The Broken Man

It's my first review, and I am writing it because this episode pleasantly surprised me.

It was surprising how little cheesiness was in this episode compared to others in this season. And the dialogue was so much better, with some of Blackfish's quotes taking the top. And the final scene was really WTF for me, it contained the raw realism that Game of Thrones is known for.

Overall, I haven't checked if they changed a director or screenwriter or something since the last change, but the approach is quite different and true to canon. It looks like someone who knows what GoT is about did it. Certainly not looking like a fan-fiction.

It's because of the quality standards of this kind of episodes, "Game of Thrones" deserves to be criticized when somehow it deviates itself to a Hollywoodesque pretension of becoming a money apparatus for the audiences. Because it indeed damages its quality when this nonsense gets stuck in the heads of the economic maestros. Not only is unnecessary but also detrimental.

This season has been generally like that with its ups and downs being the best of it plainly average because it gets banal when compared with other existent series made to be watched and thrown in the recycle bin.

But this episode stroke me with a exhalation of hope. Truly... (or is it just me hungering for old GOT's primordial quality?) It proved me that the artistic sense of representation, an excellent script, the great dramatizations of great actors leaded by great directors orchestrating great "musicians" surpasses by far the hysteric need of special effects or everything having to be "BIG". Of course special effects are welcome, but they shouldn't be at the top of the pyramid of priorities. They are extras.

Anyway, trash with that big. Big were the majestic dramatizations of Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos), Clive Russell (Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully), Diana Rigg (Olenna Tyrell) and most specially, the incredible Bella Ramsey (Lyanna Mormont). With honourable mentions to Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Rory McCann, Ian McShane (Brother Ray) and Tim McInnerny (Robett Glover).

And also BIG were the photography, the wardrobe, the landscapes, the characters developments, this episode.

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.

I've been reading a lot of people's opinions on this episode, with some calling it boring, others slow, but to me, I was reminded of Game of Thrones back during seasons 1 and 2. This builds up epic battles which will be taking place in the next few episodes and the tension here is spectacular.

Without any spoilers, this episode starts of brilliantly, with an arrival of someone that made me smile from ear to ear. The Jon and Sansa's storyline was also very good here, as it will pay off when the big battle arrives. The scenes at Kings Lander were not all that important, with some good lines thrown in there, but little happening, but still enough to hold your interest.

The Arya scenes were very well done, but very rushed. All of the episodes this season have been way too short, and there feels like they could have had time for some more scenes.

However the best part about this episode is its build up, every character we see if thrown in a cliffhanger of sorts. Also the production this episode was outstanding, the sets the beautiful landscapes and new regions we have never seen before, were done so well.

This is a slow episode but it is by far not boring, it was like the older episodes that built up tension that will pay off soon.

9/10

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