“The Broken Man” was not as intense as the two previous episodes. However, it is a plot-building episode in which characters are placed in a particular scenario for the advancement of the story. Of course, there is no much going on, but it seems that next two episodes might be epic.
In the North
Jon and Sansa spend most of this episode rallying the North to their cause. The first one to join are the Wildlings. Tormund convinces them by letting them know that the Crows killed Jon because he let them move south of the Wall. They join Jon unanimously because they are the last remnants of the Free Folk. Many of them have perished, clans and “races” of long lineage (such as the giants). However, Jon and Sansa encounter more problems in convincing the Northern Houses sworn to House Stark. House Glover refuses to come to their help. The Lord mentions that he respected Eddard Stark, but they are not willing to ally themselves to the Starks. First, House Bolton helped him retake his castle from the Ironborn, while Rob Stark was fighting in the South and having himself and his supporters killed. Overall, Sansa and Jon have to deal with the consequences of Rob’s actions and decisions. Furthermore, it seems that many Lords do not want to fight along Wildlings. However, they do get some support from other small houses. One of them is House Mormont, whose ruler is a young, direct and blunt Lady, a child. Her concern is to protect her people. She makes it clear that she is not willing to fight somebody else’s war. However, Davos intervenes and mentions that it is not somebody else’s war but one between humankind and the undead. He emphasizes that the North will never be unified under the Boltons so they would not be able to stand against the Night’s King (the Great Other) and his army of undead. Lady Mormont decides to join them.
The TV adaptation has opted to portray the North as resentful and not supportive of the Starks as opposed to the books. The North does not remember. One wonders what will happen to those houses that support Ramsay once the North is unified. Insignificant and minor houses may acquire more prominence.
At King’s Landing
Margaery Tyrell has something coming up that is not clearly defined. She plays submissive with the High Sparrow. There is also the revelation that she is not having sex with the king, which may mean she does not have any interest in being married to the Lannisters. She might be the one responsible for the fall of House Lannister. The High Sparrow’s advice about women not requiring a sexual desire to fulfill their marital duties is despicable. Later, she convinces her grandmother, the Queen of Thorns, to leave King’s Landing since she might be in danger. When she gives her grandmother the note with the sketch of the rose, the sigil of House Tyrell, the audience realizes that Margaery is planning to do something. Entertaining is the scene in which the Queen of Thorns insults Cersei by stating that everything is her fault and that she will remain at King’s Landing surrounded by enemies. Nobody is around to protect her.
At Riverrun
Jamie goes to negotiate with Brynden Tully, the Blackfish, to get Riverrun back to House Frey. He witnesses Lothar and Walder Frey making threats of killing Lord Edmure to convince the Blackfish to abandon the castle. Brynden is indifferent. This scene portrays the Freys as being incompetent when it comes to politics and warfare, a notion that is further supported by the fact that the Lannister army comes into their camp unchallenged. Jamie eventually has a parley with the Blackfish. However, he is also unsuccessful in trying to convince him to give up Riverrun. In fact, the Blackfish reveals that he decided to talk to him to get a measure of him. He offensively tells Jaime that he is disappointed. He shames Jaime in front of his troops. This scene resembles in a way the interaction between Cersei and the Queen of Thorns. Of interest is how the Blackfish starts the conversation. He asks about Sansa and Arya. It seems that the knowledge that Sansa might be in need of troops might lead the Blackfish to head north next episode.
Somewhere in the Riverlands
Sandor Clegane is alive. In fact, there are no references to his previous name, “The Hound,” throughout this episode. The septon, the leader of the small village where Sandor currently is, thought he was dead when he found him. Once he realized Sandor was alive, he decided to treat his wounds. The message he transmits is revealing: Sandor has a particular role to fulfill, the main reason why he is still alive. Later, it is revealed that the septon used to be a soldier and that he changed his lifestyle after killing a boy. His conscience would not allow him to live in peace. Overall, it seems that the Septon’s ideals have infiltrated Sandor’s mind. Of course, Sandor will not stop being aggressive, but he will try his best in protecting those in need. Unfortunately, members of the Brotherhood without Banners come and execute everybody in the village. Sandor does not have a choice but to avenge the death of the septon and the villagers.
Somewhere in Essos
Yara Greyjoy and her supporters are in a port somewhere in Essos. Yara reveals to Theon that they are heading to Mereen to make a pact with Daenerys and get the Iron Islands back. She tells her brother that she needs the real Theon to do what they have planned. Of course, she does care about her brother, especially when she tells him that if he is so broken, he should commit suicide. If that is not the case, he needs to be stronger and be what he used to be, or at least a reformed version of it. Of course, there is no need to remind Theon of his emasculated condition, which she does.
At Braavos
Arya is buying passage to Westeros. Of interest is the captain’s topic of conversation. He is aware that the Ironborn are heading to Slaver’s Bay. One wonders whether he stopped at the same port where Yara and Theon were. Of note is that Arya has enough money to buy passage. Of course, it leaves to the audience to speculate about the provenance of the coins. However, when she is alone, the Waif glamoured as an old lady approaches and stabs her. Arya escapes. She appears to have a severe wound.
The problem with this whole scene is that Arya knows that the Faceless Men are coming for her. She was warned that failure of her last assignment meant death. Therefore, it is hard to visualize why she is roaming freely and being trustful of an old lady. Furthermore, the Waif seems to have something personal against Arya, a characteristic that the Faceless Men are not supposed to have. Personal feelings should not be affecting their decisions and manner of killing. In the last episode, Jaqen even told her not to make Arya suffer. Based on the manner of attack, the Waif is doing what she wants. Overall, this whole storyline is dragging and hopefully we will see its closure next episode.