# New Game of Thrones show - "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [October 10, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862 "2025-10-10T22:32:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/261 "2026-02-20T00:04:40Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m quite sure that nowhere in the 3 Dunk and Egg novellas is there anything to suggest Dunk never knights anyone _in his lifetime_. I’m sure that at some point, whether we see or read about it or not, Dunk will have a close friend knight him in secret. It’ll probably happen right before he joins the Kingsguard, and there’s a good chance Egg himself will do the honors. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/262 "2026-02-20T00:54:36Z")
BTW, [one article on the episode](https://www.businessinsider.com/dunk-brienne-of-tarth-related-knight-of-seven-kingdoms-easter-egg-2026-2) mentioned an Easter egg. “In a flashback scene, a young Dunk is shown walking down the kingsroad with his childhood friend, Rafe, returning to their home in King’s Landing.” “In ‘Game of Thrones,’ Jaime Lannister sends Brienne in the opposite direction, away from King’s Landing, on a quest to find and protect Sansa Stark. He also assigns Podrick Payne to serve as her squire. In season four, episode five, ‘First of His Name,’ the duo travels down the same wooded path that Dunk and Rafe had trodden before.” Both scenes are shot on the same road in Ireland. And apparently in 2016, George R R Martin confirmed that Brienne of Tarth is a descendant of Ser Duncan the Tall. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/263 "2026-02-20T01:14:01Z")
In the scene where Raymun is being knighted by Lyonel, we see Dunc looking up in the same manner and Ser Arlan looking down at him and shrugging. I think Ser Arlan intended to knight Dunc but just couldn’t remember all the words. Maybe just said “In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, oh, whatever, arise a knight.” So does intention count or must the words be exact? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/264 "2026-02-20T12:20:16Z")
My understanding is that the connection between Brienne and Dunk is a fan theory and Martin never has confirmed it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/265 "2026-02-20T15:28:49Z")
It’s paywalled, so I can read only the _very_ beginning, but this 2016 article from Vanity Fair quotes George R R Martin saying at a fan convention that Brienne of Tarth is a descendant of Ser Duncan the Tall. So not just a fan theory. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/266 "2026-02-20T15:39:43Z")
And it’s not like the theory was just pulled out of people’s asses. Brienne describes Dunk’s shield as something she found in her dads armory. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/267 "2026-02-20T15:40:42Z")
The good news; Ser Duncan the Tall gets lucky, if only once. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/268 "2026-02-20T15:47:26Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > and again when he hesitated on knighting the young Fossoway - did he not know what to say? I think this was the big tell that Dunc wasn’t actually knighted. Faking being a knight will only hurt him if he’s found out (somehow), but in that moment he realized that if he “knighted” Fossoway, then Fossoway would also suffer if Dunc was found out, as that “knighting” would have no legal effect. Dunc was willing to roll the dice on his own lie, but he didn’t want to gamble with the life of the young guy who’s only mistake was to side with Dunc. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/269 "2026-02-20T15:47:54Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > In the scene where Raymun is being knighted by Lyonel, we see Dunc looking up in the same manner and Ser Arlan looking down at him and shrugging. I think Ser Arlan intended to knight Dunc but just couldn’t remember all the words. Maybe just said “In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, oh, whatever, arise a knight.” So does intention count or must the words be exact? How does one learn the words in the first place? Is the assumption that a knight knows the words from the one time they heard them at their own knighting? It doesn’t seem like a particularly secretive ceremony. Jaime knighted Brienne in the middle of a room full of people and Ser Lyonel Baratheon knighted Raymun right there on the faire grounds. In fact, witnesses would be sort of necessary so as not to have these sorts of ambiguous situations. Or is the “secret” that the actual words don’t matter. Any knight can just point his sword and say “BOOYA!! You’re a knight!” Is there an actual guide book for how to actually be a knight (presumably it would also have instructions for creating more knights)? Or is it all word of mouth. Being a knight in and of itself doesn’t seem to convey any particular advantage, other than that you successfully squired for someone who taught you how to swordfight. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/270 "2026-02-20T16:03:16Z")
I am in the camp that the show is making it pretty clear Dunk was never actually Knighted but it’s also clear he is a Knight nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/271 "2026-02-20T16:04:28Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Being a knight in and of itself doesn’t seem to convey any particular advantage, other than that you successfully squired for someone who taught you how to swordfight. There’s a huge advantage, as Knight is a rank of nobility. If a squire already happens to be a noble, it’s not particularly advantageous, but many (if not most) squires were commoners. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/272 "2026-02-20T16:30:44Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > How does one learn the words in the first place? I imagine every single child that dreams of being a knight knows every word by heart. It’s technically a religious ceremony so I can’t imagine the words are any less well known than “in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit..”. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/273 "2026-02-20T16:57:30Z")
Though Peter Claffey has since shut it down, there was speculation that Henry Cavill was going to be in season 2. Cavill could only be playing Daemon Blackfyre. Despite it being nerd speculation, I think it’s a fantastic idea. It would allow Bertie Carvel and Sam Spruell to reprise their roles as Baelon and Maekar giving more insight into their relationship. Baelon was too good for just one season anyway. It would also fill out the story a lot more, as we need hour long episodes. It alsos give greater context to the situation Dunk and Egg would find themselves in under the employ of Sir Eustace Osgrey. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/274 "2026-02-20T17:26:14Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > There’s a huge advantage, as Knight is a rank of nobility. It’s not, it’s a rank between nobility and commoner. Being a knight means they’re above the common rabble, but not quite a noble (though nobles can certainly be knights of course, like Jaime Lannister). Knights are entitled to bear a personal form of heraldry separate from a noble house’s heraldry, regardless of their status as a noble or if they’ve sworn to a noble house’s service. That’s why many knights swear to a house; they don’t have a noble house themselves. A _landed_ knight, though, is a knight who becomes a minor noble through his deeds and is given lands to rule over. And a knight who is successful in running his lands may in time earn the rank of “Lord”. That is one way that noble houses are formed. A noble can be a knight, but not all knights are noble. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/275 "2026-02-20T18:01:40Z")
I think the main difference between knights and nobles is that the title of knight is not hereditary. You can obviously just knight your son, but it’s not inherited by default. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/276 "2026-02-20T19:14:21Z")
I stand corrected, but still, being Knighted is a huge step up for a commoner, as opposed to not conveying any particular advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/277 "2026-02-20T19:37:40Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > The show seems to take great pains in making it clear he was never knighted. > > I don’t think it’s so clear cut but yes the preponderance of evidence seems to indicate just that. I’m on the side of those who say it is very clear in the show that he was not knighted. I don’t really see how it’s controversial. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/278 "2026-02-20T19:38:44Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I would say that Dunk didn’t knight Raymund because he doesn’t have the right to, not because he doesn’t know how (although me might also not know how). Every knight has the right to knight a new knight, that’s why a hedge knight like Arlan _could_ have knighted Dunk. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/279 "2026-02-20T19:42:14Z")
Obviously any knight can make a knight, but that’s irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862/280 "2026-02-20T19:45:15Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Obviously any knight can make a knight, but that’s irrelevant If any knight can make a knight, what does it mean to say he didn’t have the “right” to do so? By virtue of being a knight, he has the right to make more knights. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-game-of-thrones-show-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/1023862.md?page=15)