Is the time ripe for Cleganebowl?

From what we have seen of the sixth season of Game of Thrones, the show creators Benioff and Weiss have already started bringing the different story-arcs together unlike in the books where George R.R. Martin is still introducing new arcs and characters. Thus it is fair to assume that the viewers will get some closure when it comes to old characters, like what we have seen in the case of Benjen Stark in the sixth episode of this season. We might or might not get to see Lady Stoneheart anytime soon on the show but going by the seventh episode’s title “The Broken Man“, speculation is rife that it will finally mark the return of the Hound. Fans of the show and books have been speculating for long if Sandor “The Hound” Clegane is actually dead. Can we finally get him to join the fray this season?

Cleganebowl

HBO

We all know that Cersei’s trial is coming up and she will have Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane fighting for her in a trial by combat. When you have The Mountain on your side, it becomes quite apparent that the fight will tilt in his favor, no matter who the opponent is. But Game of Thrones is known for throwing a curve at the audiences. If there is anyone who can give The Mountain a tough competition, it has to be his brother The Hound. This will finally bring the long-awaited fan favourite Cleganebowl to fruition.

Ian McShane dropped some major hints

Back in March, actor Ian McShane, who shall play the role of Septon Meribald dropped some hints in an interview. To quote him, the character he plays in the sixth season is an ex-warrior who has become a peacenik.

So, I have this group of peaceful.. sort of a cult, a peaceful tribe. I bring back a much loved character who everyone thinks is dead.

Meirbald’s storyline involves a man known only as the Gravedigger. Though the identity of the Gravedigger has not been disclosed in the books, many fans believe that the Gravedigger is none other than The Hound, repenting for his sins in a place called the Quiet Isle.

High Sparrow’s Champion

We know the High Sparrow is a shrewd man who has been two steps ahead of Cersei and the Tyrells this season. But the show has given us nothing on who he intends to send in the Faith Militant’s stead till now. This makes it the perfect time for the Hound to resurface. This is not to say that we shall be getting the Cleganebowl this coming episode itself but if the showrunners do decide to give the viewers a glimpse of the Hound in the next episode, Cleganebowl can easily be shown by the end of the season, giving the Hound enough time to travel to the King’s Landing and fight his much-hated brother or whatever zombified version of him is left.