Warning: This post contains spoilers from Game of Thrones season six episode “Blood of My Blood.” Continue at your own discretion.
Henceforth season six of Game of Thrones shall be known as the one in which characters come back from the dead. (Now there’s a sentence I never thought I would write.)
For a show that is notorious for brutally killing off characters, Game of Thrones might have gone a little overboard this season with the deaths of Bran’s dire wolf, Summer, and Hodor. Last week’s episode of Game of Thrones ended with a heartbreak that left fans incapable of asking friends, coworkers or neighbors to “hold the door.” But this week Game of Thrones brought back two characters who were either forgotten or presumed dead.
The first character to return to Game of Thrones was none other than Edmure Tully. The last time anyone saw Edmure was at the infamous Red Wedding at the end of season three. Edmure married one of Walder Frey’s daughter right before, well, you know the rest. Edmure got lost in the blood-bath and that was the last anyone had seen of him until now. This week on Game of Thrones we saw Walder Frey continuing to be very smug about his betrayal and slaughtering of Rob and Catelyn Stark.
Before we start to celebrate Edmure’s return, it looks like the poor guy has a long way to go. After all, it seems he will be used as a bargaining chip against his father, Brynden “Blackfish” Tully (Catelyn’s uncle), in Frey’s quest for control of the North.
Edmure wasn’t the only Stark relative to make an overdue return. Ned Stark’s brother, Benjen showed up this week just in time to save the day. Benjen was a ranger for the Night’s Watch and hadn’t been heard from since season one. The Night’s Watch had presumed he was dead, but he’s only sort of dead.
When Benjen was reunited with his nephew, Bran, he revealed that he had been stabbed by a White Walker and left to die/become a Wight, but the Children of the Forest were able to save his life (no big deal), so he just looks a little undead. Benjen arrives also in time to help Bran as he takes on the mantel of the Three-Eyed Raven.
It was another overdue Stark family reunion this week on Game of Thrones. And it leaves us wondering, who else might return?