Number of Episodes Main Cast Appears

[Jack Bauer 24]

The Best to Worst Actress in my opinion:

Maisie Williams

Michelle Fairley

Sophie Turner

Lena Headey

Rose Leslie

Carice van Houten

Gwendoline Christie

Nathalie Emmanuel

Emilia Clarke

Oona Chaplin

Hannah Murray

Sibel Kekilli

And to be honest, we probably will see Lena the most again this season out of the main female characters.

Where's Dormer?

[alcasinoroyale]

Where's Dormer?

Just added her.

[Karene]

I love Lena Headey - I am a bit surprised that most people don't rank her higher. I'd cheer her being in all 10 episodes. I initially found it hard to embrace the on-screen changes to Cersei's character, evident from Series 1 onward, because I preferred my moronic psychopath from the books. Once I realized that D&D were going to make her MUCH more sympathetic, I managed to love both versions of Cersei because Lena Headey makes the character so fun to watch. Possibly having her stark-raving mad and cold at best wouldn't have made for a compelling TV character - they had Joffrey for that. At times her character's actions and speeches are inconsistent - but this is the fault of the script, not Cersei. (Example: hating Margaery with a passion, but including a scene where Cersei genuinely appeals to Margaery for help during Tommen's coronation. The scene is clearly not meant to be a ploy of Cersei's and is even out of step for a character who loves her children as Cersei does.)

I've noticed most people who watch the show (but not to the extent of reading the books) are divided on Daenerys, with some thinking her acting "awful" and others thinking of her as appropriately sweet-faced and exciting. Sophie Turner as Sansa got a LOT of nasty feedback on her acting in the early days, and it was amusing to see all the men I know get excited about Sansa in the next season now she's got dark hair. A sexy scene walking down the stairs is all that's needed, apparently. (I think Sophie Turner does a fine job, though a darker, saucier Sansa would fit the actress's real-life persona better.) I'm thinking Sansa and LF will have around 7 episodes. Daenerys will have 8 or so.

Maisie William's performance is probably the best, particularly considering her age. I'd predict 7 episodes for Arya.

Natalie Dormer's character has been sweetened up considerably by D&D (does anyone else feel there was no way book-Margaery was unaware of Joffrey's death plan?) and will probably appear in about 6 episodes, but may be referenced by Cersei in more episodes than that.

Well, we're pretty sure Sibel will appear in zero episodes, but I'm a bit surprised by how lowly-rated the actress is. The one grating thing I can think about her is her loud bossy voice. I wonder if Oona and Sibel get less favour as actors because their characters were changed so much from the books?

Something about Carice irritates me that I can't put my finger on. I'm open to changing my mind on that one, though, after I saw her gaze at Jon through the flames in the final episode of the last series. Having Melisandre interact with Jon Snow will give the latter much more interesting stuff to do. At least a distrustful and confused Jon Snow is different to the usual mopey Jon Snow. I'd say we'll see around 8 episodes with Jon Snow and perhaps all of them including, or referencing, Melisandre.

[midi]

I love Lena Headey - I am a bit surprised that most people don't rank her higher. I'd cheer her being in all 10 episodes. I initially found it hard to embrace the on-screen changes to Cersei's character, evident from Series 1 onward, because I preferred my moronic psychopath from the books. Once I realized that D&D were going to make her MUCH more sympathetic, I managed to love both versions of Cersei because Lena Headey makes the character so fun to watch. Possibly having her stark-raving mad and cold at best wouldn't have made for a compelling TV character - they had Joffrey for that. At times her character's actions and speeches are inconsistent - but this is the fault of the script, not Cersei. (Example: hating Margaery with a passion, but including a scene where Cersei genuinely appeals to Margaery for help during Tommen's coronation. The scene is clearly not meant to be a ploy of Cersei's and is even out of step for a character who loves her children as Cersei does.)

Nah, they are just playing up her good qualities so that bringing her down (with madness) will be even more fun for the audience. They like to do that, it's not just with Cersei.

[Lion_Eyes]

I love Lena Headey - I am a bit surprised that most people don't rank her higher. I'd cheer her being in all 10 episodes. I initially found it hard to embrace the on-screen changes to Cersei's character, evident from Series 1 onward, because I preferred my moronic psychopath from the books. Once I realized that D&D were going to make her MUCH more sympathetic, I managed to love both versions of Cersei because Lena Headey makes the character so fun to watch. Possibly having her stark-raving mad and cold at best wouldn't have made for a compelling TV character - they had Joffrey for that. At times her character's actions and speeches are inconsistent - but this is the fault of the script, not Cersei. (Example: hating Margaery with a passion, but including a scene where Cersei genuinely appeals to Margaery for help during Tommen's coronation. The scene is clearly not meant to be a ploy of Cersei's and is even out of step for a character who loves her children as Cersei does.)

I've noticed most people who watch the show (but not to the extent of reading the books) are divided on Daenerys, with some thinking her acting "awful" and others thinking of her as appropriately sweet-faced and exciting. Sophie Turner as Sansa got a LOT of nasty feedback on her acting in the early days, and it was amusing to see all the men I know get excited about Sansa in the next season now she's got dark hair. A sexy scene walking down the stairs is all that's needed, apparently. (I think Sophie Turner does a fine job, though a darker, saucier Sansa would fit the actress's real-life persona better.) I'm thinking Sansa and LF will have around 7 episodes. Daenerys will have 8 or so.

Maisie William's performance is probably the best, particularly considering her age. I'd predict 7 episodes for Arya.

Natalie Dormer's character has been sweetened up considerably by D&D (does anyone else feel there was no way book-Margaery was unaware of Joffrey's death plan?) and will probably appear in about 6 episodes, but may be referenced by Cersei in more episodes than that.

Well, we're pretty sure Sibel will appear in zero episodes, but I'm a bit surprised by how lowly-rated the actress is. The one grating thing I can think about her is her loud bossy voice. I wonder if Oona and Sibel get less favour as actors because their characters were changed so much from the books?

Something about Carice irritates me that I can't put my finger on. I'm open to changing my mind on that one, though, after I saw her gaze at Jon through the flames in the final episode of the last series. Having Melisandre interact with Jon Snow will give the latter much more interesting stuff to do. At least a distrustful and confused Jon Snow is different to the usual mopey Jon Snow. I'd say we'll see around 8 episodes with Jon Snow and perhaps all of them including, or referencing, Melisandre.

I completely agree with you about Lena. She is very underrated and I have liked her since I seen her in Aberdeen complete with a very convincing Scottish accent (and she comes across very well in interviews). I have no issue with the apparent softening up of her character - all the unsullied viewers I know get that she is meant to be an antagonist and surely between manipulating Ned and that perfect smirk when the awesome Oberyn died confirms that. And I do think D&D are gonna show her go full tilt crazy - I mean she has already tortured Ros for no good reason (in the books she does it because Tyrion took Tommen), threatened Marg and Tywin (only the scariest man in Westeros), had sex with Jaime in the Lord Commander's tower, the increasing drinking (sure she was randomly drunk in one of the eps) and the whole argument with Tyrion back in Season 2 where she smashes the glass and shoves him over. So yeah she is crazy! And her telling Tywin she would burn the house (er.. you live in a keep) before marrying Loras made for some excellent foreshadowing.

I generally sit in the positive camp with regards to Emilia. Ok I disagree with her being nominated for an Emmy in 2013 (because she plays the most famous female character I don't know..) more because it snubbed the likes of Lena, Michelle and Maisie (Gwendoline is excellent as well but I dunno if she gets enough screen time). In Season 1 Emilia was incredible she portayed all the different sides of Dany perfectly. It was just Season 2 I was meh about but then I largely think it was a writing issue and none of the slavers would ever be intimidated by her outdoor voice! Ok in the book Dany is 13 so it must work! And she is amazing anytime she speaks in high Valaryian weirdly.

I have generally though Sophie has been excellent (before her "makeover"!) She can do so much with a facial expression whereas others need dialogue to act the part. She was heart breaking in the jousting dwarves part at the Purple Wedding. My only issue with her in Season 1 was in the pilot when she was whining about Joff but I think that was a writing thing. Its hard to say you want to grow up to be the Queen and not sound like a brat.

Maisie is amazing and her age makes it more remarkable. Admittedly I think the part of Sansa would be a lot harder to play that of Arya.

I reckon Marg was beefed up to justify getting Natalie in the role. She apparently auditioned for another part then got this one so they had to do something with her. Marg is another character who is only ever described in the POVs of other characters so is hard to place. And because of the obvious age difference between Marg and the Lannister/Baratheon brothers in the show she'd have looked like a right muppet if all her Granny's schemes went on with her oblivious. I feel that show Marg and the High Sparrow will get on well and I feel her and Cersei's scenes next Season could get right bitchy!

I thought Sibil was pretty bad and I feel bad saying that but she was. It wasn't the whole broken English/she's a porn star thing I don't care about that! I kinda got the feeling that she didn't speak English well enough to portray some of her lines - Nicolaj Coster Waldau and Carice Van Houten obviously don't speak English as a first language but are clearly fluent in it. And CVH has the exotic accent thing going on without sounding like its a struggle whereas NCW kinda speaks in his interpretation of an English accent so it can work both ways. And that Shae the funny whore was painful! Her curtsey at the Blackwater was pretty funny though and she was oddly ok with Sansa. Maybe it was just because Peter out acted her. Thank god she never had any scenes with Charles Dance! :frown5: I never had anything against Oona other than that she took screen time for the gloriously underrated Michelle!

I like CVH I think she has the mysterious sexy side of Mel nailed and I agree she will make Jon (the Wall has never really done it for me)'s story more interesting with Stannis

[Barristan Whitebeard]

Based on the information we have so far (source material, interviews, leaks from the shooting, that crappy Sight Teasers, etc.) my prediction is:

10 Episodes: Jon Snow.

9 Episodes: Cersei.

8 Episodes: Daenerys, Tyrion.

7 Episodes: Arya, Jaime, Margeary, Stannis, Jorah, Daario, Missandei.

6 Episodes: Myrcella, Trystane, Doran, High Sparrow, Pycelle, Sansa, Littlefinger, Theon, Roose, Ramsay, Jaqen, Obara, Tyene, Nymeria, Hizdahr.

5 Episodes: Loras, Bronn, Tommen, Qyburn, Sam, Melisandre, Davos, Thorne, Edd, Yezzan, Areo Hotah, Ellaria, Tormund.

4 Episodes: Varys, Barristan, Grey Worm, Lancel, Meryn Trant, Janos, Olly, Olenna, Myranda, Bowen Marsh, Kevan (If he is in)

3 Episodes: Robin, Brienne, Podrick, Yara, Gilly, Selyse, Shirheen, Mance Rayder.

[FireAndBlood.]

It was me who edited the wikipedia page. I just wondered how people will react to new information on wikipedia. It was also fun to make predictions about the new season. I am sorry if I caused confusions or misunderstandings. By the way all numbers are my predictions. I don't know anything about S5 you don't know.

In future please refrain from editing Wikipedia pages with information you know to be false. It is not there for you to make your predictions.

[Annara Snow]

Ah fair enough then! I am not sure if you are meant to update Wikipedia without predictions but och well :ohwell: (ok actually I now see you have taken them down)

I mostly agree with you though. You don't realise how some of the characters aren't in the season as much as you think they are. If we were going by the books I would think that Tyrion would maybe only be in 8 episodes like last season but the showrunners do love him. I think Stannis will feature a lot more this season as he is with Jon.

Is 3 episodes the least a series regular can do? Since there were regulars with 3 episodes last season, I will use that as the minimum.

10 episodes: None - there are too many different storylines to keep track of

9 episodes: Cersei, Jon

8 episodes: Jorah, Tyrion, Arya, Dany

7 episodes: Littlefinger, Jaime, Doran, Missandei, the Sand Snakes, The High Sparrow, Bowen Marsh

6 episodes: Sansa, Margeary, Theon, Stannis, Sam, Varys

5 episodes: Davos, Daario, Jaqen,

4 episodes: Brienne, Roose, Gendry, Melisandre, Loras

3 episodes: Yara, Gilly

I don't know who in the more minor characters are regulars and who aren't!

I believe Stannis and Theon must be in more than 6 episodes, as they both have huge storylines. Melisandre and Roose must also be in more than 4 episodes. With Davos, it depends on what exactly he's doing.

On the other hand, I don't see why LF would be in 7 episodes, unless they add him in some unnecessary brothel scenes, again. He doesn't even have Varys now to have repetitive snarkfests with. Unless he starts having repetitive snarkfests with Olenna.

[WheelofIceandFire]

I just wanted to say that i think its funny that most people expected Sansa to be in 6/7 episodes yet she will be in at least 9 and has had more screentime than anyone besides Lena and Kit.

I honestly think that the storyline and screentime they have given Sansa this season has done more harm than good for the character

[Borodin]

I honestly think that the storyline and screentime they have given Sansa this season has done more harm than good for the character

It's been a terrible departure from the book characters and plots. The whole season has suffered because the show-runners were by their own admission obsessed with having Sansa abused by Ramsay. So much for Sansa learning the art of politics from Littlefinger. So much for her character arc.