Eight possible surprise deaths in Season 5 of Game of Thrones

Season 5 is less than two months away, and it feels like everyone involved with the show is teasing us about what happens. Kit Harrington talked about “huge set pieces” and said one scene took a month to film. John Bradley said fans will feel “double-crossed.” Emilia Clarke promised Youtube reaction vids. Now George Martin is taking his turn, warning us about surprising deaths:

“People are going to die who don’t die in the books, so even the book readers will be unhappy. So everybody better be on their toes. David and D.B. are even bloodier than I am.”

Who could be next to lose the Game? Many candidates stand out as potential victims. Read on to find out which characters we think are most likely to see their final days on Westeros in Season 5….

FATAL SPOILERS AFTER THE BREAK

Loras Tyrell

In A Feast for Crows, Cersei sends Loras to Dragonstone to dislodge Stannis’s remaining forces from the island. He’s said to be horribly wounded in the ensuing siege, victim of both crossbow quarrels and boiling oil, although we never actually see him in this state. Whatever is left of Loras won’t be quite so pretty anymore, but he is still technically alive when we last hear about him.

With the Kettleblacks apparently cut from the show, Cersei and Margaery need more direct fuel for their feud. If Loras is outright killed in action following Cersei’s command, it would deepen the gulf between the queen regent and the queen. Loras hasn’t had much to do since Renly was stabbed in the heart by shadow Stannis. The last we saw of him, he was nodding off during Tyrion’s trial. We also know he’s getting into a physical confrontation with zealots in King’s Landing. His fading arc could wrap up this season.

Myrcella Baratheon

It seems more and more likely that Oberyn Martell’s paramour, Ellaria Sand, will play the role of uncast Arianne Martell on the show. In A Feast for Crows, Arianne attempts to crown Myrcella queen in order to start a war between the Martells and the Lannisters. In the books, the “Queenmaker” plot fails and Myrcella is wounded in the ensuing brawl. Afterward, Myrcella plays no pivotal role in the story. Dorne seems destined for war with King’s Landing in both versions of the story. If David and Dan want to get them to that point sooner, they could kill Myrcella to force the war.

Jaime Lannister

Jaime’s role in Season 5 is unclear. In the books, Jaime plays peacemaker, visiting the last holdouts from the War of the Five Kings to give them terms of surrender. In the show, we know he will visit Dorne instead, with the knighted Ser Bronn in tow. Will he play the role of Kingsguard member Arys Oakheart, who is seduced by Arianne into helping her crown Myrcella in the books? It seems unlikely that he would turn against Cersei and his son. But it’s possible that he could die saving Myrcella from Ellaria and her Sand Snakes.

In the books, Jaime’s role moving forward into The Winds of Winter is unclear. The last we see of him, Brienne seems to be leading him into a trap set by Lady Stoneheart and the Brotherhood Without Banners. But with Lady Stoneheart most likely cut from the show, David and Dan may have no use for the Kingslayer in Season 6.

One fan theory claims that Jaime is half-Targaryen: that Tywin is not his real father because the Mad King raped Jaime’s mother. If so, that makes him eligible as one of the prophesied “three heads of the dragon.” Jaime’s death would be very unhappy for proponents of that theory.

Bronn

Through four seasons, Bronn has been the ultimate survivor. He is one of the better Game players — he acts only when it is to his distinct advantage and only then. He says what’s on his mind so people trust what he says. He makes no qualms that he will serve whomever can reward him best. I don’t see him taking any unnecessary risks in Dorne.

In the books, his story is essentially over once he abandons Tyrion and marries Lollys Stokeworth, although he is amusing as an off-page irritant to Cersei Lannister. David and Dan have decided to send him on a mission with Jaime instead. Bronn is now a knight in service to the queen, and things are expected of him that a simple mercenary could walk away from. His ambition could prove his undoing.