Now who’s lying?
Game of Thrones spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight ordered to HBO series
We know that Maekar is the kind of man who doesn't think you should talk to your horse, and that Egg doesn't consider him a good father. We know that he's ashamed of Aerion's behavior and cowardice, both in words and the way he drags Aerion offscreen by the ear, but when the chips are down he'll stand by his son in a matter of trials and faith. We can tell he feels overshadowed by Baelor, but loves and respects his brother.
About Daeron? The guy got 2 scenes, and in one of them the audience only knew him as some random dick highborn. But the weight of his dreaming is communicated so much more effectively than poor Helaena, who's also a dreamer and should have one of the most emotional scenes in the show so far, but the showrunners decided it would be better to show us Alicent banging Criston Cole.
It's nothing against the actors, but the directing and writing is just so much less... human.
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Episode was terrific except we didn’t really get to see Ser Lyonel do much fighting which would have explained why he was called The Laughing Storm. I was a bit disappointed by that. I think also there wasn’t as much tension for me a I knew the result of the Trial of Seven.
The backstory about Dunk first meeting Speer Arlan want in the novella as far as I can remember. It hs been a while since I read the book.
The backstory about Dunk first meeting Speer Arlan want in the novella as far as I can remember. It hs been a while since I read the book.
Damn. That was brutal.
I figured from the onset of the flashback sequence that Rafe would meet a tragic ending but that didn't lessen the blow any when it happened. I loved the glimpse into Dunk's early life in Flea Bottom and how he and Rafe planned to flee to Free Cities, despite Dunk's fears of the unknown. Even though her death was heartbreaking, a small part of me was relieved that Dunk didn't decide to stay behind and let Rafe go (or worse, Rafe left him behind in the middle of the night). And now I understand why Dunk felt so honor bound to such a drunken, miserable knight such as Arlan.
And, yes, the Trial itself was violently brutal, too, but I was more moved by Dunk's backstory than how Dunk inevitably prevailed over Aerion.
What I didn't see coming, and perhaps I should've because there's always a price to be paid, was Baelor's death. I had a bad feeling the moment he asked Raymun to pull of his helm for him and said his fingers felt like wood.
I figured from the onset of the flashback sequence that Rafe would meet a tragic ending but that didn't lessen the blow any when it happened. I loved the glimpse into Dunk's early life in Flea Bottom and how he and Rafe planned to flee to Free Cities, despite Dunk's fears of the unknown. Even though her death was heartbreaking, a small part of me was relieved that Dunk didn't decide to stay behind and let Rafe go (or worse, Rafe left him behind in the middle of the night). And now I understand why Dunk felt so honor bound to such a drunken, miserable knight such as Arlan.
And, yes, the Trial itself was violently brutal, too, but I was more moved by Dunk's backstory than how Dunk inevitably prevailed over Aerion.
What I didn't see coming, and perhaps I should've because there's always a price to be paid, was Baelor's death. I had a bad feeling the moment he asked Raymun to pull of his helm for him and said his fingers felt like wood.
Yeah, being spoiled on Duncan's and Egg's life ( or wouldn't have been if i had remembered one small scene in GoT that talks about Duncan) i knew they'd both survive this fight but it still didn't take away anything.
What i loved about the fight is how brutal, bloody, dirty and unglamorous it was much like i would expect a middle ages battle to be. No fancy choreography, no one liners or speeches in the middle, no inhuman stamina - just two people wailing on each other at the end of their strength.
One thing is for sure - Duncan the Tall will now be remembered as the reason for Baelor's death and how he beat the living shit out of Prince Aerion! I hope Maekar can hold Aerion back to try some sneaky revenge, he seemed level headed enough and now that Baelor is gone he advances in family rank i think.
What i loved about the fight is how brutal, bloody, dirty and unglamorous it was much like i would expect a middle ages battle to be. No fancy choreography, no one liners or speeches in the middle, no inhuman stamina - just two people wailing on each other at the end of their strength.
One thing is for sure - Duncan the Tall will now be remembered as the reason for Baelor's death and how he beat the living shit out of Prince Aerion! I hope Maekar can hold Aerion back to try some sneaky revenge, he seemed level headed enough and now that Baelor is gone he advances in family rank i think.
This must’ve been the most brutal and visceral battle scene in Westeros since Battle of the Bastards. Having read the books (though forgotten the minutiae) and knowing that the show has been renewed, I figured that they can’t kill Dunc - but at times they had me doubting myself. If I have a criticism, it’s that I’d like to have seen more of what the other fighters were up to, but I guess it was Dunc’s story.
The flashbacks were well done and that kid really was a good call for a young Peter Claffey.
As for that final gut punch - damn. No good deed goes unpunished.
The flashbacks were well done and that kid really was a good call for a young Peter Claffey.
As for that final gut punch - damn. No good deed goes unpunished.
I know it's a show about dragons and ice monsters but the beating Dunk took was a bit unrealistic. I just couldn't take that fight seriously.
Also In the Name of the Mother was an interesting choice of title for an episode about a wrongly convicted Irish man.
Also In the Name of the Mother was an interesting choice of title for an episode about a wrongly convicted Irish man.
Nice catch there. Didn't make the connection because I wasn't thinking of Dunk as Irish, even though the actor is,
During the fight, Maekar's mace hits the back of Baelor's helmet. That was the blow that ended up fatally injuring Baelor. I believe Maekar realized what he did afterwards and regretted it. Maekar did not mean to kill his brother like some online folks suggested.
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I didn't have a problem with that because the show has been largely from Duncan's perspective and only Egg has any further perspective.
Speaking of great casting, Chloe Lea was terrific as Rafe. I thought I recognized her from something else and sure enough, she was one of the few good things about Dune: Prophecy (as Sister Lila). She's also in Foundation but I haven't watched that show.
Yeah, I will say I thought it a little hard to believe Dunk survived as long as he did with all of his injuries, regardless of his stature.
But, as you said, it's fantasy and we certainly saw a fair share of previous characters in this world going through hell and back and somehow surviving.
Heavy Is the Crown: George R.R. Martin on His Triumphs and Torments
At the height of his reign, the 'Game of Thrones' author gets candid about his efforts to rule his expanding media empire, his buzzy new show 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,' and the long-delayed saga he’s still determined to finish — if he can.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
“AEGON’S CONQUEST” is being developed in two different ways: as an HBO drama series or as a massive Dune-scale feature film to be produced by Warner Bros.
Alas, Baelor would've been a good king. But he showed himself a noble man.
Loved the last episode, can’t wait until next year for the next season. There is some suggestion there might be 12 to 15 series all up. I hope, if there are, I will live long enough to see them all. I think I might be cutting it close.
Unlike the book, the show did answer the question of whether Ser Arlan made Dunk a knight or not, it is more ambiguous in the book.
I think one of the best thing about the show was how the extended the role of Ser Lyonel. I would have loved to see him laughing while fighting but that is just a small disappointment.
Unlike the book, the show did answer the question of whether Ser Arlan made Dunk a knight or not, it is more ambiguous in the book.
I think one of the best thing about the show was how the extended the role of Ser Lyonel. I would have loved to see him laughing while fighting but that is just a small disappointment.
Lovely conclusion to the season. I figured Egg lied about getting permission to squire Dunk on the road. Regardless, I loved seeing Dunk's struggle in deciding to mentor Egg and how he didn't come to that decision lightly, even if Maekor didn't agree to Dunk's terms.
I also loved Dunk and Maekor's discussion about how the Realm will whisper each of their names to the end of their days. I'm inclined to believe Maekor when he claimed he didn't intend to kill Baelor.
While I'm sorry Dunk turned down Lyonel's (and if only because I want to see more of that mad character), I'm glad Dunk stuck to his true nature, of living on the road.
Edited to add: I almost forgot to the mention that Lyonel reminded me of Tyrion towards the end of his conversation with Dunk. Something about his beard in that particular moment made me think of Tyrion. Probably just me.
I also loved Dunk and Maekor's discussion about how the Realm will whisper each of their names to the end of their days. I'm inclined to believe Maekor when he claimed he didn't intend to kill Baelor.
While I'm sorry Dunk turned down Lyonel's (and if only because I want to see more of that mad character), I'm glad Dunk stuck to his true nature, of living on the road.
Edited to add: I almost forgot to the mention that Lyonel reminded me of Tyrion towards the end of his conversation with Dunk. Something about his beard in that particular moment made me think of Tyrion. Probably just me.
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Loved the calm "fallout" episode showing people recovering and adapting to the new status quo.
Maekar is right that he will have to live with this for the rest of his life including the assumption he did it intentionally to get the Iron Throne himself ( i don't believe so but intrigues and politics don't work like that). The same applies to Dunk but his name might be easier forgotten when people retell the tale of how Baelor died in a trial of some Hedge Knight.
Next to last scene with them riding off while the ghost of Ser Arlan rides with them for a while made me go awww
I hope they don't drag out the production of the second season too much, Dexter Ansell will grow and change fast at this age and they will run into the Stranger Things problem if they take too long to produce seasons but then again time jumps of 2-3 years would not be impossible or implausible ( don't know how the novellas do it and don't want to know for now ).
Maekar is right that he will have to live with this for the rest of his life including the assumption he did it intentionally to get the Iron Throne himself ( i don't believe so but intrigues and politics don't work like that). The same applies to Dunk but his name might be easier forgotten when people retell the tale of how Baelor died in a trial of some Hedge Knight.
Next to last scene with them riding off while the ghost of Ser Arlan rides with them for a while made me go awww
I hope they don't drag out the production of the second season too much, Dexter Ansell will grow and change fast at this age and they will run into the Stranger Things problem if they take too long to produce seasons but then again time jumps of 2-3 years would not be impossible or implausible ( don't know how the novellas do it and don't want to know for now ).
They started filming season 2 a couple of months ago and it should be released this time next year. Unlike House of the Dragon it can be released yearly as there is so little CGI. I think they are filming season 2 and 3 together so that Egg will not grow up between seasons.Loved the calm "fallout" episode showing people recovering and adapting to the new status quo.
Maekar is right that he will have to live with this for the rest of his life including the assumption he did it intentionally to get the Iron Throne himself ( i don't believe so but intrigues and politics don't work like that). The same applies to Dunk but his name might be easier forgotten when people retell the tale of how Baelor died in a trial of some Hedge Knight.
Next to last scene with them riding off while the ghost of Ser Arlan rides with them for a while made me go awww
I hope they don't drag out the production of the second season too much, Dexter Ansell will grow and change fast at this age and they will run into the Stranger Things problem if they take too long to produce seasons but then again time jumps of 2-3 years would not be impossible or implausible ( don't know how the novellas do it and don't want to
It is really interesting watching this after House of the Dragon. That show features the Targaryens at the height of their power and mystique. The Targaryens here in AKOTSK just seem so... mundane. Diminished. I don't know if it was intentional but it really adds to the background theme of the magic slowly fading from this world until the time of Game of Thrones.