Game of Thrones season 6 episode 7: The Hound is alive and ready for vengeance [spoilers]

The episode wasted no time with the big reveal

Yet another major, presumed dead Game of Thrones character returned in season 6 episode 7 - 'The Broken Man' - teasing the prospect of a much-craved battle *spoilers ahead*.

Sandor Clegane, aka 'The Hound' (Rory McCann), showed up in a rare cold open, chopping wood in relative anonymity somewhere in rural Westeros.

He was under the employ of a new septon character played by Ian McShane, who was aware of Clegane's noble past and reminded him he is destined for greater things than manual labour.

The Hound!

Not only is it great to have one of the show's funniest character's back ("what the f*ck is a 'Lommy'?"), but this likely sets up for a sub-plot fans have predicted for a while, the "Cleganebowl".

Cersei has already declared that she wants her trial to be a trial by combat, with The Mountain fighting for her, and Gregor Clegane's brother Sandor is expected to oppose him - the slaughter of his community at the episode's close giving him motive for vengeance on the crown (although is it possible the brothers will team-up and slay the Faith Militant?) Update: My bad, The Hound's pals were slain by the Brotherhood without Banners. The theory goes that the High Sparrow will choose him because he's now a religious man, but this feels shaky.

With the final shot centring on The Hound picking up an axe, he sure as hell won't just be eating whole chickens the rest of the season (Update II: the trailer for episode 8 does indeed see The Hound in axe-swinging action).

Elsewhere in the (pretty strong) episode, Jon and Sansa struggled to form an army to take on the Boltons, and Arya paid the price for betraying the Faceless Men.

There are only three episodes left now in season 6, the first titled 'No One' and the last two believed to be called 'The Battle of the Bastards' and 'The Winds of Winter'.

Review: Fewer simultaneous sub-plots makes for a better episode