It seems like it is a season of returns on Game of Thrones, with its seventh episode, titled The Broken Man, bringing back yet another character that we had lost to the narrative in Season 4. The episode was more like a breather, setting things up for the traditionally violent ninth episode, except for that little ‘stab’ towards the end.

The highs

Sandor ‘The Hound’ Clegane is back, almost from the dead. Well that is how Septon Ray (played by Ian McShane, yayy for all the Deadwood fans) apparently found The Hound, who is now chopping wood for the Septon who along with a group of his followers are building a wooden temple somewhere in rural Westeros.  What kept him going? “Hate”. And just when we think that The Hound may find redemption with the Septon, he is spurred to hate again. More about that later.

Bronn is finally back in a major way after being an important part of Season 5. Jaime Lannister and Bronn bickering on their way to Riverrun is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable parts of the 51 minutes. Drop into the scenario an acerbic Blackfish whose dressing down of Jaime is stuff of dreams and you get the most happening section of the episode.

In the North, Jon Snow and Sansa Stark’s boring ‘we-need-to-build-an-army’ journey is made somewhat interesting by the ass-whipping they get at the hands of a 10-year-old in charge of the Bear Islands. Lyanna Mormont leaves the erstwhile Lord Commander floundering as she whittles down their argument of why she should help them, in a few sentences. The only one who helps change the situation? Ser Davos Seaworth, who seems to have a way with little girls, and we don’t mean that in a creepy way.

The Lows

We would pay good money to have the High Sparrow dealt a deathly blow, because we have enough of his creepy preaching and insulting ideals. This episode it was his conversation with Margaery about her “wifely duties” to King Tommen and how she doesn’t need desire, only patience, to get the job done. Like really?! The only good thing that comes out of the whole ordeal is what follows — we, along with Olenna Tyrell, learn that Margaery is playing the High Sparrow, just like we suspected. And Olenna rubbing Cersei’s nose in everything that spells doom for her.

Sansa is acting like a twit, again. While Jon and Davos think it is time to attack the Boltons before winter defeats them, Sansa wants more in her army than what they have gathered. Her solution? A note to someone, presumably asking for help. We think it is Littlefinger and we know this cannot end well.

The Brotherhood without Banners makes its appearance and leaves behind — no, Lady Stoneheart has not made an appearance yet, but we can hope — a massacre with McShane’s Ray (did it have to be just one episode?!) and his followers slaughtered, spurring The Hound to hunt them.

WTF moment

Arya Stark is strolling through the streets of Braavos in a manner that leaves you thinking ‘should you be doing that?!’, given that you’ve just deserted the Faceless Men and they could be anyone? Yes she had to buy her passage home but should she have been standing on a stone bridge admiring the horizon? So, of course what you are expecting happens. The Waif appears in the guise of an old lady and stabs her in the stomach, repeatedly, till Arya rolls off the side of the bridge into water. Oh she is alive and is wandering through the streets of Braavos dripping blood, but that stomach wound does not look good. Will she die? Probably not, but with GoT you never know.

Death count

One Ian McShane (and we cannot mourn him enough) and a whole lot of his followers. But at least we don’t see them die.

Sex and nudity

Just when you thought GoT had grown beyond the gratuitous boob show you are plonked down in what can only be called Boobsville or Boobaros (since it is in Westeros) where the fleeing Yara and Theon Greyjoy are taking a break before sailing to Meereen to join hands with Daenerys. While Yara wants to “go f**k the t**s off” one of the many topless women around, her brother is clearly, er, cut up by the show.

Best line

We’ve found the only man who can give Tyrion and Varys a run for their... umm tongue. Bronn was a gem with Tyrion and he continues to be a gem with Jaime. Our favourite this episode? Just as Jaime says, “A Lannister always...,” Bronn cuts in saying, “Don’t say it... don’t f**king say it”.

GoT S6E08 airs on June 14 at 10pm on Star World Premier HD