Nobody expected the cold open. Usually, the map rolls, the gears turn, and we're in the world. But for "The Broken Man," we got a cold open—a rarity for Game of Thrones. It started with a bunch of people building something peaceful. Then, a giant of a man carrying a massive log walked onto the screen.
It was Sandor Clegane. The Hound was back.
The game of thrones season 6 episode 7 cast didn't just bring back a fan favorite; it introduced a legendary guest star and a child actor who would go on to steal the entire series. Honestly, if you look back at the show’s run, this specific episode’s roster is a masterclass in how to use guest appearances to shift the entire tone of a season.
The Return of the Hound and the Legend of Brother Ray
Rory McCann’s return as Sandor Clegane was the worst-kept secret in Belfast for months, but seeing him on screen was something else. He looked different. Still scarred, yeah, but "broken" in a way that wasn't just about his face. He was working with a pacifist group led by a man named Brother Ray.
Enter Ian McShane.
McShane is a powerhouse. You’ve seen him in Deadwood or John Wick, and he brought that same gravelly, world-weary energy to the Riverlands. He played Brother Ray, a reformed killer turned preacher. He didn't have many scenes. In fact, he was only in this one episode. But the way he talked about the "gods" and "shame" gave the Hound a reason to exist beyond just swinging a sword.
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The chemistry between McCann and McShane was instant. One is a hulking tower of cynicism; the other is a charismatic man trying to prove that even the most violent person can find peace. It was beautiful while it lasted. Of course, this is Game of Thrones, so peace usually lasts about twenty minutes. By the end of the episode, Brother Ray was hanging from the rafters of his own unfinished sept.
The Debut of the North’s Most Dangerous Preteen
While the Hound was finding his way back to his axe, Jon Snow and Sansa Stark were busy failing at diplomacy. Or so they thought until they arrived at Bear Island.
This episode gave us the debut of Bella Ramsey as Lyanna Mormont.
She was only about ten years old at the time. You probably know her now from The Last of Us, but back in 2016, she was a revelation. Sitting on a throne that looked too big for her, she absolutely dismantled Jon Snow and Sansa Stark.
- Jon Snow (Kit Harington): Tried to use the "I knew your uncle" card. Failed.
- Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner): Tried to compliment her beauty. Failed miserably.
- Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham): Finally spoke to her like a soldier. He won her over with honesty about the White Walkers.
Lyanna Mormont didn't just provide 62 men (which, as she famously noted, fight with the strength of 10,000 mainlanders). She provided a backbone for the Stark cause when the rest of the North was being cowardly.
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The Veterans and the Villains
The game of thrones season 6 episode 7 cast also featured some heavy-hitting returns and tense standoffs in other corners of the world.
In King’s Landing, we saw the legendary Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell. She was packing her bags to leave the capital, but not before delivering one of the most savage verbal beatdowns in the history of the show to Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). Seeing Olenna blame Cersei for the rise of the High Sparrow was cathartic. It reminded us that while Cersei thinks she’s a genius, the actual experts in the "game" saw right through her.
Over at Riverrun, we had the return of Clive Russell as Brynden "The Blackfish" Tully. He’s the kind of old-school warrior the show missed. He stood on the battlements and laughed in the faces of the Freys. Even Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) couldn't intimidate him. Jaime’s face-to-face with the Blackfish was a great callback to the earlier seasons when the Tullys were actually a threat.
And let’s not forget the "bad guys." We had the return of David Bradley’s family influence through the inept Freys (Lothar and Black Walder), and we saw the debut of some Brotherhood Without Banners members who had gone rogue, including Lem Lemoncloak (played by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson).
Everyone Else in the Episode
The episode was packed. Truly. Here is a look at the other key players moving the needle:
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- Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy and Alfie Allen as Theon: They were in Volantis. This was a big moment for Theon’s recovery. Yara basically told him to "find the Ironborn inside" or end it all. It was harsh, but it worked.
- Maisie Williams as Arya Stark: She was in Braavos, trying to book a passage home. Then the Waif (Faye Marsay) showed up disguised as an old woman and stabbed her repeatedly in the gut. People still argue about how she survived that.
- Tim McInnerny as Robett Glover: He represented the "broken" side of the North. He refused to help Jon and Sansa because the Starks failed his house when the Ironborn attacked. It added a layer of realism—not every Northern house was ready to die for a name.
Why This Specific Cast List Matters
The brilliance of the game of thrones season 6 episode 7 cast is that it focused on the "broken" people. The title isn't an accident.
Theon is broken by Ramsay. Sandor is broken by Brienne (and his whole life). Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies) is broken by years in a Frey dungeon. Even the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) claims to be a broken man who found the light.
By bringing in Ian McShane to give a "sermon" on what it means to be a soldier who has lost everything, the show gave us a rare moment of reflection. It wasn't just about dragons or ice zombies. It was about the trauma of living in a world that never stops bleeding.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going back to watch "The Broken Man," keep an eye on these specific details.
- Watch the Cold Open again: Notice that there is no music. The sound of the wood sawing and the wind is all you hear until the Hound is revealed. It creates a grounded, Western-like vibe that feels separate from the rest of the series.
- Listen to Brother Ray’s speech: It is loosely based on the "Broken Men" speech from the books (Septon Meribald’s monologue). It explains why the common people of Westeros hate the high lords.
- Check out Bella Ramsey’s expressions: Even when she isn't speaking, she’s judging every person in the room. It’s a masterclass in screen presence for a young actor.
- Note Arya’s behavior: Many fans think Arya was acting out of character by walking around Braavos so openly. Some believe it was a trap, while others think she was just overconfident. Decide for yourself.
To truly appreciate this episode, you should look at the full credits. You'll see names like P.J. Dillon for cinematography and Mark Mylod as director. They chose to shoot the Riverlands scenes with a wider, more natural lens to contrast the cramped, dark hallways of King's Landing.
Check out the official HBO cast list or the Wiki of Westeros to see the minor background actors who played the villagers—many of them were local Northern Irish extras who had been with the show for years.