How [SPOILER] Returns On Game Of Thrones

SPOILERS FOR GAME OF THRONES "THE BROKEN MAN" FOLLOW

Tonight's episode of Game of Thrones featured the long-awaited return of one of the series' major character, Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, played by Rory McCann. The last viewers saw of Sandor he was bleeding out on the side of the road after a run in with Brienne of Tarth. Clegane begged Arya to finish him off as a mercy, but the Arya refused him that "gift" and left him behind.

That may have been the end of the Hound if a septon named Ray, played by Ian McShane, hadn't come upon him. As revealed in "The Broken Man," Ray believed the Hound was already long dead until Sandor coughed. Ray nursed the Hound back to health, and Sandor became part of Ray's flock.

As audiences catch up with Sandor, he seems to be trying to enter a new phase in his life. He's left behind his life as a soldier or knight and is appreciating his place following Ray. There's no sign of his armor or weapons or the dog-shaped helmet that earned him his nickname. Though he tells Ray that it was hate that kept him going long enough to regain his strength, much of the fury that always seemed to boil within him seems absent, though his skepticism, cynicism, and practicality remain intact.

Things take a turn for the worse when Ray's flock gets a visit from the Brotherhood without Banners. Once staunch protectors of the people, and still nominally proclaiming to still perform that function, the Brotherhood seems to have become little more than extortionists. Sandor tries to warn Ray that the Brotherhood will be back, but Ray, a former soldier himself, refuses to resort to violence. The result is a grisly end for Ray and his flock, which seems to reignite that hatred in Sandor's heart. The final shot of the episode is Sandor picking up an axe, presumably to hunt down the Brotherhood.

McCann and McShane discuss the Hound's return in the above video.

Game of Throne airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.