A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues its unique and charming journey through Westeros in its second episode, titled “Hard Salt Beef.” The story deepens the bond between Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, while exploring the complex legacy of Dunk’s late mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. The episode, which premiered on Sunday, January 25, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max, blends humor and heart as Dunk fights for a place in the Ashford tourney.
The Quest for a Voucher and a New Sigil
The main challenge for Dunk in this episode is finding a noble lord to vouch for his late master, Ser Arlan, so he can enter the tournament. This proves difficult, as most lords do not remember the hedge knight. His fortunes change with the arrival of the Targaryen family at Ashford.
Dunk sees an opportunity and seeks out Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne. To Dunk’s relief, Prince Baelor does remember Ser Arlan from tournaments past, though he corrects one of Dunk’s exaggerated stories about their joust.
“Tales grow with the telling,” Baelor remarks, highlighting how Dunk’s memories have idealized his mentor.
Prince Baelor agrees to vouch for Dunk but informs him he must create his own sigil, as he is not a blood relative of Ser Arlan. This leads Dunk and Egg to a puppeteer named Tanselle, whom Dunk asks to paint his shield. Smitten and awkward, Dunk struggles to describe what he wants. Egg suggests an elm tree, which Dunk agrees to, adding a falling star for luck. This new crest symbolizes Dunk’s life as a wandering hedge knight.
A Legacy Questioned and Affirmed
Throughout the episode, Dunk is confronted with the reality of Ser Arlan’s life versus the legend he carries in his heart. Flashbacks and conversations reveal that Ser Arlan was not a famous champion; he was an older knight who enjoyed drinking and never won a major tournament. As Dunk watches the opening jousts of the tourney, he begins to doubt his own path.
In a quiet moment at camp with Egg, Dunk voices his fears and his determination.
“He raised me to be an honorable man, and all these noble lords can’t even remember his name,” Dunk says. “I am his legacy. And on the morrow, we will show them what his hand has wrought.”
This speech marks a turning point for Dunk. He realizes that true worth is not measured by fame but by the values passed from teacher to student.
The Arrival of the Targaryens
The Targaryen family’s arrival brings new characters and complications to Ashford. Prince Baelor is portrayed as a kind and wise leader, a stark contrast to other Targaryens fans have known. His younger brother, Prince Maekar, is cold and impatient, searching for his missing sons. Maekar’s son, Prince Aerion, immediately establishes himself as a spoiled and cruel antagonist, looking down on Dunk.
The presence of the royals also causes Egg, Dunk’s squire, to act strangely. Upon seeing the Targaryen sigil, Egg quickly returns to their camp, hinting that he knows more about the royal family than he lets on. Fans of George R. R. Martin’s novellas know that Egg’s true identity is a significant secret.
Memorable Moments and Fan Reactions
The episode begins with a surprising and humorous flashback of Ser Arlan, which quickly became a major talking point online. This bold choice by the show continued its trend of using graphic scenes for comedy rather than shock, differing from the approach of the original Game of Thrones. Showrunner Ira Parker explained the scene was meant to give Ser Arlan “one special thing” about him after the episode spends time downplaying his knightly achievements.
Fans on social media reacted with a wave of memes and jokes about the unexpected moment. This followed the divisive reaction to a similar gross-out gag in the series premiere.
Beyond the humor, the episode was praised for its character development and faithful adaptation of Martin’s work. Critics noted the show’s ability to balance Dunk’s endearing awkwardness with his growing sense of purpose.
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Streaming Details and Series Information
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a six-episode series. New episodes are released every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and are available to stream simultaneously on HBO Max. The season finale is scheduled for February 22, 2026.
The main cast includes Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg. Other key actors featured in this episode are Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor, Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar, Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion, and Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree.
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