Considering the varied timelines of the Westerosi stories including Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms being the latest inclusion, it’s imperative for the latter show to establish its base. The series premiered today on HBO and is set a hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones with the Targaryens still riding the high of conquering the Iron Throne.
We are introduced to Dunk, a hedge knight who is still figuring out his purpose and path in life. The second main character, Egg, is also featured in the episode, albeit for a smaller duration. Their interaction is brief, setting the stage for the upcoming episodes, and sheds light on how Dunk will be mentoring a youngling just like he was trained by Ser Arlan.
The Importance of the Opening Scene
Credits: HBO
Episode 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdom opens with a melancholic scene where Dunk is seen burying his master Ser Arlan in pouring rain. He says a few words after digging a hole for the burial, stating Ser Arlan’s contribution to bringing Dunk where he is today. He thanks him for the training and strict upbringing which helped shape his personality.
Everything was not all rainbows and butterflies in Dunk and Ser Arlan’s journey since the knight is portrayed as a bitter man who was more aggressive than loving as a master. As soon as the burial is done, Dunk is seen staring into the distance with a hopeful expression on his face. The very next scene shows him pooping in the open, a stark juxtaposition to his aspirations for the future.
Hosts Greta Johnsen and Jason Concepcion of the official Game of Thrones podcast talk about this gritty opening to the premiere episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdom, where Johnsen mentions
“I think the way that, um, we undercut what seems like, uh, is setting up to be a heroic moment with the Game of Thrones theme rising up under Dunk staring… with determination into the middle distance, and then immediately we smash cut to a severe case of diarrhea.”
To this, Concepcion hilariously replies, ‘The bubble guts,’ as I think they say in the world.”
They further hypothesize that this series is going to be unlike anything fans have seen so far. The story will tackle more nuanced and intricate aspects of life in Westeros back then, away from the royal squabbles and throne-snatching battles. It will be a gritty, realistic, and eye-opening peek into the life of the subjects of Westeros who usually faced the brunt of the larger war at hand.
Read More: Dunk and Egg hit the small screens in the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiere
Excitement for Dragons in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Credits: HBO
Though dragons are a huge part of the plot arc in the latter seasons of Game of Thrones, the initial seasons lead us to believe that the mighty beasts have been extinct for a long time. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set 100 years before Game of Thrones, which means the masses still remember the existence of dragons with Targaryens sitting on the Iron Throne.
In one quaint scene from the premiere episode where Dunk enters a tent to find a show going on, we see how the audience is enamored by the make-believe dragons and its fire-breathing abilities. While dragons seem unlikely to appear in this series, we will get to see how the downfall of the Targaryens began and the civil war that led up to the events of Game of Thrones.
Read More: Black and Green fans argue over whether Sunfyre is the most beautiful dragon in House of the Dragon
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