A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 ending explained: Star breaks down key scenes – including a big book change

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 episode 6.

Season one of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has finished, leaving Dunk and Egg ready for their next journey.

The final episode focused on the aftermath of last week’s events, particularly the heartbreaking death of Baelor Breakspear (Bertie Carvel), much like the way Game of Thrones handled similar situations.

The finale also showed a heartbreaking moment between Egg and his brother Aerion, hinted at future conflicts, and suggested a significant character will play a key role in season two. Notably, the episode included a major departure from the source material, revealed in its final moments.

To get the inside scoop, TopMob spoke with Sam Spruell, the creator of Maekar, to discuss the most important moments. Here’s a complete rundown!

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ending explained: The biggest change from the book

Ira Parker, the showrunner, has stayed very true to George R.R. Martin’s original stories. However, there’s one significant difference at the end: Maekar is unaware that Egg has secretly left to journey with Dunk.

Earlier in the show, Maekar asked to speak privately with Dunk and insisted that Egg would only be a squire to him. He requested Dunk train Egg at Summerhall, but Dunk refused, stating he was finished with working with princes.

After thinking it over, Dunk proposes an alternative: he’ll take Egg with him as a squire on their journey, instead of having him train at Summerhall. Maekar refuses the offer. Just as Dunk is about to leave, Egg rushes up and tells him that his father has instructed him to become his squire.

They talked about where to travel next, and Egg surprised Dunk by correcting him – there aren’t seven kingdoms, but nine! Dunk was completely taken aback by this simple fact.

Egg overheard that Dorne has excellent puppet shows, so that’s where they decided to go. The hedge knight and his squire set off, and we see old Ser Arlan briefly join them before allowing them to continue their travels alone.

There’s still one last surprise. As the Targaryens depart Ashford, Maekar searches for his youngest son and discovers the prince never authorized him to join the journey. The original story suggests Maekar actually did give his son permission.

Ira Parker, the showrunner, explained to Huw Fullerton at TopMob that the moment felt right because Egg frequently lies to get his way – he’s a child, after all. The decision felt consistent with his character. Parker also agreed with the assessment of Maekar’s decision-making process.

I might be interpreting this wrong, but it’s not entirely obvious that Maekar officially gives Dunk and Egg permission to leave in the story. He speaks with them and their group, then vanishes, and Egg appears shortly after, leaving his actual consent unclear.

It’s possible Egg simply followed his father and hid nearby in the bushes. The father reportedly told him to leave and refused to help, then walked away. Egg then claimed his father had given him permission to come along.

I really tried to capture what George was aiming for with his vision. But honestly, that particular instance was just for enjoyment. It’s become a bigger focus in season two, as some people are now interested in seeing where that idea goes and what happens as a result.

The intention wasn’t to create a continuing series. I just thought it was a humorous moment that fit the character well. We’re usually very careful to stick to a single character’s perspective, but I considered adding a short, private scene with the lords or princes after the credits roll. Perhaps we could do this at the end of each season – a little extra scene after the show concludes.

Spruell explained that he found it more compelling to work with the choices Parker and Martin made for the adaptation. He was happy the final product differed somewhat from the original book.

The script largely follows the original novel. Beyond that, we focused on the practical aspects of creating a compelling TV drama and setting up storylines for the next season. I believe this approach delivers a more exciting and engaging conclusion, both for viewers and the actors, encouraging everyone to return for season two.

Egg is searching for someone to look up to – a mentor who can show him how to navigate life with integrity. Despite his age, he realizes that Dunk, rather than his own father, is the person he wants to learn from.

What happened to Raymun and what is Lady Rohanne’s importance?

Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas) finds Dunk and tells him he doesn’t hold him responsible for Baelor’s death. More surprisingly, he announces that he’s married Rohanne, who also reveals she is pregnant.

Lady Rohanne is a more complex character than she initially appears. The second novella, The Sworn Sword – which forms the basis for season 2 – features Dunk getting involved in a conflict surrounding Lady Rohanne Webber, nicknamed the Red Widow, and she quickly becomes a key figure in the story.

We don’t want to give away too much, but we expect to see Lady Rohanne play a bigger role going forward. Knowing her history, that might not be good news for Raymun…

Why did Egg want to kill Aerion?

We previously learned that Egg has suffered abuse from his older brother, Aerion. He’s also deeply affected by traumatic events, such as witnessing his father kill his uncle during the Trial of Seven.

He grabbed a knife and headed towards Aerion’s room, where his brother was asleep. He quietly approached, as if planning to kill him, but their father, Maekar, intervened.

In an interview with TopMob, Spruell discussed a shocking scene, explaining that Maekar behaves poorly in front of his children. He ultimately kills his brother, and this vulnerable young child might then try to imitate that act.

Perhaps Maekar is finally recognizing the importance of leading by example as a father. He might also understand that his youngest son has been hurt by his older brother, and the lasting impact that kind of treatment can have.

You know, I get the feeling Maekar is really invested in this youngest son. He didn’t have much luck with his older boys, and it seems like he’s determined to raise this one right, to finally have an heir who’s capable and will be a good leader.

How has Baelor’s death impacted things?

With Baelor’s death, the line of succession has shifted dramatically. As the previous heir, his passing now means Maekar is next in line for the Iron Throne.

The final episode centers around Baelor’s funeral, which is attended by his family, including his sons. Dunk speaks with Baelor’s son, Valarr Targaryen, who questions why the gods would take his father but spare Dunk. Dunk confesses he’s been asking himself the very same question.

Maekar wants to speak with Dunk and tells him he’s sending Aerion east. He also expresses his grief over his brother’s death, insisting it was never his intention to kill him. He believes both he and Dunk will be troubled for years by rumors surrounding the death.

Dunk keeps wondering if fighting was the right thing to do. He points out that if he hadn’t, the prince would have taken his hand and foot, and he asks himself if saving the prince was worth losing those parts of himself. He even thinks there might be a time, for him or even the whole kingdom, when a man with a foot is needed more than a prince. Maekar doesn’t really think that’s likely, though.

Spruell described the aftermath of Baelor’s death, explaining that viewers will see Maekar grappling with the fallout in episode 6. Maekar is conflicted because Baelor claims his actions weren’t intentional, and while he wants to believe that, he’s not entirely sure it’s true.

His brother’s death has deeply impacted him, and he’s also grappling with what it means for his future and his family’s legacy.

What’s next?

Watching the finale, I kept getting this sense of dread, like war was about to break out. It wasn’t just a feeling, either – even in the flashback with Dunk and Ser Arlan, there were hints that conflict was coming. It really built up the tension!

I heard the old man explain this touching tradition to Dunk – boys heading off to war would hammer a penny into the oak tree in the town square, a little piece of themselves left behind. The idea was, if they ever came home, they’d remove it. It was a beautiful, hopeful custom, and Dunk followed it, carefully nailing his own penny into the tree before continuing his journey. It felt like a promise, a silent wish for his safe return.

But, for now, Dunk and Egg are headed off on adventures new, with season 2 currently being filmed.

You can watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Sky Atlantic and NOW. If you’re interested in subscribing to Sky TV, you can find more information about signing up.

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Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, writing about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-02-23 08:06