Game of Thrones Review: "The Broken Man"

          The Hound is still alive! Well I guess it’s just confirmation no one’s dead on this show unless you actually see them die (in which case I’m expecting Stannis to return about three years from now...). Not only is the Hound alive but he’s living in some kind of convent with Ian McShane building the Wicker Man! Who’d have thought. But that wasn’t the only surprise of “The Broken Man” which wound up being very good in most of its storylines.
          As it turns out the Hound a.k.a. Sandor Clegane was lucky enough to be found by a septon before he died, and was nursed back to health. Since then he’s been living in this small community doing manual labour and forging his own family atoning for his past misdeeds. Of course it’s surprising to see Rory McCann back, but his scenes this week with Ian McShane as his mentor Ray are some of the episodes best. You really pay attention their conversations on philosophy and their past. And it’s refreshing to see McShane not playing a bad guy! He’s a pacifist and more than a little spiritual (it’s actually kind of funny seeing as he played a character opposing such humble peaceful figures in the terrific miniseries The Pillars of the Earth). These scenes which gave the episode it’s teaser work both for their shock value and just how different they are from everything else that’s going on.
          Over at Riverrun, the Freys have attempted to siege the castle from the Tullys in a hilariously poor attempt as Bronn notes, with no trenches and very few trebuchets. It’s so great to have Bronn back, as well as his sarcasm and wit. He and Jamie are leading an army from King’s Landing to assume command of the siege from the inept Freys who threaten to kill Edmure at the gates. Unfortunately Blackfish calls their bluff and they don’t do it. Blackfish we’re seeing for the first time since his Red Wedding survival, and he seems very cold and cynical particularly in his parley with Jamie. Both Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Clive Russell perform very well sticking to their ground. Jamie expresses in all but words that he doesn’t want to do this but Blackfish has lost hope and is willing to die defending his castle. He also reveals they have a lot of provisions and can afford to hold for up to two years. This new conflict in the Riverlands is fascinating, I’m just concerned its one more on top of too many already. We still haven’t seen anything from Dorne since the first episode.
          This was another episode where both Tyrion and Daenerys don’t appear, arguably the show’s two most popular characters, but it’s alluded to that they’ll come into contact with some other regulars soon. Briefly stopping off in Volantis, Yara Greyjoy reveals to Theon she intends to form a pact with Daenerys to retake the Iron Islands. And how can Dany say no to another woman claimant? She also implores Theon to regain his former sense of self and confidence, which it looks like he will. After the events of last week, not a whole lot of people in King’s Landing are happy. But it’s a pretty good bet Margaery’s sudden conversion is part of a greater scheme on her part as during a conversation with her grandmother she slips her a secret note. She also seems to be playing the High Sparrow. Olenna is still pretty upset though and we get another great confrontation between her and Cersei where she reminds that this is all Cersei’s fault and now both their houses are on the brink of collapse. Both Diana Rigg and Lena Headey have a great power of presence that plays out in this scene, and as always it’s a joy to watch. But with Olenna leaving soon we don’t have many more of those to look forward to.
          Where the episode was strongest though, apart from the Hound’s scenes, was in the North as Jon begins to appeal to allies. He gains the support of the wildlings without much hassle, Tormund appealing to their sense of honour and how much Jon’s done for them. On Bear Island there’s a surprisingly intense scene between them and the little girl Lady of House Mormont. We get a callback to her uncle Jeor who had been Jon’s mentor at the Wall, and possibly it’s Jorah’s absence that’s accounting for such a young representative. Once again Davos gets to be the awesome guy who saves the day by winning her and her (frankly pathetic) sixty-eight men to their side. What with this though and his negotiations at the Iron Bank for Stannis, Davos makes for a great diplomat! They’re not so lucky at House Glover though where a surprising Tim McInnerny turns them down due to the Boltons having just helped them drive the Ironborn out of their home. Though they may not join the Boltons in this fray, the Glovers certainly don’t believe in the Starks (not even Lord Danny was willing to come out of retirement for them). I like that it’s not so easy and that Sansa it seems is being forced to write to Littlefinger for help. Especially considering now we’ve seen what the Tullys are up to, chances are they won’t be able to ride to the North’s cause.
          The episode ends with a pair of scenes, both critical. After Arya in Braavos manages to secure a place on a ship bound for Westeros, her rival approaches her with the face of an old woman and stabs her repeatedly before she falls into the canal. It’s another big shock -though as soon as we see the old woman we know who she really is -but it’s shocking because Arya didn’t get the chance to put up a fight. She probably should have anticipated something like this but she survives at least for now. However as she walks through the streets clutching her wounds in need of a doctor it’s left unclear how long she has. This scene’s coupled with the Hound discovering after their group was earlier approached by the Brotherhood without Banners looking for goods, that the Brotherhood has returned and while he was away, slaughtered the community (including a sad hanging McShane). It’s a little tragic, as though we’ve only known this group for one episode you get the feeling they’ve been very important to the Hound the last couple years. And though he was trying to get away from his former life, he’s now forced to return to it to exact vengeance, as he walks off with an axe to take out the Brotherhood. The pairing of these shocking moments and crucial developments in the lives of two characters once closely connected is a very smart way to end the episode. More than any other storyline, you’re concerned with what happens next to Arya and the Hound.
          “The Broken Man” is one of the best episodes this season, full of great performances both returning and new, and providing every storyline shown with something important both on its own and for the future. Each one kept me curious and has me invested in where they’re going. Though there are perhaps a few too many threads, I look forward to the next time they’re picked up, whenever that may be.