7. The Night's Watch vs The Wildlings
Jon Snow will have plenty to do in seasons three and four as he continues to feign his defection from the Nights Watch, becoming conflicted in the process as he finds love with Ygritte and meets the oft-mentioned and charismatic king-beyond-the-wall, Mance Rayder. Played by veteran actor Ciaran Hinds, Rayder, along with the dark humoured clan chief Tormund Giantsbane, is the pick of several new willing characters joining the cast, as the conflict between their numbers and the men of the watch escalates, culminating in an unforgettable battle that sees significant losses on both sides, whilst the consequences of a mutiny and the emergence of the continued threat of the zombie-like white walkers seen at the end of Season 2 ensures that nothing remains simple for either. Stannis Baratheon is also incorporated into this element of the story, giving his righteous campaign for the throne renewed hope after his crushing defeat at the end Season 2, as moral compass Davos Seaworth continues to fight the influence that the priestess Melisandre wields over his monarch.