Game of Thrones review season 6 episode 6: A promise of bloodshed and wars to come

Several narrow misses and a promise of lots to come, but 'Blood of my blood' did not spill a drop. Consistent in tone and structurally sound, this episode came as a relief from the usual spikes and drops in drama, to be one of Game of Thrones' better episodes. Instead of a mad scamper through the various geographies of its universe, it dwells long enough on its scenes to allow them to breathe and, in turn, let us immerse ourselves in them. A reminder that it's possible to engage with this world beyond just its gut-wrenching moments.

Still on the run from wights, Bran continues to binge on the events of the recent past with flashes from Westeros' history. In this midst of the various scenes, you see Mad King Aerys, Daenerys' father, instructing someone to "burn them all" with wildfyre. Hopefully, this is a scene we come back to explore in detail later in the season. Meera is struggling to drag Bran through the snowy woods. When the wights catch up to them, a man styled like the grim reaper, scythe in hand, comes to their rescue. The Return of Another Stark. If there's ever a Stark reunion on this show, they'll all have a lot to catch up on. This one is Uncle Benjen, Ned Stark's brother, a ranger of the Night's Watch who was thought to be lost beyond the Wall in the first season. Benjen was apparently stabbed by the White Walkers but healed by the Children of the Forest before their magic could take hold. This perhaps why he looks pale and ashy. (Book readers, could Benjen be Coldhands?) He warns Bran of his impending confrontation with the Night King at the Wall.

In Horn Hill, Sam and Gilly reach the Tarly castle where they meet with his parents. His sister and mother are delighted to meet Gilly and her son. The same cannot be said of Randyll Tarly who continues to shame his son for not being man enough, a taste of how toxic masculinity can be for men themselves. When Randyll finds out Gilly is a wildling, he banishes Sam from the house. Sam's ready to leave as ordered until Gilly stands up for him against his father and later tells gives him the pep talk he needs. So, change of plans. Everyone's going to the Citadel in Oldtown and Heartsbane, the Valyrian sword of House Tarly denied to Sam as his heritage, is coming along. 

In Braavos, Arya is watching that play again, laughing as Joffrey is killed. She is, however, moved by Lady Crane's performance as a devastated Cersei. Both the Queens are on her list, the real one in Westeros and the one play-acting in Braavos. If Arya had doubts about the fairness of killing the latter, she's in more of a quandary after having a conversation with her. Watching Lady Crane undermined by the playwright seems to seal the deal as she knocks the poisoned glass of rum from her hands and warns her of people trying to kill her. If that wasn't decisive enough, Arya then goes and gets Needle back. So, in the grand tradition of heroes who leave mid-training to propel their arc forward and face their destiny, Arya plans to move onwards. I vote for her joining Lady Crane's troupe and sailing back to Westeros in time  for the Stark reunion where they join hands for the final battle of ice and fire and everything goes kaboom. 

Of course, after months of saying you want to be A Girl, you don't get to just walk away. The Waif and Jaqen H'ghar have an arrangement in place that involves not letting Arya "suffer too much". And scene. Wait, what is the deal here? Is the House of Black and White run by just these two people? Aren't there more Faceless Men? What are their real motivations? What is their place in the war? Most importantly, is Arya not going to wear a face at all? So many questions, so little to go on.

In King's Landing, the much talked about walk of atonement is aborted after Margaery gets Tommen to convert to the Faith. This, apparently, is atonement enough. Like a newly converted fanatic, Margaery is speaking the High Sparrow's language now. It's unclear whether she's actually gone over or simply playing a part to secure her freedom. No news of Ser Loras which probably means he's going to get a dramatic death soon. 

Now that the High Sparrow has his own pawn in the game, the first one out is Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Jaime. It's interesting that Tommen keeps looking to Kevan Lannister as he makes this announcement. Jaime is being sent off with an army to take back Riverrun. This actually works in Jaime's favour in the books, helping him secure the King's rule in the parts of Westeros where vestiges of the war remain. But with Jon Snow and Sansa also headed towards Riverrun, another of clash of arcs seems imminent.

Meanwhile, Walder Frey makes his first appearance after the Red Wedding. If you didn't remember him with enough repugnance, they put a young girl beside him for him to manhandle. Subtlety is not this show's strong suit. Frey still has Edmure Tully as  a hostage. As he talks about losing Riverrun to the Blackfish, he mentions the Brotherhood without Banners, hinting at the presence red priest Thoros of Myr in the area. Last seen in season three, the Brotherhood had met with Arya and her friends Hot Pie and Gendry and taken them along, until Arya was taken from them by Sandor Clegane, the Hound.

That's about it for this episode. Don't worry, though. Game of Thrones didn't forget about your weekly dose of adrenaline-laced drama. The episode moved up its cliffhanger to Arya's arc and left the last scene for Daenerys who, on her way to Mereen, is making big plans for her conquest of Westeros. Her new khalasar rallies around her plan. It's difficult not to when there's a dragon staring down at you. Daenerys is the show's biggest contender for "strong female character", hence the constant barrage of big moments for the Khaleesi. Unfortunately,  the dramatic entries and exits are doing very little to ground her character. 

She's still got a righteous heart and good intentions. Considering how that's worked out so far, can't wait to see her return to her homeland and wreak havoc. In the immortal words of Taylor Swift, "It's going to be forever or it's going to go down in flames." She's got a blank space, Westeros, and after five seasons of roaming Essos, she finally wrote your name.