Game of Thrones Episode 56: Blood of My Blood

Bran and Meera, still fleeing beyond the Wall, are cornered by wights until a mysterious cloaked rider charges in, kills the attackers, and carries them to safety.

While Bran is semi-conscious, he is overwhelmed by visions of the past and future, including scenes of King’s Landing, the Mad King, and a dragon over the city.

After the rescue, the rider reveals himself to be **Benjen Stark**, Bran’s long-lost uncle, who explains that he was attacked by a White Walker but saved by the Children of the Forest, leaving him changed and unable to go south of the Wall in the normal way.

At Horn Hill, Samwell Tarly arrives with Gilly and the baby and is received by his mother and sister, who are kind to them at first.

During dinner, Sam’s father Randyll grows hostile after learning Gilly is a wildling and treats Sam with open contempt, but Gilly stands up for herself and for Sam.

The confrontation ends with Sam deciding he cannot stay home; he takes Gilly, the baby, and his father’s Valyrian steel sword, Heartsbane, and leaves Horn Hill behind.

In King’s Landing, Tommen visits Margaery under the High Sparrow’s supervision, and the Faith’s control over the crown becomes clear.

Jaime leads Lannister and Tyrell forces into the city expecting to free Margaery and Loras, but the High Sparrow has already secured Tommen’s support.

Tommen then removes Jaime from his post as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, telling him that he can still serve the crown, just not in King’s Landing.

In Braavos, Arya watches the stage play about the events in King’s Landing and becomes unsettled by it.

She sneaks backstage to poison the actress Lady Crane’s rum, but after speaking with Lady Crane and seeing her humanity, Arya stops her from drinking it and does not carry out the murder.

The Waif witnesses Arya’s hesitation and reports it to Jaqen, who authorizes the Waif to kill Arya.

Later, Arya recovers Needle from where she had hidden it, a sign that she is choosing her old identity over the Faceless Men’s path.

In Meereen, Daenerys returns riding Drogon and then addresses the Dothraki, declaring that she will take them all as her bloodriders and asking them to join her in reclaiming the Seven Kingdoms.