GoT Power Rankings // “The Broken Man”
An old favorite made his return in this week’s episode, “The Broken Man,” proving once again that the Iron Island’s saying, “What’s dead may never die” truly applies all over Westeros. Here are this week’s rankings.
1. Sandor Clegane
Last seen slowly dying on a hillside, The Hound resurfaced this week as the faith’s best construction worker, chopping wood and building septs for an ex-soldier turned septon’s congregation. Clearly changed by his near-death experience at the hands of a woman and little girl, Sandy is feeling vulnerable and asking himself the big existential questions for the first time: What have I done? When will I be punished? How much goddamn firewood do these people need? After seeing his religious companions brutally slain by the Brotherhood Without Banners, The Hound remembers who he truly is, grabbing an axe and walking off to rejoin the fray.
2. Greyjoy Siblings
Talk about some wholesome family bonding. Docked in Volantis, Yara and Theon get some much deserved R&R by stopping at the local brothel by the sea, where Theon is having a crisis of confidence. Perhaps it was less than sensitive of Yara to take a castrated man to the red-light district, but once there she makes it clear how much she loves her brother, mostly by making him chug ale. Along with the booze, Yara uses tough love to assure baby bro that she needs the true Theon Greyjoy to help carry out her plan of meeting up with Daenerys and taking the Iron Throne. The look in Theon’s eyes seemed to indicate that Reek may be gone for good.
3. Ser Davos
For a daughterless man, this guy sure has a way with tween girls. He was BFFs with Stannis’ daughter, and knew just what to say to young Lyanna Mormont to convince her to provide some swords to Jon’s cause. Maybe dropping a truth bomb about the impending White Walker apocalypse helped, but Davos still had to know what buttons to push, something Jon and Sansa couldn’t figure out how to do. Plus, he displayed his forever loyalty to Stannis by enlightening Jon on his former leader’s militaristic strategies. This guy lives by a code that would make Omar Little proud and has proven himself useful wherever he’s been.
4. Blackfish
What a cold, heartless sonofabitch this dude is. Either smart enough to call a bluff or totally willing to sacrifice his nephew, Ser Tully shows himself unwilling to give up Riverrun without a fight. Meeting with Jamie just to size him up — and being unimpressed — Blackfish dares the Kingslayer to try and seize the castle, pointing out that they have years worth of provisions and it would cost thousands of Lannister lives. Plus, he executes the most humiliating door slam on Jamie, making him stand there while a drawbridge inches closed.
5. Queen Margaery
Long one of the show’s stealthier strategists, the Queen reveals this week that she may not be as brainwashed by the High Sparrow as he might think. Doing some Meryl Streep-level acting, Margaery has completely bamboozled the Sparrow and his flock into thinking that she is one of them, even passionately citing a holy book passage and admitting she can’t stand poor people. Sensing that the Queen of Thorns will be the Sparrow’s next target, Margaery and her ever-charming shadow Septa Unella visit her grandmother and convince her to return to Highgarden. Olenna agrees, and is comforted by Margaery slipping her a sketch of a rose, the sigil of House Tyrell. Seems ol’ Queenie remains loyal and is just biding her time.
Dead Last: The Stark Daughters
After making it rain to book safe passage back to Westeros, the newly re-born Arya is almost immediately stabbed in the stomach repeatedly by a vengeful Waif. After somehow surviving this, Arya is left to face her “Arrested Development” moment, bloodily stumbling through the streets of Braavos, unsure if she can trust anyone. Back in the North, Sansa is reconciling the hard truth that her family name has lost pretty much all of its luster and is ignored by Jon as he insists on attacking Winterfell with the undermanned army they have. A serious reality check episode for the Stark girls.
(Dis)honorable mentions
The Giant. Evidently he has final say on all Wildling affairs. Good for him.
Queen of Thorns. Have to imagine she’s been wanting to tell Cersei she’s the worst person in the world for a while. Must’ve felt great.
The Waif. Could she have picked a more obvious disguise? A sweet old lady? A+ for execution, C- for effort.
Bronn. Just happy to have him back.
King Tommen. He’s really telling the High Sparrow that he’s not getting laid?
