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Game of Thrones: It’s all in the Family

It’s almost always hard to live up to an intense episode with the next one and Game of Thrones’ latest offering, Blood of My Blood, suffers from the same issue.

It’s almost always hard to live up to an intense episode with the next one and Game of Thrones’ latest offering, Blood of My Blood, suffers from the same issue. Despite being action packed, the absence of Ramsay Bolton, Tyrion, and Jon-Sansa makes the episode a tad languorous.

Up in the north, after leaving Hodor behind to control the wights, Meera is left in charge of Bran, who is still having his visions. There is no doubt any more that Bran has turned into the Three-Eyed Raven, as confirmed by an old character who makes a surprise entry. This information, added to Bran’s visions seem to confirm theories about Westeros’ past as well as the tear in the fabric of time Bran is able to look through.

Keeping in line with the theme of familial ties this episode, we’re introduced to the Tarly family at Horn Hill. As is wont to happen at most dinners with estranged families, Sam and Gilly share an uncomfortable dinner with his parents, inadvertently strengthening ties between the new couple.

Another family in trouble are the Lannisters in King’s Landing, who seem to be having trouble keeping their last living incestuous child in control. The story in the capital city has been as interesting as a dog chasing its tail, and there’s nothing more painful than a promise of action unfulfilled. You almost don’t want to believe Cersei’s vow to Jaime that they’ll take vengeance together, even as he’s banished by Tommen to take over Riverrun.

In a rather dull episode, it is Arya who stands out by listening to her conscience and disregarding Jaqen H’ghar’s training. She seems to be embracing her identity as a Stark once again — the scene gloriously defined when she digs up he sword Needle. Hopefully, it’s a face-off with the Waif next, where Arya will finally be a strong force, after weeks of getting beaten up mercilessly.

In the last episode, Euron Greyjoy of the Iron Islands promised his people that he wanted to have Daenerys, one way or another. Danny, on her part, is promising to take her Khalasar across the seas on ships, hinting at the two strong forces getting into a battle by the series finale. While Danny manages to find her dragon Drogon and tries to fortify her position as the leader of her army, quite like the episode, her speech is well intentioned but misplaced.

Almost like the calm before the storm, Blood of My Blood, seems to look like the filler episode before we plunge head-on into the action leading up to season 6’s finale. While smoothly pushing the storyline forward, the episode has teased viewers enough to expect more visions and a large combat.

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