Brush-up for Episode 8 with Dame Pasty’s Recap and Review of “The Broken Man”

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Here’s your weekly Brush-Up video of last week’s Game of Thrones episode entitled “The Broken Man”. We’re getting close to the end of the season and I’m starting to feel a bit cracked myself. Join me in reveling in all things Game of Thrones while we can.

This video should be safe enough for the Unsullied because the spoilers and speculation is at the very end of the video with plenty of warning beforehand.

Video after the jump.

WARNING: This video is NSFW and definitely not for the kiddos. Enjoy my fellow Thronees!

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31 Comments

  1. Another great review, Pasty!

    I’ve come to relish these as much as I do the Game of Owns podcasts so, please, keep up the great work.

    And … Hodor!

  2. Why do you point out Glover thinks Sansa/Jon aren’t real Stark and all that?
    If Anything, Lyanna Mormont is the one who did that… (You’re a Snow, not a Stark – You’re a Bolton, or is it a Lannister?).

    Glover sent them away because they didn’t care about him/his house when they were attacked, and now they come crying for help for their house.

    He’s fully in his right to do so. His family/people were captured/killed while the Stark were fucking around down south, and Robb breaking his vows getting everyone killed. Put yourself in his situation, would you be happy to sent whatever little remains to you in yet another war for these Stark?

    And as he point out, the Bolton actually helped him get his castle back. And now they want him to turn against them.

    It’s easy to see the Bolton as villains and the Stark as heroes and thus judge him poorly for not supporting the Stark against the bad people, but from his point of view the Starks are all idiots and get everyone killed by their stupidity, don’t care about YOUR trouble yet begs you to help them for theirs at every opportunity, while the Bolton actually do their job as warden in the north, they crushed the ironborn invasion, took back his castle for him, and so on.

    From Glover’s PoV, the Bolton are the good guys, and the Starks are entitled terrible fools who can presume on everyone’s one-sided support.

    Vassalage in these medieval-type eras goes both ways. Yes, the Glover are (or were) sworn to the Stark, but it’s not just them who have duties.

    The vassal owes support to his liege (which they gave in the war of the 5 kings) but the liege owes protection to his subjects, which they never gave.

    Glover was 100% right in this scene, and some people will hate him only because he doesn’t want to help the characters they root for, but that’s wrong.

    He’s perfectly reasonable. The Starks weren’t.

  3. While Grover’ POV is totally understandable, it must be mentioned that it was the Boltons who killed their men in the Red Wedding – and somehow nobody brings this up. Roose couldn’t care less about Robb’s wife – he just took advantage of the situation. And he thought that Tywin is a safer bet in the long run than Robb. He made sure he stays on the winning side – and gets the North as well as Warden. He probably would have done the same if Robb marries the Frey girl. The Freys might not have been in on it in that case, but if Tywin grants them Riverrun and Roose (as Warden) still marries a Frey girl, it might have been the same for Walder Frey.

  4. Love seeing these, Dame, not only because they are well done but because it means the next episode is right around the corner, and you remind us of all the important points.

    The exchange between little Lyanna and Sansa had me kind of mystified. The grief she was giving Sansa over Sansa not still carrying the Stark name was strange. Someday, we hope, Lyanna will be old enough to marry and take on the name of her husband’s family. But that won’t make her any less a Mormont. I’m sure her Maester and other advisors are already talking to her in terms of whom she’d marry when she comes of age. So, someday she will be in the same boat as Sansa, carrying a different name than her born family name. Catelyn didn’t get accused of being less of a Tully for marrying a Stark. So, Sansa having to defend her “Starkness” on the basis of marriage seems a little manufactured.

    Anyway, kind of OT, but if I were shipping anybody, I’d ship Lyanna and Rickon as the perfect match. Of course, poor Rickon is going to have to survive Ramsay. (sigh, sob, oh I hope they don’t kill that kid, he was so feisty and cute.)

    As far as Sandor (with his “awakening” can we still call him the Hound?) as I mentioned on another thread, I think his first order of business will be revenge on those three outlaws for the death of his friend, Septon Ray. Then, I think he hears about the Starks rallying support and heads in that direction. I don’t think he’d go anywhere near Kings Landing.

  5. aiad: The vassal owes support to his liege (which they gave in the war of the 5 kings) but the liege owes protection to his subjects, which they never gave.

    The problem is, the Starks did try to protect their bannermen, and that’s what led to trouble to begin with. When Robb marched off and left Winterfell in charge of Bran and Maester Luwin, there was that scene where Bran, the Maester and Rickon were sitting at the table. Rickon was pounding walnuts. One of the bannermen said their lands were being over run, I think by a contingent of Ironborn. Bran even made the comment about protecting the bannermen and sent part of the Winterfell force to help. But that left Winterfell vulnerable, and Theon was able to march in and take over. So, the Starks did try to help, and the idea of helping bannermen was firmly ingrained within the family. It just, sadly, turned to shit.

  6. aiad,

    He’s fully in his right to do so. His family/people were captured/killed while the Stark were fucking around down south, and Robb breaking his vows getting everyone killed. Put yourself in his situation, would you be happy to sent whatever little remains to you in yet another war for these Stark?

    And as he point out, the Bolton actually helped him get his castle back. And now they want him to turn against them.

    I agree with you; I do wonder if Glover would change his mind once he sees the WW and co. Of course, by that time it might be way too late.

    Thronetender,

    But if I were shipping anybody, I’d ship Lyanna and Rickon as the perfect match. Of course, poor Rickon is going to have to survive Ramsay

    I thought of that as well; would certainly keep him alive hopefully! (

  7. Thronetender:
    Anyway, kind of OT, but if I were shipping anybody, I’d ship Lyanna and Rickon as the perfect match. Of course, poor Rickon is going to have to survive Ramsay. (sigh, sob, oh I hope they don’t kill that kid, he was so feisty and cute.)

    I always thought Rickon landed on the wrong side of crazy, myself. Though I’d love to ship Lyanna with a family we love, I wouldn’t board that ship.

    Thank you, Dame! I enjoy the recaps and especially the endings.

  8. Ginevra: I always thought Rickon landed on the wrong side of crazy, myself.

    Rickon had some powers of greenseeing, I think, yet no one around who believed in them or to teach him how to use them. He was basically abandoned as a small boy, though not by choice but by miserable circumstance, and sent with a servant to beg for shelter from another Northern house. Any news he hears of Starks is bad news. That might mess up a kid a little.

    Anyway, what a bad era to be a male with the Stark name, so far. Ned’s father and older brother killed horribly, Ned betrayed and beheaded, Benjen undead with no heirs, Robb betrayed and killed, even little unborn Ned stabbed by Freys. Bran eventually won’t even carry the Stark name; Benjen has already said Bran is now the Three Eyed Raven, and in certain circles, that’s how he’ll be known. Maybe it’s just as well Jon didn’t carry the Stark name. It might have been a curse of sorts. He’ll make a name for himself

  9. ash: I agree with you; I do wonder if Glover would change his mind once he sees the WW and co. Of course, by that time it might be way too late.

    I think the whole North will change it’s mind in a frosty instant. Wouldn’t they have to? Then all the moaning and groaning about fighting alongside Wildings, or having Wildings around will float into the wind. They’ll be glad to see a Wilding when the wights are breaking down their gates. Can’t wait to see that.

  10. lord of blogfell,

    IMHO, we won’t find out the truth about the great northern conspiracy until ep 9. There’s still a big possibility that it will happen and that most of the northern houses will switch their allegiance right on the battlefield (which will be fatal to Ramsay). The reason why I think so is that D&D are setting the Vale army to save the day too explicitly. There is no intrigue – at least so far, though there is a chance that we will discover that Littlefinger was cooperating with Ramsay all the time and that he simply wants Sansa dead cause she knows too much. But so far there is no intrigue and D&D like intrigues and unexpected twists (that’s why they like ASOIAF). Hence, there is a possibility that some unexpected twist will happen and the northern conspiracy could be one of the possible twists.

  11. Everyone assumes that Lancel and the sparrows are coming after Cersei when they have the previewed scuffle. But Lancel says “Step Aside or there will be violence” meaning “Let us pass”. He didn’t say “Come with us”. I think Cersei and the Mountain are seeking him out to kill him and prevent him from testifying against her. He gets killed and Cersei and the Mountain go to the Sept either for the trial or to confront the High Sparrow. The Mountain attacks and in the chaos Tommen gets killed. Cersei escapes and hides in the Red Keep and thoroughly loses her mind and starts to make plans but waits for Jaime to return.

    Arya obviously survives, I think she is much smarter and competent than the waif and will kill her and we will see her board a ship for Westeros much like the end of, season 4 was it?

    Also, did anyone notice in the preview for episode 8 that the person we see the Hound swinging an axe at has much different hair than any of the 3 riders that came to the commune.

    .mb

  12. Ser Marksalot:

    Also, did anyone notice in the preview for episode 8 that the person we see the Hound swinging an axe at has much different hair than any of the 3 riders that came to the commune.

    Yes, I noticed that too.

  13. I think the reason Sansa didn’t tell Jon about about Littlefinger is not that Jon would refuse his troops, but that he would want them and she didn’t. She made it pretty clear when she met with Littlefinger that she wanted nothing to do with him. It was only after she discovered the support for the Starks in the north was not what she assumed it would be that she realized she would have to put her hatred of him aside because they need his resources.

  14. Thronetender,

    I’m with you on this. Sansa is as much a stark as any of her male siblings .. but I think what lyanna Mormont was merely questioning sansa’s loyalty .. or maybe she was teasing her nothing more .. as for Reckon, I’m not too optimistic .. he’s a goner I’m afraid. Atleast give him some screen time before he’s unforeseen demise of that’s the case .. I want to see him use his wits again Ramsay .. afterall he’s the angry wolf .. the uncontrollable one ..

  15. Aszusz,

    Thronetender,

    You’ve made good points, but remember that, in the show (and unlike the books), Robb had no intention of going back to the North to fight the Ironborn. He wants to take his soldiers (including the Glovers) to take Casterly Rock. At that point, the only one in the North who’s officially fighting the Ironborn is Ramsay.
    So, when the Red Wedding happens, the Glover soldiers are massacred and can’t help Lord Robett to take back Deepwood Motte.
    If the RW hadn’ happened, the Glover soldiers would have gone south to Casterly Rock, and they wouldn’t have helped Lord Robett to take back DM either.
    So, either way, Robb screwed up.

  16. Inga: Yes, I noticed that too.

    I’m guessing that’s the first BwB he encounters, perhaps an outlying guard. That’s where he’ll get a sword to continue his “A Feast Of Chickens” payback.

  17. It’s a little overboard to say anyone in the north owes more to the Boltons than to the Starks. As was pointed out, Bran sent Winterfell men to help fight the Ironborn, at the cost of making his own castle vulnerable and getting himself taken prisoner by Theon. He was willing to sacrifice. And Robb didn’t want to be in the south. The reason he took his army down there in the first place was to free Ned. When that didn’t happen, he’d have gladly ransomed Jaime to get his sisters back and go home, but his bannermen would never let that happen because they wanted southern blood. It’s as much their fault as it was Robb’s that the north was left undefended.

    Anyway, I at least understand their position with respect to the wildlings, but give it time. The Boltons may have helped out the Glovers, but they flayed others for not paying taxes, and they were responsible for the deaths at the Red Wedding far more than Robb was. Roose pulled that trigger. Most of the north will not forget that. And the ones that are too put off by the thought of fighting alongside wildlings will come along when they see that these people are not there to plunder and that they need all the help they can get. When this battle is won, I have no doubt at all that the north will support Jon. The writers just don’t want to make it too easy for him and realistically it would take a while for some of them to come around. They were skeptical of Robb, too, until he bested Jaime and had a few victories under his belt. Jon has risked everything and given his life to protect the north. They just don’t know him yet, but we’ve seen his power to inspire loyalty.

  18. Thronetender,

    lyanna may not understand how sansa can be married and not still be a stark in name. the mormont women do not change their names when they marry. maege, lyanna’s mother, was married and still kept the name mormont. she is one of the people who proclaimed robb king in the north in that scene. her daughter, alysane, is also married but also retains the mormont name instead of changing to her husband’s name. that is the way of mormont women. lyanna simply may not understand that a woman may change her name after being married without having to automatically change their allegiance. she may assume that once a name has been changed the woman now supports that family even if was forced (lannister) or unwanted (bolton) the way it was with sansa.

  19. Aszusz:
    While Grover’ POV is totally understandable, it must be mentioned that it was the Boltons who killed their men in the Red Wedding – and somehow nobody brings this up.

    The way they’re going about this whole recruiting thing is all wrong. Even if these Northern Houses have bones to pick with House Stark the fact remains that they’re now governed by the son of the man who helped orchestrate the Red Wedding (thus, all of their family’s deaths). A man who then killed his own father/Stepmother/brother, and flays people alive for not paying their taxes. Why they don’t bring up the fact that Winterfell is now held by The North’s version of a “mad king” is beyond me. Because, whatever you may say about the Starks, their leadership *should* be preferable to the whims of an insane bastard who derives pleasure from inflicting harm on anyone and everyone.

    And speaking of the North, this show has a bad way of undercutting its own messages. For 5 seasons we’ve heard nothing but, “The North Remembers”, “The Northerners will never forget”, the North is loyal to House Stark, etc, etc. Hell, this fact was the entire basis for why Roose wanted to marry Sansa to Ramsay: because the North would be more willing to accept them if they married a Stark. Its the whole reason why Ramsay wanted to kill Jon, Bran and Rickon in season 4 (because the North would rally behind any living Stark, thus threatening their control of the North). Just last season, the Winterfell lady told Sansa, “You still have friends in the North…the North Remembers…” And yet, if you watch this season (thus far), none of that is apparently true. So, either they’re undercutting 5 seasons of Northern build up, or there are things that are going to happen that we just haven’t seen yet.

    I’m sincerely hoping the North remembers itself…and soon…because otherwise, 5 seasons of all this Northern build up will be nothing but nonsense.

  20. Thronetender,

    Lyanna isn’t saying that Sansa lost her Starkness by getting married–she’s saying that Sansa lost her Starkness by marrying members of families that are rivals and enemies of the Starks.

    I love Sansa and I think that she deserves a lot of credit for surviving. For toughing it out, picking her battles, for slowly but surely returning to her core values when everyone around her tried to tear them apart.

    But the fact that Sansa survived IS suspicious. Why wasn’t she killed? What bargains did she make, what tales did she tell? A blunt and loyal Northerner who challenges her to assert her Starkness is just saying waht everyone else is thinking. (And Sansa has seen and done some shady stuff.)

  21. Thronetender,

    Lyanna Mormont is a Mormont by her mother. We don’t even know who her father is, and it is clear that neither her nor her mother got his name. So I can see her point of view on this.
    IMO, she will always stay a Mormont.

  22. Thronetender: The problem is, the Starks did try to protect their bannermen, and that’s what led to trouble to begin with. When Robb marched off and left Winterfell in charge of Bran and Maester Luwin, there was that scene where Bran, the Maester and Rickon were sitting at the table. Rickon was pounding walnuts. One of the bannermen said their lands were being over run, I think by a contingent of Ironborn. Bran even made the comment about protecting the bannermen and sent part of the Winterfell force to help. But that left Winterfell vulnerable, and Theon was able to march in and take over.So, the Starks did try to help, and the idea of helping bannermen was firmly ingrained within the family. It just, sadly, turned to shit.

    Yeah this is a fair point, couldn’t remember if it was Moat Cailin or Deepwood Motte they were going for but it was Deepwood Motte, and then Ser Rodrick was captured all by himself outside?

    Added to that I half expected Sansa to bring up that the Ironborn also took Winterfell etc

    That said, think the exchange was meant to convey the legitimate grievances Northern Lords would have had with the Starks as part of the politics/drama of it all in general

    I suspect we’ll hear the other side of it this week (Manderly’s I hope?)

    Tbf to Jon and Sansa though, not sure they’d know how to retort properly given Sansa was holed up in KL with not much info getting through as to specifics, and Jon was AWOL with Ygritte and the Wildlings at the time

  23. RosanaZugey: The way they’re going about this whole recruiting thing is all wrong. Even if these Northern Houses have bones to pick with House Stark the fact remains that they’re now governed by the son of the man who helped orchestrate the Red Wedding (thus, all of their family’s deaths). A man who then killed his own father/Stepmother/brother, and flays people alive for not paying their taxes. Why they don’t bring up the fact that Winterfell is now held by The North’s version of a “mad king” is beyond me. Because, whatever you may say about the Starks, their leadership *should* be preferable to the whims of an insane bastard who derives pleasure from inflicting harm on anyone and everyone.

    And speaking of the North, this show has a bad way of undercutting its own messages. For 5 seasons we’ve heard nothing but, “The North Remembers”, “The Northerners will never forget”, the North is loyal to House Stark, etc, etc. Hell, this fact was the entire basis for why Roose wanted to marry Sansa to Ramsay: because the North would be more willing to accept them if they married a Stark. Its the whole reason why Ramsay wanted to kill Jon, Bran and Rickon in season 4 (because the North would rally behind any living Stark, thus threatening their control of the North). Just last season, the Winterfell lady told Sansa, “You still have friends in the North…the North Remembers…” And yet, if you watch this season (thus far), none of that is apparently true. So, either they’re undercutting 5 seasons of Northern build up, or there are things that are going to happen that we just haven’t seen yet.

    I’m sincerely hoping the North remembers itself…and soon…because otherwise, 5 seasons of all this Northern build up will be nothing but nonsense.

    Well said! Team Jonsansos are the worst persuasionists ever to grace Westeros. And the North suddenly forgetting to remember and to be loyal seems wickedly forced. They needed a more convincing storyline: a lie against the Starks that the North could believe beyond the fact that Wildlings had been let through. For instance, if after Jon let the Wildlings through, Ramsay’s men had dressed as Wildlings and brutally raped and murdered several young, innocent, and beloved Northern noble girls, especially if promising that the North had much more of the same to come, thanks to Jon Snow, then the North could have a plausible reason to blame and betray the Starks and side with Ramsay against the Wildlings.

  24. Team Jonsansos are the worst persuasionists ever to grace Westeros.

    see below

    Ghosts Lunch,

    bf to Jon and Sansa though, not sure they’d know how to retort properly given Sansa was holed up in KL with not much info getting through as to specifics, and Jon was AWOL with Ygritte and the Wildlings at the time

    Now that doesn’t justify or excuse what happened, and certainly the North ha a lot to complain about. They are using these two as sounding boards for their grievances, when they had nought to do with anything nor knew anything.
    Hopefully in the next recruiting round, Jon and Sansa will have learned the errors of their ways and do better.

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