00:07Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most fascinating details
00:12hidden throughout a Knight of the Seven Kingdom's fifth episode.
00:2510 May Death Sustain Life The trial begins with a religious speech
00:30dedicated to some of the seven gods, the Andal gods, who are popular in the southern kingdoms.
00:36It ends with the iconic line, one of the core themes of the universe.
00:44It's first heard from Mirimaz Dur in the first season of Game of Thrones, then repeated
00:49all over.
00:55Not only is it literal, with many resurrections requiring death to work, but it also reflects
01:01on the series' central anti-war messages.
01:03While few small folk will be aware of the feasibility of resurrection in Westeros, it's pretty interesting
01:10that lines such as this are commonly known.
01:21It could be indicative of Westeros' ancient history, but we won't truly know until the
01:27books conclude.
01:30A sizeable portion of this episode is centered around Duncan's childhood in Flea Bottom.
01:42We can safely assume this is set during 196 AC, which is 13 years before the tawny at Ashford.
01:49This will be during the closing stages of the first Blackfyre Rebellion, a major Targaryen
01:55rebellion still fresh in the minds of Westeros.
01:58The war concluded with the victory of Daeron II Targaryen, the current King of Westeros,
02:04and Aegon's grandfather.
02:05This political turmoil is probably the main reason Duncan wants to escape Flea Bottom, alongside
02:11it simply being impoverished.
02:17It was also the first of many Blackfyre rebellions, so it's partially setting up future events.
02:26The Battle of Redgrass Field One reason we know it took place at the end
02:30of the Blackfyre Rebellion is that we see the Battle of Redgrass Field's aftermath.
02:43This was the war's final battle, which took place somewhere near King's Landing, and
02:48even included Ser Arlen explaining why he's in Flea Bottom.
02:56The Targaryen side was led by Baelor, Maegar, and fascinatingly, Brynden Rivers, also known
03:02as Bloodraven.
03:04If you've forgotten Game of Thrones, he was the three-eyed raven who taught Bran magic powers.
03:15We also learn what attitudes general smallfolk had towards the Blackfyres.
03:19This is done when a fence refuses to buy their leather from Duncan, revealing they were mainly
03:25seen as rebels to locals, not true-born Targaryen claimants.
03:36Another reason we can place this flashback is the mention of the Black Dragon's death.
03:42This was a common nickname for Daemon Blackfyre.
03:50The title comes from his coat of arms, a black three-headed dragon.
03:55It's mentioned that he perished in the battle, but not how.
04:05In the fight, he was taken down by Bloodraven's personal group of archers, the Raven's Teeth.
04:11They also killed both of Daemon's sons and heirs, but they didn't kill the whole Blackfyre
04:16line.
04:17It's commonly theorized that one major character from the main series is secretly a Blackfyre.
04:22So, if Book 6 ever releases, this may be major foreshadowing for it.
04:286.
04:29Flea Bottom is extra grim.
04:31We've seen Flea Bottom loads before, with it getting the most focus during one drunken
04:37night out in House of the Dragon.
04:39This episode glamorized the area heavily though, with Daemon and Rhaenyra having a blast partying
04:45in the slum.
04:51Here we finally get to see the harsh realities of that area.
04:55It's far more cramped and unsanitary than in previous depictions, plus quite a few locals
05:00have Irish accents.
05:15The series is famously terrible at accent consistency, with Davos having a Newcastle accent, despite
05:21being from the same place as Duncan.
05:27This could be a proper attempt at establishing an accent for the residents of Flea Bottom
05:32though.
05:34Altered Backstory In the original novellas, we get some insight
05:38into Duncan's childhood, but not as much as we see here.
05:42This is because Duncan is far younger in the novella, so he barely remembers his time in
05:48Flea Bottom.
05:48In the books, we know he had three friends, Ferret, Rafe and Pudding.
06:01They're called Little Monsters by the Hedge Knights, with all four of them getting up to
06:06constant mischief.
06:17Rafe is also never mentioned to have died, plus Duncan claims he met Sir Arlan in entirely
06:23different conditions.
06:28Originally, he was spotted by Sir Arlan chasing a pig, then became his squire pretty much on
06:33the spot.
06:344.
06:36The Role of Motherhood
06:45As the episode name suggests, motherhood is a core theme.
06:49In the Faith of the Seven, the mother is a deity who represents the protection of the weak.
07:03The episode shows that anyone can take that role, regardless of gender or social position.
07:09This is reflected by Arlan saving Duncan, then when the latter holds both Rafe and Baelor
07:15in his arms while they pass away.
07:17This desire to protect others is one of Duncan's most admirable traits, which you will end up
07:25sharing with Aegon, making the pair one of Westeros' most moral characters.
07:303.
07:31The Battle of Humphrey
07:32Afterwards, it's mentioned that the only two who died were Beesbury and Harding, both
07:38Humphreys.
07:43In the original novella, these two Humphreys fought each other valiantly on the tourney's
07:48opening day.
07:49They ended up breaking 12 lances in total, which later became known as the Battle of Humphrey.
07:54It's not featured in the show, but Humphrey Harding's joust with Arian is what claimed
07:59the life of his horse.
08:00These two Humphreys are brothers-in-law, explaining why they joined Dunk to get revenge on Arian.
08:07Unfortunately, they both lose their lives, one slain by Sir Donald the Crabber in the
08:12novella, then the other dying of his wounds shortly after the trial.
08:202.
08:21The Importance of Visors
08:23Avoiding visors is crucial for Sir Duncan in the novella, and to a certain extent in the
08:29show, too.
08:30Duncan's helmet, importantly, has no visor.
08:33According to Steely Pate, the blacksmith, many knights die after lifting them, so he
08:39should avoid having one.
08:46This makes for an iconic moment when Duncan finally beats Arian, then takes off his helmet,
08:52and is overwhelmed by his surroundings.
08:55The show does a great job at depicting this, with us also getting quite a few Duncan POV shots,
09:01helping us feel his fear.
09:10He does take his helmet off earlier than in the novella, which is a bit out of character,
09:15character.
09:15But it's probably because it would be less emotional if we couldn't see his face.
09:43Number one, Duncan is Sir Baylor's man.
09:54Our beloved hedge knight is the one cradling the Targaryen heir in his dying moments.
10:00Some of the last words ever spoken to him are by Duncan pledging himself to him.
10:05It's important because it's likely to convince the Targaryens not to blame him for his death.
10:10It's also a subtle bit of foreshadowing for Dunk's future.
10:14Not only is he pledging his loyalty to Baylor, but to the Targaryen dynasty as a whole.
10:24It's also showing how much Duncan idolizes Baylor, viewing him as the epitome of a noble knight.
10:31This moment feels bittersweet when you realize the Targaryen's death motivates Duncan even
10:36more to become the most chivalrous knight possible.
10:44Were there any subtle details you picked up on that we didn't?
10:48Let us know in those comments below.
10:50Let us know in the comments below.
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