Game of Thrones Recap ‘Blood of My Blood’: Cold Hands and Dragon Fire

In the latest Game of Thrones recap, Bran and Meera find help from a familiar face, the High Sparrow wins again and Daenerys earns the loyalty of her army….

By Damon Martin — Editor/Lead Writer

Following the aftermath of the massacre at the cave that served as the home for the Children of the Forest as well as the Three-Eyed Raven, Meera Reed did her best to pull Bran Stark away from the scene of the crime so he didn’t become the latest victim of the Night’s King and his White Walker army of the dead.

Despite a sacrifice made by Hodor to hold the door and stop the wights from pouring through after them, Meera could drag Bran for only so long before the dead eventually caught up to them deep in the woods north of the Wall.

But from the shadows of darkness came a light — a warrior cloaked all in black wielding a flaming mace that tore through the dead like fire through ice. One by one the army of the dead fell by his weapon until this unnamed savior snatched up both Meera and Bran to ride away until they were finally safe.

Following a long ride away from the wights, the man in the black cloak finally revealed himself to Bran — his nephew, who he hadn’t seen in many years. Welcome back to the show Benjen Stark, who hasn’t been seen since season one when he lead a ranging party of the Night’s Watch north of the Wall before he disappeared. If you remember, Benjen’s disappearance along with some other strange happenings are part of the reason why Lord Commander Jeor Mormont led his scouting party north to find them.

As it turns out Benjen — now known as Coldhands — was intercepted along the way by a group of White Walkers and that’s where he was murdered.

“I led a ranging party deep into the North to find White Walkers — they found us. A White Walker stabbed me in the gut with a sword of ice. Left me there to die, to turn. The Children found me, stopped the Walker’s magic from taking hold.”

~ Benjen

The Children of the Forest finally found some use for the magic that originally created the White Walkers and instead adapted it to save Benjen’s life after death. They plunged a dagger made of pure dragon glass into his heart and it saved him from turning into a White Walker. So now Benjen Stark aka Coldhands is a warrior for the Three-Eyed Raven on a mission to protect his nephew from the Night’s King and the rest of the White Walker army.

Did I mention that Bran is now the Three-Eyed Raven?

It seems before the old Three-Eyed Raven died, he passed along all of his knowledge to Bran in one giant download before the White Walkers stormed through the cave where they lived. In the numerous flashbacks going through Bran’s mind, we saw some famous moments from the past including our first look at “The Mad King” Aerys II Targaryen as he gave the order to ‘burn them all’ before witnessing Jamie Lannister stab him in the back. We also saw visions of Robb Stark’s murder, his own mother’s murder, the White Walkers, the battle at Hardhome and many other scenes as Bran came one step closer to understanding his true destiny.

It’s been six seasons in the making, but now Bran has been reunited his uncle and they are heading south because war is coming for everyone in Westeros whether they know it or not. And the Night’s king will be leading the army of the dead against the world of the living.

“One way or another he will find his way to the world of men and when he does, you will be there waiting for him — and you will be ready.”

~ Benjen

With that said let’s recap the latest episode of Game of Thrones titled ‘Blood of My Blood’….

Heartsbane

Following a long trip from the Wall to Horn Hill, Sam and Gilly finally arrive as his ancestral home where plans to leave his best girl and “their” child with his family. Sam left home after his father Randyll Tarly told him to either join the Night’s Watch and renounce his claim as the first born son or he would die. See Sam wasn’t exactly the brave warrior Randyll had hoped would one take over the family when he was gone so rather than leave the Tarly name to a son he didn’t appreciate, he preferred the honor go to his second born child Dickon instead.

“I didn’t think I’d ever come back here after my father made me renounce my title and inheritance and threatened to kill me if I didn’t. A person just doesn’t feel welcome at that point.”

~ Sam

What you have to understand is this — Randyll Tarly is an asshole.

But he’s also a great warrior and a proud soldier — once upon a time Randyll Tarly even defeated the great Robert Baratheon’s army during his war against the Targaryen’s as part of his uprising to take the Iron Throne. Actually, Randyll Tarly’s win over Robert was one of the only times anyone handed him a defeat during the war. So when Sam didn’t live up to his expectations, Randyll tossed him aside in favor of his younger brother.

So when Sam arrives at home with Gilly and baby Sam, his mother and sister are quite welcoming but they don’t get the same warm reception from Randyll, who immediately begins mocking his son for being too fat and never learning how to use a sword. Randyll doesn’t think becoming a maester is a great honor but rather another way his son had proven to be a massive disappointment to him.

For all the brave things Sam has done since leaving home, he still can’t find a way to stand up to his father and it’s Gilly, who finally calls his bluff and tells Randyll just what his son is capable of doing when people he loves are in trouble.

“He can wield a sword. He killed a Thenn. He killed a White Walker. I saw it with my own eyes on our way down to Castle Black. He drove a dagger into the Walker’s heart. He risked his own life to save mine more than once. He’s a greater warrior than either of you will ever be.”

~ Gilly

Unfortunately during Gilly’s stand she also unwittingly revealed that she’s actually a Wildling, which only served to further infuriate Randyll. In the end, Randyll agreed to allow Gilly and baby Sam to stay at Horn Hill where they would raise the child as a Tarly, but Sam was to leave the next morning and never step foot on his family’s land again while he’s still alive.

It seemed to be enough for Sam because he knew Gilly and the baby would be safe, but he finally opted for another plan instead. Sam decided to snatch up Gilly, the baby and the Tarly family sword as they all left together. The Tarly greatsword is known as Heartsbane — a two handed monstrosity made of Valyrian steel. One of only a few Valyrian steel swords left in the Seven Kingdoms and a weapon capable of killing White Walkers.

Sam has finally left Horn Hill with Gilly, with Sam and with Heartsbane and he never plans on returning there again — just like his father requested.

A Needle in a Haystack

Back in Braavos, Arya is still watching the mummer’s troupe perform plays from her past — this time around one called “The Lion and the Rose” about Joffrey’s wedding to Margaery and his subsequent poisoning and death. The dramatized play draws sadness from much of the crowd, but not Aray. She giggles and laughs — partially because the play misses so much of the facts of what really happened but also because Arya takes some joy in witnesses Joffrey’s death. Remember, she didn’t get to see that in person the first time around!

After the play is finished, Arya sneaks into the backroom and poisons the rum that will eventually quench the palate of Lady Crane — the actress she’s been charged with assassinating. On her way out, Arya ends up speaking to Lady Crane and connecting with the actress before she leaves.

Just when it looks like Lady Crane is about to partake in a sip of the rum, Arya rushes back in and smashes the glass out of her hand. She quickly points to the second leading actress in the play — the girl who played Sansa a week ago — and gives her fair warning.

“Careful of that one. She wants you dead”

~ Arya

Arya quickly exits the mummer’s tent without noticing that the Waif has followed her to ensure the job gone done. Arya knows as soon as she goes back to the House of Black and White that she will undoubtedly be killed as a sacrifice to the Many Faced God after refusing to take someone else’s life. So before she retires to her room, Arya digs up needle from the rock pile where she hid the sword ahead of her training. Arya goes back inside and sits in the dark while waiting for her fate to arrive.

It appears that fate will come from the Waif, who has to share the news about Arya’s defection to Jaqen H’ghar, who gives to order to add another person to the hall of faces.

“Don’t let her suffer”

~ Jaqen H’ghar

It appears Arya will now have a showdown with the league of assassins and a fight with her old friend the Waif. One way or another, a gift will be sacrificed to the Many-Faced God but whether or not it’s Arya remains to be seen.

The Return of Walder Frey

It’s been three seasons since we last saw the man responsible for turning on Robb Stark and putting an end to his war against the throne with an event that will forever be known as “The Red Wedding”. Now Lord Walder Frey has finally reappeared after his sons managed to lose Riverrun — the ancestral castle and seat of House Tully — to “The Blackfish” Brendyn Tully.

A week ago, Lord Petyr Baelish told Sansa that her great uncle had managed to retake the castle in the name of his family and if she needed help against the Bolton’s in the north that he might be a good first place to start. It appears at least one part of his information was correct because “The Blackfish” did managed to retake Riverrun and boot the Frey’s from the castle.

So now Walder Frey is determined to take it back and he’ll do so by any means necessary.

That includes using a very valuable hostage that he’s had locked up in his dungeons for several years — “The Blackfish” own nephew, Edmure Tully.

“He’ll yield. You show him the knife you used to kill Robb Stark’s child in his whore wife’s belly and you show him the knife you used to open his niece’s throat and you’ll remind him who it was that got married at the Red Wedding in the first place — his nephew. Cheer up, Lord Edmure — you’re going home.”

~ Walder Frey

It looks like the Frey boys are going back to Riverrun with Lord Edmure in tow to ensure they take back the kingdom from “The Blackfish”. And it appears when they arrive, they won’t be alone because someone else is coming from the south to participate in this war to win back Riverrun.

The Crown and the Faith

Back in King’s Landing the day has arrived for Queen Margaery to make her walk of atonement, but before she does, King Tommen has a private meeting with the High Sparrow where they discuss her sins and the ways she’s confessed already. Tommen is finally allowed to see his bride and it’s there where Margaery looks like a completely different person. Maybe it’s an act or maybe she really has been converted, but whatever happened, she seems like a person now walking a much holier path than before and Tommen is trailing right alongside her.

“It’s not an easy thing admitting to yourself what you really are. It’s taken me a while. He’s helped me.”

~ Margaery

The conversation turns to the High Sparrow and how he’s a much different animal than what either of them expected when they first met him. Still, Margaery’s walk is just minutes away and that’s going to bring a huge confrontation between the Faith Militant and the Tyrell army marching through the streets of King’s Landing.

As soon as Margaery is brought out on the steps of the Sept, Jamie Lannister marches into the square with Mace Tyrell, Lady Olenna and a full garrison of Tyrell troops. Before Margaery has one piece of clothing removed or hair stripped off her head, Jamie warns the High Sparrow that if he doesn’t release her and Loras, the entire congregation will be butchered.

Before he can swing a sword, the High Sparrow concedes to release Margaery but not because Jamie gave him an ultimatum he just couldn’t refuse.

“Queen Margaery has already atoned for her sins by bringing another into the true light of the Seven. Together we announce a new age of harmony. A holy alliance between the crown and the faith.”

~ High Sparrow

Out walks King Tommen and his kingsguard — it seems he’s not only found a way to free Margaery from her prison, but he’s joined in a new partnership with the High Sparrow and the faith militant. Now he considers the High Sparrow an equal and the Faith will help guide his hand in all the decisions he makes. For that, Margaery has been freed and Tommen can return home with her once and for all.

Unfortunately, the result means that the Tyrell family has lost and Jamie must be punished for raising an army in an attempt to revolt against the Faith Militant. Remember, Jamie and the Tyrell army did all of this off the books, behind Tommen’s back so now he’s looking for retribution.

That comes in the form of stripping Jamie of his status as a member of the kingsguard and removing him from service as protector of the king. Instead, Jamie will now act on the crown’s behalf – far away from King’s Landing.

“You have served your house and your king faithfully for many years and you will continue to do so — but not in this city.”

~ Tommen

So now Jamie is being cast out and sent to Riverrun where he’s been ordered to help broker a peace to take back the castle in his family’s name because that kingdom was part of the deal that Tywin Lannister struck with Walder Frey to orchestrate “The Red Wedding” in the first place.

Jamie is hesitant to leave — he’s got Cersei’s trial coming up soon and he’d prefer to pay Bronn a sack of gold to sneak into the Sept and murder the High Sparrow and all his other sparrows while sleeping. Cersie has other plans.

See, she already has “The Mountain” to stand up for her in a trial by combat and now that Jamie is free of his responsibilities as a member of the kingsguard, he can take over the Lannister army just as his father had intended.

“Stand at the head of our army where you belong, where father wanted you. Show our men where their loyalties belong. Show them what Lannisters are. What we do to our enemies. And take that stupid little castle back because it’s ours and because you can.”

~ Cersei

Jamie and Cersei unite in a passionate kiss as she sends her brother/lover off to Riverrun to reclaim the throne from “The Blackfish”. Little does he know that his path will also likely cross with two vengeful Frey children and his favorite lady soldier. Don’t forget Brienne is on her way to Riverrun to ask “The Blackfish” to help in Sansa’s war against the Bolton’s. It will be very interesting to see what happens when Jamie and Brienne are reunited.

A Conqueror of Kingdoms

As Daenerys leads her new Dothraki army through the mountains in a week long journey back to Meereen, she begins to question Daario on what it will take to bring her horde across the Narrow Sea so she can finally conquer Westeros and return the Iron Throne to it’s rightful heir.

According to Daario, she will need far more ships than any one captain could provide — although a certain Greyjoy might have something to say about that eventually. Regardless, Daenerys is beginning to plot her course back to Westeros when she spots a strange dust cloud moving in the rocks in front of them.

Daenerys ventures off to explore this anomaly and a second later a great screech is heard. From the dust of the mountains to the clouds in the sky, a dragon emerges and flies through the air overtop of the Khalasar that’s been following Daenerys ever since she left Vaes Dothrak.

When the dragon finally lands we see that it’s Drogon — the same beast that lifted Daenerys to safety after the Sons of the Harpy attacked in the fighting pits back in Meereen. When Drogon lands, Daenery is perched on his back and it’s clear that she’s connected to this dragon just like its her child.

From on top of the great beast, Daenerys addresses her army as she tells them almost exactly the same thing Khal Drogo told his army after she became pregnant with his baby back in season one. She wants the Khalasar to complete what Khal Drogo started. She wants the Seven Kingdoms and she wants the Iron Throne.

“Every khal who ever lived chose three blood riders to fight beside him and guard his way, but I am not a khal. I will not choose three blood riders — I choose you all. I will ask more of you than any khal has ever asked of his khalasar. Will you ride the wooden horses across the black salt sea? Will you kill my enemies in their iron suits and tear down their stone houses? Will you give me the Seven Kingdoms — the gift Khal Drogo promised me before the Mother of Mountains? Are you with me? Now and always?”

~ Daenerys

The Dothraki cheer in unison for their new khaleesi and Daenerys smiles in return as she gains the loyalty of 100,000 of the greatest warriors the world has ever known. Daenerys is going back to Meereen to gather the rest of her troops including the Unsullied, the Second Sons and her Queen’s court and from there she will find the ships she needs to bring all of them back to Westeros.

No one in the Seven Kingdoms knows or understands what’s coming for them from across the sea but a great conqueror is forging a path back to the place she once called home and Daenerys Targaryen means to take back what’s hers — and she will do so by fire and blood.

Game of Thrones returns next week with episode 7 and you can take a look at a preview below: