‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Episode 6 Review - Goes Out With A Whimper

The season finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has finally confirmed one of my suspicions about Duncan: Ser Arlan did not knight him. This explains why he almost froze when he was asked to knight Raymun in Episode 4. In a flashback, we see Dunk seeking an answer from Arlan, but the latter simply freezes, leading Dunk to believe he's dead. No, he doesn't actually die. He disappears into his thoughts and returns a few minutes later, saying, "And that's why they call it the Pennytree. A true knight always finishes a story." The series has not yet revealed how Arlan died. This brings me to another one of my suspicions—this one still unconfirmed: Arlan was killed by Duncan.

Theories aside, the sixth episode, titled The Morrow, goes out with a whimper. It does little more than put the many pieces in place for the next season. Egg becomes Dunk's squire, Raymun marries a pregnant prostitute named Rowan, and—oh—Dunk gives Sweetfoot to Raymun. What else? Daeron informs Dunk that Aerion, as a child, was not so monstrous. What happened afterward? I suppose the series wants to imply that the Targaryen walls are no place for young children, and that Egg would be better off away from them. Perhaps this is why Dunk ultimately agrees to take Egg as his squire. But Maelor is not happy with Dunk's conditions, which require Egg to stay at cheap inns, eat hard salt beef, and sleep in ditches. "Aegon is blood of the dragon," Maelor asserts. How can someone of royal blood live like a peasant?

But Egg, toward the end, comes to Dunk and announces that Maelor has given him permission to serve as his squire. He lies, of course. Before the episode ends, we find Maelor furiously asking, "Where the fuck is he?!" Here is another crucial detail: Egg informs Dunk that there are nine kingdoms, not seven. The new title of the show, then, is revealed to be A Knight of the Nine Kingdoms. Maybe fans will end up screaming with joy after learning some of the details the episode offers. I, on the other hand, felt as if I were being handed bits and pieces of bullet-point information meant to be remembered for future seasons.

It's funny that the "lighter" episodes of Seven Kingdoms are comparatively more memorable than The Morrow, which arrives burdened with gloom and grievance. It wants to be taken seriously; it cries out for attention. No other episode demanded such validation. Then again, no other episode felt so disposable or unremarkable.

Final Score- [3/10]