Warning! Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2 ahead!
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, episode 2 sees the tournament officially begin as the Targaryens arrive in Ashford Meadow. In the previous episode of this Game of Thrones spinoff, we met Dunk, a squire whose master knight, Ser Arlan, recently passed away. With no clear route to take forward, Dunk heads for the tournament at the nearby Ashford Meadow, hoping that a victory there would solidify his status as a knight. On his way, Dunk meets a young boy called Egg, whom he ultimately takes on as a squire.
Dunk’s primary dilemma as he arrives at Ashford Meadow is that he has no way of proving that he had been knighted. The start of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2 sees Dunk tell and retell the story of Ser Arlan, hoping that someone of status at the tournament would remember his master and vouch for Dunk’s knighthood. However, as the royal Targaryens arrive at Ashford, officially kicking off the tourney, Dunk’s dream seems hopeless.
The Targaryens Have Officially Arrived At The Tournament
During the events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Daeron II Targaryen is the king of Westeros. This ruler himself doesn’t come to Ashford in episode 2, but two of his sons, Prince Baelor and Prince Maekar, do. Baelor is the heir to the throne and current Hand of the King, while his younger brother, Maekar, is several steps behind in the succession.
As Dunk watches these Targaryen princes welcomed by Lord Ashford, he has an unpleasant interaction with Prince Aerion, Maekar’s son. It’s clear that Aerion is a pretty nasty piece of work. He’s essentially the Prince Joffrey of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—a snobby royal who loves nothing more than treating his lowers cruelly.
Dunk Overhears That Two Targaryen Princes Are Missing
Prince Maekar has four sons, but Aerion was the only one to arrive at the tournament as part of the Targaryen procession. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode two, Dunk discovers a servant’s passage that leads to Lord Ashford’s home. Once inside, he finds himself approaching the hall where the royal brothers have begun to settle in. This is when Dunk hears that Maekar has misplaced two of his children.
Prince Daeron and Prince Aegon have been missing for a day during the events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2. As Dunk eavesdrops, he hears Baelor mention that Maekar should never have ordered Daeron to take part in the tournament, indicating that the young prince had been reluctant to enter the lists. The Targaryen heir also states that he is sure Daeron and Aegon will turn up, though Lord Ashford’s rather strange daughter tells Dunk that the princes are probably dead.
Prince Baelor Targaryen Confirms Dunk’s Knighthood
As large and clumsy as Dunk is, it’s no real surprise that the Targaryen princes found his hiding place in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2. Maekar orders him to show himself, and this is when Dunk bravely shoots his shot. He explains to the future king that he will be unable to compete unless someone can vouch for him, but that none of the attending knights seemed to remember Ser Arlan. It’s Dunk’s last hope that Prince Baelor might be different.
Miraculously, Baelor remembers Dunk’s master. He recalls that Ser Arlan of Pennytree had never won a tourney, but that he “never shamed himself either.” Of course, Ser Arlan being a real knight didn’t prove that Dunk had been his squire. So, Baelor tests him. He states that Ser Arlan had unhorsed the Grey Lion at a past tourney, and asks Dunk what this foe’s true name had been (something Dunk should know if he had heard the story so often as he claimed).
It takes Dunk a moment, but he is eventually able to answer that the Grey Lion is Ser Damon Lannister, now Lord of Casterly Rock. Baelor seems genuinely pleased that Dunk is correct. He vouches for the hedge knight and confirms with the Master of the Games that Dunk can compete. With the future King of Westeros’ blessing, there could no longer be any doubt that Ser Duncan the Tall is a true knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Dunk’s New Sigil & Armor Explained
As Dunk left the Targaryen princes, Baelor pointed out that this newly recognized knight would need to have his shield repainted, since only a member of Arlan’s family could joust with his sigil. This takes Dunk to Taselle Too-Tall, the Dornish girl he had previously seen performing in the puppet show. When Tanselle tells Dunk that she is responsible for painting the puppets, he asks if she could repaint his shield with a new sigil.
With Egg’s help, Dunk comes up with the new design. Over a backdrop of the color of sunset, Dunk wants an elm tree like the one he and Egg camped under to stand at the center of his sigil. Above it will be a shooting star, a reference to the omen of good luck they had seen their first night in Ashford. Tanselle agrees to do the work (after Dunk makes a fool of himself with some awkward flirting).
After giving Tanselle his shield, Dunk sets out to speak with Steely Pate, an armorer known for his excellent work and no-nonsense craftsmanship. It quickly becomes clear in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2 that Dunk can’t afford Steely Pate’s work. However, the armoror seems to feel sorry for Dunk and accepts Ser Arlan’s old armor for partial payment. To make up the difference, Dunk sells his beloved horse, Sweetfoot, with the intention of buying her back again when he is a champion.
Dunk’s Revelation About Ser Arlan In Episode 2 Explained
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2 is quite a journey for Dunk. In a way, this episode sees him become a true knight. Before he arrived at Ashford, he had no sigil, no fitting armor, and no proof of his knighthood. In fact, it’s likely (given the flashback we see in episode 1) that Ser Arlan never actually knighted Dunk to begin with. However, throughout the course of episode 2, Ser Duncan the Tall gains Prince Baelor‘s approval and secures his own arms and sigil.
As Dunk takes all these steps to become a true knight, he considers who Ser Arlan had been. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2 opened with scenes from Arlan and Dunk’s past. At the end of the episode, Dunk acknowledges that Ser Arlan was never a champion and had no close relationships aside from his squire. Perhaps, he hadn’t been such a great knight afterall.
Dunk loved his master like a father. However, after seeing the first events of the tournament, Ser Duncan realized that he didn’t want to follow in Arlan’s footsteps. As A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms proceeds, Dunk is determined to be a truly great knight, far exceeding Ser Arlan. Of course, whether his dream comes true will depend on how the Tournament at Ashford plays out.
- Release Date
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January 25, 2026
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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Ira Parker
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Peter Claffey
Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall
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