Game of Thrones at Comic Con 2014: George RR Martin tells the cast "Don't ask for a raise."

Wise words for the actors hoping to last another season or two, especially as the television series doesn't necessarily follow the books exactly. Some characters that are still very much alive in George RR Martin's world are already dead to us watching the HBO hit. Who is safe from Martin's mind AND the minds of the show's creators? No One! Don't ask for a raise indeed!

Over 130,000 people converged on Comic Con in San Diego this year. That's the largest turnout ever for the three day event where Hollywood unveils its upcoming film and television shows to a eagerly waiting fan base. What started as a gathering place for geeky comic fans who come in full costume has become much broader; it's not just for Batman freaks anymore. Ordinary, everyday crowds aren't my thing; crowds so large you have to camp out overnight for a chance to get into a coveted panel? No way. 

Instead, since this is my slacker Sunday, thanks to technology, we'll check out the Game of Thrones panel without dealing with the crowds.

Craig Ferguson hosted the discussion featuring George R.R. Martin, the show runners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss along with many of our favorite dead and still living - for now - Game of Throne characters; Oberyn (Pedro Pascals), Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), Gwendolyn Christie (Brienne of Tarth), The Hound (Rory McCann), Masie Williams (Arya Stark), Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), Rose Leslie (Ygritte) and Samwell Tarly (John Bradley). 

Ferguson, a huge fan himself, opened up the panel for discussions early on, fielding a fast and funny lineup of fan questions. The panel doesn't go really deep, but it's a great time, with lots of laughter, not something we get much with the show itself, obviously.

The panel also introduced the new characters we'll be seeing in Season 5:
Keisha Castle-Hughes (Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith, The Whale Rider)
will play Prince Oberyn Martell's eldest bastard daughter, Obara Sand, a fearsome warrior in her own right.

Jonathan Pryce is joining the cast as the High Sparrow, a pious man whose fellow believers have swarmed King’s Landing, ministering to the lowest and decrying the corruption of the highest. 

The additional new cast members are Alexander Siddig as Doran Martell, Toby Sebastian as Trystane Martell, Nell Tiger Free as Myrcella Baratheon, DeObia Oparei as Areo Hotah, Enzo Cilenti as Yezzan, Jessica Henwick as Nymeria (“Nym”) Sand, and Rosabell Laurenti Sellers as Tyene Sand.

Enjoy!

Part two