Ser Duncan the Tall Surges Into the Spotlight as “Dunk and Egg” Prequel Debuts and Fans Debate That Bold Opening Scene

Ser Duncan the Tall, the plainspoken hedge knight better known as “Dunk,” has become the breakout focus of the newest Westeros prequel after its January 18, 2026 premiere. The character’s appeal is straightforward: he’s not a schemer, not a dragonlord, and not chasing a throne. He’s a towering, stubbornly decent fighter trying to live up to a promise he made to be a “good knight,” even when the world around him rewards the opposite.

That simplicity is exactly why Ser Duncan the Tall is trending now. The first episode leans into his humanity and rough edges, then immediately undercuts the usual epic tone with a bathroom gag that has set off loud debate. The attention has only intensified ahead of the next episode, scheduled for late Sunday in the US and early Monday in the UK.

Who Is Ser Duncan the Tall?

In the “Tales of Dunk and Egg” corner of the franchise, Ser Duncan the Tall starts at the bottom: an orphaned boy from Flea Bottom who becomes squire to Ser Arlan of Pennytree. After Arlan’s death, Dunk takes his mentor’s gear and tries to pass as a newly made knight on the tournament circuit, carrying big ideals and very little money.

The core of Ser Duncan the Tall’s story is the tension between what knighthood is supposed to mean and what it often looks like in practice. He wants to defend the weak, keep his word, and earn respect the hard way, but he’s constantly running into people who treat honor like a costume.

Why Ser Duncan the Tall Feels Different From Other Westeros Leads

This new series is built around a smaller, more personal scale than the dynasty-level conflicts fans associate with the main saga. Ser Duncan the Tall works as a lead because:

• He’s a physical presence without being a political power

• He’s brave but not invincible, confident but not clever in the courtly sense

• He’s moral without being saintly, and his temper can cost him

• His story naturally invites travel, duels, tournaments, and unlikely friendships

That last point matters: Dunk’s bond with his young squire, Egg, creates a buddy-adventure engine that keeps the plot moving even when the worldbuilding turns heavy.

The Opening Scene That Sparked a Week of Conversation

The premiere didn’t ease viewers in. It opened with Ser Duncan the Tall in a crude, earthy moment that many fans found hilarious and others found unnecessary. The franchise’s author publicly acknowledged surprise at how graphic the scene was, and the moment has become a shorthand for what this show is trying to do: keep the grit, add more humor, and ground the legend in bodily reality.

Whether you loved it or hated it, the scene served a purpose: it told audiences immediately that Ser Duncan the Tall is not a mythic warrior out of a ballad. He’s a real man in a real body, living hard, sleeping rough, and trying to act noble anyway.

The “Drunken Dance” Moment and What It Says About Dunk

Another early standout is the rowdy feast sequence featuring a “drunken” dance involving Dunk and a stormy nobleman. It’s loud, messy, and oddly revealing: Dunk can blend into a room of powerful people for a moment, but he never truly belongs there. Scenes like this also signal that the show will use humor as character work, not just as comic relief.

For Ser Duncan the Tall, the result is a lead who feels both legendary and approachable: a man too big to ignore, too sincere to be comfortable in politics, and too proud to quit.

When the Next Episode Drops

Here’s the current weekly cadence for the season, presented in the time zones most fans ask for. Schedule remains subject to change.

What to Watch Next for Ser Duncan the Tall

Episode 1 positioned Dunk at a crossroads: he has the name of a knight, the skills of a brawler with a conscience, and just enough luck to stumble into bigger trouble. The next chapter will likely sharpen three things that define Ser Duncan the Tall:

1. The cost of honor when opponents don’t play fair

2. The growing importance of Egg, who is clearly more than he appears

3. The way Dunk’s size and strength can protect people, but also escalate conflicts fast

Ser Duncan the Tall has always been a fan-favorite on the page because he represents an older, almost stubborn idea of decency in a cynical world. Right now, he’s trending because the screen version is leaning hard into that identity—mud, jokes, bruises, and all—while setting up a season where doing the “right thing” may be the most dangerous choice he can make.