Game Of Thrones: 7 Storylines Season 5 Decided To Skip

7. Coldhands

Right off the bat, it's got to be said that this one wasn't really skipped. And it wasn't in Season 5 either. That's because it happens to Bran, and his book-adapted story has finished - and we haven't seen him for a whole season. This storyline might have been the answer to keeping him around.

Instead of being captured at Craster's Keep, Bran, Hodor, Meera and Jojen are taken from the Wall to the three-eyed crow by the mysterious Coldhands, who rides on a Giant Elk. He dresses like a man of the Night's Watch, but doesn't seem to breathe or feel the cold. His hands are black with congealed blood. He's definitely dead, but not like the undead wights - he can still speak and think for himself.

And that's it. Why is this so important you might ask? Because Coldhands is just (unintentional pun) cool. He adds so much more mystery to the show, particularly speculation about his true identity (fan-favourite theory is that he is Benjen Stark, though GRRM has denied this). It doesn't look like much, but including Coldhands might have allowed Bran's storyline to continue into Season 5. At this point, he probably won't appear in Season 6 or beyond - but we hold out hope for at least a cameo, perhaps to help Bran on the next part of his journey.