Entertainment

31st May 2016

Game Of Thrones, S6 E6: Matters of life, death and family

All the pieces are slotting into place for a major war ahead

Paul Moore

Game Of Thrones, S6 E6: Matters of life, death and family

A subtle, but very significant episode.

As always, SPOILER ALERT! Here are some of our favourite moments from this week’s memorable episode, which was entitled ‘Blood Of My Blood’.

Melisandre Spoiler

Master of Quotes – Best Line

“I’m angry that horrible people can treat good people like that and get away with it”.

In just one sentence, Gilly managed to define Game Of Thrones but it was always going to be difficult to top last week’s heart-wrenching finale. This episode did a good job of forging new alliances though, while bringing some beloved characters back from the brink, before it was too late.

Family and loyalty were the overriding themes this week – the title itself is a nod to the oath that Dothraki bloodriders swear to their Khals – and these were emphasised from the beginning. Bran’s visions of the past are quickly becoming the best part of any episode because those split-second glimpses of Ned’s beheading, the Tower Of Joy, Craster’s baby, the Kingslayer incident, Hardhome but most intriuginly, the Mad King and Lyanna Stark in a pool of blood, were superb.

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The Long Night is coming, and without Hodor, Bran, and Meera need a protector. It’s just a shame that he has such cold hands, though. The return of Benjen Stark has been much speculated, but it’s nice to see that Ned’s brother is alive and well.

He’ll need to help and guide his nephew though, because as we now know there’s going to be a showdown at the Wall very soon between the Night’s King and the new Three-Eyed Raven.

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What’s Game Of Thrones without a crappy father and an awkward scene at the family dinner table? As soon as we learned that Randyll Tarly threatened to take Sam’s inheritance, title, and life if he didn’t join the Night’s Watch, we knew that this wasn’t going to end well. This sinking feeling was only increased by the happy and joyful moment when Sam’s mother saw her grandson for the first time. Yep, we feared the worst also!

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In typical Sam fashion, his moment of redemption in this episode was somewhat bumbled, awkward, and delayed but his decision to defy his father was as brave as anything that we’ve seen him do before.

On a similar theme, we finally learned that a girl does have a name and it’s one that she’s damn proud of. Arya is a Stark, she’ll always be a Stark, and nothing will distract her from getting revenge and crossing off those names on her list – a vital decision because if Arya pursued a life with the Faceless Men, then her arc, development, and motivation would become blunted.

Her quest for vengeance won’t be easy though, especially since Jaquen has given permission for his star pupil to track her down.

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The gods may have a plan for us all, but nobody could have predicted that Tommen is so weak and easily manipulated that he would defy his family and “announce a new age of harmony; a holy alliance between the crown and the faith.”

We’re not entirely convinced that Margaery has changed her ways though; the smirk was in full effect and her actions seem more in keeping with self-interest and the long game than genuine repentance.

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Like a well calculated game of chess, we’re finally seeing the alliances form in Game Of Thrones. Walder Frey’s line that “I’m not dead yet, unfortunately for you” has implications for Jamie Lannister, because he has now been sent to the Riverlands to deal with the Blackfish. Will Jamie and Brienne go head-to-head in direct combat?

Elsewhere, Dany needs 1,000 ships while Euron has promised to build that exact amount. Coincidence?

The North Remembers – Best Scene

Sam has always been defined by small moments of heroism, but there has always been a deceptive amount of steel behind his clumsy charisma. We now know why he was riddled with self-doubt and nerves when travelling back to his family home at Horn Hill.

Wow. Didn't think I could hate someone more than Joffrey or Ramsey, but Randyll Tarly has achieved it. #GameofThrones

— Official Bearington 🐦 (@Sir_Bearington_) May 30, 2016

Randyll Tarly’s statement that he hoped the Night’s Watch would “make a man out of you or something resembling a man” was just an insight into the obvious years of bullying that he gave his son.

Without even saying a word, you knew that Sam was constantly berated, abused and measured against impossible standards for the entirety of his life. John Bradley-West played that scene brilliantly because everything that you needed to know about Sam’s childhood was written on his face.

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Sam may have been dejected, but he responded as he always does: by finding his courage when you least expected him to. He’s off now to learn about White Walkers – ironic because we’ve a feeling that his new Valyrain steel sword might be used on them very soon.

Valar Morghulis – Best Death

There wasn’t a single drop of blood spilled: just when it seemed like the forces of House Tyrell would kick some Faith Militant ass, Tommen denied us that gory privilege, so we’ve opted for Benjen Stark making his return in the most badass way possible.

Starks are hard to kill. #GameOfThrones

— Jon Snow (@LordSnow) May 30, 2016

Mother of Dragons – Best Beast Scene

Dany did use a bit of showmanship to rally the khalasar to her side, but we have one question. When she asked them “will you ride on great wooden horses across the Narrow Sea and give me the Seven Kingdoms?”, who the hell is going to say no to her!?!?

She has a f**ing dragon!

#ThronesYall If my boss gave motivational speeches on the back of a dragon like Dany i would be persuaded to be more productive #demthrones

— JoitheWriter (@JoielleSherman) May 30, 2016

https://twitter.com/BigDamnHerosSir/status/737117886825779200

Sticks and Stones and Swords – Best Insult

Sam wants bread. “You’re fat enough already” quips his dad. Harsh.

Sam can eat all the bread he wants! 🍞 #GameofThrones

— Liz Mitchell (@ECMitch) May 30, 2016

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You Know Nothing – The WTF Moment

Resurrection has been prominent this season: a certain bastard taking most of the attention on the topic, but Benjen’s return from an icy death along with another mention of the Brotherhood Without Banners does create an interesting possibility.

Book readers might know what I’m hinting at, especially since Walder Frey is back and the Red Wedding was mentioned also.

We’re saying nothing.

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Stealing The Throne – This Week’s Best Character

We’re opting for Gilly because she had the cojones to stand up to Randyll Tarly and openly defy him in his own home. She also gave us a good laugh in that dress.

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Where did Lord Baelish’s Irish accent land?

He’s still recovering from the tongue-lashing that Sansa gave him last week, but we’re certain that he’s well aware of the changing alliances and landscape in Westeros.

Littlefinger’s advice does have a bearing on next week’s episode though, because we finally get a glimpse of the Blackfish in the Riverlands and an indication that The Long Night is closer than we thought.