I’m utterly disappointed with the laugh line that Egg sneaked away. It changes the books, and ruins the story. The whole point of all of this is that Egg is supposed to be learning to take responsibility for his effect on the “small people.” Now he just spins around and puts Dunc in danger again of having actually run off with Egg?
Moronic.
The books don’t actually conflict with this directly. We never see Maekar grant permission.
But it’s pretty strongly implied, I think. I think - it’s been quite awhile since I’ve read them. But there is certainly zero consequence that stems from any notion that he didn’t, nor mention of it that I recall. The only reason to include it is as a piece of potential future conflict.
I don’t exactly hate it at this point. Aegon can always learn his lessons later, so it’s potentially inconsequential. But if they make it a big thing, it’s more melodrama for melodrama’s sake. It’s also opens up a potential plot-hole if they pursue it for plot tension. Because if Maekar didn’t decide to just shrug and let it go, there is little realistic possibility they wouldn’t have tracked down the pair very quickly if instead he were to lose his shit over it.
So a flawed plot change IMHO. But as missteps go, it’s not a killer- certainly not for this season.
Presumably the show producers have thought this through - maybe next season there will be a scene or a flashback or something with Egg convincing Maekar “I’m just gonna run away with him again, so why don’t you just let me go with your blessing?”
That’s funny because I didn’t read the novellas but I read a comic adaptation of them and my memory is that Egg didn’t have permission.
As someone else said, as an episode this wasn’t the greatest but overall this was a really good season of TV.
Not just them, but also Martin is heavily involved with this show so i trust they know what they are doing. He’s had nothing but praise for the show.
Question: does Dunk have some money now? Did he get to ransom Aerion’s armor - or is that just for tourneys, and not for trials?
If we go by the books, no, he doesn’t have much money. He didn’t get anything from Aerion. He’s not destitute, but he probably doesn’t have much more than necessary to feed themselves to get to Dorne and back.
Trials are about proving guilt or innocence. You don’t win the arms of your opponent unless it’s a tournament event.
What he did get is notoriety.
From here:
“I would say we are attempting to be as compartmentalized as possible,” Ira Parker, the series showrunner and co-creator, tells Entertainment Weekly. “That’s the nature of the novellas. It’s not that there are uncertain strings that are pulled all the way through, but every season Dunk and Egg are in a new place, we set up a story, we tell you the story, and we close out the story. So this is a little bit of a thread, but I don’t want to start getting into two big ripple effects that change the nature of the story we’re allowed to tell in [season] 2 that make it too big. It will be addressed, but hopefully it will not detract from anyone’s enjoyment of ‘The Sworn Sword.’”
Sickos-ha-ha-yes.jpg.
This is very encouraging. And seems more radical than it ought to.
Relatedly, I saw someone on social media saying that the show was really good, everything worked so well, what a great story - and why can’t it be ten episodes?
And I really wanted to ask, “What would be in the other four?”
I wonder if he’s still happy after Ser Arlan’s little dig: “A true knight always finishes a story. . .”
Or were they saying we’ll get WoW when Martin comes back from the dead? 
I did think that it was a bit much the targs blaming Duncan for the tragedy, when it was all the targs fault except Baelor. Especially with the kingsguard imbalance on the losing side, otherwise it would be a couple of targs watching the best of the realm dissect some poor knights while they stood at the back as if it was a tourney. I always at least thought there were sane ones and cruel ones, but seems as if Maekar is more the latter than the former.
What? Who are you talking about? None of this was in the last episode.
I think Valarr and Baelor were grieving, and angry at the whole situation. Perfectly understandable for people who lost their beloved father and brother. I don’t blame them for taking it out on Dunk, especially since it only went as far as some cutting words. We don’t know what either of them said in private to Aerion, but we know that he was being exiled - which shows who they really blamed.
They didn’t even really blame him in their dialogue. They were just, understandably, grumpy. Maekar even offered Dunk an amazing deal (for a hedge knight).
At least now we can stop arguing over whether or not Ser Arlan knighted Dunc or not
Technically that question wasn’t answered. There’s probably an hour or two between the last Arlan scene and Dunk burying him.
I didn’t think the scene with him asking Arlan why he never got around to knighting Dunk happened a few hours before Arlan died, I thought it was Dunclk imagining talking to Arlan again. Just like how Arlan wasn’t really riding alongside Dunk and Egg at the end.