The Broken Man

Each episode of GoT, for me, is an embroidery of stories. I choose one as axis of it. And, in this case, the return of the Hound is the one. Because it preserves the tension and the human essence front to the challenges, the fundamental challenges, giving sense, a new one, to all around you. It is an episode of great fights . But the first scenes of it are the most important because, behind the novels of Mr. Martin or the seductive storytelling, the source of seduction of this serie remains its special status of serie about its public profound questions.

The good thing about being behind castle walls is that it helps keep the bad guys outside. When you have walls, you know who your real enemies are: they're the other guys trying to knock down said walls. It's not the same in the rest of Westeros. In King's Landing, oftentimes your biggest enemy is also your only ally. See also Cersei Lannister and Olenna Tyrell, who are brought together by outside forces despite their mutual hatred of one another. Sure, they're not getting along, but they have a common enemy in the High Sparrow. That confrontation is one of many great scenes from Bryan Cogman's pen this week. Olenna works no matter who she's put up against, but with Cersei she has a natural foil. Brynden is a great foil for Jaime (so is Bronn for that matter). However, the best moments of the episode involve none other than the returning Sandor Clegane and his many interactions with Septon Meribald (Ian McShane). The septon, like Clegane, is a soldier, and the two have a natural rapport. The Septon reformed himself; he thinks that Clegane can do the same, even when confronted by the Brotherhood Without Banners. Even at the cost of his own life, he holds true to his principals. However, the Hound has principals of his own, and they're mostly centered around revenge and killing people with an axe. That's a clever way to both make the squabbles of the great houses important, but also to make them completely unimportant all at the same time. They need to unite, because otherwise they'll die, and to unite, they need to put the north back under Stark control. If the Tyrells and Lannisters can't stop insulting one another, will they be able to hold back several hundred thousand wights? If the Greyjoys do forge an alliance with Daenerys Targaryen, will the rest of the Westerosi-who have fought with the Greyjoys multiple times-band together with them to force back the oncoming hordes, or will they turn on the only person in the world with dragons? There are a lot of interesting developments, but the only thing people are going to be talking about is the potential for a Cleganebowl. That's the thing people have been drooling over, the source of many memes, and used as a good excuse to get hype since the show began. It just might happen; but first, the Hound's got a Brotherhood to slaughter. The scene in which poor Sandor discovers that all the people he's been working alongside are dead is directed beautifully by Mark Mylod and performed well by Rory McCann. The staging is incredible, making the slaughter look that much worse, with the final shot of the hanged man being just a knife in the belly. By the time we see him turn away and pick up his weapon, it's clear that the peaceful Sandor Clegane is gone, and the Hound is back in full force.

The highlight of this episode is the introduction of 10 year old bad-ass Lyanna Mormont. Brilliant! Other than that, it's a good, but not a great episode.

Came to 'Game of Thrones' fairly late in the game and due to being so busy the binge-watching was gradual. Have found myself truly loving the show, very quickly becoming one of my favourites. It totally lives up to the hype and not only does it do the brilliant source material justice (a rarity in television) it is on its own merits one of the finest, most addictive and consistently compelling shows in recent years and quality-wise it puts a lot of films in recent years to shame.

"The Broken Man" may not quite be one of the best 'Game of Thrones' episodes. As far as Season 6 episodes go, it's not quite up there with "Home", "Book of the Stranger" and "The Door". That is in no way a knock because it is still a great episode that has almost everything that makes 'Game of Thrones' such a favourite. It doesn't matter that "The Broken Man" is not the most action-packed episode, that there aren't the big moments quite on the same level as other episodes and that it doesn't have as many bold revelations.

What "The Broken Man" does brilliantly is the characterisation and development. One of the best episodes of Season 6 in this regard, plentiful and very rich, never less than interesting. It is one of those setting up episodes and putting things into place, again doing a great job with that and in a way that forwards momentum and like things are leading somewhere. It also does better than the previous Season 6 episodes for me actually in feeling the most like the first two seasons and like the show had gone back to its roots, possibly too the best Season 6 in general got in achieving this. No knocking here, just really liked that there was a return to this story approach.

Did feel that Arya's scenes were a little rushed and didn't fit as comfortably as the rest of the more relevant and bigger events did, her biggest moment (her attack) is shocking though.

Other than that, there are standout elements in the story and characters. In particular Sandor's return, the introduction of Lyanna, Blackfish (an awesome character), Jaime and Blackfish's interaction and the Riverrun siege.

Have no issue with the performances with not a bad performance in the bunch, with the introductory and returning characters making just as much an impression as the regulars. Rory McCann is pretty scintillating, as is Clive Russell with some of the episode's best lines.

Visually, "The Broken Man" looks amazing, as one would expect for 'Game of Thrones'. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.

One cannot talk about "The Broken Man" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film. The end scoring is especially powerful.

Plenty of layers, passion and sensitivity in the writing, loved that for Blackfish.

In summary, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Season 6, episode 7. Jon and Sansa are gathering troops - trying to create their army to take back Winterfell. Jaime is now head of siege at Riverrun. Olenna Tyrell is planning on leaving King's Landing and Cersei wants her to stay. Theon and Yara have taken ships - leaving their home, Yara has plans to meet with The Dragon Queen Daenerys to form an alliance. Arya tries to leave but her plans were stopped. The Hound was saved by Brother Ray.

8/10