'Game Of Thrones' Season 5 Episode 9 Preview
Get ready for the second-to-last episode of "Game of Thrones" Season 5. Episode 9, "The Dance of Dragons," could feature some big surprises. HBO

The biggest episodes of a "Game of Thrones" season tend to be the ninth episode. Whether its "Baelor," "Blackwater," "The Rains of Castamere" or "The Watchers on the Wall," fans have come to expect something big from the penultimate episode of the season. "Game of Thrones" Season 5, episode 9, "The Dance of Dragons" follows up the incredible "Hardhome," but there could be a few surprises left for fans.

[Warning: "Game of Thrones" Season 5 spoilers ahead.]

How do you compete with an episode that has the Night's King raise an undead army and a massive battle at Hardhome? That's no easy feat, but "The Dance of Dragons" is shaping up to be an incredibly tense hour of television. The "Game of Thrones" Season 5, episode 9 preview sees the return of the rescue party from Hardhome. Jon Snow and Tormund survived and brought back hundreds of Wildlings and Wun Wun the giant. Alliser Thorne is unhappy about these developments and will likely serve to make Jon's life difficult at Castle Black.

Dorne's storyline has mostly been in the background, but it looks like we'll see more of Prince Doran Martell in "The Dance of Dragons." Jaime Lannister and Bronn are being held in Dorne after a failed kidnapping attempt of Myrcella Baratheon. If Doran is talking to Jaime in the preview, that's a huge moment as these characters have yet to meet in George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. Considering the changes made to the Dorne storyline -- no Arianne Martell or Quentyn Martell -- Doran's words may have even more significance as we learn what's next for House Martell.

Across the Narrow Sea, Arya is on her first mission for the Faceless Men and Daenerys is reopening the Meereen's fighting pit. Based on past previews, it's likely Jorah Arya's task may become more complicated based on the released details for "Game of Thrones" Season 5, episode 9. "Stannis (Stephen Dillane) confronts a troubling decision. Jon (Kit Harington) returns to The Wall. Mace (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) visits the Iron Bank. Arya (Maisie Williams) encounters someone from her past. Dany (Emilia Clarke) reluctantly oversees a traditional celebration of athleticism," reads "The Dance of Dragons" synopsis.

A blizzard is impeding Stannis' march toward Winterfell and it looks like he may have some trouble on his hands based on a scene in which a camp is on fire. Ramsay did say he needed just 20 men to handle Stannis' army; could he play a role in this scene?

Director David Nutter teased some big moments from "The Dance of Dragons" in an interview with International Business Times. "With the amazing reaction the 'Hardhome' episode got, I think that similar size of reaction will be very, very evident -- and maybe even more -- and quite powerful," Nutter said.