I Watch TV: A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

 

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

Ser Arlen of Pennytree, a hedge knight (wandering sword for hire) dies, leaving his squire Dunk alone. Dunk goes to Ashford, intending to take part in the tourney there, hoping to win and so get money from ransoming the armour and horses of whoever he defeated. Along the way he encounters a drunk knight in an inn, and a shaven headed stable boy. The stable boy asks to join him; Dunk tells him to clear off, but the boy follows anyway.

Dunk runs into problems. He needs armour, so has to sell one of the horses to get it. No one will vouch for him and as various Targaryen princes are coming Lord Ashford wants everything done properly. Only knights who are known will be allowed. Dunk appeals to several lords who Sir Arlen served over the years but they don’t recall. The boy, Egg, helps him out, knowing more of how high born society works. Still, he makes some friends, Ser Lyonel Baratheon, the Laughing Storm, who likes that Dunk, now Ser Duncan The Tall*, has no ulterior motive, and is only in his tent looking for supper. Raymun Fossoway, the squire to his cousin Ser Steffon. And eventually Prince Baelor, who as it turns out jousted against Ser Arlen many years before and so vouches for Dunk.

There are hints of larger events – some Targaryen princes are missing, not everyone is content with their rule. Although the realm is at peace, many of those there have fought in wars, small or large. Both Dunk and Egg have secrets from their past. Dunk tries to live up to being a knight, and perhaps even better than Ser Arlen who drank and often corrected Dunk with a blow. The stakes are important for Dunk, who needs the money and a name, or else he becomes a mere sell sword for hire. Yet the odds are against him, with such great knights on the field, and violence and treachery in the camp around the castle.

The close point of view on Dunk, his noting and dismissing various events and conversations, seeing what turn out to be important events from someone who would normally be acted upon rather than acting, that is where the strength of the show comes in. A fortune teller gives a terrible prophecy and Dunk laughs it off, while it cuts closer to Egg than he can know. And then when Egg calls on Dunk to act as a knight, he’s thrust unprepared into the heart of politics.

Watch This: Gritty, entertaining, occasionally very funny fantasy series
Don’t Watch This: Even a big lunk and a bald kid can’t get you to watch more elfslop

* He’s filmed and appears huge, but I was interested to learn that Peter Claffey, playing Dunk, is 6’5” – my own height. Admittedly I am a large man.