This season we were introduced to two new characters from Dorne: Prince Oberyn "the Red Viper" Martell and his paramour, Ellaria Sand. Now Winter Is Coming have uncovered these character descriptions for season 5, and it appears they'll be joined by a whole host of their Countrymen and women next year. There's nothing too
SPOILERY, but if you haven't read the books and don't want to know anything about future events you may want to pass.
Prince Doran Martell – Doran is described as the major new player this year, appearing in multiple episodes. The fiftysomething prince uses a wheelchair, is reclusive and rules wisely. It appears the show is looking to continue the trend it started with Pedro Pascal, and cast Latino actors for the Martell clan.
Prince Trystane Martell – Trystane, the handsome fiance of Princess Myrcella, is being aged up to 18.
Areo Hotah - Doran’s personal bodyguard will appear throughout the season, assisting the prince with his duties. The show is particularly looking for a black actor to fill the role.
The Sand Snakes, Oberyn Martell’s bastard daughters (with ages ranging 18-25):
Obara Sand – The eldest and most athletic Sand Snake will be having a major fight scene with a series regular character- not one who crosses her path in the books. This is an interesting change.
Nymeria Sand – Nymeria is described as “mixed race,” with her father being the fairer Oberyn and her mother being darker skinned. The second oldest of these Sand Snakes, she’s beautiful, emotional and very strong.
Tyene Sand - The youngest of the Sand Snakes that we meet uses her wits and seductive powers, and is less of a physical fighter than the other Sand Snakes. She is just as deadly as her sisters, however, but her weapon is poison.
High Sparrow - The books’ pious head of a religious movement will be appearing in several episodes in season 5.
Septa Unella – The show is looking for a character actress to play the imposing and unrelenting septa who spends a lot of time with a major series character next year.
Maggy the Frog - A fortune teller in A Feast for Crows, she’ll be in one episode next year.
Lollys Stokeworth – Just last week in “Mockingbird,” Bronn announced his intention to marry Lollys, whom Tyrion considers “dimwitted.” It looks like the sellsword will still be around next year
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Yezzan - A sleazy Meereenese slave owner.
The Waif – The strange child from the books that Arya encounters will likely be played by an older actress, one in her later teens, and we understand the show is specifically looking for a woman of East Asian descent for the part.
Some interesting stuff here. Obviously the nature of George R.R. Martin's narrative structure in the fourth book in his Song Of Ice And Fire saga means that season 5 of the show won't simply be a direct adaptation of "A Feast For Crows", but it seems we'll be meeting characters (such as The Waif) that are only introduced pretty late into the fifth book, "A Dance With Dragons". Also, in the books after Bronn says farewell to Tyrion he all but disappears from the story for the time being, but his new wife Lollys being cast means that they've obviously come up with a way to keep the vicious git in the show's fifth season (yay). Book readers may wonder where the likes of Arianne Martell (daughter of Doran) is, but Winter Is Coming points out that some of the new roles may already be cast and that's why they don't show up here. I can't wait to see who'll be playing most of these characters, particularly the Sand Snakes.
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