The latest episode of the Game of Thrones prequel, “Hard Salt Beef,” begins to establish the path for Ser Duncan the Tall with the introduction of new characters. We meet several Targaryen princes – Baelor, Maekar, Valarr, and Aerion – and, importantly, Baelor is the heir to the Iron Throne. Naturally, this also brings members of the Kingsguard into the picture, specifically Ser Donnel of Duskendale and Ser Roland Crakehall.
Roland seems like a typical Kingsguard member from the show – he’s proud and looks down on others, as Donnel points out. Donnel, however, is much more approachable. He treats Dunk as an equal, which is significant considering where Dunk’s story might go later on. (Note: This contains minor spoilers about Dunk’s future, based on events in Game of Thrones.)
How Ser Donnel Sets Up Duncan the Tall’s Future After A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
Ser Donnel deliberately misled Dunk, making him think they came from equally humble beginnings as a poor orphan from Flea Bottom. Egg later explained this wasn’t true – Donnel’s father actually owns a large portion of Westeros’s crabbing industry, making his family quite wealthy and influential, though not part of the noble Great Houses. While a lie, it was meant kindly, and also to subtly suggest to Dunk that even someone starting from the lowest ranks, like a hedge knight from Flea Bottom, could still achieve greatness.
At the end of Episode 2, Dunk hints at the impact of Ser Arlan’s history, but suggests Dunk himself will achieve even greater things. Years later, after the events of Season 1, Dunk eventually realizes his lifelong ambition and joins the Kingsguard. While Ser Donnel might not have been entirely truthful, his words offer a glimpse of what’s to come. He also reminds Dunk that there are truly honorable knights within the Kingsguard – knights who value tradition and integrity. This is important for Dunk’s future, as it shows him the kind of knight he aspires to be while serving the king.
Dunk himself would be astonished to know what the future holds, but fans of Game of Thrones might not be as surprised. The show mentioned Ser Duncan the Tall twice. Old Nan at Winterfell suggested telling Bran Stark his story, knowing it was one of Bran’s favorites. More memorably, Joffrey mocked Jaime Lannister in Season 4, noting that the Kingsguard’s White Book dedicated four pages to Dunk, implying he was a remarkable figure: “Four pages for Ser Duncan! He must have been quite a man.”
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Gets The Kingsguard Right
Beyond the encouraging words and honorable atmosphere, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms nails another key detail: the Kingsguard armor. It features a simpler, cleaner design with the seven-pointed star, and importantly, it’s the correct white color as described in the books. While Game of Thrones used gold and House of the Dragon opted for silver, this prequel’s armor is by far the most faithful to the original source material, and it avoids excessive ornamentation – just as it should be. This attention to detail is another example of how closely A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows the books.
New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release Sundays at 10pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.
What are your thoughts on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Sega Insider Drops Tease of Next Sonic Game
- Neverness to Everness ‘Co-Ex Test’ sign-ups now available
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD version 1.1.0 update now available, adds Dixie Kong and Switch 2 enhancements
- Fantasista Asuka launches February 12
- AAA Ubisoft Games Now $6 for Limited Time
- The Festive Pottery Throw Down 2025 line-up: Meet the celebrities
- 10 Best Anime to Watch if You Miss Dragon Ball Super
- 10 Movies That Were Secretly Sequels
2026-01-28 21:41