Big spoilers in this article. Episode three of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms marks the halfway point of this brief season. It just so happens to also be the episode where a massive reveal happens at the end of the episode, broadening the scope of this seemingly inconsequential story. That reveal would be the true identity of Egg. For three episodes now, Egg …
Big spoilers in this article.
Episode three of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms marks the halfway point of this brief season. It just so happens to also be the episode where a massive reveal happens at the end of the episode, broadening the scope of this seemingly inconsequential story.
That reveal would be the true identity of Egg. For three episodes now, Egg has been a bit of an enigma. He’s small and childish, but wise in the ways of noble families. He’s constantly dodged any questions asked to him on the subject of his family, but when Dunk gets into a violent altercation with Prince Aerion over Tanselle’s puppet show depicting the death of a dragon, things get set in motion. Dunk, who has been jaded by being in the company of unchivalrous knights in this tourney, rushes to her rescue, resulting in a beatdown and a death sentence for assaulting the Prince, whom I’ve been referring to as “Ser Douche”. The rest of these knights may have forgotten what honour is, but Dunk hasn’t, and he isn’t going to let one of the commonfolk suffer and likely die at the hands of a Prince for putting on a puppet show.
But he’s saved at the last second by Egg, who reveals himself as Prince Aegon V Targaryen and commands his older brother and the guards to stop hurting Dunk. The show has been dropping hints about his true lineage from the get-go, such as refusing to talk about his family, his incredible knowledge of the noble houses, always ducking away when a Targaryen is nearby, and his shaved head, hiding that identifiable silver white hair. Plus, the walking spoiler that was the fortune teller. But it’s good to finally get the reveal out into the open. Which in turn begs the question as to why Egg felt the need to flee. Clearly, there’s no love between him and Section, but just how bad was it that a Prince of the Seven Kingdoms felt the need to run away from his family? When Dunk sees the lanced horse, he comments on how it was a wild accident, with Egg replying with tears that it wasn’t.
Throughout the episode, there’s a sense of budding camaraderie between Dunk and Egg, the calm before the storm, if you will. Egg yearns to continue on as Dunk’s squire after the tourney is over and Dunk surprised himself by actually realizing he’d like that very much too…if he doesn’t lose his possessions during his upcoming tilt. The two spend a lot of time together and even witness Lyonel singing a crude song about bums that somehow manages to tap into the larger themes of the show. Despite the weightier themes in Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the show still finds that oddball levity to keep it grounded and distinct.
Dunk is then made an unexpected offer from Plummer, asking Dunk to participate in a fixed match with the young Ashford, to help the family recoup some financial losses from hosting the tourney. No one would expect a nameless hedge knight to win against Ashford, and Dunk will, in turn, be set on his path. Quite the offer, but one that is likely no longer possible thanks to Dunk’s tangle with the Prince. Plus, I can’t see Dunk accepting dishonourable terms. But considering the shaky legend of Ser Arlan, how do we know that Dunk will be any good?
Dunk still hasn’t participated in the tourney, despite hyping himself up needlessly to the point of vomiting, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t get any action. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is such a smaller production than the other Game of Thrones shows, but honestly, that works in the show’s favour. It’s a single setting story, and there’s no massive sets or expensive VFX. The action is where most of the VFX is going, allowing for some really weighty and intense jousting to happen, which in this week’s episode, sees Prince Aerion intentionally lance his opponent’s horse, which nearly sets the common folk to riot. The Targaryens have a much weaker control over the realm without their dragons and anything that makes them seem unlikeable isn’t good PR, so Aerion’s uncle Breakspear would probably say, who looked on with disgust.
All in all, this was the best episode yet of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and once again, it makes me wish for either longer episodes or that this project was a film. Thanks to the Superbowl though, we’ll be returning to Westeros earlier this week, as episode four airs this Friday. So mark your calendars!
