Season five of Game of Thrones promises more nudity, sex, action and shock deaths

WITH the new season of Game of Thrones debuting tomorrow, viewers are being told to expect the unexpected — as well as the usual sex, sexism, violence and death.

TV Guide first use April 12: Do not publish. Game of Thrones Season 5. DaenerysTargaryen-EmeliaClarke. Picture: HBO

WITH at least four major characters filming their final ever scenes, 300 speaking parts and 10 episodes shots in five locations around the world, Game of Thrones’ fifth season promises to be its most dramatic yet.

“There are huge shocks this season, I mean you know how shocked people were at the Red Wedding?,” Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, says. “It will kind of be like that this time, there’s some really intense stuff happening this season.”

New season, new faces ... Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton, Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton and Elizabeth Webster as Walda Frey. Picture: Helen Sloan/HBO

Any plot that can top the Red Wedding — the most brutal scene in four years of Thrones with the slaughter of many lead characters — promises to be one well worth watching.

But just because you’ve read the books, it doesn’t mean you know what’s going to happen: the scripts don’t follow the books strictly in sequence or even in storyline and character with several departures.

Unpredictable story paths ... Conleth Hill as Varys and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. Picture: Helen Sloan/HBO

And such is the production size, actors generally just read their own scripts and parts and look forward to seeing the final series themselves to work out how it all fits together and which friends they can expect to see on set the following season.

“Fans come up to me and say, ‘Do you know what’s going to happen? No? Well I do, I do.’ But they don’t,” says actor Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy).

A wretched character ... Alfie Allen in an earlier season as Theon Greyjoy.

The series has come under criticism from some quarters for its portrayal of women, sex and violence, but Turner says its entirely justified by the show’s context.

“I think it’s all very necessary,” she says. “None of it is gratuitous. It’s the way women in those days had their way in the world through the sex. The violence — it’s Game of Thrones! People are fighting for power, they’re not just going to sit down and have cups of coffee or read a magazine together. They are going to fight it out!”

Warriors ... Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne and Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth. Picture: Helen Sloan/HBO

The show’s breakout star Emilia Clarke, who has earned award nominations every year for her sensational portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen, now rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms, agrees with her co-star.

“We’re not showing a modern day environment,” says Clarke.

“We’re showing for all intents and purposes a medieval environment whereby the roles of women and men are much more separate than they are today. So within that genre it gives them more liberties to be more sexist toward women. But at the same time any female character that rises above that situation within that time, the repercussions are tenfold more than would be today. So in that sense I think they have both going on. Sex is part of life so it’s throughout the show.”

The role that made her name ... Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen. Picture: HBO

Breakout star ... Emilia Clarke at a season five premiere event in San Francisco. Picture: George Nikitin, Invision/AP

The 28-year-old, soon to also star as Sarah Connor in the Terminator reboot, dropped out of drama school and was working for a catering firm when Thrones casting agents saw a show reel and cast the unknown in the lead role. She is now one of the most sought-after actors in the world and credits her success now to being cast in such a strong female role.

Ultimate villain ... Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie). Picture: HBO

“I think that I’ve been very lucky to play a character that has some relatable qualities,” she says. “You get to see someone on a journey (and) you can place some of your personal journey upon that. Seeing someone rise out of circumstances that might have kept them down otherwise is inspiring. People like to see a character do well.”

She adds things were easier this time around for her.

“It’s quite funny, only in this latest season I’ve sort of relaxed into it I suppose. I’ve now been able to see it for what it is begin to realise exactly where I am,” she says.

Winning team ... Emilia Clarke, centre, with the creators and executive producers of Game of Thrones, David Benioff, left, and Dan Weiss. Picture: George Nikitin, Invision/AP

CAST KEPT IN THE DARK

Back in season two, Game Of Thrones already a huge hit and Alfie Allen was handed a script in which his character Theon Greyjoy was finally killed off after frequent near misses.

“I’ve got to be honest I was genuinely pleased and I thought ‘wow that was a great way to go’,” Allen says, revealing he was to be stabbed in the heart by noble boy Bran Stark.

Other lead characters had already been killed off and their unexpected demise has been a hallmark of the show that has made it such a hit with viewers.

He’s a survivor (so far) ... Kit Harington plays Jon Snow on Game of Thrones. Picture: George Nikitin, Invision/AP

But the script turned out to simply be a joke by writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss. Allen explains that’s one reason he believes keeps the fans so engaged ¬¬ because not even the actors know what’s coming up.

Kit Harrington, who plays Jon Snow, was also given a fake script that had his pretty looks and long mane of hair burnt off, the producers joking he was just too good looking to continue in the production. He too continues to live to fight another season.

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