A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Ending’s Most Unexpected Choice Breaks a Game of Thrones Rule After 15 Years

by

The first season finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms unfolds pretty much as fans of Game of Thrones would anticipate, even for those who haven’t read the source material. Like previous seasons, the biggest surprises happened in the second-to-last episode – Baelor Targaryen’s death being a major one, comparable to events like Ned Stark’s execution and the Red Wedding. Season finales generally focus on wrapping up loose ends, showing the consequences of major events, and hinting at what’s to come, and this episode is no different. (Please be aware that this description contains spoilers for the season finale.)

It’s important to note that the ending of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn’t a negative. In fact, it’s a strong, character-focused episode with a few unexpected moments, like Rowan’s wedding to Raymun Fossoway, Egg’s escape from Maekar Targaryen, and the bees on Humfrey Beesbury’s coffin. However, the most surprising choice was the song played during the end credits: “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford. It’s an unusual selection, but it works surprisingly well.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Ending Song Is Great (& Has A Deeper Meaning)

The song stands out because it’s a departure for the world of Game of Thrones. Typically, the music consists of original scores composed by Ramin Djawadi (for Thrones and House of the Dragon) and Dan Romer (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms).

Sometimes, bands have recorded songs featured during the closing credits of the show – like The National’s rendition of “The Rains of Castamere,” The Hold Steady’s take on “The Bear and the Maiden Fair,” and Florence + The Machine’s version of “Jenny of Oldstones.” However, the series has never used music created by real-world artists. This makes sense, considering modern music wouldn’t typically fit the show’s fantasy setting. But A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has already proven it’s willing to defy expectations, and it does so again in this instance.

The song might seem surprising at first, but it actually fits the scene perfectly. Written in the 1940s by Merle Travis, it’s a classic anthem about the struggles of American workers, specifically coal miners. Though there aren’t any miners in the show, the song’s message and lyrics strongly connect to Dunk’s journey as a wandering knight. Here are just a few ways the song reflects what’s happening on screen:

“A mind that’s weak and a back that’s strong.”

“You load sixteen tons, what do you get? / Another day older and deeper in debt.”

“I was born one mornin’, it was drizzlin’ rain / Fightin’ and trouble are my middle name.”

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is told from the perspective of Dunk, and focuses on his life as a commoner compared to the wealthy nobles at the Ashford tourney. Despite his humble beginnings, Dunk proves to be the most honorable knight among them. However, his reward isn’t status or riches—he’ll continue living as a wandering knight, facing hardship and fighting for survival.

Egg is now facing the same harsh reality as new miners of old, who were often expected to haul sixteen tons of coal on their first day – double the usual amount. Prince Aegon is about to experience that same grueling workload, and it’s entirely intentional. This highlights Dunk’s earlier conversation with Maekar about his other sons – how Daeron avoided hardship and Aerion indulged in luxury. The entire story of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms focuses on this contrast, and the unexpected use of the song “Sixteen Tons” perfectly emphasizes that theme at the very end.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2 will release on HBO and HBO Max in 2027.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/feature/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-officially-sets-up-dunk-being-related-to-1-of-gots-best-characters/embed/#

Read More

2026-02-23 22:42