‘Game of Thrones’ season 6, episode 7: Writer on Rory McCann surprise
The Hound is one of our personal favorite characters in the “Game of Thrones” world, even if you can argue understandably that he is a rather despicable man. Some of our favorite stuff with Arya was when she was traveling with him, and there was a long time when we wondered whether or not Brienne had truly killed him.
Last night, we learned that this was not the case, as he had been rehabilitated and, at least briefly, turned into another man by Brother Ray, a companion played wonderfully by “Deadwood” actor Ian McShane. It’s a shame that everything now has changed for the character, and he has now been thrust back into an era of violence.
Co-executive producer Bryan Cogman is responsible for writing “The Broken Man,” and in speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he explained in particular why bringing back Rory McCann for this story was so powerful:
“It was my favorite week on Game of Thrones because it’s a beautiful little three-act play. Very much on purpose it tonally doesn’t really feel like Game of Thrones until the end when everyone gets slaughtered. Ian McShane is a New Age ex-warrior with a painful history of violence, and he’s found his own flock trying to rebuild their lives. He sees Sandor as a candidate. He recognizes in Sandor a bit of himself. The Hound, apart from being grateful, starts to open up to him. He’s the first and only friend he’s ever friend in his life. And that was an interesting relationship to explore. The scenes have a light touch and gentleness and humanity and humor that you don’t find on the show – then the raiders ride in. The Hound is few miles away chopping wood and they come back and slaughter everybody, pushing him back into the cycle of violence.”
Now, we of course do wonder just how Sandor could factor into the end of this story. Could he play a role against the Lannisters, or eventually team up once more than Arya? We hope that even if he is exposed to violence once more, he brings a different energy and spirit to it this time than he did before.
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