'Winds of Winter' spoilers: Things that 'Game of Thrones' TV series did not spoil

Even though many readers were concerned about “Winds of Winter” spoilers being featured on “Game of Thrones” Season 6, there are still many elements that the TV series has not spoiled. There is still plenty of story left for the fans to find the book a refreshing read.

[Spoiler alert]

One big character that came back in the TV series was Benjen Stark (Joseph Mawle). There are striking similarities between the new Benjen and a character in the book series simply referred to as Coldhands.

However, as previously reported, author George R.R. Martin has already confirmed to his editor that Coldhands is not Benjen. So, the mystery of what happened to the old Stark still remains in the books, and this story will be different from the TV series.

Barristan Selmy (Ian McElhinney) is still alive in “A Song of Ice and Fire.” He is busy managing the defence of Meereen in the absence of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). A sample chapter of “Winds of Winter” that Martin teased previous showed the old warrior preparing to battle the Yunkai, who invade the city from the sea.

In the books, the Iron Fleet comes to the rescue of Meereen. The sample chapter was from Barristan’s point of view, and he doesn’t quite know who is leading the attack from the Iron Islands’ side.

Another big event in the TV series is the return of Arya (Maisie Williams) to Westeros. The first thing the Stark girl does is take revenge on the Freys for the Red Wedding. However, there is still no sign of Lady Stoneheart on the show. In the books, however, the revenge is slower, as the Brotherhood without Banners picks up one Frey after another and punishes each one for the Red Wedding.

Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) didn’t get many lines in “Game of Thrones” Season 6. “I drink and I know things,” is what the character said on the show and that’s pretty much what he was seen doing; playing drinking games. The character is admittedly the favourite of Martin, who may have some witty dialogues for the character in “Winds of Winter.”