SAN FRANCISCO -- You've been patient for a year, GoT fans, and the wait is over. Westeros is back -- and bloody as you like.
The stars of the hit HBO series -- those who've managed to survive George R.R. Martin's liberal use of the blade, anyway -- gathered at the War Memorial Opera House on Monday for the U.S. premiere before a screening of Season 5's first episode.
As actors streamed across the black carpet, indulging our Game of Thrones geek-outs, we fired up our brand-new Meerkat app and livestreamed the festivities.
Author and show producer Martin was unimpressed by the technology: "I'm not into hot new apps," he chuckled. "I write on Word Star on a DOS machine. We need more DOS apps."
We asked as many stars as we could who they would play on the show if they could choose any character other than the role they inhabit. Some were reluctant, not wanting to detract from their friends' work on the show, others loved their own role so much they couldn't choose another -- but many joined in the fun and the results (below) are surprising.
Jerome Flynn, who plays the lascivious sell-sword Bronn, gave us a bit of a teaser on Arya Stark's Season 5 trajectory. "I love Arya's character," he said. "Her journey, in this season too, from everything I hear, is really going places."
"I'm kind of nervous to how people are going to react," Maisie Williams, who plays Arya, confirmed. "She's got a new look, she's working with new people, new locations, new outfits. It's not the same little feisty Arya."
Everything has changed for the show's beloved characters, who are scattered across the fantasy landscape, but the first episode of the new season retains the foundation we know and love. Plenty of blood, dragons' flames, and nudity to go around.
From Daenerys to Bronn to George R.R. Martin himself, cast photos and tidbits about their favorite series characters are below -- Spoiler alert: nobody chose the white walkers.
Game of Thrones Season 5 kicks off Sunday, Aril 12, on HBO.
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Bonus: Meerkating the Season 5 premiere