The new Game of Thrones trailer has raised more questions than it has answered, but amidst the madness there are a few clues about the major plot points for season six. Here's what we've learned so far...
Spoiler alert!
1. Jon Snow is dead – or is he?
This is something that has been on our minds since the season five finale – is Jon Snow (Kit Harington) alive or dead? While the trailer begins with a shot of his seemingly dead body, lying on the cold hard ground of Castle Black as we are told "he's gone", it might seem like that's the end of the mystery, but I haven't given up hope just yet.
Look closely at the scene of the Bolton horses charging at the Wildling army – there's a very Jon Snow-like figure riding a white horse in the centre of the screen. Granted, grooming isn't exactly at the top of anyone's list of priorities in the North, but I'm taking it as a glimmer of hope all the same.
While filming for season six was underway, Harington was spotted shooting a big battle scene – could this be it? He has recently said the only scenes he filmed were of his dead body, but his "I can tell you how long I'll be a corpse for" comment was a little telling – when he's finished being a corpse could this mean he's back to being alive? Is this a stretch? Perhaps.
2. The onion knight is up to something.
As the trailer goes on we see Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) standing in the snow looking down at what is surely a funeral pyre for Jon Snow being that he was in Castle Black at the time of his murder, and he doesn't look too happy about it. This could also be the site of Shireen's tragic, horrific murder, I'm not sure.
Later we see him in a room with Jon Snow's body and a number of guards, presumably members of the Nights Watch, and he takes Jon's sword out of its sheath as he says, "I've never been much of a fighter, apologies for what you're about to see." There's a bit of a question mark over what exactly he's up to here but I think he's trying to protect Jon from being burned on the pyre in order to enlist Melissandre's (Carice van Houten) help in bringing him back to life.
3. Melissandre needs a hero.
The first we see of the Red Priestess is her telling Davos "The great victory I saw in the flames – all of it was a lie." Melissandre, who backed the wrong horse in terms of thinking Stannis Baratheon was the incarnation of the God of Light, is in need of a new hero and Jon Snow could be just that. Hopefully Melissandre and Davos can put their differences behind them and sort out this whole Jon Snow business for the good of the Seven Kingdoms, but mainly for the audience.
4. Bran is back!
It's been a long time since we've caught up with young Bran Stark (Isaac Hempsted-Wright) and he's changed a lot in the space of a season. In the trailer we see him standing (!) and looking shocked by something. It's not long before we realise the look of shock is due to his presence in front of the Night King but surely this must be a vision/warg moment because how else would this take place?
I'm not exactly sure what's going to go down with Bran this season but I cannot wait to find out what he's been up to with the Three-Eyed Raven.
Sidenote: Where is Rickon??
5. Daenerys has seen better days
When things took a turn in Meereen, Daenerys escaped the riots on one of her beloved dragons and ended up being dropped off in greener pastures, a long way from home. It didn't take long for a hoard of Dothraki horsemen to descend on her and ever since those scenes aired we've been wondering what is going to go down when the Khaleesi is reunited with her former allies.
In the trailer we see her looking more like a prisoner than a returning queen as she is escorted to a new Dothraki land by a thousand or so men on horses. What this will hold in store for her I'm not sure.
Hot on her trail are her lover Daario and her friendzoned former confidante Jorah Mormont. The pair of them out on the road together in pursuit of the woman they love is sure to make for some interesting dialogue.
Also, dragons!
6. Tower of Joy
All of the speculation about Jon Snow's parentage might come to light if the Tower of Joy scenes deliver. The crew were spotted filming near a tower in Spain last year and many thought straight away that this would mean one thing – answers.
It has long be theorised that Jon Snow isn't actually Ned Stark's (Sean Bean) son at all, that he is actually the son of Ned's sister Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen. Lyanna was found dying inside the tower, which belonged to Rhaegar, after the events of Robert's Rebellion, with the theory being that she died in childbirth and asked her brother to look after her son.
In this new trailer, we see six unknown men – possibly Ned and five companions – in a sunny locale and they later clash with armed swordsmen wearing Targaryen armour.
The only flashback we've had so far came last season (when Cersei's childhood prophesy was revealed) and it worked really well, so it will be great to learn more about this event as it shaped so much of the story we've come to know.
If these scenes do reveal what we think it might, it really begs the question – can Jon Snow be dead? What would be the point in knowing his lineage if he's not going to be around? The implication would be lost.
7. Cersei chooses Jaime... and violence
Jaime (Nicolaj Coster-Waldau) is seen returning from Dorne with the body of his dead daughter/niece and while Myrcella's death is sure to be a big blow for Cersei (Lena Headey) who really only ever loved her children, it looks as though their incestuous relationship is very much still on if this teaser is anything to go by.
Jaime and Cersei have lost a lot but despite all of this, he tells her that "We're the only ones who matter, everything they've taken from us; we're going to get back."
Their son may be king but Tommen is weak and it will be interesting to see if they try to win back his ear or go in a totally different route to regain power. An injured lion is a dangerous thing.
Also, after the walk of shame episode last season, Cersei won't be pushed around by the High Sparrow or his followers, which is evident in her "I choose violence" statement. With the back-from-the-dead Gregor Clegane aka The Mountain aka Ser Robert Strong in her corner, we'd have her attitude too.
8. Margaery and the High Sparrow
Master manipulator Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) found herself locked up by the Faith Militant last season and it looks as though she's been having a rough old time of it. One for self preservation, it appears the queen has found a way of working her way into the High Sparrow's good graces as she is seen taking his hand on bended knee.
The implication of her alignment could be huge – we later see an army marching on the cathedral, if this is to save her, will she go or will she stay put in a bid to earn more power? We can't see her willing to live in Cersei's shadow again.
The Sparrow's message, "Every one of us is poor and powerless and yet we can overthrow an empire" is ominous to say the least.
9. The North will rise again
The Bolton's are looking worried in this teaser – or is Ramsay about to get in trouble with his dad for allowing Sansa to escape and for being a general evil individual? The fleeting glimpse at this pair doesn't give much away but the air of foreboding, the shots of the burning flayed man, and the hint at a big battle with the Wildlings have piqued our attention.
10. Another Stark returns?
We get a brief look at a Wildling being killed by a black-clad horseman with a ball of fire. I might be jumping the gun a bit here, but could this be Benjen Stark making his return? He was presumed dead back in season one after he failed to return from a ranger mission with the Night's Watch, but the men that stabbed Jon used news of him as a rouse to lure him into the darkness to be killed. Maybe this gentle reminder that he was missing was a set up for him to come back into the show?
11. The rest.....
There's something brewing in the Iron Islands – the Ironborn are out in force and there's a Theon lookalike getting his head shoved into a bucket of water. Same lookalike is also seen standing in the rain on a bridge.
Arya is still blind and it looks like she's really being pushed to breaking point in Braavos.
Tyrion's message, "You're part of the game now and the great game is terrifying" tells of Sansa's increased role in this season, and also his own precarious predicament in Meereen (which has explosions and all sorts going on within its walls) now that Daenerys is AWOL.
Brienne of Tarth is back and she's seen killing some soldiers that look really like the soldiers Theon is cornered by in the trailer – could they form a new duo? Sansa is seen running through the forest and Littlefinger is standing around looking like he's scheming as usual – will they find each other again?
One thing's for sure, Season Six looks set to be one of the best yet.
Game of Thrones returns in the US on April 24 with Sky Atlantic to simulcast the episode at 2am on April 25. The episode will then be repeated on Sky Atlantic later that day at 9pm.
