Fans of HBO's "Game of Thrones" are eagerly anticipating the season five premiere on April 12. Apart from the intriguing political jockeying and scintillating action sequences, it is the unknown that has viewers so excited for this new season. The show is rapidly catching up with George R.R. Martin's series of novels, making it quite possible that the show will even surpass the books in certain storylines this season. Both show watchers and book readers alike will be venturing into known territory at some point this year.
Fan favorites are in more danger than ever with potential surprises around every corner. Martin has even admitted that the TV series will kill off characters that are not dead in the books.
So which characters could be on the chopping block (literally)?
(Warning: This may contain possible spoilers for season five of "Game of Thrones")
1. Jaime Lannister
Who would have thought that this incestuous and murderous villain would become one of your favorite characters? I guess Westeros is just strange that way.
But Jaime's time may be coming to an end on the show as his storyline this year is deviating completely from the books. Martin has Jaime sent to the Riverlands while the show appears to be sending him to Dorne with Bronn.
"Judging by the glimpses of this storyline seen in the trailer, it looks to be fraught with danger," Brandon Jacobs of WhatCulture.com wrote. "The Sand Snakes, composed of Oberyn's 8 bastard daughters, are out for blood; surely the Kingslayer will make a worthy prize. And with his daughter Myrcella in danger as well, Jaime will have to protect her, which could mean giving up his life."
2. Littlefinger
What is Littlefinger up to? His lust for power is obvious but his means for attaining it are still a bit unclear. He's got control of The Vale, he has Sansa Stark at his side, he mostly operates from the shadowy background. Shouldn't that mean he is relatively safe at the moment? Or will the source of his attraction ultimately lead to his downfall?
"If Sansa grows cold from her experiences, she could easily take advantage of Littlefinger's weakness for her and kill him," Jacobs wrote. "This is especially true if she ends up finding out about his role leading up to the destruction of her family."
3. Jorah Mormont
Going from the Khaleesi's right hand man to a life-long banishment has to be considered a demotion regardless of what faction you support. But, hey, that's the way the lemon cake crumbles in "Thrones."
Mormont has made plenty of enemies - both in Westeros and around Mereen - so it's fair to wonder how long he will last now that he has been exiled. He can be seen in what appears to be a gladiator-type battle in the season five trailer. Is his death this year inevitable?
"This outcome seems entirely possible because no one has any idea at this stage what role, if any, Jorah will play in the end game," Jacobs wrote. "If he no longer has an integral part to play in the overarching story beyond this point in the books, it would be fitting for the show to kill him off in an emotionally satisfying way."
