Game Of Thrones Theories: 10 Epic Season 5 Moments Still To Come
8. A Kingly Return From The Dead?
Since they were over-run by Stannis' forces at the end of Season 4, the Wildlings have been painfully underused. They had a stand-out moment with the "death" of Mance Rayder, but since then, Tormund Giantsbane and his fellow hairies have been caged animals pushed to the background.
That will change when John Snow makes it to the Wildling encampment in the East in episode 8, which will see the introduction of new characters (including Pitch Perfect 2's Birgitte Hjort Sørensen) and a telling return for a key figure from the books.
And crucially, that might mean that a low suspected book thread might actually be happening: the revelation that Mance Rayder isn't actually dead, and was in fact magically swapped with an underling by Melisandre.
The Evidence:
Having disappeared for almost two years, that key character - Rattleshirt - is back, performed by a new actor (which so far has coincided with a more crucial role for other characters). It is he who stood in for Mance on the pyre, and while there needs to be some narrative bridging it wouldn't be massively shocking to see the show follow that thread.
Either way, Rattleshirt's reappearance is good news for a show now lacking in iconic warrior types. And hopefully he'll give Giantsbane a new lease of life as well.