Most shows save big events like the deaths of beloved characters for season finales, but not Game of Thrones.
D.B. Weiss and David Benioff went and killed off Hodor in a midseason shocker last week, leaving many to wonder if the show would be able to continue upping the ante with “Blood of My Blood.”
One thing most fans hoped the show wouldn’t do going into this year is get too deep in the weeds with the mystical mumbo-jumbo, but thus far Bran and Arya’s storylines have been two of this season’s most compelling.
Not only have they made for pulse-pounding drama (see: “Hold the door!”) but they’ve helped to demonstrate how some of the more arcane aspects of the show’s elaborate mythology tie into the current fight over the Iron Throne.
Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in Bran’s flashback that takes place while he and Meera are fleeing some seriously aggressive White Walkers.
His visions cover everything from his own near-fatal fall at the hands of Jaime Lannister to the lunatic rantings of “the Mad King” Aerys II Targaryen.
Bran’s haphazard warging is interrupted by a real-life blast from the past, as a man who looks a lot like Benjen Stark swoops in to save the day (and confirm a popular fan theory).
From there, it’s back to the ’90s sitcom that is Sam and Gilly’s mismatched love affair.
At first it looks like his return home will go smoothly, but you had to know that wasn’t gonna last…
With the Internet’s gnashing of teeth and rending of garments over the death of Willas (aka Hodor), it’s easy to forget that last week’s episode promised a major conflict at Margaery’s scheduled walk of shame.
It seems at first that Tommen’s queen has actually been taken in by the High Sparrow’s sanctimonious BS, but based on her reaction to her brother Loras’ lowly state, we’re guessing she’s got something up her sleeve.
The gods may have a plan for us all, but something tells us Margaery has several plans for the High Sparrow.
Predictably, the Tarley family reunion goes awry when Sam’s father does his douchey thing, and Gilly accidentally spills the beans about being a Wildling.
Is it just us or did the convo about whether or not White Walkers exist remind anyone else of a Thanksgiving argument about global warming?
Anyway, the good news is that Sam’s mom is every bit as cool as he always claimed.
The bad news is that his dad is every bit as dickish as we were led to believe, and he promptyl gives his son the boot while allowing Gilly and Sam’s child to stay.
Just as it looked like Sam would be cowed by his dad once again, he returns for Gilly and peaces out with the family sword, thus providing one of this season’s most satisfying “f–k yeah!” moments.
Hell, we enjoyed Sam’s revenge almost as much as Arya enjoyed watching the re-enactment of Joffrey’s death. Almost.
As the show goes on (complete with a poop-joke heavy cameo for the always-fantastic Richard E. Grant) it looks like Arya finally is finally going to carry out one of her ordered assassinations.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you’re that rum-loving actress), it seems The Girl just doesn’t have what it takes to be a hit woman for a freaky cult.
It’s always tough to give up on a dream (even when that dream is taking lives for the Many-Faced God), but we’re glad to see the return of the old Arya (and Needle!)
After Arya turns tail, it’s finally time for the showdown at King’s Landing.
Or at least it would’ve been, were it not for the fact that Tommen is thoroughly under the spell of Margaery’s vagina, and in this case it’s told him that Bernie Sparrow is leading a political revolution. (Just joshin’, Senator Sanders!)
(Side bar: The show is primarily about the battle for the Iron Throne, and we’re guessing the average casual viewer couldn’t tell you the name of the current king. Just a thought.)
From there, it’s the return of Walder Frey, a character who was missed by exactly no one.
As if one unpleasant reminder of the Red Wedding wasn’t enough Walder trots out the Catelyn Stark’s brother, Edmure Tully, who is apparently being held captive at the Twins.
What does it mean that Walder is using him as a tool to regain Riverrun? It’s not totally clear, but we’re sure it’s not good news for Edmure or the Blackfish.
This season has done an incredible job of intertwining seemingly unrelated storylines, and that’s never more apparent than when we learn that the banished Jaime Lannister is being “sent to deal with the Blackfish” on Walder’s behalf.
Jaime is understandably pissed that the High Sparrow has won over his son, but we’re having trouble being sympathetic.
Maybe it’s because this episode featured a flashback to that unfortunate little incident in which he crippled Bran for life.
Speaking of Bran, he and Meera are back on the road, this time with the mysterious stranger who, to the surprise of absolutely no one, turns out to be Benjen Stark.
It seems the writers are going for the “most storylines in a single episode” record this time out by briefly checking in with Daenerys and her ever-expanding khalassar.
Naturally, she swoops in on her newly-recovered dragon and gives a stirring speech in Dothraki, because this is the Season of the Badass Final Scene.
Despite the many ways in which this episode moved the plot forward “Blood of My Blood” might be the most uneventful installment of Season Six thus far. And that’s okay.
We’ve been needing a chance to catch out breath, and place-setting episodes of GoT are usually followed by something seriously epic.
At the very least, hopefully we’ll get some freakin’ Tyrion next week!
Watch Game of Thrones online to remind yourself of who the hell the Blackfish is.
