It’s easy to overlook Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 6 because it sits right in the shadow of "The Door." You know the one. Hodor. The trauma. The heartbreak. After an ending like that, anything following it was going to feel a bit like a comedown. But "Blood of My Blood" is actually a masterclass in narrative momentum. It’s the episode where the show stopped just moving pieces around the board and started slamming them together.
Bran and Meera are out in the cold. Literally. They’re being hunted by wights, and honestly, things look bleak. Then, a masked rider appears with a swinging flail of fire. It’s Benjen Stark. Finally. After years of fan theories and "where is he?" Reddit threads, the First Ranger returned. This wasn't just fanservice; it was a crucial bridge between the mystical Three-Eyed Raven stuff and the grim reality of the coming Great War.
The High Sparrow’s Masterstroke in Blood of My Blood
If you want to see a politician at the height of his powers, look at the High Sparrow in this hour. Tommen Baratheon was always a soft kid. He was a sweet boy in a world that eats sweet boys for breakfast. When he walks out onto those steps at the Great Sept of Baelor, Margaery by his side, he’s not just a king anymore. He’s a puppet.
The Tyrell army, led by Mace Tyrell looking ridiculous in his oversized plumes, was ready to shed blood. Jaime Lannister was ready to lead them. They thought they were going to have a showdown. Instead, the High Sparrow outmaneuvered them without drawing a single sword. He announced a new alliance between the Crown and the Faith. It’s a gut-punch.
Cersei’s face in this scene is everything. Lena Headey plays it with this quiet, simmering rage that you just know is going to explode eventually. She spent her whole life trying to protect her children, only to watch the High Sparrow steal her last living son’s mind. This moment effectively ended the Lannister-Tyrell alliance as we knew it. It forced Jaime out of King’s Landing, sending him toward the Riverlands, which is where his character development really starts to cook again.
Samwell Tarly’s Heist at Horn Hill
We need to talk about the dinner scene at Horn Hill. It’s awkward. It’s painful. It’s basically the Westerosi version of a nightmare Thanksgiving. Randyll Tarly is a monster. He’s a legendary commander, sure, but as a father? Total disaster. He spends the whole meal belittling Sam, mocking his weight, and insulting Gilly’s Wildling heritage.
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But Sam does something unexpected.
He doesn't just slink away. He leaves, but he takes the family legacy with him. Heartsbane. That massive Valyrian steel sword hanging on the wall. Stealing a Valyrian steel blade from a man like Randyll Tarly takes more guts than Sam usually gets credit for. It’s a turning point for him. He’s done trying to earn his father’s respect. He’s choosing his own family now—Gilly and the baby. Plus, we all knew that sword was going to be important later. You don't introduce a White Walker-killing blade in Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 6 if you don't plan on someone swinging it at an ice zombie eventually.
Why Benjen Stark Matters So Much
The return of "Coldhands" Benjen changed the stakes for Bran. Benjen explains that the Children of the Forest saved him from turning into a wight by shoving a piece of dragonglass into his chest. It’s a mirror to how the Night King was created. This piece of lore is vital. It shows that the "magic" of the White Walkers isn't just some unstoppable force; it’s a tool that can be manipulated and, potentially, reversed or countered.
Benjen tells Bran he has to become the Three-Eyed Raven. "The Wall is more than just ice and stone," he says. He’s preparing Bran for a role that the boy isn't ready for, but has to take anyway. This episode cements Bran as the most powerful piece on the board, even if he’s currently a teenager being dragged through the snow on a wooden sled.
Arya Stark Finally Chooses a Side
In Braavos, Arya is supposed to kill Lady Crane. The actress. She’s spent so much time trying to be "no one," trying to scrub away the Arya Stark of Winterfell. But she can't do it. Watching the play—a distorted, comedic version of her own family’s tragedy—wakes something up in her.
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She saves Lady Crane. She warns her about the poison.
And then she goes and gets Needle.
The shot of Arya retrieving her sword from the cranny in the rocks is iconic. It’s her reclaiming her identity. She knows the Waif is coming for her. She knows she’s marked for death. But she’d rather die as Arya Stark than live as a nameless assassin. This set the stage for one of the most intense chases in the show’s history in the following episodes.
Daenerys and the Great Khalasar
The episode ends with a massive speech. Dany is riding Drogon, looking down at thousands of Dothraki. She doesn't just want them to follow her; she wants them to cross the "Poison Water." She’s breaking tradition. Dothraki don't do boats. They don't do sea travel.
"I will not choose three bloodriders," she tells them. "I choose you all."
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It’s a powerful moment of leadership, but if you look closely, it’s also a bit terrifying. This is the first real glimpse of the "Mad Queen" potential that people debated for years. She’s talking about tearing down stone houses and killing men in iron suits. She’s a conqueror. The music swells, the dragon roars, and the Dothraki cheer, but the underlying message is one of pure, unadulterated fire and blood.
Key Takeaways from Blood of My Blood
- Political Shifts: The Faith Militant effectively seized control of the Iron Throne without a fight.
- The Valyrian Steel Factor: Sam securing Heartsbane added another crucial weapon to the living's arsenal.
- Identity: Both Arya and Bran accepted their true identities and the burdens that come with them.
- Family Conflict: The Tarly family dinner proved that some of the deadliest enemies in Westeros aren't across a battlefield; they're across the table.
If you’re rewatching the series, don't skip this one. It’s the "bridge" episode that makes the final two episodes of the season—the Battle of the Bastards and The Winds of Winter—actually work. Without the setups here, those massive payoffs wouldn't have the same weight.
To truly understand the trajectory of these characters, go back and watch the interplay between Tommen and the High Sparrow. Pay attention to how the High Sparrow uses "gentleness" as a weapon. It’s a stark contrast to the brutal violence happening North of the Wall or in the Dothraki Sea. It reminds us that in this show, power comes in many forms: a dragon's breath, a hidden blade, or a whisper in a king's ear.
Check the geography of the Riverlands before you head into the next episode. Seeing where Jaime is headed—and who he's about to run into—makes the Edmure Tully and Blackfish subplot much easier to follow. Also, keep an eye on the dragonglass lore mentioned by Benjen; it's the foundation for the entire Season 7 alliance at Dragonstone.