The final episode of the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms aired on February 22. Fans eagerly awaited each new episode of the series every Sunday. Although the second season has already been greenlit, viewers may have to wait until at least 2027 to discover what lies ahead for Dunk and Egg. While the series concluded on a largely positive note, one question remains unanswered: Did Ser Arlan of Pennytree actually knight Dunk?
Did Dunk lie about being a knight?
Many aspects of several characters in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms remain unexplored. For instance, what became of the puppeteer Tanselle? Will she return in the upcoming seasons? However, the ambiguity surrounding Dunk’s knighthood by Ser Arlan is perhaps the most significant unresolved question.
We first meet Dunk in the premiere episode, “The Hedge Knight,” where his opening scene shows him laying Ser Arlan to rest. Shortly thereafter, he arrives in Ashford to participate in the tourney and tells Plummer that Ser Arlan knighted him just before his death. But was this the truth, or did “Ser” Duncan fabricate the story to seize the opportunity to compete? This uncertainty remains largely unexplored throughout the six episodes, and even the flashbacks fail to provide confirmation.
Does Dunk’s knighthood really matter?
Throughout the world of Game of Thrones, audiences have encountered many knights – some honourable, others deeply corrupt. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms likewise introduces numerous knights attending the Ashford Tourney. However, few appear as honourable as Ser Arlan and even Dunk, through whose perspective the story unfolds. The lingering doubt surrounding Dunk’s knighthood adds a layer of complexity to his otherwise straightforward moral code.
Still, does it truly matter? We have seen countless knights fail to protect the innocent, whereas Dunk consistently upholds the ideals the title represents. Showrunner Ira Parker addressed this question during the official Game of Thrones podcast released shortly after the series finale. He stated:
“No, (it matters) hopefully even less. Because he’s done all the things the knight’s supposed to do. Everything else is just, I don’t know, noise, details.”
Similar to earlier episodes, the finale includes another flashback featuring Ser Arlan. In this scene, Dunk requests that his master knight him moments before his death. Yet even this poignant sequence preserves the ambiguity, as the ceremony itself is never shown. Ira Parker, however, hinted at a possible explanation during the podcast:
“It’s possible that Dunk was knighted right after that moment. He just actually got a sword and did it, and it’s possible that he… died pretty immediately after that.”
Fans now eagerly await the continued adventures of Dunk and Egg on screen. Although Dunk’s knighthood remains uncertain, viewers are likely to remember him for his actions rather than his title. What were your favourite moments from the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Tell us in the comments.
