Game of Thrones season 6: Everything you need to know about The Hound, The Mountain and Cleganebowl

Could the much-hyped event finally happen?

** Spoilers for Game of Thrones season six episode seven **

It finally happened; The Hound returned. That means only one thing, fellow Thrones fans; Cleganebowl Hype! *Cue loud dubstep*

Let’s step back a minute. For those who don’t avidly follow the HBO phenomena on various forums across the internet, Cleganebowl is an event many fans suspect will take place in the near future; a fight between the Clegane brothers, Sandor (The Hound) and Gregor (The Mountain).

Ever since the two fought in the show’s first season - a fight neither party won as King Robert Baratheon (remember him?) stepped in - fans have been wanting the pair to finish what they started. The theory follows that - now that both characters have been ‘resurrected’ - they will end up fighting each other in Cersei’s trial by combat.

That’s the very basics - that The Hound and The Mountain will finally step into the ring together - but let’s have a quick refresher on both character’s long journeys to where they are today and how Cleganbowl could feasibly happen. (Note: the video below was made pre-The Hound resurrection but explains why people thought he was coming back.)

Why do the Clegane brothers hate each other?

If you were asked to describe The Hound, what notable features would you mention? While his size is one notable attribute, it is his facial scars that are his most prominent feature.

These scars came as a result of his brother's nastiness. The story follows that Sandor was sitting by a fire when Gregor entered and shoved his face into the fire’s coals - all because Sandor supposedly used one of his toys. Sandor’s bed was then set on fire and, four years later, Gregor was knighted.

However, that incident wasn’t the only thing that led to Sandor hating his brother; he also suspects Gregor murdered their father and sister.

The Hound!

A brief history of Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane

The Mountain is a terrible person. Although he was already known for his atrocious temper, The Mountain was still made one of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen’s anointed knights - in thanks to his friendship with Tywin Lannister.

When Robert’s Rebellion began, The Mountain turned on Rhaegar, killing his two children, proceeding to rape and murder his wife, Elisa. While Ned Stark wanted Tywin and The Mountain punished, Robert let them go free.

Soon after, the aforementioned unfinished fight between The Mountain and The Hound took place (at the celebration of Ned becoming Hand of the King). Eventually, The Mountain set out to sack the Riverlands, finally returning to King’s Landing, fighting Oberyn Martell in Tyrion’s trial by combat, geting poisoned, dying, and being brought back to life by Qyburn as the gold plated monster currently roaming the streets of Westeros’s capital.

It’s been a while since we saw The Hound, who is he again?

A fair question as we last saw him in season four. After seeing his brother knighted despite his dishonourable behaviour, The Hound has always hated the idea of being a knight. Therefore, he was never knighted but served as a loyal subject to King Robert, becoming Joffrey’s personal bodyguard.

After Ned’s death, he built an odd relationship with Sansa, saving her on a number of occasions and offering to help her escape King’s landing. She didn't listen to him at the time, so he fled on his own accord, yet was soon captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners.

While imprisoned, he recognised Arya Stark and - after a trial by combat - managed to capture her. He then took Arya to the Twins, but The Red Wedding had just taken place, so he knocked Arya unconscious and travelled to the Eyrie in order to ransom the Stark girl to her aunt.

However, Aunt Lysa was announced dead upon their arrival, leaving The Hound dumbstruck. The pair then bumped into Brienne and Podrick, with Brienne and The Hound having a lengthy fight which left The Hound seemingly dead. Of course, as we now know, Sandor is alive, having found God with Ian McShane’s septon.

How will the two end up fighting?

At the moment, the two are pretty far apart, with the artist previously known as The Hound seemingly having no reason to travel to King’s Landing. However, thanks to his newly found religious beliefs (supposedly), it is thought the High Sparrow will call upon The Hound to fight The Mountain in Cersei’s trial by combat. Thus, Cleganebowl will finally take place (whether it will happen this season is another question altogether).

In other Game of Thrones theories, fans are heavily speculating over who Sansa was writing to in episode seven, while speculation over Bran has been running rampant; could he be about to tear down The Wall?