HBO teases ‘Game of Thrones’ season six – The Daily’s predictions for what’s to come

Writer's note: Warning! Spoilers for “Game of Thrones” season five to follow.

HBO released a slew of new images last week from the upcoming sixth season of “Game of Thrones” (2011–present), just before a teaser for the new season leaked on Sunday, with anticipation now at a fever pitch ahead of the show’s April premiere. “Game of Thrones” (GoT) is indisputably HBO's highest profile show, and the network needs to knock this season out of the park.

HBO Now, the network’s paid streaming service, formerly HBO Go, which was exclusively a value-add for those with a cable subscription, became available to everyone last year, a long overdue move. But despite belatedly embracing the shifting landscape of television, HBO Now is struggling and the network is doubtless hoping that “Game of Thrones” will give the embattled service a shot in the arm. Stakes are high going into the show’s next season, especially because the show is straying into uncharted territory as its story passes beyond its source material.

The show has increasingly diverged from the books over the past couple of seasons, but the books were always something of a guide to how the show would unfold in broad strokes. The glacial pace of George R.R. Martin’s writing has left even die-hard book fans without any concrete idea of what to expect next, making season six perfect fodder for idle speculation. With that in mind, here are The Daily’s almost entirely baseless predictions for what will happen in season six.

Sansa – Becomes A Vengeful Puppet Master

Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) began the series as one of “Game of Thrones’” least likeable characters. In season one, Sansa was a naïve, empty-headed girl who resented her rustic Northern roots and yearned for the beauty and music she imagined she would find in King’s Landing. Sansa played the foil to her younger sister Arya (Maisie Williams), a tomboyish misfit, who needled (pun intended) her at every turn. Sansa’s misplaced loyalty to her monstrous betrothed, Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) in season one led to the death of her direwolf and arguably her father and most of his household.

Sansa has endured years of torment at the hands of her many jailers, but her ordeals, though often seemingly thrown in for shock factor over plot, have hardened her and given her an unparalleled knowledge of intrigue and manipulation. Sansa ended season five jumping over the walls of her childhood home, Winterfell, with Theon “Reek” Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) in an attempt to escape Ramsay Bolton. Assuming she and Theon aren’t recaptured in short order, Sansa’s flight from the Boltons (likely towards the Wall) will subject her to prolonged hardships. Expect a very different Sansa to emerge this season—now a cold calculating character ready to use her experiences to take vengeance upon all those who have wronged her and her family.

Schrödinger’s Jon

Jon Snow (played by heartthrob Kit Harington) was stabbed repeatedly by traitors at the end of season five, and his survival (as in the books) is by no means certain. Fan speculation about Jon’s survival has been high after repeated sightings of Harrington around the “Game of Thrones” set and the release of a poster featuring the actor. It seems unlikely that GoT’s writers would kill off the character played by a fan favorite like Harrington. Snow’s backstory—that of the bastard who rises to power and (potentially) saves the day—is a tale as old as the hills. The smart money is on Jon returning this season and meting out retribution to his would-be assassins.

Khaleesi looks west

“Game of Thrones” has been building towards Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) assault on Westeros since the outset, with her three dragons at the tip of the spear. Daenerys ended season five lost in the wilderness, surrounded by a group of Dothraki after an impromptu flight on one of her dragons.Daenerys’ attempts to impose justice on a profoundly unjust world were always one of GoT’s more interesting aspects (even if Clarke’s delivery occasionally lacks the force one expects from the Mother of Dragons), and it seems doubtful that the show’s writers would let her languish in captivity for more than a few episodes. Daenerys finally landing in Westeros would make for a powerful season finale, so it is likely that she will return from the wilderness, quash the unrest in Meereen and move on to the Seven Kingdoms in short order.

“Game of Thrones,” like its source material, is always unpredictable on account of the writers’ willingness to condemn cherished characters to horrible ends. Whatever happens, it will doubtless be an emotionally-fraught pleasure to watch season six unfold.