‘Game Of Thrones’ Moves Its Pieces, But Not Always Where Expected (TV REVIEW)

[rating=8.00] “Blood of My Blood”

There’s a lot happening in the world of Game of Thrones right now, although to varying degrees of urgency. It makes sense that after last week’s devastating reveal on the origin of the White Walkers, but also the backstory behind Hodor, which unfolded cruelly during his death, things would come back to an idle while it gears up for the back-half of the season, specifically the all-important ninth episode. Still, other moments lead to some bewildering developments and outright frustrating decisions made by characters.

“The dead don’t rest.”

Picking up exactly where we left off last week, Meera is still on the run with Bran, and despite the sacrifice of Hodor, Summer, and the remaining Children of the Forest, the dead begin to catch up with her. Unable to carry Bran, she collapses in frustration, that is before the appearance of a mysterious stranger with a penchant for killing the dead.

As some viewers had come to expect, based on where they left off last week, it’s none other than Benjen Stark, Ned’s younger brother and uncle to Bran. Not quite the Benjen we remember from the first season, who was leaving to go on a ranger mission north of the Wall. Turns out that happened, and was saved from becoming a White Walker himself, and has been working with the Three-Eyed Raven. Which, to no one’s surprise, is Bran’s new job title.

rsz_game-of-thrones-bran-meera-benjen

“It’s probably a good subject to avoid if at all possible.”

Nothing like shifting gears from an update about one of the most critical players in the upcoming war against the living and the dead than to jump to Sam, Gilly, and Sam Jr. finally making it to Horn Hill. They’re greeted lovingly by Sam’s family, save for his father, who all we know once promised Sam he’d kill him if he didn’t leave and agree to join The Night’s Watch way back in season one. As to be expected, things around the dinner table are a little tense.

Sam had also pointed out that they’d want to take special care to not mention Gilly being a Wildling, which of course she accidentally blurts out with all the unpredictability of an episode of Little House On The Prairie. So, this makes Sam’s father even more disappointed in his first born, and while offering a place for Gilly and Sam Jr., casts Sam out as of the next morning.

While not an ideal setup, Sam makes it much worse by skipping out the night before and stealing his family’s sword, Heartsbane. It’s completely unclear what the endgame here is. If he still goes to the Citadel, it seems like he’d be easy enough for his father to track down, then assuming he makes it to the Citadel, there’s the issue with Gilly and the baby not being allowed in. Even if this all somehow works out anyway, Sam’s master plan to become a Maester and help Jon Snow fight in the war against the dead seems a little time consuming. Especially with how fast the dead are moving south right now.

rsz_game-of-thrones-tarley-dinner

“Oh, darkest day, my heart is full of sorrow.”

An even more confusing turn of events is Arya’s repeated fuck-ups in training to be one of the Faceless Men. First, last season, she skipped out on her target to kill Meryn Trent, the long-held first name of her increasingly long death prayer. Her impulsive vengeance was met with turning her blind and leaving her to beg on the street only to do battle with Jaquen’s waif.

Now, she’s apparently become starstruck by the actress Lady Crane, particularly after the monologue she delivers while reenacting The Purple Wedding (also, it’s great to watch Joffrey’s death once again, even if it was a play). She poisons Lady Crane’s rum, then after a backstage encounter, Arya saves her from her fate and shares her theory that one of her co-stars was behind the plot.

Knowing full-well what’s expected, Arya finds her sword, Needle, which she hid back upon her arrival at the beginning off season five, then holes up in a dark corner of Braavos, waiting for the waif to come track her down and try to kill her (we assume). It’s not a confusing predicament on its own, Arya inadvertently regaining her humanity (while playing Cersei Lannister, no less), that seems to much like a repurposed storyline from last season to really resonate.

rsz_game-of-thrones-arya

“I don’t have any authority to give them to you, and you don’t have any authority to take them.”

Well, this High Sparrow thing sure went sideways. Just as Jamie Lannister leads the Tyrell army through the streets of King’s Landing is it announced that Tommen, seemingly misguided by Margaery’s trumped up religious musings, has allied the crown and the faith. Lady Olenna’s disappointed expression really spoke for all of us expecting a grand bloodbath when she admits to Mace Tyrell that they’ve been beaten.

It does, however, strip Jamie of his role in the King’s Guard and sets him toward Walder Frey to do what he can to take back River Run from the Blackfish, hot on a vengeful tirade by his sister, who’s back to having the hots for him. Of course, this all could have far-reaching effects as the inevitable war between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton draws near.

“I will not leave this world until they all choke on their laughter.”

Speaking of, even though House Frey is in utter disaster thanks to the actions of the Blackfish, it’s good to see Walder Frey as cantankerous as ever.

“You’re a conquerer, Daenerys Stormborn.”

Two questions about this closing scene:

1-Have dragons always possessed the ability to sneak up on entire armies like that? They seem loud.

2-Did we really need yet another scene with Daenerys paying lip-service to the role of savior/leader in an end-of-episode rallying cry?

Related Content

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter