I think the hope is that all of the political machinations going on will eventually effectively tie in to the Seven Kingdoms' response to the white walker threat. It will somehow matter significantly who is on the iron throne when the others arrive, whether it be Dany's dragons or Stannis's allegiance to the Lord of…

I would say Peter Dinklage just got himself an Emmy, but it really should be Mads Mikkelsen. Sadly Hannibal will likely be snubbed.