HBO’s Game of Thrones season six episode six airing on May 29, 2016 kicked off by reminding us of the death of Hodor who gave his life to keep Bran and Meera safe. Season six episode six titled ‘Blood of My Blood’ also spent quality time with Sam and Gilly, introducing the Tarlys and confirming Sam’s father is a complete and total jerk. ‘Blood of My Blood’ moved the plot forward in King’s Landing, with Margaery and King Tommen revealing a storyline twist that should be entertaining to watch play out. Episode six also found poor Arya making a difficult – and likely life-changing – choice, and the episode reintroduced two supporting players, one who will be key to the advancement of the Frey/Tully storyline and one who will assist young Bran as he transitions into being the new Three-Eyed Raven. And once again the audience had to wait until the end of the episode to see what’s happening with Daenerys and the Dothrakis (which, by the way, would be a great name for a band).
There wasn’t enough time to squeeze in scenes with Tyrion Lannister and the gang in Meereen or find out what’s happening with Jon Snow and Sansa Stark as they venture out to gather support for an attack on the Boltons at Winterfell. And for those keeping track, Ramsay Bolton didn’t kill anyone this episode (because he wasn’t involved in ‘Blood of My Blood’), Jorah’s apparently still searching for a cure to greyscale, and the Greyjoys were nowhere to be seen.
The Recap:
Without Hodor (may he rest in peace), Meera (Ellie Kendrick) struggles to move through the snow and wind while pulling Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) on the sled. Bran’s still experiencing visions and is unaware of his surroundings, with scenes of the past flying through his head as the cold and the weight of the sled finally get to be too much for Meera and she’s forced to stop. The White Walkers are hot on their trail when Bran comes to and warns Meera they’ve been found. She hugs him, crying and apologizing for failing to protect him. Just then a man on horse arrives to fight off the White Walkers. He’s easily dispatching them as Meera continues to hold Bran to keep him safe. “Come with me, now!” the stranger demands, adding, “The dead don’t rest.” He lifts them up on his horse and they’re safe…for now.
Gilly (Hannah Murray), Sam (John Bradley), and the baby arrive by carriage at his family’s castle. He describes the terrain and what she can expect as the seasons change, rambling on as Gilly notes that he’s a nervous talker. Sam admits he never thought he’d return home and he’s well aware he’s not welcome after being made to renounce his title. Sam reminds her she must say little Sam is his baby and reminds her he hasn’t told his family she’s a wildling. His father hates wildlings and so it’s best she keeps that part of her history a secret. Servants are lined up as Gilly and Sam finally walk through the gate, and his mother (Samantha Spiro) races to embrace him. She says he looks wonderful and then his little sister also hugs him while immediately spilling the beans that she’s being forced to wed a man with yellow teeth. Lady Tarly is even nice to Gilly and takes an immediate liking to baby Sam who is absolutely adorable and would be difficult to dislike. Sam’s dad, Lord Tarly (James Faulkner), is away on a hunt and Lady Tarly invites them inside, telling them Lord Tarly will join them later. Sam’s sister, Talla (Rebecca Benson), offers Gilly a bath and a dress for dinner.
At King’s Landing, King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) asks the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) if there’s any option other than forcing Margaery to undergo the Walk of Atonement. The High Sparrow says the people will be nicer to her than they were to his mother, and even lets Tommen pay his wife a visit in her cell. The High Sparrow leaves them alone and Margaery (Natalie Dormer) and Tommen embrace, with Tommen telling her how much he missed her. He feels horrible about the Walk of Atonement, but surprisingly Margaery doesn’t seem to mind making the walk. And, strangely, she actually seems to like and understand the High Sparrow. Tommen agrees the High Sparrow’s not as bad as they thought he was. Margaery says he helped her admit who she is, but Tommen rushes to her defense telling her she’s the best person he knows. However, Margaery says she was just good at seeming good and that it was all lies. She fed the poor but made sure people saw her doing it, she explains. Tommen then asks after Sir Loras, and Margaery says his soul is pure and perfect. He just needs to atone for his sins and then it will all be fine. “The gods have a plan for us all,” says Margaery, who has apparently been the victim of brainwashing.
Gilly looks completely different all gussied up with clean hair, makeup, and a beautiful dress, and Sam tells her she’s beautiful. Off they go to dinner where Sam’s dad does actually show up, glaring at Sam and Gilly. Gilly isn’t sure how to use the utensils but no one comments on it while Sam and his brother, Dickon (Freddie Stroma), discuss hunting. Sam says that north of the Wall if you don’t hunt, you don’t eat. But then Sam takes it a step further, clarifying to say it’s mostly rabbits and squirrels and crediting Jon, Edd, and even Gilly as the talented hunters. Sam’s mom is doing an excellent job of keeping the conversation light, but grouchy Lord Tarly isn’t happy about Sam’s presence in the least. He doesn’t even care that Sam’s with a woman and has a child, or that he’s studying to be Maester of the Night’s Watch.
As Lord Tarly continues to cut down his oldest son, Gilly sticks up for her man, telling the family Sam killed a White Walker and is a greater warrior than Lord Tarly or Dickon. Unfortunately, while discussing Sam’s warrior qualities Gilly accidentally reveals she’s a wildling. Lord Tarly’s furious he’s hosting a wildling in his hall. He points out the Valyrian steel sword, Heartsbane, that’s been with the House of Tarly for 500 years. Heartsbane is supposed to go to Sam, but Lord Tarly says it will never go to Sam and Sam will never be named Lord of House Tarly. Lord Tarly truly hates Sam and now with Gilly admitting she’s a wildling, he’s able to unleash his rage. Lady and Talla take Gilly’s hands and lead her out of the dining hall, telling Lord Tarly he’s dishonoring the family. Lord Tarly continues his attack, telling Sam it’s the last night he’ll ever spend in their home but he’ll allow Gilly and the baby to remain.
Sam apologizes to Gilly for allowing his dad to speak to her that way, but Gilly shrugs off the apology telling him he’s not what his father thinks he is. She kisses Sam, attempting to make him see himself through her eyes. He leaves, tears in his eyes, as Gilly looks about the gorgeous room she and her son will share. Just then, Sam charges back in and tells her they’re leaving. “We belong together – all of us,” says Sam. He takes Heartsbane from above the mantel, an act that worries Gilly. She thinks Lord Tarly will come after them to retrieve it, and Sam says he can “bloody well try.”
Meanwhile in Braavos, the play is on once again with Arya (Maisie Williams) in the audience. The scene playing out is from the Purple Wedding, with Joffrey drinking the poisoned wine and naming his evil uncle as the one who poisoned him. The actress Arya is supposed to kill, Lady Crane (Essie Davis), is playing Cersei and she’s delivering a Tony award-winning performance while her understudy stands off-stage mouthing the lines, just waiting for her opportunity. The play continues but Arya leaves the audience and heads backstage. She finds the bottle Lady Crane was drinking out of and adds the poison given to her by Jaqen.
As the actors head backstage, Lady Crane spots Arya and wants to know why she’s there. She also wants to know how many times Arya’s seen the performance and if she’s ever paid. She thinks Arya might be interested in becoming an actress, and Lady Crane admits she believes the play is horrible. Arya tells her to change the dialogue, making Cersei not only sad but angry. Lady Crane asks Arya if she likes to pretend to be other people but Arya doesn’t answer, saying she has to leave because her father is waiting. The actors discuss the play and it’s obvious they’re all jealous of Lady Crane’s talent. As Lady Crane is about to have a drink, Arya rushes in and knocks the bottle out of her hands, warning her that her understudy wants her dead.
Arya returns to the spot where she landed in Braavos and removes her sword from its hiding place. Meanwhile, the Waif reports to Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) that Arya failed in her mission. He gives the Waif permission to kill Arya, and the Waif leaves the room with a smug smile.
Back at King’s Landing, Jaime waits as the Tyrell army arrives. Lord Tyrell (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) addresses his troops, telling them madness has overtaken the city and they need to drive it back to where it came. Meanwhile, the people are gathered to watch Margaery make her walk of shame. The High Sparrow ticks off her sins as Jaime and the Tyrell army arrive in the square. As Lady Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg) emerges from a carriage, joining the army in the square, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) asks for the release of both Loras and Margaery. If they’re given over, then the army will leave. The High Sparrow refuses and Jaime says, “Every last sparrow will die before Margaery walks down that street.”
It seems to be a stand-off when suddenly the High Sparrow announces there will be no Walk of Atonement. He’s backed off that demand and reveals Margaery has already atoned for her sins by bringing another into the true light of the Seven. King Tommen walks down the steps, approaching the High Sparrow and Jaime who has ridden his horse onto the steps. The High Sparrow and King Tommen announce a new holy alliance between the Crown and the faithful. The announcement is met by cheers from the crowd. Jaime is obviously upset with this turn of events, watching as his son, Tommen, says the Crown and the faith working together will restore the seven kingdoms to glory, taking Margaery’s hand to enthusiastic cheers. Lady Tyrell knows they’ve been beaten as the High Sparrow smirks and Jaime glares.
King Tommen, sitting on the Iron Throne, demands Jaime relinquish his title as Lord Commander of the King’s Guard. Jaime reminds him he’s been a member of the King’s Guard since before Tommen was born, and that Tommen doesn’t have to answer to the gods if he’s sitting on the throne. Resigned, Jaime wants to know his punishment and Tommen tells him he’ll continue to serve his house and family faithfully but he’ll do so in another city.
Walder Frey (David Bradley) is upset the Blackfish took back Riverrun and that his sons let the Blackfish escape in the first place. Frey will never kiss Tully boots again and will use his 10,000 men to get Riverrun back, but his sons believe Riverrun can withstand a siege for a year and that some of the Frey supporters have turned against them and are backing the Blackfish. The Frey boys say the Blackfish will never yield, but Walder Frey says they need to remind him they have his nephew, Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies).
Back at King’s Landing, Jaime is fuming over the fact King Tommen’s sending him to deal with the Blackfish because Frey can’t handle it, and Cersei – mistress of the obvious – says that’s better than being in the dungeon. Jaime doesn’t want to do it and instead is fixated on killing the High Sparrow and all his minions, but Cersei wants him standing at the head of their army where he belongs. “Take that stupid little castle back because it’s ours and because you can,” suggests Cersei. Jaime’s worried she’ll go on trial while he’s gone, but Cersei says it’ll be a trial by combat and she has the Mountain. They kiss and she reminds him they’ll always be together and that they’re “the only two people in the world.”
And now it’s time to catch up with Bran… The stranger kills a rabbit for dinner and reveals he’s there because the Three-Eyed Raven sent for him. Bran wakes and the stranger is revealed to be his Uncle Benjen (Joseph Mawle). He was lost beyond the Wall where the White Walkers found his ranging party, stabbed him in the gut, and left him to die. The Children found him and stopped the White Walker’s magic from taking hold with Dragon Glass. Benjen tells Bran he’s now the Three-Eyed Raven and must learn to control his powers. Benjen also says the Night King will find his way to the world of men and Bran needs to be there ready and waiting for him.
The episode ends with a brief but important update on Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and the Dothraki. Dany and Daario (Michael Huisman) are riding at the head of the Dothraki when she stops and asks Daario how long it will take to reach Meereen and how many ships she’ll need to get to Westeros. Daario tells her she’ll need at least 1,000 ships, but no one has that many. The plan: ride to Meeeren, then sail to Westeros. After that, she’ll take what is hers, but Daario tells her she wasn’t meant to sit on a throne and rule. “You’re a conqueror, Daenerys Stormborn.” As the words leave his lips, Dany rides off, telling them to wait. She returns astride her dragon which lands in front of the Dothraki. Rallying her troops, she says other khals have asked for three blood riders but she won’t have just three…she chooses them all. She wants to know if they’ll ride in ships and kill soldiers wearing armor. They cheer and swear they’ll fight to help her claim her rightful place as the leader of the Seven Kingdoms.
More Season 6 Recaps:
- Episode 1 The Red Woman
- Episode 2 Home
- Episode 3 Oathbreaker
- Episode 4 Book of the Stranger
- Episode 5 The Door
- Episode 7 The Broken Man
