“Blood of my Blood” is the episode title and the central theme.

Blood is used in both straightforward and metaphorical ways. In actual blood: We see Lyanna’s bloody hand in the Tower of Joy. We see Benjen give Bran warm rabbit’s blood to drink. We see the players reenact Tyrion’s murder of his father Tywin. We see Jaime assassinate the Mad King Aegon. We see Jaqen H'ghar peeling the face of a corpse.

In terms of kindship and family ties: The Tyrells attempt to seize their children from the High Sparrow, but find themselves outsmarted. Benjen Stark is reunited with his nephew Bran. The Lannister twins express their love each other, and declare themselves at war with pretty much everyone else. Melessa Tarly greets Sam and Gilly, and claims Baby Sam as her grandson. Randyll Tarly loathes his son Sam, and sends him away again. Sam forsakes his dream of being a maester and leaves with Gilly and her son rather than leave them with the Tarlys. Tommen removes his father-uncle-brother Jaime as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and orders him to seize Riverrun from the Tullys. Frey scolds his sons for losing Riverrun, and sends them back to get it from Brynden “Blackfish” Tully, using Tully’s nephew Edmure as ransom.

In terms of teachers, mentors, and predecessors: The former three-eyed raven is no more, and Bran has become the three-eyed raven. Arya admires the acting ability of Lady Crane, and speaks to her about Cersei’s true motivations. Crane and Arya clearly admire each other, and Arya saves her life and abandons the Faceless Men. The High Sparrow believes he now controls Tommen and Margery. Daenerys claims her entire army as her bloodriders.

Ice and fire, as always, are mentioned and shown here and there. We see many visions of wildfire, and we see the Mad King shouting “burn them all.” Of special note, however, is Benjen’s story of how he was stabbed by a White Walker with an ice sword and was turning into a wight. However, this transformation was stopped by the Children, who stabbed him with dragonglass as a charm against the Walkers. It is possible that Benjen is no longer human, or at least not completely so. He now fights wights in the snow with a fire weapon.

Arya (for a girl has always had a name) reclaims her sword Needle. Sam reclaims his sword Hartsbane.

Margery is released from the cells in the Great Sept of Baelor. Edmure is released from Frey’s dungeon.

Daario tells Daenerys she needs 1000 ships at least to move the Dothraki, the Unsullied, and the Second Sons to Westeros. This is the precise number of ships that Euron Greyjoy is building.

Benjen remarks how much Bran has grown. Sam remarks how much Talla has grown. And pretty much everyone gasps when they see how much Drogon has grown.