character who could die unexpectedly this season). Many speculators (myself included) think that Selmy will die in the Battle of Fire, either in combat or betrayed by pitfighters, so if the show is going to write around the Battle of Fire, killing Selmy this season makes sense and adds impact to Dany's storyline this season.
It has since been revealed that Selmy will definitely die at the end of Episode 4 (and possibly Grey Worm as well, though his fate is more up in the air) and that his death will be after one hell of a fight and a huge part of the mid-season climax.
ARYA STARK
The captain from Episode 10 of Season 4 will bring Arya to the House of the Black and White. Arya will agree to train as a Faceless Man by Jaqen H'ghar and the Waif. While training, she'll learn the history of the Faceless Men and witness petitioners asking for and receiving their gift (death). Arya's training will continue when she abandons her identity as Arya of House Stark (though she only hides Needle rather than throwing it away) and assuming the identity of Cat of the Canals. As Cat, Arya rescues Samwell Tarly from a pair of Braavos, but violates the rules of the Faceless Men by killing Dareon for deserting the Night's Watch, leading to her being blinded as a punishment (note: this may happen at the end of the season as punishment for killing Trant). After a few episodes of blindness, Arya will earn her eyesight back and be assigned a mission related to Mace Tyrell's mission to the Iron Bank, leading her to kill Meryn Trant, partially for her mission as a Faceless Man, but mostly as revenge for killing Syrio Forel. Her season will either end with the murder of Meryn Trant or with the fallout of that murder, seen from the perspective of Mace Tyrell or in Jaqen reprimanding Arya for violating the rules of the Faceless Men.
Final Edits:
It appears as though the scene with the Bravos (bullies) will be at the beginning of Season 5 and will not involve Sam. In fact, it appears that Sam won't be travelling to Braavos at all, so Arya won't save Sam or kill Dareon. This calls into question whether or not Arya will undergo blind training this season. It's possible she could be blinded as just another phase of her training or be punished for some other transgression (though it's not likely to be Meryn Trant, as Trant isn't expected in Braavos until late in the season) or never be blinded at all.
I'll call it right here and right now. Some variation of "What do we say to the God of Death?" will be used prior to the death of Meryn Trant. I'm not as confident in saying that Arya will be wearing the face of Mercy (or a Mercy-like character) when she kills Trant, but I do think it makes sense and definitely could happen.
CERSEI LANNISTER
Season 5 will open with Cersei dreaming about her encounter with Maggy the Frog, who gives her the Valonqar prophecy. The discovery of Tywin Lannister's body and his funeral will be in Episode 1 and that Cersei will dispatch Jaime to Dorne to bring Myrcella back to King's Landing in Episode 2 or 3. Olenna Tyrell will be returning this season for Tywin's funeral / Tommen and Margaery's wedding, which will happen before Jaime's departure. Qyburn and Pyrcelle will have larger roles this season than they do in AFFC and Qyburn's experiments with Gregor Clegane will be given a much larger focus than they are in the books. The High Sparrow should arrive early in the season and the Sparrows to cause trouble in the name of the Faith throughout the season. Cersei will order Littlefinger back to King's Landing early in the season and he should arrive mid-season. Cersei will meet with the High Sparrow mid-season and authorize the return of the Faith Militant and Poor Fellows. She will dispatch Mace Tyrell and Meryn Trant to Braavos to treat with the Iron Bank in Episode 5 or 6. Throughout the season, Cersei will frame Margaery Tyrell for treason. Margaery will be arrested around Episode 7 and Cersei to be arrested later that episode as the final scene of the episode. Cersei will remain in her cell until the Walk of Penance, which will take place either in Episode 9 or 10. After the Walk of Penance, Cersei will have a scene where the details of her trial by combat are laid out and she's introduced to her champion, Ser Gregor Clegane of the Kingsguard. One of the final scenes of the season, but not the final scene of Episode 10, will be the murder of Pycelle by Varys.
Final Edits:
Since the third episode's description features details on Margaery "enjoying" (nice, HBO, real nice) her husband, her wedding to Tommen will probably take place in the second episode, with Tywin's funeral taking place in the first.
Leaked information from the first four episodes does in fact indicate that there will be a bedding ceremony at Tommen's wedding and that their marriage will be consumated... repeatedly. I don't know what Tommen's current age on the show is supposed to be in Season 5, but HBO will likely regret Renly and Loras stating that Tommen was 8 back in Season 1, as this will probably be much more controversial if someone does the math. lol
Cersei will receive the threat from the Sand Snakes in the second episode (it will probably be revealed after Tommen's wedding) and dispatch Jaime to Dorne shortly thereafter.
The third episode of the season is called "High Sparrow", so that's when he'll make his introduction on the show, with Cersei visiting him for the first time at a soup kitchen for the poor. At this meeting, Cersei will allow the return of the Faith Militant and Poor Fellows.
Early trailers and leaked information show that the Faith will go after Littlefinger's brothels and Loras Tyrell. Tommen will try to demand Loras' release, but be denied by the Sparrows and retreat to avoid a riot. I speculate that Littlefinger will agree to shut down his brothels in exchange for setting aside Sansa's marriage to Tyrion, though he may get that just for testifying against Loras, the High Septon and other patrons.
As for Loras, things look grim. A scene from the trailer seems to show that Loras is on trial before the Faith and the Crown, with Loras sporting an unusual (imprisonment?) beard and attacking Littlefinger's consigliere Olyvar. My guess is that Loras is being tried for homosexual acts and Olyvar is testifying against him. I'm not sure if Loras will be imprisoned or executed if found guilty, but the Tyrell's tone in all preview material seems to indicate either is possible. Loras is gravely injured capturing Dragonstone in AFFC (or so the Tyrells claim), so if he dies in Winds, killing him in King's Landing this season isn't a major change.
There's been no indication that Margaery will be imprisoned as part of Cersei's schemes, so it's possible that the show might sub in Loras' trial in place of Marge's. That being said, there's also no indication that Cersei will be arrested by the Faith and we know that will happen, so Cersei and the Faith might go full on against the Tyrells this season, after all.
THEON GREYJOY / YARA GREYJOY
Theon's S5 story will begin as the Boltons are establishing themselves in Winterfell and welcoming Northern Lords and armies to the castle for Ramsay's marriage to either an impostor Arya Stark or Sansa Stark. Theon will vouch for the authenticity of Ramsay's bride at their wedding. I can't say at this time whether or not the bedding scene will happen, as that will depend on who the bride is. Theon will continue to be tormented by Ramsay and have small interactions with random Northerners and Dreadfort men. While walking through the Godswood, Theon will see Bran Stark's face in a weirwood tree and hear him say "Theon", partially restoring his identity. Theon will assist Mance Rayder in his plan to rescue fArya, leaping out of a window into the snow piling up around Winterfell.
Yara's S5 story will pick up in Deepwood Motte, which is held by Yara and her Ironborn soldiers until Stannis' forces arrive, capture Deepwood Motte and take Yara hostage. Stannis' forces march on Winterfell in the midst of a blizzard that forces them to wait at the Crofter's Village, where Theon is brought after being captured by Northern soldiers allied with Stannis. Theon will be held prisoner and have conversations with Stannis and Yara while Stannis makes the final preparations for the battle and Roose Bolton sends out his first wave of troops.
Final Edits:
Theon's story will have more drama this season as it's confirmed that Sansa Stark will be returning to Winterfell. Leaked information shows that Sansa will be betrothed to Ramsay Bolton this season and travel to Winterfell to marry him as Sansa Stark. What happens from here will resemble a version of what happens in ADWD, with Sansa standing in for several Northern Lords and fArya and the forces from the Vale eventually betraying the Boltons in battle against Stannis.
I also expect Theon to rescue Sansa after her wedding this season as the climax of his storyline, which will end with him being reunited with Yara in Stannis' camp.
There are reports of an ambush on Stannis' forces during their march to Winterfell. I think that this will be Ironborn forces lead by Yara Greyjoy and that this attack will take the place of the battle in Deepwood Motte.
DORNE / JAIME LANNISTER
Jaime's story will open with the funeral for his father, Tywin Lannister. Shortly after the funeral and Tommen and Margaery's wedding, Cersei will show Jaime a package received from Dorne containing a snake holding Myrcella's necklace in it's fangs. In response, Cersei will send Jaime to Dorne to rescue Myrcella.
Before Jaime arrives in Dorne, Doran Martell will meet with three of Oberyn Martell's bastard daughters, known as the Sand Snakes, Nymeria, Tyene and Obara and Oberyn's paramour Ellaria Sand. Each will present a plan for revenge against the Lannisters that Doran rejects.
The Sand Snakes and Ellaria sneak Princess Myrcella out of Sunspear, intending to crown her and start a war between Dorne and the Lannisters. The scheme will go badly due to the intervention of Areo Hotah, Jaime Lannister and Bronn. Myrcella and Obara Sand will be killed in the confusion.
In the aftermath of the Queenmaker plot, Doran Martell will meet with Varys as they finalize their conspiracy to betroth Prince Trystane to Daenerys Targaryen, arranging a marriage and Dornish alliance to be enacted when she arrives in Westeros. After explaining the plot to Trystane, Ellaria and the remaining Sand Snakes, Doran dispatches Nymeria to King's Landing to take his seat on the Small Council and Tyene to King's Landing to infiltrate the Faith Militant, while Ellaria and Trystane remain in Sunspear to prepare for the arrival of Dany.
Final Edits:
There hasn't been much more revealed out of Dorne. I'm still wavering on whether or not Myrcella will die this season, as there's been a lot of speculation that Tommen might instead, so all bets are off. The same goes for the Sand Snakes, as it is possible that a shot from the HBO Asian trailer could show Ellaria and all three Sand Snakes addressing Doran after their failed plot, meaning that they survive said plot (though it's also possible that it's from before the plot, though their body language does seem to indicate far more respect that they'd show at the beginning of the season).
SANSA STARK / BRIENNE OF TARTH
Early in Season 5, Sansa Stark will interact with Brienne of Tarth, rejecting her offer of protection and either dismissing her or sending Vale guards after her. From Brienne, Sansa will learn that her sister is still alive, though she'll later learn that her sister has been found and will be marrying Ramsay Bolton at Winterfell. After Littlefinger leaves the Vale for King's Landing, Sansa will continue to plot revenge against the Lannisters.
Brienne will locate Sansa and after failing to join her service as a protector, she'll be forced to leave the Vale and be pursued through the Riverlands. At some point she'll have lengthy interactions with an elderly woman who may or may not be based on Septon Maribald. At this time, I don't know the direction her story will take, but it's possible that she might be on some sort of mission involving Sansa, Arya or Jaime.
Final Edits:
Leaked information from the first four episodes indicates that Brienne will chance upon Sansa and Littlefinger at an Inn (Brienne's dumb luck on the show is the polar opposite of her lack of forturne finding either Stark in AFFC), have her offer rejected and then gets chased off by knights of the Vale. She then decides to travel north to Winterfell (there's a scene in a promotional video showing Brienne and Pod looking at Moat Cailin). What happens on their way there and when they get there and how that will impact Sansa, the Boltons and Stannis remains to be seen and will be one of the most fascinating wild-cards of Season 5, as she's sworn oaths to kill Stannis and protect Sansa.
STANNIS BARATHEON / DAVOS SEAWORTH
Stannis and Davos will spend the first half of the season at Castle Black, treating with Jon Snow and the Night's Watch. They will depart from Castle Black (leaving Melisandre, Selyse and Shireen at the Wall) and reappear at Deepwood Motte, defeating the Ironborn and capturing Yara Greyjoy. Their forces will then march on Winterfell in the midst of a blizzard, settling at the Crofter's village and preparing to do battle with the Boltons and Freys that are stationed in Winterfell. Their Season 5 storyline will end with the capture of Theon Greyjoy. At Castle Black, Selyse Baratheon will attempt to sacrifice Shireen Baratheon, only to be stopped by Melisandre, who is setting Selyse up for some mysterious purpose.
Final Edits:
There really hasn't been anything new from the Stannis storyline, as he sticks pretty close to the ADWD storyline until he leaves Castle Black. It does seem that Deepwood Motte will be replaced with an Ironborn surprise attack on the road to Winterfell. It's also possible that Melisandre accompanies Stannis to Winterfell, but I still think she'll stay at Castle Black.
Davos remains one of the most intriguing characters this season as his (and Samwell's) Season 5 activities have been kept pretty hush-hush.
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