A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Real Meaning Of THAT Ser Arlan Scene & Whether It Was A Prosthetic Explained by Creator

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The second episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms starts with another surprising and somewhat crude moment, continuing a pattern established by the show. The first episode featured a memorable and graphic bathroom scene with Ser Duncan the Tall. This episode quickly follows suit with Ser Arlan of Pennytree, who finds himself completely naked while relieving himself outdoors, but the attention isn’t on him.

The reveal of Ser Arlan as a knight wielding two swords isn’t entirely new for Game of Thrones, a show that has previously featured full male nudity with characters like Hodor (Kristian Nairn) and Aemon Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). However, the scene with Danny Webb’s Arlan is arguably more striking, especially considering its scale. Showrunner Ira Parker jokingly told EW about it, suggesting it was quite a moment.

I’m not sure if he was wearing a prosthetic. I initially thought he just arrived on set looking that way, but it’s possible it was a prosthetic after all.

The Meaning Of Ser Arlan’s Full-Frontal Nudity In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

For a long time, depictions of nudity on television, especially in shows like Game of Thrones, primarily focused on women and often felt unnecessary. However, this trend has been changing in recent years, starting with the later seasons of Thrones and continuing in other HBO series such as House of the Dragon and The White Lotus. The new show follows this pattern as well. The scene featuring Ser Arlan is meant to be funny, similar to a moment in the first episode, but it also serves a larger purpose. As the creator jokingly explains, it was partially inspired by feeling sympathy for the relatively obscure knight.

I actually felt sorry for Ser Arlan. He was the only one who ever truly cared for and supported Dunk, and his death was so sad – alone on a random, muddy road with no proper burial. Now Dunk’s traveling around, desperately trying to find anyone who even remembers him, the knights and lords he served and fought for. It’s heartbreaking that they can’t even recall his name. I wanted to give him something special, a little moment to be remembered, if that makes sense.

This really shows what life is like for a wandering knight in the world of Game of Thrones. It’s a hard life with little reward, focused on simply getting by and surviving with honor – something Dunk hopes to change. Like the unpleasant scene we saw, it’s a realistic glimpse into the daily lives of ordinary people in the Seven Kingdoms, who don’t have the luxury of castles or the protection of lords.

The show also effectively expands Arlan’s character – and this time, it’s about his personality, not just a physical trait. Though Dunk often thinks about Arlan in the original story, the show uses flashbacks to make him feel like a more active part of the present narrative. This gives us a deeper understanding of who he is and his connection with Dunk, which really enhances the story. This kind of character development, like what they’ve done with Lyonel Baratheon, is a strength of the show, and if it continues, the series will only get better.

New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release Sundays at 10pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.

What were your thoughts on the second episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/feature/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-episode-2s-ending-teases-a-hidden-story-that-defines-everything-itd-be-a-perfect-spinoff/embed/#

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2026-01-26 18:10