Game of Thrones Recap: A Story of The Hound

The latest Game of Thrones offers a transitional episode with a meaty reveal.

In order to end in two more seasons, Game of Thrones has taken a different approach for season six. There have been more big reveals this season than any other, and “The Broken Man” is no exception. Did you know The Hound was still alive?

Sandor Clegane is the focus of “The Broken Man” and everyone else takes a backseat. It turns out that The Hound has been hanging around a small commune led by Ian McShane. It’s obvious, however, that The Hound is not a changed man. That becomes obvious when a group from The Brotherhood Without Banners comes knocking to pillage.

For all the secrecy surrounding Ian McShane’s character, it didn’t amount to very much. True, he saved The Hound from certain death and is trying to guide him, but he’s only around for a single episode and doesn’t have very much screen time. If he wasn’t involved with The Hound it would have felt like a wasted opportunity.

Worse than that, it feels like Game of Thrones is trying too hard to stir the pot.

In Braavos, Arya is riding high after booking passage back to Westeros. While this sequence is overall interesting, it’s also the episode’s weakest scene. Arya should know better than to blazingly walk through the streets of Braavos, and she’s dealt a hard lesson when the Waif sneaks up in disguise and stabs her in the gut. She gets away, but nobody on the streets is interested in aiding a bleeding girl.

A the end of “Blood of my Blood” Arya is seen going to sleep with Needle, but there is none of that caution here. All of her training in The House of Black and White, in that moment, amounted to nothing. Worse than that, it feels like Game of Thrones is trying too hard to stir the pot.

Following up the weakest point is the strongest. Jon, Sansa, and Daavos take a trip to Bear Island to convince the Mormont clan to join them in battle. The Mormonts are now led by a ten-year old girl, Lyanna Mormont. And she is fantastic. She won’t be taken in by either of Jon’s or Sansa’s please, but is instead convinced by Daavos to send 62 men. The Stark clan is in disarray, and convincing men to fight for them is going to incredibly difficult. This is brought home by The Glovers, who refuse to send any men.

More from HBO

Jon, with the help of Tormund, delivers the Willings to the cause. Even though that feels like an easy win, that’s loyalty that Jon worked hard for over the course of multiple seasons. It’s what got him killed. Sansa, on the other hand, isn’t able to bring anyone. That’s what leads her to call on the help of Littlefinger, and how that’s going to go is anyone’s guess.

Littlefinger is a little too eager to help Sansa, and even though it’s doubtful he would betray her, he does nothing that’s not in his best interest. We don’t get to see him this episode, though it’s assured that he will appear soon.

There is a little more movement with Theon, but again, this is a transitional episode that takes no major steps. It’s basically a scene that screams “hey, remember these characters?”

It was originally though that the episode would focus the most on Jamie, and he does get the most time outside of The Hound. The Frey’s siege on Riverrun isn’t going well and The Blackfish doesn’t care about what happens to Edmure. In a meeting between Jamie and The Blackfish, The Blackfish labels Jamie a disappointment. Bronn also tags along and is promised a spot as Jamie’s number two.

It’s basically a scene that screams “hey, remember these characters?”

It’s a fresh of breath air to have Jamie outside of King’s Landing and away from Cersei. When the two of them are apart he can be his own character. Back in King’s Landing, Margery is moving forward with her plan to slowly control the Faith and the Crown. Lady Olenna has some great scenes this episode — she meets the “Shame” Septa and is convinced by Margery to leave King’s Landing. Then she has a confrontation with Cersei that goes by like a dream. The Queen of Thorns gives Cersei the tongue-lashing she has deserved, and Cersei is left speechless. Likely not for long.

There’s something perversely satisfying about Lady Olenna not only calling Cersei stupid, but also blaming the entire mess on her. She’s not wrong, either — it was Cersei who militarized the Faith.

Next: Can Game of Thrones Wrap up in Two Seasons?

While “The Broken Man” didn’t really move the plot forward, it did split its focus in a way that was still compelling. Don’t worry about Arya — she won’t die this season. In gearing up for the end, Game of Thrones offered up a slower episode to put the pieces in place. Now it just has to pay off.

Home/HBO