Season 6 Episode 7 "The Broken Man" - "Non book readers"

PressRun

klose wrote: »

Thn little girl absolutely killed that role, fantastic acting for such a young girl. The blackfish was badass as **** too, two awesome new characters although they are probably only in for a few episodes.

The Blackfish's "disappointing" line at Jamie was excellent. It's the second time that Jamie has been put in his place by a character who is completely unintimidated by him. It's easy for Jamie to be high and mighty around incompetent fools like the Freys, but when he comes up against smarter people like the Blackfish or the High Sparrow, they can call his bluff and his routine falls short. Even Bronn was sick listening to his "Lannisters pay their debts" line.

Anachrony

Giggernaut wrote: »

How in the hell is Ayra still alive? Half a dozen stab wounds and the waif twisted the blade for maximum damage. The blood was streaming out of her!

If everything happened as it appears, then she should totally be dead, or at least very near it, with no medical technology short of magic that could save her. If the blood loss didn't get her, the slow painful infection would (similar to King Robert). And having a Red Priest pop up out of nowhere is really the last thing we need.

And if she dies, which I doubt will happen, then her whole Bravos storyline will be a dead end that doesn't connect with the rest of the story at all. It doesn't make narrative sense. I don't think she'll actually die, and I'd be very disappointed if she just miraculously survives that wound with no real explanation, or a poor explanation.

There are a lot of hints though, that things may not have been exactly as they appeared. Arya was acting very strangely leading up to that. It would be really poor writing if it were unintentional. There are three main ideas that I've heard on what might be going on, which differ by the number of Aryas in that scene.

The simplest is that there was one Arya in that scene, who anticipated that they'd come after her, was much more prepared for it than she appeared, and faked her death, perhaps using practical effects from the theater troup, and from there there are a few possibilities of what she could be planning.

The next simplest is that there were zero Aryas in that scene. One of them was Jaqen or another Faceless Man, testing the Waif somehow (she seems to be holding a personal grudge, and disobeyed a clear order on how Arya's death should occur), or for whatever unknown reason helping her to escape by faking her death.

The really weird one, which didn't occur to me, is that there were two Aryas in that scene. The Fight Club scenario. Faceless trainee "No One" is metaphorically trying to kill off the old Arya Stark, and this is a normal stage of the Faceless Men process. It would put an interesting spin on those scenes where the Waif was beating up blind Arya in public and everyone ignored it, if it was a crazy girl beating herself up.

flazio

Question: How is the Lady Mormont related to Ser Friendzone?

BoJack Horseman

flazio wrote: »

Question: How is the Lady Mormont related to Ser Friendzone?

They are cousins.

Dair76

Best episode in a while, but mainly because of the presence/return of some of the more enjoyable characters. Some of the dialogue was good in parts too, but overall it still felt as if the pacing is all wrong - the building of the bigger picture is happening in fits and starts, whereas other elements seem rushed.

BoJack Horseman

One of the reasons why this episode was superior to the previous 'chess piece' episodes was we got to see some military maneuvers.

When people think of Westeros, it is hard to fathom the disparity in wealth and population.

Bear Island sends 62 to join Jon's 2,000+ to face the Bolton's 5,000+ to fight for the future of the entire North.
Meanwhile Jamie leads 8,000.... a small fraction of the Lannister army to retake Riverrun.

LionelNashe

Arya walking with her hands behind her back reminded me of Varys telling Tyrion that he walked like a rich man who owns the stones beneath his feet. It was like she was playing a part. Weird.

The expression on her face when she says "What do you care" was very David Brent.

lbj666

DeadHand wrote: »

It's testament to McShane's ability that his septon was so different to Swearengen: chirpy, jolly, amiable, words you couldn't use to describe Al- yet he's equally believable in both roles. Wish we could have seen more of him!

You obviously don't remember him as Lovejoy the loveable Antiques dealer so.

Vojera

Yaaaaay! By god, the Hound is a great character. Always a great performance as well.

This episode seemed particularly beautifully shot. The cinematography really stood out to me this week.

Can't wait to see what happens to Arya. Hope it's not the end of her as I enjoy her story and I'm hoping to see her return to Westeros.

I wonder if the High Sparrow knows that Margaery is bluffing. I'd be a little disappointed if he doesn't, to be honest. I imagine him being more clever than that. Also, I can only imagine Tommen complaining to him that he hasn't gotten the ride since Margaery came home

Zaph

Vojera wrote: »

This episode seemed particularly beautifully shot. The cinematography really stood out to me this week.

My wife doesn't watch the show and doesn't pay a whole lot of attention to it when I'm watching. But twice she commented on how well shot this week's episode was. It did seem to be particularly cinematic in parts, new director maybe?

I really enjoyed this week's episode, even though as has been said already it was mostly positioning characters for their next moves. But starting off with The Hound and also bringing Bronn back just cheered me up no end. Hopefully now that they're back they'll actually be used and not just relegated to bit parts. I reckon there's probably little chance of that happening to The Hound, otherwise there'd be no point in bringing him back, but Bronn is too good a character not to be given plenty of screen time.

lbj666

Anachrony wrote: »

If everything happened as it appears, then she should totally be dead, or at least very near it, with no medical technology short of magic that could save her. If the blood loss didn't get her, the slow painful infection would (similar to King Robert). And having a Red Priest pop up out of nowhere is really the last thing we need.

And if she dies, which I doubt will happen, then her whole Bravos storyline will be a dead end that doesn't connect with the rest of the story at all. It doesn't make narrative sense. I don't think she'll actually die, and I'd be very disappointed if she just miraculously survives that wound with no real explanation, or a poor explanation.

There are a lot of hints though, that things may not have been exactly as they appeared. Arya was acting very strangely leading up to that. It would be really poor writing if it were unintentional. There are three main ideas that I've heard on what might be going on, which differ by the number of Aryas in that scene.

The simplest is that there was one Arya in that scene, who anticipated that they'd come after her, was much more prepared for it than she appeared, and faked her death, perhaps using practical effects from the theater troup, and from there there are a few possibilities of what she could be planning.

The next simplest is that there were zero Aryas in that scene. One of them was Jaqen or another Faceless Man, testing the Waif somehow (she seems to be holding a personal grudge, and disobeyed a clear order on how Arya's death should occur), or for whatever unknown reason helping her to escape by faking her death.

The really weird one, which didn't occur to me, is that there were two Aryas in that scene. The Fight Club scenario. Faceless trainee "No One" is metaphorically trying to kill off the old Arya Stark, and this is a normal stage of the Faceless Men process. It would put an interesting spin on those scenes where the Waif was beating up blind Arya in public and everyone ignored it, if it was a crazy girl beating herself up.

Slept with needle by her bedside last time yet when she was out and about she didn't seem to have it. Something is amiss about the whole thing alright, but just like with every thing about the faceless men, we'll all be confused as f*ck regardless how it pans out.

J. Marston

Agree on the cinematography. Wouldn't usually pay much attention to that stuff but the shot of The Hound taking a drink with the sun coming through the trees was beautiful.

Lackey

Is Theon and Yara and the Iron Born not where Arya is?
I thought that's what the ship captain said before Arya gave him the gold to pay for her journey back to Westeros? That the Iron Born are at the brothel?
(I may research to check)
If I'm right then Ide guess that she'll meet Theon and he will save her? And bring her with them to Danerys with the Irin Born?
I could have misheard though?

lbj666

Lackey wrote: »

Is Theon and Yara and the Iron Born not where Arya is?
I thought that's what the ship captain said before Arya gave him the gold to pay for her journey back to Westeros? That the Iron Born are at the brothel?
(I may research to check)
If I'm right then Ide guess that she'll meet Theon and he will save her? And bring her with them to Danerys with the Irin Born?
I could have misheard though?

Yarra and Theon are in Volantis where Tyrion got kidnapped by Jorah last season. The captain said the Iron Born were in slavers bay which is Mereen Yunkai and Astapor which is wrong unless he was on about Eurons fleet last sighting before heading home.

Reckon Euron was definitly responsible for burning Danys Fleet.

Average-Ro

I believe it was Irish cinematographer PJ Dillon who shot this week's episode, so one of our own! He's been a cinematographer for years and has done some directing as well, so he knows what shots he needs to tell a story.

Roar

The thought did occur to me that Ayra was Jacquen, in her conversation with the ship captain. Seemed very Jaquen-like.

Also, I don't think Ayra would let her guard down like that - just standing on a bridge staring off into space, knowing a faceless assassin who could literally be anyone is on the hunt for her.

My wife doesn't watch the show at all but watched this episode, and thought that whole sequence was a dream.

So something is off alright I would think.

Degag

Kinda feel for The Hound. He was finally somewhere where he actually wanted to be and could be at peace and then it was all taken away from him.

klose

I think the arya scene was probably a faceless person and was a test for the waif who herself seems not be "no-one" in that she clearly holds a grudge against arya. I think i read the faceless men are meant to deliver a swift death too, the waif brutally stabbed arya in the gut knowing it would be a slow death.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Is it possible to kill anybody off in this show.

I have read no rumours or anything but I am 100% expecting Stannis to appear in the last couple of episodes.

klose

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Is it possible to kill anybody off in this show.

I have read no rumours or anything but I am 100% expecting Stannis to appear in the last couple of episodes.

Isint the saying if it didnt happen in camera then they could still be alive.

Asides stannis, brienne confirmed she finished him off.

tharmor

Its not arya for sure.. she is walking thru the streets with out asking for help...who would not ask for help ? probably someone impersonating her...

lbj666

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Is it possible to kill anybody off in this show.

I have read no rumours or anything but I am 100% expecting Stannis to appear in the last couple of episodes.

paulie21

Has or is GRRM directing an episode this season?

Hunchback

There are just so many strands to this show - how in God's name are they all going to be resolved, or whatever in the time we have left? Which is the few episodes left in this season and then next season as well, right?

Dair76

I agree that it didn't seem like Arya when she was attacked, but why would you think it could have been one of the Faceless Men in her stead? I mean, why would they be more likely to let their guard down than Arya, or allow themselves be murdered to prove the waif went against Jaqen's wishes?

Nah. While I'd like to believe there'll be a neat twist to reveal the truth, my guess is it's just bad writing and Essie Davis' character (name escapes me at the moment) will somehow be involved in Arya being saved. Of course, hope I'm way off.

Edit: Lady Crane

seligehgit

lbj666 wrote: »

Slept with needle by her bedside last time yet when she was out and about she didn't seem to have it. Something is amiss about the whole thing alright, but just like with every thing about the faceless men, we'll all be confused as f*ck regardless how it pans out.

Yeah surely she would have had needle at hand to defend herself now that she's abandoned her training.Ian McShane's characterisation reminded me of one of the hobbits from LOTR.

Top notch dialogue between Yara and Theon.

PressRun

Did anyone think Jon seemed a bit unconvincing as a leader in this episode? I don't know if it's because he's changed now that he's been resurrected or if he is very aware of his status as a bastard when dealing with the northern houses, but he didn't seem incredibly inspiring when speaking to either the Mormonts or the Glovers. In fact, he barely spoke at all. It was Davos who ended up convincing the little Mormont lady to stick with the Starks and he didn't do much to reassure the Glovers. He seems unprepared for this battle. At least Sansa seems to realise that they can't retake Winterfell with the numbers they have.

alchemist33

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

One of the reasons why this episode was superior to the previous 'chess piece' episodes was we got to see some military maneuvers.

When people think of Westeros, it is hard to fathom the disparity in wealth and population.

Bear Island sends 62 to join Jon's 2,000+ to face the Bolton's 5,000+ to fight for the future of the entire North.
Meanwhile Jamie leads 8,000.... a small fraction of the Lannister army to retake Riverrun.

Ahem, don't you mean 620?

Vojera

tharmor wrote: »

Its not arya for sure.. she is walking thru the streets with out asking for help...who would not ask for help ? probably someone impersonating her...

I think she didn't ask for help because she realised that anyone there could be a Faceless Man and she has absolutely no way of knowing who she can trust.

leonil7

i almost missed this one .. i was looking at the birds.

looks like the stern and new favorite lyanna mormont is the key to winning the war with his 62 men.

lets just hope melisandre does not see her as another girl to burn.

eeguy

Can we have one, just one plot line resolved please.

Every episode has ended on an unresolved cliff hanger and there's so many threads in this story I don't know how it's going to resolve in the next three episodes.

Anachrony

Dair76 wrote: »

I agree that it didn't seem like Arya when she was attacked, but why would you think it could have been one of the Faceless Men in her stead? I mean, why would they be more likely to let their guard down than Arya, or allow themselves be murdered to prove the waif went against Jaqen's wishes?

Fully trained Faceless Men are very deceptive. If it was one of them, they wouldn't have been fatally stabbed, it would only appear that way. We've already seen them appear to kill one of their own to prove a point to Arya, which doesn't seem like a very sustainable recruiting practice. If they were regularly killing experienced Faceless Men as part of training potential new ones, they'd surely have died out a long time ago.

We don't know the full extent of their abilities, but we've seen enough tricks and manipulations of apparent reality to question what we see when they're around. The idea behind this theory would involve faking a death, not actually committing suicide to deceive the Waif.

And that's just one of the alternatives. Even if that's not the one, it doesn't mean that Arya is suddenly a complacent dummy who chose the most dangerous moment to start acting completely out of character.

Dair76

Anachrony wrote: »

Fully trained Faceless Men are very deceptive. If it was one of them, they wouldn't have been fatally stabbed, it would only appear that way. We've already seen them appear to kill one of their own to prove a point to Arya, which doesn't seem like a very sustainable recruiting practice. If they were regularly killing experienced Faceless Men as part of training potential new ones, they'd surely have died out a long time ago.

We don't know the full extent of their abilities, but we've seen enough tricks and manipulations of apparent reality to question what we see when they're around. The idea behind this theory would involve faking a death, not actually committing suicide to deceive the Waif.

And that's just one of the alternatives. Even if that's not the one, it doesn't mean that Arya is suddenly a complacent dummy who chose the most dangerous moment to start acting completely out of character.

So if faking the death, why reappear at the shoreline and stagger around as Arya, letting potentially anyone see that she/fake needed to be finished off? I don't buy it.

As I say, I'd like there to be something more to it. Maybe Arya pulled a Mission Impossible 2, and stuck an Arya mask on Lady Crane's understudy? :pac:

lbj666

Didn't the Boltons have a huge cavalry too when they finished Stannis.

eeguy

Dair76 wrote: »

As I say, I'd like there to be something more to it. Maybe Arya pulled a Mission Impossible 2, and stuck an Arya mask on Lady Crane's understudy? :pac:

SHe cut her own face off?

Badass.

lbj666

Can someone tell me what bearing the siege of Riverrun is going to have on the reclamation of Winterfell , surely Blackfish has his hands full and is in no position to help out up North and Brienne is going to be dragged into it now too.

HalloweenJack

I think people are underestimating the High Sparrow, just look at how he set up Olenna and I'm certain he knew what Margaery would do, not to mention having your one there when Margaery made a terrible attempt at slipping a note. I think he's trying to see how much nonsense he can feed her and how much she can regurgitate when he sends her on his deeds. He talks in riddles but he did mentioned something about "not walking" surely he was alluding to Margaery's lack of shaming and trying to subtly remind her of it. It's turning into a real battle of wits between the two of them but she seems a lot cockier.

Also, I reckon Sansa may be thinking of tricking Ramsay. Wasn't there some off-handed comment about him sending a raven a while back? It was when she saw the raven's caged up that she seemed to start plotting.

The Arya stuff did seem a bit weird looking back now. One thing's for sure, I'd be very surprised if she actually dies.

pickarooney

Was this the first episode with a pre-credits scene?

BoJack Horseman

PressRun wrote: »

Did anyone think Jon seemed a bit unconvincing as a leader in this episode? I don't know if it's because he's changed now that he's been resurrected or if he is very aware of his status as a bastard when dealing with the northern houses, but he didn't seem incredibly inspiring when speaking to either the Mormonts or the Glovers

Strangely, he is carrying the Mormont's family sword on his person.

Their former lord gifted Jon that pice of Valeryin steel a few seasons ago.....

that would have been all the convincing the girl needed....
But I guess the writers wanted Davos to do his "dead are coming" line.

BoJack Horseman

lbj666 wrote: »

Didn't the Boltons have a huge cavalry too when they finished Stannis.

Yep.... as implausible as it looked.

eeguy

lbj666 wrote: »

Can someone tell me what bearing the siege of Riverrun is going to have on the reclamation of Winterfell , surely Blackfish has his hands full and is in no position to help out up North and Brienne is going to be dragged into it now too.

*cough*
What?

GerB40

paulie21 wrote: »

Has or is GRRM directing an episode this season?

He actually wrote episodes rather than directed them but this season he decided against it to spend more time writing the books. He even cancelled a load of conventions so he should be getting more writing done than he has since the show began.

BoJack Horseman

eeguy wrote: »

*cough*
What?

Brienne & Pod will be on site next week.

Grudaire

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Strangely, he is carrying the Mormont's family sword on his person.

Their former lord gifted Jon that pice of Valeryin steel a few seasons ago.....

that would have been all the convincing the girl needed....
But I guess the writers wanted Davos to do his "dead are coming" line.

Did that not get given to Ed, as new Lord commander?

lazybones32

Really liked this ep but didn't like how the hound didn't hear one single cry, shout, scream or roar as everyone got killed. I know he was cutting branches but come on. There is little point in trying to reform his character to being a peace-loving villager 'cos it just won't wash.
Arya only got stabbed in the gut with a thin dagger, so it shouldn't prove mortal but the servants of the many-faced-gods will probably be told she is dead (until one of them sees her in a later season). The waif seems sure a girl is dead even though throwing yourself off a bridge is a sign she has enough strength/wits to not be fatally wounded, so maybe the waif is only toying with her...making her suffer?

I liked this so much Iwill prob watch it again some evening

BoJack Horseman

Grudaire wrote: »

Did that not get given to Ed, as new Lord commander?

I know he gave Ed his lord-commander-bath-robe....
But I don't remember him handing over that sword.

foamytalent

Anachrony wrote: »

The simplest is that there was one Arya in that scene, who anticipated that they'd come after her, was much more prepared for it than she appeared, and faked her death, perhaps using practical effects from the theater troup, and from there there are a few possibilities of what she could be planning.

The next simplest is that there were zero Aryas in that scene. One of them was Jaqen or another Faceless Man, testing the Waif somehow (she seems to be holding a personal grudge, and disobeyed a clear order on how Arya's death should occur), or for whatever unknown reason helping her to escape by faking her death.

The really weird one, which didn't occur to me, is that there were two Aryas in that scene. The Fight Club scenario. Faceless trainee "No One" is metaphorically trying to kill off the old Arya Stark, and this is a normal stage of the Faceless Men process. It would put an interesting spin on those scenes where the Waif was beating up blind Arya in public and everyone ignored it, if it was a crazy girl beating herself up.

Assuming she isn't going to die, her reaction on getting out of the canal doesn't really fit any of these though.

Zaph

Grudaire wrote: »

Did that not get given to Ed, as new Lord commander?

I was under the impression that Jeor Mormont gave the sword to Jon Snow as a personal gift, rather than as a symbol of the Lord Commander as it was the Mormont family sword.

Anachrony

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

PressRun wrote: »

Did anyone think Jon seemed a bit unconvincing as a leader in this episode? I don't know if it's because he's changed now that he's been resurrected or if he is very aware of his status as a bastard when dealing with the northern houses, but he didn't seem incredibly inspiring when speaking to either the Mormonts or the Glovers

Strangely, he is carrying the Mormont's family sword on his person.

Their former lord gifted Jon that pice of Valeryin steel a few seasons ago.....

that would have been all the convincing the girl needed....

Not sure that would have had the intended effect, anyway. You looted my dead uncle's family heirloom and melted it down? Give that back and get the hell out of here.

eeguy

foamytalent wrote: »

Assuming she isn't going to die, her reaction on getting out of the canal doesn't really fit any of these though.

Next episode is titled "No One"

She's not going to die.