With the premiere just one week away, HBO is ramping up the hype for season 6 of Game of Thrones. Hopes are high as the series continues to branch away from the timeline of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire under the guidance of long-time show runners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff.
In the latest clip from the upcoming season, fans are given a chance to catch up with Arya Stark (who, these days, is simply going by ’no one’) as she continues her training in Braavos while completely blind. The clip, much like the series itself, is quick and brutal – showing the young warrior at her lowest point yet.
Disoriented and inexperienced, Arya (Maisie Williams) starts her training without the finesse of her swordsmanship with Needle, she is helpless when confronted by the Waif (Faye Marsay). Cold and antagonistic as she was in the books, the Waif looks like a stern trainer who will show the blind girl no mercy.
Arya’s time training on Braavos at The House of Black and White in the book series is very similar to what seems to be happening in season 6, though – depending on whether or not her story progresses past the latest book release this season, which, as mentioned before, is likely to happen – what’s written in the books is limited to two chapters in the latest book and one preview chapter from The Winds of Winter released last year.
Arya’s journey throughout Game of Thrones has primarily been about the relationships and allies she has forged, and the steadily growing bloodlust that comes with a thirst for vengeance after nearly all of her family has been murdered. But now on Braavos, Arya’s training relies on her practically mastering the art of being alone and unknown. In her quest for revenge against the people behind the deaths in her family, Arya has begrudgingly given up almost everything about herself in the process. Foregoing her name and her family, Arya has set herself on a new path, and there aren’t many indicators that she’ll be crossing paths with any of the surviving Starks any time soon.
Speaking of the Starks, nothing seems to be going very well for what’s left of them (as usual): Sansa (Sophie Turner) is still running from the hold of Ramsey Bolton (Iwan Rheon); Bran (Isaac Hempstead White) was last seen talking to a tree; and Jon Snow’s (Kit Harrington) fate remains the greatest mystery to be answered (hopefully) this coming season. While the series isn’t known for happy endings, one can only hope that the Starks are, for lack of a better pun, thrown a bone this season.
Game of Thrones season 6 will premiere on HBO on April 24, 2016.
Source: HBO
