Since shows and movies have been using Comic Con as a means for promotion, they have two directions in which they can take their presentation. One is to preview the upcoming production with clips and cast member reveals. The other is to celebrate the season that was. And with the season having just ended six weeks ago, the GoT panel leaned heavily towards the latter, featuring many actors whose characters came to an end during Season 4, but with just a small taste of what is to come next spring to keep fans interested. Here are five key developments from the Game of Thrones Comic Con session.
1. A final goodbye to characters lost
Rose Leslie (Ygritte), Pedro Pascal (Oberyn) and Rory McCann (The Hound) all had a seat on the panel with a chance to share their final thoughts on being on the show (though can we say that with certainty about the Hound)?
2. More Stannis
Stannis was an afterthought for much of season 4 as the Lannister’s played out their drama in King’s Landing. But with Stannis now at the Wall, expect to see him a lot more of him in Season 5, according to the producers. (Yay???)
3. NEW CAST MEMBERS!!!!
Not only do we have the names of new characters, but a name and face of the actor who will play them. The theme with the new castings appears to be Dorne, the home of the late Oberyn Martell. All but two of the new characters revealed currently reside in Dorne. Here’s a brief listing and description of the new characters. The video below introduces the actors who will play the characters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH2ri8RhSnw
Doran Martell- Prince of Dorne and the Red Viper’s brother.
Trystane Martell- Doran’s son who is pledged to Myrcella Baratheon.
Myrcella Baratheon- Not a new character, it’s just been awhile since Tyrion shipped her off to Dorne, and a new, older actress will play the part.
Areo Hotah- The Captain of Doran Martell’s guards in Dorne.
Yezzan- A wealthy slave trader in Dany’s territory (and I am sure the two of them will get along splendidly).
Nymeria (Nym) Sand-Oberyn’s second daughter
Tyene Sand- Oberyn’s third daughter
Obara Sand- Oberyn oldest daughter
High Sparrow- The highest religious officer in King’s Landing (religion should be a key factor to events in Season 5)
4. That’s all the cast members???
While it is exciting to see the faces that will play some of the new key roles in the world of Westeros, this list comes up painfully short. There are so many new story lines not covered with this list. Tyrion and Arya are crossing the Narrow Sea and only one of these characters is even over there. Someone will have to greet them. And much more in the book that happens in Westeros requires the introduction of new blood into the story. But it is only July. And many of the characters that still need to be introduced may have not been cast, may be minor cast members that are being held back for now, or may not have their storylines introduced until season 6. But if you know any book readers out there, don’t be surprised if one of them complains about at least one character or more who was not mentioned in the video.
5. “The show is the show and the book is the book.”
This was a direct quote from George R.R. Martin when asked whether people should stop watching the show if they ever pass the books. I may be reading too much into this, but does this mean that the direction of the show will be going farther away from the source material from this point forward? And if so, how much farther? Will it be like two different stories? With all the different directions Martin takes his story in book’s 4 and 5, the show might not have a choice. Martin also said he will not be writing a script for this season (he usually writes one or two per season) so he can focus on finishing Winds of Winter, the next book in the Song of Ice and Fire Series (which we book readers have all be so patiently waiting for).
(Editor’s Note: This article was written by Jeff Merrick.)