A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Season 1’s Biggest Unanswered Question About Ser Duncan Was Requested By GRRM Himself

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Be warned: this article contains spoilers for the season 1 finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. George R.R. Martin specifically asked for a certain way to resolve the biggest mystery surrounding Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (played by Peter Claffey).

It’s been debated since George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg stories whether Dunk was officially knighted by Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb). The original stories don’t say for sure. However, a scene in the first season finale of the HBO series sheds some light on this. Dunk asks Arlan directly why he never made him a knight, but Arlan avoids a clear answer and doesn’t grant him the honor.

Ira Parker, the showrunner, explained to Collider that the flashback scene isn’t intended to definitively say whether Arlan actually knighted Dunk. Following George R.R. Martin’s wishes, the show aims to keep this part of the story open to interpretation. Parker believes the bigger question is whether Dunk can prove himself worthy of knighthood, even if Arlan didn’t officially bestow the title upon him. You can read his full statement below.

I find it interesting that viewers interpreted that scene the way they did. At that point, Dunk hadn’t officially been knighted by Ser Arlan. Dunk asks why he wasn’t knighted, and then Arlan seemingly dies, leading us to believe that’s the end of it. However, he returns, and the scene continues with him telling Dunk to fetch his sword before knighting him. The scene intentionally doesn’t confirm whether the knighting actually happened, as the author, George R.R. Martin, specifically requested that ambiguity so viewers can draw their own conclusions. Danny Webb’s performance as Arlan was incredible – he completely embodied the character, and no one else could have played the role. This storyline will explore what truly defines a knight – whether it’s the title itself, or the qualities and actions that earn it, even after—or without—being officially recognized.

George R.R. Martin provided key contributions to the season one finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and the way the show’s creator, Parker, incorporated them explains why Martin has praised the adaptation. Martin appreciates the collaborative process with the showrunner. Both the books and the show leave it up to the audience to decide if Arlan actually knighted Dunk, which helps maintain consistency and faithfulness between the two versions of the story.

At the end of the first season, Dunk clearly demonstrates the qualities needed to become a knight. He risks everything to protect Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) from Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), and he takes on Aegon “Egg” Targaryen as a squire hoping to guide him towards a more honorable life. Dunk’s strong sense of right and wrong is also what convinces Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) to fight with him during the Trial of Seven, rather than side with the rest of his family.

Season 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will follow Dunk as he navigates his roles as a knight and a father figure to Egg during their ongoing adventures. The show will primarily center on the characters and their relationship, rather than definitively revealing how Dunk became a knight – a detail George R.R. Martin has asked to remain a mystery.

All A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 episodes are streaming on HBO Max.

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2026-02-24 04:18