“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 guars 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 ewanted his borther, Aerion to die.
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 cooper. 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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