The battle is on in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and in episode 4, Dunk (Peter Claffey) manages to round up a rag-tag group of knights to defend his honor in the trial of seven, including Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel). Dunk has come a long way for a knight with no armor and no friends.
After saving Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) and punching Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett) in the face, Dunk now has to answer for touching a member of the royal family. He agrees to a trial of seven, and while Aerion has members of his Targaryen family on his team, his uncle, Baelor, joins Dunk’s side.
Baelor Targaryen Joins Dunk’s Side In The Trial Of Seven Since He Believes In “Protecting The Innocent”
Dunk’s desperate search for six knights to fight alongside him is almost upended when Steffon Fossoway (Edward Ashley) betrays Dunk and sides with Aerion, but thanks to Egg’s (Dexter Sol Ansell) initiative, he gets five knights to his side. However, he is still one short and will forfeit and die if he can’t find one more.
His appeal to the knights seated in the audience is met with laughter until the doors to the tournament field open and Baelor Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne, rides in and pledges himself to Dunk’s cause. His brother, Maeker (Sam Spruell), who is fighting on his son Aerion’s side, is furious.
Baelor tells Maekar and Dunk the same thing. Dunk has proven himself a knight by defending the innocent, and Baelor considers himself a true knight who must do the same. Dunk doesn’t just get a powerful fighter on his side with Baelor; his actions are given a royal seal of approval at the same time.
Is Baelor Betraying House Targaryen During The Trial Of Seven?
Maekar can’t believe what he’s seeing when his brother rides up, but at the same time, he doesn’t accuse Baelor of being a traitor. He seems more like a little brother annoyed with his older brother. No one seems particularly concerned that Baelor is fighting for Dunk; it’s more that they are surprised.
No one really wants to fight for Aerion. His older brother Daeron (Henry Ashton) has already told Dunk he won’t be trying very hard, and even Maekar is angry with this whole business. He would have preferred that his son fight Dunk one-on-one, but his hand is forced to fight on his son’s side.
There’s no betrayal here because A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is trying to make the point that in an unjust world with rulers and the ruled, everyone can be on the side of the innocent but still be forced to follow unjust laws and traditions. Baelor fighting for Dunk is an acknowledgment of when the law is unjust.
- Release Date
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January 18, 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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