Ranking the episodes of Game of Thrones Season 6
By Dan Selcke
8. “The Broken Man”
The Broken Man has something a lot of mid-season Game of Thrones episodes lack: a solid narrative through line. Although we stop by quite a few locales during the hour, it’s the Hound that ties it all together.
The episode starts with a rare cold open, where we learn that the Hound survived his brush with death in Season 4’s “The Children.” Then, in the middle, we see him settle into a life as a humble laborer before returning to his old ways at the end. “The Broken Man” asks, “Is a life without violence possible in this world?” And it answers, “No.” It’s an important message that reverberates throughout the hour, as Jon and Sansa prepare for war and Jaime fails to reach an accord with the Blackfish. We have the Hound to thank for that thematic unity.
The transitional stuff is largely solid, too. As in “No One,” we get some textured in-between scenes in King’s Landing, as Margaery implores Olenna to flee the city, all without blowing her cover as a newly converted religious zealot. Margaery is practiced at hiding her emotions, but they leak out when she bids goodbye to her grandmother. Their parting is touching, particularly knowing what happens in the finale.
Our quick stopover in Volantis is also worthwhile. While at a brothel, Yara Greyjoy gives Theon a pep talk that’s part sisterly affection, part hardass drill sergeant. Her speech, which amounts to commanding Theon to get over his post-traumatic stress or kill himself, is cruel. But as played by Gemma Whelan and Alfie Allen, it somehow works, and makes me wish the show hadn’t sidelined her for the past few seasons.
On the negative side of things, this episode features Arya’s bloody encounter with the Waif, which sets up the nonsense in “No One.” To be fair, we didn’t know how silly the resolution of this plotline would be at the time, but the episode is still guilty by association.
But in the interest of ending on a positive note, “The Broken Man” introduces us to Lyanna Mormont. For that it will have my eternal thanks.