Macall B. Polay/HBO
But even in this Black and White situation, there are shades of grey.
"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die — there is no middle ground."
That iconic catchphrase from HBO's Game of Thrones comes from none other than Cersei Baratheon (Lena Headey), the King's Landing queen who is much more lion than stag, all the way back in season one… and judging by the newest look at the show's upcoming season, she might come to rue those words.
The Hollywood Reporter has an exclusive first look at a new Game of Thrones season six character poster, depicting Cersei's smirking severed head mounted inside the House of Black and White — the very same assassin organization currently employing Arya Stark, and the same location that was heavily featured in the most recent teaser trailer for the show.
The House of Black and White is the home of the Faceless Men, dealers of death who can change their faces and form thanks to their secretive arts. There's a great room inside the Braavos-based establishment called the Hall of Faces, where assassins like Jaqen H'ghar and even Arya can wield different faces as disguises.
Eddard Stark, his wife Catelyn, son Robb, and even his bastard Jon Snow were seen inside the Hall of Faces in an earlier teaser for season six, a monument to their tragic deaths. But several still-alive characters were seen in the Hall as well, including Cersei's brother Tyrion, among others — a signal that every head is up for grabs in the new year.
For her part, Cersei's life is in as much danger as anyone's. At the end of season five, she was publicly shamed and marched naked through the streets of King's Landing, all part of the run-up to her impending trial for crimes of incest. Could the manipulative Queen Regent finally meet her end in the coming season, executed by the High Sparrow and his confederates? It's either that, or victory. As Cersei says, there's no middle ground.
The new look at Cersei is just one of many season six character posters the @GameOfThronesTwitter account is unveiling in the coming hours. The show returns to HBO on April 24.
Check out the exclusive poster below:
