00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're looking at things you missed in the first episode
00:10of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
00:17We'll be going into some spoilers, although we'll try to avoid revealing events that
00:22happen in future episodes.
00:25Dumping on a Familiar Theme
00:27Burying his late master, Dunk sums himself up with this early line, Dunk doesn't know
00:34who he is without his master.
00:37Holding Sir Arlan's longsword though, Dunk is inspired to become a knight.
00:41Cue the opening notes of Ramin Djawadi's iconic theme, setting us up for another epic
00:46series, or cut to Dunk taking a dump.
00:59Some might see this as crude humor, which it is, yet it also establishes that this isn't
01:04Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, which used the same theme music.
01:08A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms doesn't even have a lavish intro reflecting Dunk's current
01:14status.
01:15His name ignites little fanfare now, but the path he carves could be one of legend, or at
01:20least a worthy footnote.
01:22A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is still set in the same universe.
01:34Even the more casual Thrones fans will pick up on Dunk's passing references to King's
01:38Landing or Lannisport.
01:48Lesser known locales also get a shout-out.
01:51Dunk mentions that the only time he didn't deserve one of Sir Arlan's slabs was in Maidenpool,
01:56a town found in the Riverlands.
02:06Although unseen in Game of Thrones, Arya Stark once claimed she was from Maidenpool, a lie
02:11that Tywin Lannister saw right through.
02:24Dunk travels to Ashford, where a tawny is taking place.
02:28Ashford is another location we haven't seen portrayed on screen, but it stands out as the
02:33only place Robert Baratheon lost a significant battle during his rebellion.
02:388.
02:39A Drunken Dream Arriving at an inn for the night, Dunk encounters
02:44a heavy drinker passed out at his table.
02:47When the stranger comes to, he recounts having a dream about Dunk, warning him to keep his distance.
03:02We won't reveal who this character is just yet, as the show hasn't, however it's worth
03:08noting that he pays the innkeeper with a coin featuring a three-headed dragon.
03:14This is the sigil of House Targaryen, with the three heads representing siblings Aegon the
03:19Conqueror, Rhaenys, and Visenya.
03:22The sigil not only points to the drunk's true identity, but also the nature of his dream.
03:27While there might not be any living dragons during this period, that doesn't mean Dragon
03:32Dreams can't still hint at things to come.
03:39Did Arlen knight Dunk?
03:46Looking to join the tawny, Dunk claims that Sir Arlen knighted him before he died.
03:51This is met with skepticism, which isn't unwarranted.
03:54The show opens with Dunk digging Arlen's grave without revealing how his master passed.
04:00We do get a flashback to Dunk's past, although when he asks Arlen if he's to become a knight,
04:05his master doesn't respond.
04:16This might lead some to believe that Dunk is lying.
04:20This is further evidenced through Dunk's demeanor following his master's death.
04:24He's overcome with uncertainty, which likely wouldn't be the case for a squire who's
04:29had his dream of knighthood fulfilled.
04:31That said, the source material never gave a definitive answer.
04:36The show may keep it ambiguous, or perhaps it'll set the truth in stone.
04:48Dunk breaks the wheel
04:50Hitting a child is never warranted, Joffrey notwithstanding.
04:54Regardless, Dunk believes that almost all the slaps he took from his master were deserved.
05:00Dunk is far from the only squire who endures abuse, as seen through how Stefan Fastaway treats
05:06his cousin, Raymond.
05:11It'd be easy for Dunk to repeat the cycle of violence when he encounters young Egg.
05:16Dunk even tells Egg multiple times that he could use a clout in the ear.
05:20He threatens to beat Egg, but instead decides to bring him along.
05:34Dunk also promises not to beat Egg, except when it's justified.
05:42While Dunk's words echo his master, his actions don't.
05:46For all Arlen taught him, how to discipline is one lesson that thankfully didn't rub off.
05:535.
05:54Houses
05:55Speaking of Stefan and Raymond, the apple is the sigil of House Fastaway.
06:00This is not only reflected through the symbol on Stefan's armour, but also in the multiple
06:05apple puns that the cousins make.
06:12This isn't the only familiar sigil that Dunk comes across.
06:15When Dunk first arrives in Ashford, he's quickly drawn to a flag with purple lightning
06:20and white stars.
06:26This sigil belongs to House Dondarrion, which Dunk recognizes due to the arrow that Arlen
06:31took while hunting the Vulture King.
06:34Dunk thus hopes that Sir Manfred Dondarrion will vouch for him, but Beric's ancestor is anything
06:40but grateful.
06:48Eagle-eyed viewers also might have noticed the flags depicting three beehives, which is the
06:53sigil for House Beesbury.
06:554.
06:56Lionel Baratheon
06:57House Baratheon is also well represented here.
07:01Not only are the House's trademark antlers used in all of their decorating, but Lionel
07:05Baratheon himself appears.
07:11It's mentioned that Lionel is known as the Laughing Storm.
07:16This isn't just because Lionel is the life of the party, but he delights in laughing at
07:20his opponents.
07:25Dunk assumed that Lionel would be bigger, which could be a reference to one of his descendants.
07:38While the family tree is a bit murky, Lionel is suspected to be Robert Baratheon's great-grandfather,
07:43or great-great-grandfather.
07:46Watching Lionel, we can see that Robert inherited his boisterous spirit and love of feasting.
08:03He isn't someone you want on your bad side.
08:06If you're on his good side, though, Lionel might let you wear his crown.
08:10A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms occurs decades between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.
08:28As such, the only dragons we'll be seeing in this show are of the puppet variety.
08:33Dunk encounters one such dragon, as Tansel, the puppeteer, recounts the Sirwin of the Mirror
08:38Shield legend.
08:40According to this tale, Sirwin managed to slay a dragon by using the reflection from
08:44his shield.
08:46While the legend of Sirwin may not be grounded in fact, it does mirror Dunk's own story.
08:51Like Sirwin, Dunk has set out alone, looking to make a name for himself.
09:00Assuming that Dunk was lying about Arlen knighting him, he too must conceal his secrets, or else
09:06the future he's working towards will go up in flames.
09:132.
09:14Robin in a Thorn Tree
09:18Before setting out on his journey, Dunk notices a Robin in a tree.
09:31Dunk later says that this Robin was the only witness to his dubbing, again implying that
09:36Arlen didn't actually make him a knight.
09:42Although this could be written off as a joke, the Robin may represent something deeper.
09:47Robins are said to symbolize renewal, mirroring Dunk's pursuit of a fresh start.
09:53Despite his height, Dunk is a humble individual who feels small, not unlike a Robin.
09:58Even if Dunk wasn't granted knighthood by his master, the Robin's presence could be a sign
10:03that nature recognizes him as someone worthy of the sword he now carries.
10:08The hedge knight's story remains rooted in nature, ending this first chapter where it
10:12began, under a tree.
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10:331.
10:36Egg Truly Sees Dunk
10:45Although Dunk stands out in more ways than one, he also blends in with others, seeming
10:50inconsequential.
10:52Even Lionel, who takes a liking to Dunk, doesn't see him as more than a drinking and dancing
10:57buddy.
10:58Egg is the only one who can instantly read Dunk.
11:01The precocious child sees that Dunk doesn't look or act like the other knights.
11:13He might not be a good knight, but Egg recognizes that there's worth in Dunk's humble nature.
11:19Where Egg quickly detects the true value in Dunk, the hedge knight ironically fails to notice
11:24that his new squire is more than he seems.
11:27Again, we won't spoil who Egg is, but there's a reason why he didn't leap at the coin that
11:32Dunk gave him.
11:36Did you catch anything else from a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 1?
11:40Let us know in those comments below!
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