Game of Thrones, Season 6: Titles for Episodes 6 and 7 revealed

The titles for Episodes 6 and 7 of Game of Thrones Season 6 have been revealed on HBO’s schedule, and in my opinion, they’re both pretty juicy. Let’s remind ourselves of the titles of the other upcoming episodes first:

• Episode 4: “Book of the Stranger”
• Episode 5: “The Door”

Now for the new ones. The title for Episode 6, which will be the second episode directed by Game of Thrones newbie Jack Bender, is “Blood of my Blood.”

This title suggests a Daenerys-centered storyline. “Blood of my blood” is a phrase used between Dothraki khals (or khaleesis) and their bloodriders. It’s an expression of devotion: the bloodriders, who are a khal’s most trusted lieutenants, would die for their leader. In fact, after a khal dies, they’re required to join him in death after they take revenge on the enemy who killed him.

Next, Episode 7, the first of two episodes directed by Mark Mylod (he directed both “High Sparrow” and “Sons of the Harpy” in Season 5). The title for this one is “The Broken Man.”

In A Song of Ice and Fire, broken men are soldiers who have abandoned their lord after going to war. They’re outlaws, but as Septon Meribald points out in a beautiful speech from A Feast for Crows, they may be more deserving of sympathy than common criminals.

I love this speech from Feast, and hope the title means it’ll make its way on to the show. There’s been speculation that Ian McShane may play Septon Meribald (or his boss, the Elder Brother) on the show, and if the speech is delivered in his dulcet tones, all the better.

Both of these episodes are written by showrunners by David Benioff and Dan Weiss. This begs the question: where is Game of Thrones staff writer Bryan Cogman? By the time Episode 7 has rolled around, he’s written at least one episode in every previous season. In Seasons 4 and 5, he’s written two by then. He’s been making comments about Season 6, so we know he’s involved. Will his contributions come later this year?