Spoilers for the “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 1 finale forward.
General, in its first season, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” marked a welcome return to Westeros. Taking a lighter strategy to the fictional world envisioned by George R.R. Martin, season 1 advised a small-scale story that includes characters who’re genuinely first rate individuals. Positive, its antagonists have been fairly despicable, and its climactic battle was exceptionally ugly, however for essentially the most half, this specific “Sport of Thrones” spin-off has to this point been a gentler story centered on nice people like honorable hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), celebration animal Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), the naive however lovable Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas), and the younger squire/secret prince Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” has additionally confirmed to be an unexpectedly quirky present full that is susceptible to creating offbeat selections, whether or not it is paying tribute to “Livid 7” in its season 1 finale, together with a totally anachronistic real-world track, or abruptly altering it title. That is proper: In case you did not discover, the season 1 finale ends with a title card that reads “A Knight of the 9 Kingdoms,” a cheeky nod to the dialogue that Duncan, aka Dunk, and Egg have relating to the precise variety of kingdoms in Westeros shortly earlier than that.
Nonetheless, earlier than anybody will get out their pitchfork, you may relaxation assured realizing that is little greater than a one-off joke. Talking with the Los Angeles Instances, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” showrunner and co-creator Ira Parker defined that this gag is each “a wink to the viewers” and a nod to followers who’ve argued about this very matter, “however we’re not altering the title of the present.”
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will retain its (type of) untruthful title
On the finish of the “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 1 finale, Dunk and Egg chat about the place to move subsequent. When Dunk says they’ll merely go anyplace within the seven kingdoms, Egg is fast to right him, stating there are 9 kingdoms: the Crownlands, Westerlands, Stormlands, Riverlands, the Iron Islands, the North, the Attain, the Vale of Arryn, and Dorne. Cue the title change.
Arguably, what Egg stated is barely partly true, however that is a a lot greater debate and is not really the purpose of this scene. “It did not essentially should be the dialog in regards to the kingdoms, however simply Egg, in his manner, ensuring that Dunk by no means looks like he is aware of something,” as Ira Parker defined to the LA Instances.
On the similar time, this short-term title change hits on one of many core themes of season 1 — lies. The “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 1 finale means that Dunk was by no means actually knighted, and, in mild of Egg’s clarification, the present’s title seems to be equally unreliable. However that is not essential; what actually issues is the collectively agreed-upon story and whether or not that lie serves a noble function. Dunk is probably not an official knight, however he is extra of a knight in spirit than most precise knights. By the identical token, Egg lies within the season 1 finale about having permission to journey with Dunk, but it surely finally ends up being good for him. Moreover, seven kingdoms sounds higher than 9.
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 1 is now streaming in its entirety on HBO Max.
