Watch a new behind-the-scenes video featuring the cast and crew of Game of Thrones, which gives us new looks at season 3.

In the video, showrunner David Benioff explains that this season is “the rise and fall season,” because “there are so many characters who come into the season with power of some kind, to lose everything.”

Meanwhile there are other characters, “who enter with almost nothing and achieve great power.”

Co-showrunner D. B. Weiss adds that, “there are a lot of tremendous new characters coming forward and we’re very excited about the way that new blood shakes up the picture for the people we’ve already come to know and love.”

Actress Diana Rigg, who plays Olenna Tyrell, teases some “bold scenes” that were great fun to do, while Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) talks about the way the show keeps expanding. “You know, we kill a lot of characters, but for every character we kill we add two more,” he jokes.

Richard Madden, who plays Robb Stark, says that the story is, “running at full speed, and every episode comes in at that pace.” Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) talks about the stakes being raised, and how “loyalties start to be torn apart.” She adds that, “the strength of this show is that nothing is ever completely sacred.”

Another newcomer, Ciaran Hinds (Mance Rayder), shares his thoughts on the show as well, saying that, “so far it seems to be operating fantastically.” Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark) says that she is, “really excited about keeping the story going, and the momentum, because in this world, nothing goes unanswered.”

“It’s still very much about power and very much about about family,” Weiss says. “I also think that this is the season of tremendous reversals of fortune, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised and horrified in equal measure.”

Concluding the featurette, Benioff says that it is “incredibly gratifying to have made it this far and to be able to get to the season that we’ve been looking forward to so passionately since day one.”

Game of Thrones season 3 premieres March 31 on HBO!