The phrase “All men must die” became well-known throughout the eight seasons of Game of Thrones, reflecting the show’s frequent and often violent deaths of characters – men, women, children, creatures, and everything in between. This trend continues in the prequel, House of the Dragon, which has already featured several surprising deaths and promises more in its upcoming seasons. Now, another installment, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been added to the series.
Compared to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms feels quite different. It doesn’t feature a large-scale war for the Iron Throne, or any dragons for that matter. However, it still delivers the same sense of danger and mortality, starting with a somber opening scene where Ser Duncan the Tall buries his teacher, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. This event sets him off on a journey to a tournament at Ashford, where he begins to establish himself as a skilled knight.
As a big fan of both shows, I’ve noticed a striking parallel. Both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon kick off with a shocking death – Jon Arryn in Thrones, and Aemma Arryn in Dragon. And in both cases, that single event really sets everything else in motion. Arryn’s death sparked the War of the Five Kings, while Aemma’s led to Viserys marrying Alicent and ultimately, the Dance of the Dragons. It’s a clever way to immediately establish high stakes and set the plot in motion, isn’t it?
Ser Arlan Gives Game Of Thrones Another Crucial Death
Ser Arlan’s death feels different than that of the Arryns, and not simply because they belonged to different families. The Arryns were important figures whose loss would be widely felt and would cause significant political upheaval. With Arlan, however, only Dunk will truly grieve his passing. His modest burial underscores the precarious life of a hedge knight in Westeros – years of hard work can end with little to show for it.
Ser Arlan’s death is just as crucial to the story. It’s what drives Dunk’s actions and shapes his character, inspiring him to live up to the knightly ideals his mentor taught him. The show cleverly keeps Arlan’s memory alive through flashbacks, even after his death, which makes his impact even stronger. Danny Webb portrayed Arlan in the cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
That death fundamentally changes Dunk’s story and everything that happens after, echoing a pattern established in the very first episode of Game of Thrones. While Game of Thrones became known for surprising deaths, the most impactful ones always served to develop characters and move the plot forward – and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues that tradition.
New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release Sundays at 10pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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2026-01-21 19:11