5 things we learned from an early look at ‘Game of Thrones’ season 5

Warning: This story contains spoilers for episode 1 of season 5 of Game of Thrones. 

BY TERRI SCHWARTZ

TV watchers still have to wait three weeks for Game of Thrones season 5 to arrive, but Zap2it was treated to an early screening of the first episode, titled “The Wars to Come,” at the show’s March 22 season premiere event in San Francisco.

The return of Game of Thrones kicks off with a bang right from the get-go, and though some major characters are absent from the premiere episode—sorry Arya fans, but she’s not in this one—there is plenty of intrigue to get audiences immediately immersed in the show again. To help ease the wait for season 5’s April 12 premiere, here are five teases from the first episode.

The new season starts by looking back

As speculated, season 5 kicks off with a flashback scene, and it’s important because it drives the motivations for a certain character through the season. Avid book fans be warned: The prophecy delivered is missing some elements from George R.R. Martin’s novels.

Charles Dance is back, but not in a flashback

A bulk of this episode takes place at Tywin Lannister’s funeral. Dance, who plays Tywin, makes an appearance in this episode. You do the math. 

Lancel Lannister returns

Consider this your reminder that Lancel Lannister is a character on Game of Thrones who you once sort of cared about. Back in season 1 he plotted with Cersei to get Robert Baratheon killed, and also was busy sleeping with the queen while she missed her twin brother Jaime. Lancel wasn’t seen again since season 2, but he’s back now and introduces an important part of the season.

Sansa Stark’s season 5 journey begins here

Just like it didn’t take long for Sansa to depart King’s Landing in season 4, she won’t be at the Vale long in season 5. She and Littlefinger leave the location by the end of the premiere, but it’s unclear to both the audience and Sansa where they are heading. 

There’s a big deviation from the books

Actually, there are a lot of deviations small and large in the season 5 premiere, but one in particular will really shock book readers. Remember how Martin teased there will be deaths in the show that aren’t in the books? That starts right with episode 1.

Game of Thrones season 5 premieres on April 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

Screengrab via HBO