The Broken Man is another classic episode for the sixth season and improves upon the previous episode (which I thought was great despite it's uneven pacing).
It's easy to point out that the Hound, one of the characters who captured Arya Stark after her father was executed by King Joffrey, actually survived from his wounds after end of the fourth season and he gets some character development here. He's trying to find redemption by living peacefully with the villagers only to seek vengeance after finding his happiness taken away from him. Rory McCann, who played the Hound, also known as Sandor Clegane in the first four seasons, gives a really solid performance. Ian McShane, who plays Ray, the man who nursed him back to health, is a great addition to the show's sixth season and gives a superb performance as a peaceful man who helps the Hound find his happiness.
That being said, everything else is great. Some of the story lines from the previous episodes have been advanced with Arya trying to get back home after she stopped Lady Crane from drinking her poisoned rum and decided not to become a faceless person, unaware that something terrible would happen to her. The performances are still solid, the pacing is very brisk, Mark Mylod, who directed the third and fourth episodes of Season 5, does a great job directing, the editing is really smooth, the scenery, sets, and costumes are still lavish, and Ramin Djawadi continues to deliver some perfect moments in his score.
So, overall, The Broken Man succeeds in it's character-driven story for the Hound for the sixth season and sets up nicely to what's going to happen in the last three episodes. Thumbs up. :)
It's easy to point out that the Hound, one of the characters who captured Arya Stark after her father was executed by King Joffrey, actually survived from his wounds after end of the fourth season and he gets some character development here. He's trying to find redemption by living peacefully with the villagers only to seek vengeance after finding his happiness taken away from him. Rory McCann, who played the Hound, also known as Sandor Clegane in the first four seasons, gives a really solid performance. Ian McShane, who plays Ray, the man who nursed him back to health, is a great addition to the show's sixth season and gives a superb performance as a peaceful man who helps the Hound find his happiness.
That being said, everything else is great. Some of the story lines from the previous episodes have been advanced with Arya trying to get back home after she stopped Lady Crane from drinking her poisoned rum and decided not to become a faceless person, unaware that something terrible would happen to her. The performances are still solid, the pacing is very brisk, Mark Mylod, who directed the third and fourth episodes of Season 5, does a great job directing, the editing is really smooth, the scenery, sets, and costumes are still lavish, and Ramin Djawadi continues to deliver some perfect moments in his score.
So, overall, The Broken Man succeeds in it's character-driven story for the Hound for the sixth season and sets up nicely to what's going to happen in the last three episodes. Thumbs up. :)