If the first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms opened with, um, the "shitty glory" of a bum, the second one grins at the sight of a large penis. In both cases, a solemn, respectful voiceover is juxtaposed with comical visuals. Well, in Episode 1, the buttock-y image arrives suddenly after Dunk's heroic soliloquy, a signal that this show intends to distinguish itself from the sober demeanor of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Watching this new series is like taking a leisurely walk at a fair. You see the shops, the games, the bustling crowd, all with a smile on your face, and then you tuck the experience away as a light, pleasant memory—one that evaporates within a few days, if not hours. Based on the first two episodes, Seven Kingdoms comes across as casual, lighthearted fluff. It doesn't burden you with homework. It's easy to follow and fun to watch, but not very memorable.
Dunk, though, is quite appealing and recognizable. His stuttering, his awkwardness in front of kings and knights whose approval he desperately wants, remind you of some version of yourself. Who among us has not become extra slavish, extra polite, in an effort to get a job or gain someone's favor? When a Targaryen agrees to vouch for Dunk, he starts overtalking, eager to express his enthusiasm, and promptly fumbles. He even begins apologizing too much. Ser Duncan the Tall is just like us mere mortals—he's Ser Homo the Common Lad.
Just look at how he blushes in front of a girl. She is Tanselle, a puppeteer, also known as Tanselle Too-Tall. Why, this seems like a match made in heaven—or at least in Ashford. "All men are fools, and all men are knights," we hear during Tanselle's puppet show, and Duncan, with dreams of becoming a knight, certainly behaves like a fool. But he's also hungry and ambitious, and before the episode ends, he promises himself that he will show everyone what he's really capable of.
Well, I hope he—and Seven Kingdoms—has something good to show us. After all, nobody is fascinated by empty words, and nobody is a fan of a poser.
Final Score- [5.5/10]