A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5, In the Name of the Mother, ended with Prince Baelor’s death. Moments before dying, he had admitted that his brother Maekar Targaryen had dealt a hard blow to his head with the mace. In the finale, when Dunk went to meet Maekar, the latter said that gods knew it was an accident. In a recent interview, Sam Spruell, who portrays Maekar, reflected on how the Targaryen prince invokes the will of the gods as a way to sidestep confronting the possibility that he may have hit Baelor intentionally.
Quick read:
- Maekar Targaryen conveniently uses gods to hide his crimes.
- Sam Spruell says Maekar does want to think that he killed Baelor on purpose.
- The sole reason Maekar makes those decisions in the finale is his intention to be in control.
Sam Spruell on Maekar Targaryen believing that he accidentally killed Baelor
Maekar Targaryen and Baelor Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | Image: HBO
Maekar is a complex character with demons of his own. He resents not being closer in line to be the heir to the Iron Throne and has to constantly deal with his three rather unruly sons. When Baelor reveals that he will fight on Dunk’s side in the Trial of Seven, Maekar obviously does not like it. Later, Maekar says to Dunk that it was an accident, but does he reallly believe it?
Reflecting on this, Sam Spruell told The Hollywood Reporter, “What I love is that you don’t really know. Maekar is so susceptible to self-delusion, and he doesn’t want to even get close to admitting that it may have been on purpose. And how handy that you can refer to the Gods knowing it’s an accident to absolve you of your crimes. Kings and rulers of lands have been doing that for years, saying, ‘Well, God thinks I’m innocent,’ when clearly they’re guilty. So it’s a very good depiction of corrupt power.”
Regardless of whether or not Maekar killed Baelor on purpose, he has to deal with the consequences. One of his sons is severely wounded and another is missing which he realises a little too late.
Does Maekar’s guilt affect his decisions for Egg?
When Maekar meets Dunk after the Trial, he offers the hedge knight a place at Summerhall and asks him if he would take Egg as his squire. Dunk declines the offer and leaves, but he came back later with a different one. He tells Maekar that he will take Egg as a squire, but on the road, not in Summerhall. Maekar declines the offer, arguing that Egg is his last son.
When asked if the guilt from Baelor’s death affected Maekar’s decision-making for Egg, Spruell replied, “I don’t think guilt impacted his decision-making a great deal. His youngest son, Aegon [Egg], is his last chance to prove himself as a father. He’s his last chance to have an heir that’s worth anything at all and isn’t a drunk or a violent psychopath. Aegon is his last chance to succeed as a dad.”
The Fargo actor claimed that Maekar’s fear of failure is what really affects his decision-making. His decision to make that offer and refect Dunk’s stem from his need to remain in control. As things rarely go how Maekar wants them to, Egg runs away and lies to Dunk about having his father’s permission to join him.
Read more: Why Egg chooses a hedge knight’s wisdom over a Targaryen’s crown in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
