A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, “In the Name of the Mother”, Review!

Episode 5, The Trial of Seven is about to begin! Flashback to the end of last episode, “Seven”; the brutal Aerion whose lance struck Ser Humfrey Hardyng’s horse killing it and breaking the knight’s legs! Even worse Aerion breaks the finger of puppeteer, Tanselle. Dunk punches Aerion and then kicks him before being restrained. Egg is revealed to be Prince Aegon Targaryen! Prince Baelor has Dunk ask for trial by combat. Aerion then requests Trial by Seven, seven knights for Duncan and seven knights for Prince Aerion. Ser Humfrey joins him as payback to Aerion, Egg has brought Ser Robyn Rhysling, also Ser Lyonel Baratheon! Add to the champions, Ser Humfrey Beesbury, Ser Ser Hardyng and Beesbury are called the Humfreys. Five. 

Ser Steffon changes sides to Prince Aerion making them seven and his cousin, Ser Raymun Fossoway asks to be knighted by Ser Lyonel. Six, but the ruling says only seven champions can take the field. Dunk asks the crowd, if there will be someone who will fight with him. A large, bearded man, called the Brute of Bracken, stands up only to fart and laugh with the crowd. He asks if there are any true knights? Silence. Then, gates open. A knight rides up to Ser Duncan the Tall and removes his helmet. It is Prince Baelor! This is when the Game of Thrones theme kicks in to the cheering of the crowd! Maekar says Dunk attacked his son. Baelor says he protected the innocent. He says the gods will decide the trial and rides off. 

Aerion can only look at Dunk before riding away. it features part of the vow taken by knights, “In the Name of the Mother.” One of the Seven, the Mother, who charges the knights “to protect the young and innocent.” It is directed by Owen Harris and written by Hiram Martinez, who co-wrote "The Squire", Ti Mikkel, and Ira Parker. Prince Bealor is speaking to the assembled champions in a semi-circle. He tells them not to panic, keep calm and don’t panic! We see Egg hold Ser Duncan’s lance by his side. Ser Lyonel smiles, Ser Raymun vomits, Dunk spits too, and Ser Robyn laughs. Ser Beesbury, finally, asks about the Kingsguard. Prince Baelor says he will take them on and they can’t strike back with their oaths to protect princes. Dunk asks for his lance from squire and slowly trots away on Thunder. 

A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS -- “In the Name of the Mother” -- BERTIE CARVEL -- Photo credit: Steffan Hill/HBO. 

He repeats again what he told Egg that he will hunt him down with dogs if his squire leaves and Egg happily shouts out, “Woof!” Love the twist on the line between them. The Ashford Septon (LJ Bennion) gives the opening words of the ceremony, Ser Dunk places his helmet on, then Prince Aerion. Egg looks on from the audience. The seven lances are raised for Ser Dunk’s champions, Ser Lyonel with his antler helmet, closeup of Ser Dunk’s visor as he breathes heavily watching the other knights. They put on their helmets. The horn sounds. We see just Thunder’s head from the visor, his opponent, Aerion, in the distance and the rest of the list is in fog. The knights charge, epic! Egg shouts, “Up!, up!, go!”, before Thunder charges. 

A flash from behind Thunder right into Dunk’s vision, before he is struck with Aerion’s lance, the pieces in Dunk’s stomach! Another horn sounds. Aerion throws away his broken lance and takes out a flail. Dunk struggles to remove the lance pieces from his gut. We see his pov as he rips out the bloody lance pieces, fantastic cinematography! Dunk turns and sees a knight struck down. He throws down his shield and draws his sword. Dunk sees Aerion riding up swinging his flail, he is struck, Thunder neighs, and blackness. We see young Dunk (Bamber Todd) carving away at horse shoes from a white horse fallen over knight with a red beard. Off in the distance is the Red Keep while Dunk is on the beach of Blackwater Bay. 

The knight (Ríaín Ó Conchóbaír) gasps and then turns to Dunk who wear a kerchief around his mouth. The knight struggles to say, “Ma”, Dunk apologizes, and then covers his mouth!  A girl, also with her kerchief on her mouth, Rafe (Chloe Lea) comes to him and says they can get someone to pay ransom on the knight. Lea played Sister Lila in Dune: Prophecy (2024). They try to push the dead horse, no effect, and then try to drag the knight away as he moans in pain. They would need a lever of some kind to raise teh horse a little to drag out the body. He dies and the girl says if Dunk knows any words to say for the knight’s death. Dunk doesn’t and the girl tells him to check his mouth since a witch will pay her for teeth. Later, they are walking in a forest, and the girl with a helmet says, “I am your queen!” This is an extended flashback and feels like a diversion from the events of the novella. We ran out of Ser Arlan flashbacks so let’s tell a new story. It may be a life flashing before your eyes, but this doesn’t fit with the short flashbacks. Rafe was a character in the third novella, Mystery Knight (2010). 

They hide while a knight rides by with a body in a bag. The duo walk again and Dunk says the war is over with the death of the Black Dragon. Again, we get a mention of the Blackfyre Rebellion. He says Ferret will give them free bread. The girl says nothing is over and brings up when Pudding killed Cedric’s brother in Fleabottom. “You hurt someone, they hurt you back.” She walks away and Dunk turns. Then, we hear people screaming in pain, the duo walk the alley filled with the wounded. They are stopped by a man in armor, Alestar (Edward Davis) who wants to know what is in their bag. He is distracted by a stumbling man so Rafe and Dunk slip away. She has stolen the ale from him. They upend the bag of horse shoes and other items to Ferret. This all feels a little too Oliver Twist (1838) with Ferret as Fagin and the orphan kids including Rafe as the Artful Dodger. 

I keep expecting Rafe to suddenly sing, “Consider yourself at home/consider yourself one of the family.” He puts down two coins which Rafe snatches away. He throws back leather straps to Dunk. At their own part of Fleabottom, Rafe is happy they can go to the Free Cities, Dunk wonders if they are all like Fleabottom. Also, if his mother will return, though he knows she’s dead. Dunk admits he doesn't want to leave her, they admit they love each other, but Rafe is more interested in leaving Fleabottom. Day, Rafe tries to pay for their fare, but the merchant says the fee is now double. She is angry at Dunk, but then they walk back until confronted by Alestar who wants his ale. They are held by Rafe and his henchman, he searches her and finds the pouch of coins. Rafe steals his knife, but is held and Alestar kills her. Dunk jumps on the back of Alestar and bites him! 

He is thrown off, the back of his leg is sliced by the spear of the henchman, and a bearded man, Ser Arlan of Pennytree who says “In the name of the mother”, bursts in. As Dunk watches Rafe die, Ser Arlan takes the head of the henchman, Dunk looks to the fight, and Ser Arlan ends Alestar with a knife to the throat. Ser Arlan sheathes his sword and stubles away. Dunk holds Rafe’s body. He is alone the next morning and just shaking with cold. Then, he hears Ser Arlan’s voice. He follows Ser Arlan, still with the bloody leg, and sees him with Thunder, Chestnut, and Sweetfoot. Dunk sees Arlan sleeping outside and draws his sword. The next morning, Ser Arlan rides out of Kings Landing, Dunk stumbles behind him. Days pass, Ser Arlan practices with his sword, and is drunk at night, Dunk still follows him. One morning, Ser Arlan wakes to find that he was sleeping on his dagger and it stabbed him. He sees Dunk try to walk and then fall. 

Dunk sees a vision of Ser Arlan say, “Get up”, and is roused. Egg screams, “Wait!”, pointing to Ser Duncan the Tall. The trumpet lowers. Aerion turns. The hedge knight, bloodied, pulls himself up by his sword like Rocky. The crowd starts chanting, “Up! Up! Up!” Aerion lowers his visor and then reaches for his sword. Muffled sounds as Dunk tries to swing his sword, but he is too exhausted. Dunk throws Aerion down, kneels over the fallen Aerion,  and bash him with the pointed edge of his own shield! The visor is up and Dunk punches him again and again like at the puppeteer show. Dunk asks him to yield, still muffled, and Aerion with bloody face whispers, “I yield.” He sees the other knights in combat. Then, drags Aerion by the foot and then pulls him up. Dunk screams several times, “Tell him!” Finally, Aerion says he withdraws his accusation and Dunk throws him down. Lord Ashford nods as the crowd cheers. The trumpet ends the trial. This is not the end with a spoiler ahead. This made me think of Aragorn finishing off the Uruk-hai, Lurtz, at the end of Fellowship of the Ring (2001). Victory sometimes has costs. The fifth episode is a vicious and somber part of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Four Shields out of Five! 

#AKnightOfTheSevenKingdoms, #InTheNameOfTheMother, #OwenHarris, #HiramMartinez, #TiMikkel, #IraParker, #PeterClaffey, #DexterSolAnsell, #BertieCarvel, #DanielIngs

 #ShaunThomas, #DannyCollins, #WilliamHouston, #RossAnderson, #FinnBennett, #SamSpruell, #BamberTodd, #ChloeLea, #DannyWebb, #CaraHarris, #PaulHunter, #LJBennion 

Star Wars: Jar Jar #1 Review!

Star Wars: Jar Jar #1 is the one-shot to shows more of Jar Jar’s story and connects him Kelleran Beq! It is written by Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar and Kelleran Beq, and Marc Guggenheim. Best joins the hallowed ranks of actors who have written Star Wars comic books; Anthony Daniels with Star Wars: The Protocol Offensive #1 (1997), Star Wars: Adventures #3 (2017) written by Alan Tudyk, who played KT-SO. We were introduced to Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace (1999), GC-PT1 where he had a pivotal role in the Battle of Naboo. Jar Jar gave emergency powers to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in Attack of the Clones (2002) GC-PT2. This led to the Clone Wars. 

The last time we saw Jar Jar was in Revenge of the Sith (2005); GC-PT3 where he attended the funeral of Padme Amidala on Naboo. Best voiced Darth Jar Jar in the non-canon, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy (2024). He played Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian episode, “The Foundling” (2023); FC-TM/3-4. Kelleran rescued Grogu from the Jedi Temple. The Jedi Master was first introduced in the YouTube kid game show, Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, Episode 1 (2020); EC-JTC/1. Best said in an interview with The Star Wars Show (2021) that the creators of the show let him develop the character’s story, “…and what I tried to do is I tried to tie in Kelleran Beq a bunch of different histories in the Star Wars omniverse.” 

Best continued, “One of them was tying him to the character which was named Achk Med-Beq that I played in Attack of the Clones. So Kelleran and Achk Med are related.” In comics form, Kelleran Beq rescued Soona Taj in Jedi Knights #8 (2025) written by Marc Guggenheim. The comic scribe also wrote the Star Wars: Han Solo and Chewbacca series that introduced the scoundrel, Khel Tanna. Also, the Arrow comic book series, #1-12 (2013-2014), and Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant #1-2 (2019-2020). The regular cover by Taurin Clark has Representative Binks in his robes, the Ep. 1 Jar Jar leaping, and in the background a large closeup of Jar Jar. Clark also was the artist for the impressive Black History month variant cover that is a two part image with Star Wars #10. 

“The Unseen” is by Best and Guggenheim along with the art team of Kieran McKeown and Laura Braga. McKeown had artwork featured in Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent #4 (2025). Braga was the artist for the Star Wars: Ewoks (2024) limited series. It opens with the the Heybibbler Duck, similar to the Naboo Royal Starship with a long bow. It is headed to the Urubai, a new planet, in an unknown part of the galaxy. The pilot is Commander Olié, Ric Olié was present at the Padme’s funeral, but not seen in Revenge of the Sith. In comic book form, Olié joined a resistance group, the Amidalans, and confronted Darth Vader on Naboo. This was in Darth Vader #4 (2020); DC-DV4. There is no set time, but the comic must take place before this event, 3 ABY, and after Revenge of the Sith, 19 BBY. 

Next to him is Senator Binks and they reach Quarrant City. Jar Jar tells Olié to stay with the ship while he meets his contact. In the city, he finds that he is lost, but then a shady man, an Urubaian,  with an eyepatch helps Jar Jar to find Ambassador Upsina. Also a new alien, Urubaians are humanoid with a blue upper face, torso and hands, pointed ears, and pink lower face and body. He leads him into aan alley to rob Jar Jar! Suddenly, he apologizes and starts to run. Jar Jar turns and finds the cloaked figure of a Jedi shrouded in the green mist of the industrial pipes! This Jedi says that Urubai may seem like a paradise, but is dangerous. He pulls back his hood and it is Jedi Master Kellern Beq! Great intro and artwork by McKeown and Braga. 

Jar Jar calls out his nickname, “The Sabered Hand” which he got when he was a Padawan, EC-JTC/5. He reveals that Upsina was just to get the senator to Urubai. Kelleran takes Jar Jar on speeder bike to the secret of Urubai. They reach a mining open hole that looks like the canyons of Utupau from Revenge of the Sith. Kelleran takes Jar Jar on the upper levels of the mine where laborers, many aliens, who use pick axes. He says they are the Unseen. Jar Jar says that the Senate guarantees laborers’ safety. Kelleran replies that the Urubaian government can legally use laborers. Jar Jar asks how and the Jedi Master says it was from the emergency powers that he proposed! This is difficult for Jar Jar, but Kelleran says Palpatine is to blame. Kelleran says that he needed Jar Jar to see for himself. 

Palpatine is having the Unseen mine large amounts of coaxium. Kelleran explains that Palpatine is building the Grand Army of the Republic and that the coaxium can “build a fleet of giant warships…or worse”! An Urubian woman runs up to Master Beq, Kelleran introduces Coralisa Senig to Jar Jar, his contact and support for the miners. She explains that the planet also has another rare mineral, Cyperistal, a crystal that can make a fractal radio network. This encrypted network was mentioned in the premier of Andor (2022), DC-AN1/1. It is great to see all of these pieces of Star Wars lore that is part of the overall story. Kelleran and Jar Jar know how important is a secure network. Coralisa tells them that an early network detected something dangerous. She brings them to a woman tech working on a piece of equipment. Her identity is unknown at this point, but this woman becomes another SW connection! 

The tech has found on the network that Palpatine was not happy with the existance of the fractal radio network. This has the sent two bounty hunters to kill her! Jar Jar remarks that this is bombad! Kelleran remarks that the tech’s plan is to stay there and she is too busy with her work on the network. Kelleran takes the group to his ship. He wants to head to Coruscant and find a safe world in the Outer Rim. They head to the Heybibbler Duck. Kelleran piloted the Pelta-class frigate, Athylia, in Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. I think that ship would be more anonymous than a Senate vessel returning to Coruscant, but a ship is a ship. Several blaster bolts strike the wall around the group! This is the two bounty hunters, Aurra Sing and Rum Sleg. Aurra Sing is a pale Palliduvan, she had a cameo in The Phantom Menace. In 13 BBY, Sing was killed by Tobias Beckett from Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018); DC-SASW. 

Sleg also had a brief appearance in The Phantom Menace walking the Mos Espa street. This is his first major part since his cameo. He has a white skull painted over his helmet with a red astronaut-like suit. Kelleran ignites his green lightsaber and deflects the blaster bolts. The others run, but Coralisa is shot in the back of her leg! She has her blaster out and provides cover fire while the others head to the ship. Sleg is struck in the shoulder by her blasterfire. Kelleran tells Coralisa that she can get healed on the ship, but she says that are too many Urabian people depending on her. Kelleran boards the ship, but is followed! Olié takes the Heybibbler Duck out of atmo, then they hear a scream. Kelleran sees Aurra has her blaster pistol on the fallen tech! He readies his lightsaber blocking Aurra's multiple blasts. Then, Sleg's ship with a skull on its hull, blasts the Heybibbler Duck! The logo makes me think of the Arcadia from the manga series, Space Pirate Captain Harlock. In Star Wars: Jar Jar #1, there is a desperate situation with Kelleran Beq, Jar Jar has to take responsibility for the Emergency Powers Act, and ultimately contront Palpatine! 

Five Heybibbler Ducks out of Five! 

#StarWarsJarJar, #TheUnseen, #AhmedBest, #MarcGuggenheim, #KieranMcKeown, #LauraBraga, #TaurinClark, #JarJarBinks, #KelleranBeq, #CoralisaSenig, #AurraSing, #RumSleg, #Palpatine   

 

Jar Jar #1 Signing with Ahmed Best and Marc Guggenheim!

Jar Jar #1 went on sale today at comic book stores and at Golden Apple Comics for a signing! The signing with Ahmed Best who is memorable for playing Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. His co-writer on the Marvel Comics one-shot is Marc Guggenheim who wrote for Arrow show. For comic books, Guggenheim wrote the Star Wars: Han Solo and Chewbacca series.  There was a line forming for the opening of the store when the comic book went on sale. The deal was one person could get one copy of each cover. 

Ahmed Best, at the Jar Jar #1 signing!, Golden Apple Comics, author’s photo. 

The regular cover is by Taurin Clarke it has a large head of Jar Jar, his robes as Representative Binks. The first variant cover is by Dave Wachter that shows Jar Jar in an alley with Jedi Knight Kelleran Beq igniting his lightsaber. The Black History Month variant had a great cover by Taurin Clarke. It had Finn, Jannah, Moff Gideon, Greef Karga, Sana Starros from the Star Wars comic, and Lando Calrissian. This is at two part cover so some Jedis will show up with the other part in Star Wars #10. Once the comic(s) were purchased, a blue ticket was given out. 

The actual signing started at 4 p.m. On the other side of the store door was a table for additional items like autograph photos and other things to get signed. Ahmed Best walked out before the signing began to greet fans in line. I mentioned to Best that the Clone Wars, season four episode, “Water War” (2011) which he said was good episode for Jar Jar. It is also part of the trilogy with “Gungant Attack” (2011) and “Prisoners” (2011); GC-CW4/1-3. I brought up to Guggenheim about bringing Jar Jar to L.A. Comic Con and he said with interest he would go so a possibility. The free signed comic(s) was another great signing for Golden Apple and fans had a fun time to see Ahmed Best who was so friendly and also Marc Guggenheim!   

#JarJa4, #GoldenAppleComics, #AhmedBest, #MarcGuggenheim, #TaurinClarke, #DaveWachter

Frankenstein Screening at TCL Chinese Theatre with Q&A!

Last night, Monday, February 9th, was a showing of Frankenstein that also had a Q&A with Guillermo del Toro and Jacob Elordi! The tickets went quickly and sold out before the end of the day when they went on sale. I chose the third row because I wanted to get photos of the special guests and also I had already seen the film, in fact in the same theater! Actually, third row is fine for IMAX, not at neck bending level, plus a good place for taking photos of the guests. I did notice this time watching Frankenstein, spoilers ahead!, the symbolism of the head pat which is symbolically the submission to the Divine. The Creature (Jacob Elordi) watches next door to the family, the Blind Man (David Bradley) patting his grand daughter, Anna-Maria (Sofia Galasso) in a gesture of reassurance and family. Later, Frankenstein enters the cabin to learn from the Blind Man. 

Jacob Elordi and Guillermo del Toro during the Frankenstein Q&A, photo by the author. 

He is lost emotionally and on his knees, the Blind Man pats his head. He has found a father figure in the Blind Man and this is the only kindness he felt since Elizabeth (Mia Goth) had a brief moment with him. At the end of the movie, we find that Frankenstein has burst into the captain’s cabin of the Horisont, not to get revenge on his creator, Victor (Oscar Isaac), but to find his purpose in life. It is a father and son dynamic. Victor pats his son’s head. Jacob Elordi walked out and Guillermo del Toro joined at chairs set in the center of the stage. 

Elordi said about playing the part, “I didn’t feel any pressure at all. I felt an immense amount of curiosity. This is what you dream of being an actor. This is the role you dream of playing when you’re eleven or twelve years old. You want to be a creature.” Elordi continued, “Movies are our art form. The youngest art that we have and this is how we express our soul. Guillermo is showing us how to do that and he has investigated it, and he has gone to the places, people have not gone before, he’s set the limit for cinema and imagination. So as an actor when that guy says will you come and play on my set, yes, yes, yes.” 

The screen shown before Frankenstein played at the TCL Chinese Theatre, author’s photo. 

Del Toro spoke about the Creature, “learning hatred and reacting with hatred, learning love and reacting with love, and then at the end reacting with love to those that hated him that is the lesson for me. To me, Jacob Elordi is more hidden now (gestures at Elordi next to him), here, then with that Creature. I think the Creature reveals you. It doesn’t hide anything. It actually allows you to be who you are. I think it’s the same for me.” Del Toro pointed out Mike Hill, prosthetic designer for the film, who was in the audience. Elordi discussed his scenes requiring only two takes, “The film did tell me and it told us and that’s why I could do it in two takes. I think because when you (del Toro) said it, I believed it." 

Elordi continued, "t actually came from you (del Toro) as for me knowing what to do and more from absolute belief in this filmmaker who put his entire life into this thing.” Del Toro then spoke about Elordi, “He walks into the set. Imagine you are now that kid inside of a much older, much larger guy. The kid is in here (points to his heart). Then, the Creature you dreamed all your life about just walked in and then I grabbed his guy’s and I go like this (del Toro takes Elordi’s hand and pats his head). The first day we were best friends.” This screening was also interesting to see after the Frankenstein: Crafting A Tale Eternal exhibit. It was great to see Frankenstein again on screen and now watching the discussion of Guillermo del Toro and Jacob Elordi giving insight on their collaboration and working on the movie! 

#Frankenstein, #TCLChineseTheatre, #GuillermoDelToro, #JacobElordi, #MikeHill, #DavidBraldey, #SofiaGalasso, #MiaGoth, #OscarIsaac, #FrankensteinCraftingATaleEternal   

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, “Seven”, Review!

“Seven”, the fourth episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.  It is directed by Sarah Adina Smith, who directed last episode, and written by Aziza Barnes. She co-wrote the second ep and Annie Julia Wayman, who was a writer on the last ep. Executive producer, Ira Parker, is also the episode’s writer. Seven of course refers to the Faith of the Seven, which was brought to Westeros by the Andals. 

Also, a reference to what we will see later. Re:cap "The Squire"; Prince Aerion, who was brutal in the first joust, he stabbed Ser Humfrey Hardyng’s horse in the neck with his lance! This was stunning in the novella where the lance went through the horse’s neck! Egg, who was the focus of the episode, was angry at Aerion for targeting the horse. We find he values the company of horses. Later, he watches the puppet show and Aerion is there watching a dragon being killed. 

Egg runs back to tell Dunk and the hedge knight runs to see Aerion break the fingers of Tanselle! Dunk, which we see for the first time, rages and hits the prince! Aerion’s men hold Dunk and Aerion says his tooth was loosened. He orders all of Dunk’s teeth to be broken, Dunk struggles, but is slammed against the stage. Eggs runs in and orders the guards not to touch Dunk. In turn, Dunk is worried about his squire and doesn’t want him harmed. Egg says if he is hurt they will be taken to his father. 

Dunk’s squire also recognizes the guards as Wate and Yorkel! Dunk is freed. Aerion asks what Egg did to his hair. Egg tells his brother (!) that he didn’t want to look like him! We get operatic singing as we see Aerion’s expression. Dunk staring. Tanselle and then Raymun Fossoway. Aerion and then Egg’s face, the face of a Targaryen prince! Finally, Dunk’s face which is a mix of emotions. A dark cell, Dunk sits whith the tiny opening splattered by rain. Egg enters the cell in his black and red doublet. He tells the guards to leave the food. Dunk begins tearing into the food. 

He says he must beg forgiveness for lying to Dunk. Again, this is near word for word, like the novella. His uncle is of course, Prince Baelor, heir to the Iron Throne! Dunk is angry that is all a lie. Egg admits his real name is Aegon. He says he was supposed to be Daeron’s squire, but he is a drunk more than a knight. Daeron took them to the inn to stay until the joust was over. He of course was the lord at the inn who was drunk and had a dream of Dunk. Egg says Daeron shaved his head. This is powerful, Dunk is frustrated, and Egg quietly speaks with a sparkle of a tear at his left eye! Egg tries to apologize. 

Yes, Dunk is right in being angry, but actually Egg is his superior as a prince. Still, this is between two friends, not hedge knight and prince. By the way, Egg has always called him Ser Duncan when he became his squire. Egg says Prince Baelor is waiting to talk with Dunk. Baelor is in his room looking through a book by candleight. Dunk bends the knee with Egg behind him. He defends Egg as his squire. Baelor says his son should have come to him instead of Dunk and Egg counters that he wanted his borther, Aerion to die. 

A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS -- “Seven” -- PETER CLAFFEY -- Credit: Steffan Hill/HBO. 

Baelor tells his son to leave. Alone, the prince asks about his skill as a knight. Dunk responds that Ser Arlan trained him in swordmanship and jousting. Baelor tells him his brother Maekar found Daeron drunk and “a huge robber knight” took away Aegon. Dunk calls him a liar and that he was at the inn four nights ago. He asks what happened to the girl, Baelor says she will face high treason, from the dragon killed in the puppet show. Aerion says that it would lead to revolt and he says laid hands on the Blood of the Dragon. 

Dunk wonders if Baelor would have helped the girl, but he is a prince not a hedge knight. He stands forward and says that all knights take the oath, “to protect the innocent.” Aerion wants Dunk beheaded which Baelor stopped, but there still will be a trial. I like the dialogue between these two characters. They speak about what is just and fair, but it all falls within this medieval-type society. The tone is low, Dunk raises his voice in defiance, but Baelor speaks softly and with reason. In a court, the lowest offense would be to cut off a hand. 

The prince says there is an alternative. He asks again his worth as a knight. One of the most powerful openings of the series! Dunk stands before Prince Maekar while Aerion eats walnuts and the rest of the table is silent. He stumbles out the words, “Trial by combat.” Aerion tries to refuse and his father says he cannot since any knight accused of a crime can challenge. Maeker adds that he can withdraw his claim against Tanselle. Aerion states a “Trial of Seven.” Baelor explains that is an ancient trial by combat. 

He says it came from the Andals and the Seven Gods. Dunk still doesn’t understand and Baelor says it is seven champions since the gods might favor them. Maekar asks why his son doesn’t face Dunk alone and Aerion says he has to face all of the dishonor he sees on the Targaryens. It is Trial of Seven at dawn so Dunk must find six other knights to fight against Aerion’s seven champions. Maekar pulls away his son angry at him. Dunk asks if he can go and Baelor tells him to find his champions. In the rain at night, Dunk walks to his tree with Thunder and Chestnut. He tells them he thinks he will die. 

Raymun is there and takes him to the Fossoway pavilion. Ser Steffon says he saw Aerion hurt Tanselle and says, “I’m for you.” Steffon says that the Fossoways have always been in Westeros before the Targaryens. Dunk says there are no other knights. Steffon brings up taht he knows Ser Lyonel, Lord Lannister, and Ser Otho. He leaves to wake those knights. Raymun doubts his cousin will bring the others to join their cause. Then, Egg appears and says he will still be Dunk’s squire. 

Daeron is also there and Dunk slams him down for his lies. He says he wants to be knocked out in the first charge! Daeron explains he had to say something to cover for Egg. Dunk’s squire explains that the Kingsguard will also be champions in the Trial of Seven. Egg says he will find other knights. Dunk can’t believe Egg would want his brother dead. Egg tells him that Aerion would go to his bed at night and have a knife to Egg and make him a sister! Daeron wants to Ser Duncan in private. He says his dreams come true. Daeron says he dreamed of Dunk, a fire, and “a dead dragon.” He says he saw Dunk with the dragon that was dead.

 Dunk remembers Tanselle at the puppet show. Dunk walks into the broken puppet show and holds the head of the puppet knight, Hamlet-style. The armorer, Steely Pate, says Tanselle gave him his shield. At his tent, Steely Pate says she headed to Dorne, the part of Westeros at the southern end. He takes out the shield and said he made a new shield for Dunk. The armorer is asked how much he will charge for the work, Steely Pate says a copper. 

At night by torchlight, men are setting up the joust in the wet weather. It is dawn with Dunk walking with his padding. He greets his fellow champions including Ser Humfrey who has a broken leg. The knight says he can’t walk, but he can fight if he is on a horse! I really want Ser Humfrey to get some payback after what happened to his horse! Ser Robyn Rhysling has an eyepatch covered in chain mail and says he will fight against the Targaryens when he says they go against the gods! He was the knight who stumbled over to Egg when he was practicing with Thunder. 

Also Ser Lyonel Baratheon is with them. Dunk thinks Ser Steffon brought him, but Ser Lyonel says it was Egg. He wants the Kingsguard in “their pretty white gowns”! Also on Dunk's side is Ser Humfrey Beesbury (Danny Collins), no explanation why he joined. Ser Dunk the Tall walks with his armor on. I really like Steely Pate helping him don the armor in the novella. The townsfolk watch him. He and Steely Pate turn to see Ser Aerion’s group arrive at the misty tourney grounds. 

Prince Maekar and Aerion. Raymun says to Dunk that there are only six knights; Aerion, Maekar, and Aeron, plus the Kingsguard, Ser Donnel of Duskendale, Ser Roland Crakehall and Ser William Wilde. Ser Steffon asks Raymun for his helmet. Dunk says with Steffon they only need one more knight. Steffon says he fights for Aerion! Betrayal! Ser Lyonel smiles and Egg has a sad look. Raymun says his cousin promised Ser Duncan and Steffon says he was made a lord for fighting Dunk! This makes me think of the betrayal of the Scottish lords at the Battle of Falkirk in Braveheart (1995). 

Steffon asks for his horse and Raymun pushes him back to say get his own horse! Steffon rides across the field. Raymun asks Dunk to knight him! Ser Lyonel tells Dunk that any knight can make a knight. Dunk is called over to Lord Ashford and Ser Lyonel says he will knight Raymun! I love seeing Raymun proving his mettle! Ser Lyonel gives the vows; bravery for The Warrior, to be just for The Father, “protect the young and innocent” for The Mother. Three of the Seven missing Crone, The Maiden, The Smith, and the Stranger. Dunk in armor looks up to see Ser Arlan. This is where he becomes a knight. Dunk always had Imposter Syndrome up to this point. 

Lord Ashford says they can’t delay the trial. Aerion says his rival has only five knights. Dunk adds six with Raymun. Lord Ashford says if he can’t find another knight, then he will be guilty. Dunk asks for a moment. Dunk rides over to the quiet viewing stand. Lady Gwin looks solemnly down at him. Ser Duncan addresses the lords saying that they don’t know Ser Arlan of Pennytree, but he caught him to be a knight. Also, the vow of defending the innocent. Another scene like A Knight's Tale (2001). A spoiler ends the ep! “Seven” is another incredible episode, testing what is a true knight, it is where finally Dunk becomes a knight of Westeros! 

Five Shields out of Five! 

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