Ser Duncan the Tall finally earned his spot in the jousting lists during the second episode of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The episode, titled “Hard Salt Beef,” saw Dunk overcome repeated rejections to gain a royal sponsor, design his own sigil, and secure the gear he needs to compete. His journey highlighted the vast divide between the noble class and the smallfolk in Westeros, setting the stage for his first tournament appearance.
Dunk’s Struggle for Recognition
Dunk spent much of the episode trying to convince various lords at Ashford Meadow to vouch for him by remembering his late mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. He visited noble tents one by one, sharing embellished tales of Arlan’s service, but found that no one recalled the hedge knight. This series of rejections underscored a central theme: the highborn rarely notice or remember the smallfolk who serve them.
His young squire, Egg, grew frustrated with the process. He did not understand why Dunk showed such deference to the nobles.
“Why do you treat these royal lapdogs like they’re your betters?” Egg asked.
Dunk simply replied, “They are my betters,” showing his acceptance of the rigid social order. The quest wore on both of them, with Egg complaining about having to repeatedly hear about “your shit knight”.
A Fateful Encounter with the Targaryens
The arrival of the Targaryen princes shifted the episode’s momentum. Trumpets announced the entrance of Prince Baelor Targaryen, the Hand of the King and heir to the Iron Throne; his brother, Prince Maekar; and Maekar’s arrogant son, Prince Aerion. Egg quickly made himself scarce upon their arrival, leaving Dunk to navigate the royal presence alone.
Dunk’s first interaction was with the cruel Aerion Targaryen, who mistook him for a servant. Aerion bossed Dunk around, demanding he tend to his horse and fetch “wine and a pretty wench.” When Dunk muttered that he was a knight, Aerion scoffed, “Knighthood has fallen on sad days”. The encounter was a stark reminder of Dunk’s low standing.
Determined, Dunk followed the princes to the castle, where he was caught eavesdropping by the suspicious Maekar. Brought before them, Dunk made his desperate pitch to Prince Baelor, asking if he remembered Ser Arlan. To everyone’s surprise, Baelor did recall jousting against the hedge knight years prior. He remembered defeating Arlan but allowing him to keep his horse and armor—a notable act of kindness. Baelor agreed to vouch for Dunk, securing his entry into the tournament.
Baelor’s warm reception provided a welcome respite from the litany of rejections Dunk received.
Creating a New Identity
With his tournament spot secured, Dunk faced new challenges. Prince Baelor reminded him that a knight’s sigil can only pass to blood relatives, so Dunk needed to create his own coat of arms. He and Egg went to the puppet show, where Dunk asked the performer, Tanselle, to paint his shield.
The interaction was painfully awkward. Dunk, clearly smitten, stumbled over his words when Tanselle mentioned people called her “Tanselle Too Tall.” He fumbled, saying she was “perfect for…” before trailing off. With Egg’s help, they settled on a design: an elm tree and a shooting star on a sunset-colored field. Despite the clumsy conversation, Tanselle agreed to paint the shield.
Next, Dunk needed armor. He visited the blacksmith Steely Pate, but the cost was far beyond his means. Pate took pity on him, however. He lowered the price dramatically, agreeing to accept Ser Arlan’s old armor for metal and the last of Dunk’s coins. To cover the remaining cost, Dunk was forced to make a heartbreaking sacrifice: selling his horse, Sweetfoot, with a promise to buy her back with his tournament winnings.
The Tournament Begins and Dunk’s Reflection
The first jousts of the tournament commenced, giving Dunk and Egg a look at the competition. Dunk lifted Egg onto his shoulders so the boy could see over the crowd. The event was chaotic and brutal, with noble competitors like Prince Valarr Targaryen and Ser Lyonel Baratheon riding. One competitor even bit the head off a fish to win the crowd’s applause.
Egg watched with excitement, but Dunk was overwhelmed. The fierce competition and violent clashes gave him flashbacks to burying Ser Arlan in the rain. That night at their camp, Dunk was subdued, leading to a moment of painful honesty about his mentor.
“Ser Arlan wasn’t gifted with sword or lance, and he drank, and he whored, and he was a hard man to know,” Dunk confessed to Egg.
He grappled with the idea that Arlan lived and died with little glory, wondering what chance he himself had. Yet, this reflection hardened his resolve. Dunk recognized that he was Ser Arlan’s legacy.
“On the morrow,” Dunk declared, “we will show them what his hand has wrought”.
The Heart of the Hedge Knight
A key scene perfectly captured the unique dynamic between Dunk and Egg. After the awkward talk with Tanselle, Egg tried to cheer Dunk up by sharing that he was often called “puny.” Dunk responded by saying, “Everyone’s always told me I was stupid”.
A long pause followed. A confused Egg finally asked, “And?” Dunk had no follow-up wisdom or lesson, leaving the boy exasperated. The exchange, both funny and touching, showed Dunk’s simple, straightforward nature and Egg’s role as the more perceptive of the pair.
The episode also introduced other notable figures. The cheerful Ser Lyonel Baratheon recruited Dunk and Egg for a tug-of-war, only to abandon the rope mid-contest to grab a drink. Members of the Kingsguard crossed paths with Dunk, with one noting he was the son of a crabber—a comment that briefly gave Dunk hope that a smallfolk man could rise high. That hope was dashed when Egg revealed the guard’s family actually owned half the crabbing fleets in Westeros.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes airing on Sunday nights. The series has already been renewed for a second season.
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