The fifth season of "Game of Thrones" returns to HBO on Sunday with the episode "The Wars to Come."
The episode will see Cersei and Jaime trying to adjust to a world without their father Tywin, who was killed in the season 4 finale by his own son, Tyrion, while in the North Jon Snow gets caught up between two kings -- Stannis Baratheon and Mance Rayder.
Spoilers also indicate that one familiar character will bite the dust in the season premiere, and George R.R. Martin too earlier hinted that a number of characters who are still alive in the books will be killed off in the television series.
According to spoilers, the death will be bloody as well as spectacular, and speculations are rife that casualties could include both Robyn Arryn and Shireen Baratheon.
So what can we expect from the first few episodes? According to spoilers, there will be a major change in power in Westeros, as the death of Tywin will force others to try their hand at gaining control from the Lannisters. The season will see Cersei's downfall and her walk of shame, and Jaime will head out to Dorne, giving us an opportunity to learn more about the Sand Snakes and the Martells.
Lord Varys, who helped Tyrion escape after murdering his father, will finally reveal to whom his true allegiance lies, forcing Tyrion to travel across the sea and pledging his loyalty to the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys. Although the two do not meet in the books, the show is diverting from its source material this season.
The character of Arya will take a dark turn as she is set to begin her training at the House of Black and White. Chances are the youngest Stark is going to be trained as an assassin.
Here's the official synopsis of the episode: "Jon Snow is struggling to balance the demands of the Night's Watch with those of the newly arrived Stannis Baratheon, who styles himself the rightful king of Westeros.
"Meanwhile, Cersei scrambles to hold on to power in King's Landing amidst the Tyrells and the rise of a religious group led by the enigmatic High Sparrow, while Jaime embarks on a secret mission.
"Across the Narrow Sea, Arya seeks an old friend and a fugitive Tyrion finds a new cause.
And as danger mounts in Meereen, Daenerys finds that her tenuous hold on the city requires hard sacrifices."
