Five moments from A Dance with Dragons (and beyond) we can’t wait to see in Season 5

While developing Season 4, David Benioff admitted that “Season 5 gives him nightmares.” Adapting the notoriously lengthy and meandering middle of the Song of Ice and Fire saga certainly presents the biggest storytelling challenge of the entire series.

For fans who are worried that the show will skew too far from the books’ narrative, David and Dan have said they are “drawing heavily from books 4 and 5.” But will they pull it off? “Now that we’re nearly finished with the first drafts of each episode,” they told Entertainment Weekly, “we see no reason why the coming season shouldn’t be the strongest yet.”

The Season 5 trailer is out and we at WiCnet could not be more excited for it. It doesn’t give much away, even for book readers, but that won’t stop us from speculating! We have compiled our favorite moments from Feast for Crows and Dance with Dragons that we are hoping to see–and seem likely to see–this year, given what we know so far.

ASTOUNDING AND IRREVOCABLE SPOILERS AFTER THE BREAK

5. Arya’s new face

Although I love the books, I know that David and Dan can and will improve some of the storylines in their adaptation. One of the major problems with Arya’s Braavos storyline is how slow it feels. However, that’s likely just because she has so few chapters: five total in books 4 and 5 combined. She accomplishes quite a lot in those chapters, however, and I believe this plotline will benefit immensely from being presented in a single season of the show.

We know from the trailer that Arya will arrive at the House of Black and White. Season 5 will most likely include major moments from her time there. While Arya’s blindness will cause grief for the Unsullied, book readers know that it is just a temporary part of her training. George does enjoy playing with our emotions, doesn’t he?

A possible climax for Arya’s arc in Season 5 could be the moment she receives her face from the kindly man. This scene serves as both a reveal of the Faceless Men’s magic and a huge stepping stone in Arya’s chosen path as a trained assassin, in service to the Many-Faced God. The room of faces is one of the creepiest places in this fictional world, and I can’t wait to see it brought to life.

4. Cersei’s Walk of Atonement

Chapter 65 in A Dance with Dragons is one of the most difficult to read in the entire series. George loves to take away the things his characters need most: Ned’s honor, Robb’s home, Cat’s children, Jaime’s sword hand–the list goes on and on. For Cersei, her pride, her knowledge that she is better than the common people, is a critical part of who she is. The High Sparrow’s septas chip away at that pride during Cersei’s captivity, but the real trauma comes when she is forced to walk naked through King’s Landing to atone for her sins. By the end she is utterly broken, a far different woman than the Queen Regent who ruled the Seven Kingdoms in all but name after her father’s death.

In the book, this scene is relentless. On television, it may very well be worse. Even those who think she’s a terrible person will have to feel sympathy for her as she collapses at the Red Keep.

We know from set photos that the scene has been filmed. It is likely to be highly dramatic and vast in scope, with plenty of extras to pelt Cersei with insults, laughter, and dung. I can’t wait to see Lena Headey’s portrayal of Cersei’s rage, disgust, and humiliation. If she nails it, this scene could very well earn her some awards.

3. Essos and Westeros collide

Will Tyrion finally meet Daenerys? It’s one of the most anticipated moments in The Winds of Winter. At least, we assume they will meet. George certainly teased it enough in Dance with Dragons, but the novel never arrives at their introduction.

The mind-blowing pic at the bottom of this post seems to indicate that Tyrion will in fact join forces with Daenerys in Season 5. Varys also points us in that direction in the trailer, but we aren’t sure when or how it will occur.

Book readers and Unsullied alike have been clamoring for Dany’s story to intersect with the characters in Westeros for many years now. We’ve had some minor connections so far, such as the poisoned wine in Season 1, Ser Barristan’s arrival in Season 3, and Tywin’s letter to reveal Ser Jorah’s treachery in Season 4.

Those moments could be nothing compared to what may happen when Tyrion’s and Dany’s stories cross. What will they think of each other? Will they find friendship? Mutual loathing? An alliance of convenience? Will Tyrion help Dany, or undo her? We will almost certainly find out in a few months.

2. The Night’s Watch mutinies

Game of Thrones has had no shortage of shocking moments. Jon’s “death” at the hands of his own sworn brothers could be the biggest since the Red Wedding.

We don’t know yet if Season 5 will include this moment. All we know about Jon’s story so far is that he will fight in a complex action sequence, possibly at Hardhome, and that he will interact with Stannis and Melisandre. It’s very likely that the Night’s Watch will elect him as Lord Commander this season. But will that be the end of his arc in Season 5, or will David and Dan take us all the way to his apparent murder? (One minor clue–the casting of Bowen Marsh).

If so, endless reaction videos will feature the weeping and wailing of the Unsullied. Book readers will scour the scene for clues about Jon’s ultimate fate, which we are not likely to know until The Winds of Winter is released, or possibly beyond. The mutiny of the Night’s Watch made a tremendous cliffhanger for the end of Dance with Dragons, and I can imagine it as the final scene in Season 5. Unless that scene belongs to —

1. The Great Pit of Daznak

If any scene from Dance with Dragons is season finale material, it’s Dany’s confrontation with Drogon in the Great Pit of Daznak. From leaked photos and the trailer, we know that this scene is definitely part of Season 5, and it’s going to be even crazier on the screen than it was on paper.

Tyrion’s jousting routine is likely cut, since Penny has not been cast and we’ve received no hints of it. Jorah, however, will definitely fight in the Pit. That should be riveting enough, but it seems like a widespread uprising against Daenerys will erupt here also. This is far more exciting than the book’s attempted poisoning, and I am dying to see how it all plays out.

Who will help Dany put down this uprising? A certain large, angry, man-roasting dragon may be the answer. If Drogon takes umbrage at the commotion, then we will almost certainly see Dany tame and then ride him as she does in Dance with Dragons. It’s one of my favorite sequences in the entire series. I’m hoping that David and Dan will make Daznak’s Pit absolutely astonishing. Maybe we’ll even get to see the Pit in IMAX someday…Either way, Season 5 can’t get here soon enough!

• Published on 02/06/2015 at 8:00 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 1:06 PM CDT