How Many Episodes In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: Finale Upends Dunk and Egg, Maekar’s Confession
how many episodes in a knight of the seven kingdoms — the show’s first season concluded with episode six, "The Morrow, " and the finale rewrote the pairings and secrets that have driven Dunk and Egg through this adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s material.
Finale scene leaves Baelor dead and Maekar defending an accident
The season one finale, "The Morrow, " ends with a sudden and violent turn: Prince Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) drops dead from a fatal head wound that the episode shows was delivered by Prince Maekar Targaryen. In the hours around the jousting tournament at Ashford Meadow, Maekar and his son Aerion (Finn Bennett) discover that Aegon (Dexter Sol Ansell) and Daeron did not arrive at the tourney when expected. Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall (Peter Claffey) clashes with Aerion after Aerion assaults a puppeteer, and Aegon intervenes because he had secretly been squiring Dunk under the alias Egg.
Trial of seven, a withdrawn accusation and an unexpected death
Daeron, found drunk nearby, falsely accuses Dunk of kidnapping his youngest brother. Aerion challenges Dunk to a trial of seven, a fight where the accused and accuser each recruit six champions. Prince Baelor joins Dunk’s side; following a hard-fought battle, Dunk compels Aerion to withdraw the accusation. Dunk then bends the knee to Baelor, and the scene quickly turns when Baelor is struck fatally — a wound the episode makes clear Maekar inflicted. In the aftermath, Maekar insists that the Gods know it was an accident.
How Many Episodes In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms and the echoes of Maekar’s choice
Sam Spruell, who plays Maekar, has spoken about his character’s reaction to Baelor’s death, arguing that Maekar uses faith to absolve himself. "Maekar is so susceptible to self-delusion. How handy that you can refer to the Gods knowing it’s an accident to absolve you of your crimes?" Spruell said, calling the depiction an example of corrupt power. Spruell’s casting followed an indelible turn on Fargo season five; he also appeared on a couple of episodes of Dune: Prophecy, which he shot before audiences saw his portrayal of a "500-year-old sin-eater" on Fargo. He also answers whether or not his Prince Maekar Targaryen will return for season two.
Dunk’s past, the Arlan flashback and a thread from the novellas
The finale includes a flashback to Dunk’s recent past as a squire for Ser Arlan of Pennytree. In that scene, with Arlan propped against a tree, pale and babbling and apparently dying, Dunk asks, "Why did you never knight me? Did you think I'd leave you? I wouldn't have. Or was it something else?" He receives no answer. The flashback is filmed on the same hillside where Dunk later buries Arlan’s body.
Hints that Dunk may never have been knighted
Book readers long suspected Dunk of lying about being knighted; on screen, the show leans into that tension. Dunk has told people that Arlan knighted him just before Arlan died, with "only a robin, up in a thorn tree" to bear witness. When Dunk attempts to enter the jousting tournament at Ashford Meadow he is told to find a lord or another knight to vouch for him, and no one can verify his claim — hardly anyone even remembers Arlan. The episode and earlier installments drop subtle hints that Dunk was only ever a squire and may be lying to give himself a fighting chance.
When Dunk first meets Egg in the premiere, the boy tells him plainly, "You don't look to be a knight. " In episode four, Dunk hesitates when Raymun Fossoway asks to be knighted so he can fight in Dunk's Trial of Seven. Lyonel Baratheon urges, "Go on, Ser Duncan. Any knight can make a knight. " Still, Dunk does not draw his sword to fulfill the request. Is that because he does not want his friend to die in a dangerous trial by combat? Or because he does not know the words to recite if he never heard them himself? ("In the name of the warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the father, I charge you to be just, " etc. ) It's also possible that Dunk doesn't want to risk Raymun's honor with a kn — unclear in the provided context.
Adaptation choices: scenes not in the novella and creative intent
The series is a meticulous adaptation of George R. R. Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg, but it adds scenes not present in the novella "The Hedge Knight. " The finale's additions include at least two key scenes that do not exist in the original novella; Business Insider’s coverage noted that two of those new scenes have major implications for Dunk and Egg going forward. Showrunner Ira Parker said he wanted the Arlan flashback to be open to interpretation, noting that much of the exposition about whether Dunk was knighted is internal and "we get pretty, pretty close to him coming out and just saying it. It's just like, what else could he be thinking of? What else could he mean by this?" Parker said, adding, "But it's not said in black and white. "
In the Hedge Knight source material, when Egg’s true identity as a Targaryen prince in disguise is revealed, Dunk is shocked and embarrassed for being deceived but also feels compassion: "He knew what it was like to want something so badly that you would tell a monstrous lie just to get near it. " The show leans on that emotional throughline while introducing new dramatic beats at Ashford Meadow.
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Every time Callie publishes a story, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox! By clicking "Sign up", you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. Spoilers ahead for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season one, episode six, "The Morrow, " and the book "The World of Ice & Fire. "
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The season one finale, episode six "The Morrow, " closes several arcs while creating new ones: Maekar’s fatal blow and his insistence on divine innocence; Dunk’s doubtful claim to knighthood; Egg’s secret role as a Targaryen prince-turned-squire; and the question of whether Maekar will appear in season two — a question Spruell has addressed. The show’s creative team has set the stage for what comes next, and the principal confirmed next beat in public coverage is the conversation around Maekar’s fate and whether the character will return in season two.
