Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 6 "Blood of My Blood"

Season six continues to race along with "Blood of My Blood" an episode with interesting turns, returning characters, and revelations. First, there's some stuff we don't see. The northern plot takes the week off as Jon, Sansa, and company make their way to whichever loyalist northern houses they are going to recruit. Brienne and Pod are also unseen, presumably making her way to the riverlands. Theon, Yara and the Greyjoys also get the week off. The show also is without a Ramsey scene for the third week in a row, which is not a bad thing as a little Ramsey goes a long way.

We start with Bran and Meera in a precarious situation with Meera dragging Bran's wooden stretcher through the snow with wights on their heels. Bran is unconscious and still stuck in his weirwood vision. We experience his visions as a series of cuts of important moments in Westerosi history including some shots of the Mad King Aerys, the father of Rhaegar and Danaerys Targaryen. This season has been great about showing us some of the legendary characters who were important players in the story's history. Aerys, in addition to being generally insane, murdered Ned Stark's father and brother in particularly cruel fashion. He has been frequently mentioned in the show but this is our first look at him. He had previously been featured in an unseen version of the Game of Thrones pilot but this appears to be a different actor and footage shot for season six.

As the wights close in on Meera and Bran, he regains consciousness to witness their rescue by a hooded figure. In a later scene he reveals himself to be none other than Benjen Stark a character-aside from a couple of flashbacks this season-not seen since season one when he failed to return from a Nights Watch ranging. Benjen is the younger brother of Ned Stark and a former member of the Watch who, like Jon, presumably is exercising the death clause in his vows. Last season we were teased with his return in a particularly trollish "Previously On" segment, although there was no mention of him on the one before this episode so it looks like there are still some surprises to be had.

In any case it was great to be treated to a second Stark reunion this season. Benjen explains that he was stabbed by a Walker and left for dead only to be rescued by the Children of the Forest who used obsidian to revive him to his current (undead?) state. It seems he has been serving the Raven since then. Not only does Bran now have a Stark to look after him but one who likely has a lot of useful information at his disposal. Perhaps he can shed some light on a certain weirwood vision...

The Benjen reveal answers a lot of longstanding book questions about the whereabouts of this character. The books feature a character named Coldhands, who is a creature related to the White Walkers but who also serves the Raven and who escorts Bran and friends from the Wall to the weirwood cave. There has been a lot of theories about this character's identity and, for, show purposes, it is Benjen although it may be different in the books. Interestingly, in the books, Coldhands is unable to pass through the Wall due to magic that prevents the dead from crossing it. Bran may or may not still be marked by the Night's King which could cause serious problems if he passes through the Wall, so Benjen's knowledge could come in handy.

Sam and Gilly arrive at Hornwood where we meet Sam's lovely mother and sister and his horrible father who takes his place in the Game of Thrones Surly Old British Actor Hall of Fame. We also meet Heartsbane, the ancestral Valyrian steel sword of house Tarly. If you remember from last season, Sam and Jon conclude that Valyrian steel is one of the few things that can kill a White Walker. After a disastrous Guess Who's Coming To Dinner meal with his family, Sam decides abandon his plan to leave Gilly with his parents and determines that they should stay together. He also steals Heartsbane, which is awesome but I'm not sure what his plan is. Is he still going to the Citidel to train as a Maester? And what is he going to do with Gilly and the baby? It makes me wonder if the Night's Watch and the Wall are going to be no more by the end of the season in which case Sam's vague decision making will be less consequential.

In Braavos, Arya's story continues to find focus and momentum post-training montage. Once again, Arya is at the theater this time watching a play based on the events surrounding Joffrey's death. After some trademark Arya inappropriate laughter we see her empathizing with the Cercei character. This theater side story has been an clever and efficient way to provide some character growth for Arya. Masie Williams is killing it in these scenes of Arya coming to terms with her past and realizing that she doesn't, in fact, want to be No One. 

She realizes the younger actress has hired the Faceless Men to kill her rival in order to steal her juicer part mostly because the actress is barely off stage mouthing faux-Cercei's lines which, in addition to making her murderous intentions obvious, is grossly unprofessional. Arya poisons Faux Cercei's rum only to change her mind at the last minute and swipe the cup out of her hand. Arya has decided not to be No One and reclaims her sword Needle from where she hid it last season and at that point I shouted "Yes!" because I love Arya and want her to continue being Arya.

Of course the Faceless Men find out about Arya botching her mission and the Waif is sent out to kill her. We'll see how that works out next week but I for one will be happy to see Arya head back home. But if Arya heads home, which many are expecting, what was the point of her time with the Faceless Men? It's hard to see what useful skills she learned in her time in Braavos. One thing that we do know is in Arya's future is a meeting  with Melisandre, which the Red Woman foretold back in season three.

This episode also features the return of one of the worst people in Westeros, Walder Frey who we have not seen since the events of the Red Wedding. It seems that the Freys have lost control of the Tully fortress of Riverrun which has been reclaimed by Brendyn Tully the Blackfish, who was the uncle of Catelyn Stark. We also learn that the Freys still have Edmure Tully, the groom at the Red Wedding and brother to Catelyn Stark. Perhaps most importantly, this scene proves that Littlefinger gave Sansa the correct information regarding the status of her great uncle and Riverrun.

In Kings Landing, Tommen has been spending time with the High Sparrow and is finally allowed to meet with Margaery who is apparently been converted at some point since her meeting with Loras. This seems to be an elaborate ruse which she wisely is not letting Tommen in on. Later she is brought before the Sparrows on the steps of Balor and appears to be about to make her Walk of Atonement when Jamie arrives with the Tyrells and their forces in tow. He demands Margaery and Loras' release on Tommen's orders only to have Tommen appear on the steps having been converted by Margaery and the High Sparrow and foiling the Lannister/Tyrell plot. The violent conflict between the Sparrows and the Lannisters is thwarted again but is seemingly inevitable. At this point can we all agree that the High Sparrow is not what he seems? The guy is playing the game way too well for a simple cobbler. I bet if one were to check his mail he'd be getting regular ravens from a certain brothel owning former master of coin.

What's worse, Jamie is removed from the Kingsguard by Tommen in punishment with the apparent approval of Kevin Lannister, whom is likely sick of Cercei and Jamie's crap. Jamie is dispatched to the Riverlands to assist the Freys in retaking Riverrun. He and Brienne seem destined to cross paths again.

Finally, we return to Danaerys who leads her khalasar and is about "a week" away from Meereen, so, maybe next Sunday? Sensing something, she has her forces wait while she ventures up ahead only to return awhile later riding a substantially bigger Drogon who is apparently up from his nap. Mounted on Drogon, Dany gives a rousing speech, not too dissimilar from Khal Drogo's speech in season one. Dany now seems intent on departing for for Westeros and is not seeming concerned about the fate of Meereen or her other liberated cities.

While we may have seen a few superficially similar scenes from Dany, I feel like this one has some important differences. First, it is important for the Dothraki to actually see Dany on her dragon in order to close the deal. Emerging unscathed from the fire was a nice trick but seeing her in command of a giant dragon is something that the Dothraki are likely to truly fear and respect. Secondly, her encounter with the Dothraki seems to have changed Dany and given her her groove back. Her language has gotten much more aggressive and she seems to have become more comfortable with her role as violent conqueror. It may be that she is moving away from her unsuccessful attempts at being a benevolent Mysa in favor of being a brutal conqueror. What does that mean those who are working in Meereen to unravel the Meereenese knot? She seems as likely to burn the city down as to save it. 

This turn gives credence to those who think that Dany may be playing a more antagonistic role in future seasons of the show. It is easy to see that Dany invading Westeros with a trio of dragons, foreign armies, and a bunch of rapey, pumped up Dothraki could not be a great thing for our Westerosi characters.


Patrick Garone
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