This is the show that was promised.
Remember Breaking Bad Season 4? The slow aching build throughout the season and then finally how incredible those last 5 hours were? This Game of Thrones seems to be taking a similar trajectory, one can hope for results as effective, with Sunday’s “Blood of My Blood” being a great follow up to last week’s fantastic outing.
So that’s Benjen, huh? Pretty damn cool if you ask me. The single action scene in “Blood of My Blood” worked in tandem with a character reveal, showing once again the efficiency good Thrones can work with. And the show didn’t waste much time dealing in the mystery of who this badass savior book readers know as Coldhands is. The confirmation of the theory was rewarding and seems to close the book on that case, but remember anything can happen in The Winds of Winter. However, the reveal did a fantastic job of pleasing book non-literates like me, finally providing an explanation of the show’s very first scene.
Bran’s visions of the Mad King were our first glimpse at Aerys. That stuff is fascinating and it kills me. It is an undeniable truth that through Bran we will see the most important snippets of the past. As a tool of the visual medium of the show, his role is something it could never be in the books. In the spare time of that plot line’s action, Bran is used to show us events that are key to the set up of the entire show, and as we approach the end will be key to how it ends. I want not just know, but see what happened to Lyanna, Aerys and Rhaegar by season’s end, but at this point we may have to wait another year for Bran to master his powers. He will certainly be more, perhaps the savior of Westeros, and soon the most powerful “not human” in the land.
Speaking of estranged family members, we met Randall Tarly, Dad of the Year. We got to see Horn Hill, which gave heavenly Rivendell vibes. Randall was stone cold and we have to give it up to the writers for crafting the most awkward dinner scene of all time. Both Gilly and Sam were given time to shine and get fleshed out, a little too much time if you ask me. Sam’s demeanor was explained the instant his father started speaking, and the “nervous talking” trait his sister shared was a nice touch to round out the family dynamic. That dynamic shined and worked here. The distinctions between Sam, mother, father, sister and brother came together to form a slightly cliche, but nonetheless fully formed portrait. Of course, we know Sam is no coward, so when Chekov’s Sword was taken from the wall a sigh of relief was exhaled. And for the future? Well, his brother is a hunter. Valar morghulis, Sam.
It was cool to see Jamie taking action again by uniting with the Tyrells, and even better to finally experience a payoff in this huge two season arc. Makes a lot of sense though, doesn’t it? We tend to forget Game of Thrones serves as a historical allegory for Great Britain. So, does this make Tommen King John and The High Sparrow Pope Innocent III? Possibly, with the tie between church and state being a Game of Thrones spin on the Manga Carta. Leaving us with the question, who will be the Henry the VII and will it take another few hundred years for him to take action?
The only sequence that didn’t strike me in “Blood of My Blood” was the finale. How many times have we seen Daenerys perform this trick? Straight out of her limited playbook, Dany summons a dragon and inspires thousands. It may impress an army of Dothraki, but it doesn’t impress us. Dragons are cool sure, but c’mon. I guess if it’s broke, don’t fix it, but despite her declaration of “I want to kill everyone and be queen” (okay not a direct quote) Dany’s motivations are illusive to me. I’ve wondered why this is. I think it’s too simple. There should be more to Daenerys at this point. Major characters in this show— Arya, Cersei, Stannis — all are driven to the point of madness, mutilation and death by there singular desires to win. Dany always wins eventually. And maybe that is supposed to reinforce the fact that she is the strongest, or the true ruler, or something to that effect, but this is Game of Thrones. The good guy never wins.
Director Jack Bender did a fine job in his second hour of this season (a trend that has plagued and done wonders for this season, making it surprisingly consistent in its inconsistencies). Arya’s journey was swiftly nudged along, with all signs pointing to her becoming herself again. Her conversation with Lady Crane leading to a reminder that Arya is where she is because of Ned’s death (AND ONCE AGAIN REINFORCING MY THEORY THAT THIS SEASON IS ALL ABOUT REMINDING US WHY THAT MOMENT WAS CRUCIAL). Walder Frey was present, although ask me what any of that scene meant and I will respond with a dumbfounded look. Some people will tell you A) it was something to do with more Jamie gallivanting in the future and B) read the damn books already, but for the forgetful it was nearly nonsense. Even in the wake of its disappointing climax “Blood of My Blood” leaves us, like last week, in deep anticipation of next week, a feeling Game of Thrones fans are surely glad to feel again.
