NOTE: Spoilers up to and including Game of Thrones season 6, episode 7, 'The Broken Man'
Game of Thrones' sixth season has been packed full of surprises and this week was no different, as a cold opening confirmed what many fans had been thinking for some time - that The Hound is alive.
Credit: HBO
As the first cold opening since the show's fourth season premiere, viewers instantly knew they were in for a treat. As Sandor Clegane carried one huge log by himself and we were introduced to Ian McShane's character, things got very exciting, very fast.
Now living in a cult that favours peace over violence, it seemed as though The Hound was finding his place in a new life, despite sometimes allowing his older self to slip through. However, instead of taking his anger out on other people, he chopped logs and helped within the community.
We discovered though that before the credits rolled, McShane's character and the rest of the cult that followed him were murdered by those from The Brotherhood Without Banners, as The Hound was working secluded from the rest of his people. Picking up his axe, he looked to go and find vengeance - will he slip back easily into his old ways?
The episode also saw the return of Bronn who, along with Jaime Lannister marched to a castle in the Riverlands held by the Blackfish, demanding it be given to the Frey family following their work at The Red Wedding. How all that works out looks to be told in next week's episode - check out the teaser below:
Game of Thrones continues Sundays in the US on HBO and Mondays in the UK on Sky Atlantic.
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