"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms": A Series That Mocks the Pomp of "Game of Thrones"

Ser Duncan the Tall. Still from the series

The return to Westeros promised to be different than before, and the creators kept their word. This is not just a spin-off; it seems the showrunners have conceived a true satire on everything we've come to consider "Game of Thrones."

The attitude towards the "elite" story of the great houses is most vividly manifested at the very beginning of the first episode of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms."

When the painfully familiar heroic theme from the "Game of Thrones" intro begins to play, the viewer instinctively expects to see nothing less than a dragon's flight or a huge castle adorned with the banners of a great house. But instead, we are shown how the main character, Dunk (Peter Claffey), right on screen, excuse me, gets diarrhea without any embellishment.

Yes, Martin's world has never shied away from physiological details, but here it looks like a programmatic statement: forget about high matters, we have descended to the sinful earth, and here it will mostly stink, not smell of Tyrell roses.

Knight or Imposter?

Павялічыць

Hedge Knight Ser Arlan of Pennytree, Dunk's mentor, judging by his recollections, mostly beat him or simply ignored him. Still from the series

We meet the main character shortly before this fecal feast — among the hills, under pouring rain, he buries his mentor, old Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Daniel Webb). Over years of service, the old knight, who often beat Dunk for no reason, left him only a battered shield with a coat of arms, a sword, and three horses.

And he faces a choice: sell the animals, live a little on that money and return to poverty, or continue the work of a hedge knight — a wandering, meaningless existence where the only privilege is the right to call oneself "Ser" and not be considered common folk.

Павялічыць

After the death of Arlan of Pennytree, his squire Dunk inherited a small legacy: a shield, swords, and horses. Still from the series

Dunk chooses the latter and heads to the city of Ashford for a tournament, hoping to earn some money and perhaps make a name for himself. Dunk is a true giant: powerful but clumsy, uneducated, and simple-minded.

But here the screenwriters, like Martin himself in his work, introduce the main intrigue: is he a real knight? Dunk is clearly pure in his intentions, unlike most people around him, but is he lying about the most important thing?

Павялічыць

Ser Dunk heads to a knightly tournament to risk everything, but even securing participation in it is a true test for the awkward giant. Still from the series

As it quickly turns out, there are no witnesses that the old man knighted him before his death. Dunk himself noticeably gets embarrassed and avoids eye contact every time he has to introduce himself and call himself "Ser." This image of a "lying knight," who is more noble than true anointed ones, is very much in Martin's spirit.

Bald Egg

On his way, Dunk meets an insistent bald boy in an inn who asks to be his squire, because every true knight must have a squire. He calls himself Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), which translates to "Egg" — supposedly a common insulting nickname for an orphan with a large bald head.

Павялічыць

On his way, Dunk meets an insistent egg-headed boy, Egg, who asks to become his squire. Still from the series.

Dunk tries to dissuade him, but fate, or rather Egg's persistence, brings them together again. Egg is clearly not as simple as he seems at first glance: he is too smart for a beggar and too brave for a servant.

Drunken Masters of Life

The contrast with previous series is especially noticeable in how the lords are portrayed. Here they are not cunning strategists like Tywin Lannister, nor victims of their duty like Ned Stark. These are capricious, arrogant heirs who love wine, women, and being flattered.

Getting into the tournament as a wanderer and ragamuffin like Dunk is almost impossible — none of the great people of Westeros want to even speak to a man without lineage or clan, let alone vouch for him.

Павялічыць

Ser Lyonel Baratheon, a direct ancestor of Robert Baratheon, like other lords, is shown as a capricious heir who cares little beyond his own vanity. Still from the series.

A vivid example is Ser Lyonel Baratheon, nicknamed "The Laughing Storm" (Daniel Ings). Dunk accidentally stumbles upon a feast in his tent. The lord's anger towards the uninvited guest quickly turns into drunken merriment and wild dancing. Sitting in the horned crown of the Storm's End lords, the low-born Dunk listens as Baratheon pours out his soul to him as an equal, but then admits with a smile: you, my boy, have no chance of success whatsoever.

A Human Story

Павялічыць

At the tournament, even prostitutes are socially higher than a hedge knight like Dunk. Still from the series.

The atmosphere in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is quite different from that of previous series, although the action takes place in the same world and not so far in time from the events of both hits. We are in the interval between "House of the Dragon" and "Game of Thrones," when Westeros is relatively peaceful. This means there's no place for great people to do their great deeds, and finally, we can talk about common people.

The story of "The Knight" at least begins as very mischievous, heartfelt, and human. There are no battles that decide the fates of kingdoms, no dragons burning cities.

The series finale can even be called romantic. Dunk and Egg sleep on the ground under the open sky — the hapless knight doesn't even have his own tent. In the night sky, they see a shooting star.

Павялічыць

What glory will the shooting star bring to both? Still from the series.

According to Egg, a shooting star brings great luck to whoever sees it. The irony is that the noble lords, knights, and other favorites of fortune at this moment see only the expensive silk of their cozy tents.

This means that all the luck in this world will go to this strange pair — an awkward giant knight with a dubious history and his mysterious squire. And this is a beautiful ending for the episode and a beginning for the series.

• 5
• 0
• 2
• 1
• 1
• 0
• 0
• 0