The latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms delivered more than just the explosive conclusion of the Trial of Seven. Episode 5, titled In the Name of the Mother, slipped in a subtle visual cue that connects the new series directly to Game of Thrones. This hidden detail ties the show’s main character, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), to one of the most beloved knights from the original series: Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). While the family connection has been known to book readers for years, the show recently placed a clever nod that only the most attentive viewers would catch .
The Blink-and-You-Miss-It Kingsroad Connection
The Easter egg appears during a flashback sequence in Episode 5. The episode takes viewers back to Dunk’s childhood in Flea Bottom, showing him as a poor orphan trying to survive with his friend Rafe (Chloe Lea). In one scene, the two children are shown walking down a dirt road through the woods, returning to King’s Landing after scavenging on a battlefield .
What makes this seemingly ordinary scene special is the location. Showrunner Ira Parker confirmed that this scene was filmed on the exact same stretch of road in Belfast, Ireland, that was used in Game of Thrones nearly 15 years earlier. In the original series, that same road appeared when Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) sent Brienne and Podrick Payne (Daniel Portman) on their mission to find and protect Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) .
Parker explained his reasoning for including this parallel. He told Business Insider that he liked the idea of distant relatives unknowingly crossing paths at the same location, generations apart. He noted that there is no dramatic emphasis placed on the moment. The scene simply shows Dunk and Rafe walking, just as Brienne and Pod once did. Parker added that the production team hopes deep, dedicated fans of the franchise will spot the connection and appreciate the thought behind it .
The Official Confirmation From George R.R. Martin
For viewers who might have missed the visual cue, the family link between Dunk and Brienne is not just fan speculation. Author George R.R. Martin himself confirmed the connection years ago. At the Balticon science fiction convention in 2016, Martin explicitly stated that Brienne of Tarth is a descendant of Ser Duncan the Tall .
Martin had previously hinted at this relationship in his books. In A Feast for Crows, the fourth novel of A Song of Ice and Fire series, Brienne recalls seeing a unique shield in her father’s armory at Evenfall Hall on the island of Tarth. The shield bore a sigil depicting a falling star above an elm tree. This is the exact same personal sigil that Dunk uses throughout his adventures. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, viewers see Tanselle (Tamzyn Crawford) painting this very design onto Dunk’s shield .
When Brienne later sets out on her own journey in Game of Thrones, she chooses to paint that same sigil onto her shield, honoring her ancestor without even fully understanding why .
More Than Just Blood: Shared Traits of Two Honorable Knights
The connection between Dunk and Brienne goes beyond shared DNA. Both characters follow remarkably similar life paths, and the show has drawn attention to these parallels .
Actor Peter Claffey, who plays Dunk, has spoken about the influence Gwendoline Christie’s performance had on his portrayal of the character. Claffey noted that he was a huge fan of the original series and loved Christie’s work as Brienne. He pointed out that both characters share a deep commitment to honor and loyalty. They are physically imposing figures who struggle to be taken seriously by the highborn lords and ladies of Westeros, yet they never waver in their duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves .
Both characters also rise to the highest possible position a knight can achieve. In the lore of Westeros, Dunk eventually becomes Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under King Aegon V Targaryen (the grown-up version of his young squire, Egg). Brienne’s journey follows the same arc. In the final season of Game of Thrones, she is knighted by Jaime Lannister and later becomes the first Lady Commander of the Kingsguard for King Bran the Broken .
There is even a bookending detail that connects them. In Game of Thrones season 4, King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) flips through the Book of Brothers, the official history of the Kingsguard. He notes that Ser Duncan the Tall has four entire pages dedicated to his deeds. In Brienne’s final scene in the series, she is seen writing in that very same book, beginning her own entry in the historical record .
The Mystery of Dunk’s Bloodline
The confirmed family connection does raise a question for fans familiar with the rules of Westeros. Members of the Kingsguard swear a vow of celibacy and are forbidden from marrying or fathering children. Since Dunk served in the Kingsguard for many years before his death, the timing of when he could have started a family becomes a point of curiosity .
Most fans and lore experts believe that Dunk must have fathered a child before joining the Kingsguard, or perhaps during a brief period before his vows were fully enforced. The likely mother would have been a woman from House Tarth, which is why the connection leads to Brienne’s family. Martin has promised that more details about this part of Dunk’s life will eventually be revealed, possibly in the long-awaited novel The Winds of Winter.
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Fan Reactions to the Hidden Detail
Since Episode 5 aired on February 15, 2026, fans have taken to social media to discuss the Easter egg. Many viewers who consider themselves hardcore followers of the franchise have expressed appreciation for the care taken by the show’s creative team .
One recurring theme in fan discussions is the emotional weight of seeing two characters from different eras travel the same road. Viewers have noted that both Dunk and Brienne are outsiders who prove themselves through sheer determination and moral strength. Seeing young Dunk walk that path, knowing that his descendant would one day follow in his footsteps, has resonated deeply with audiences .
Fans have also pointed out that this Easter egg is exactly the kind of detail that rewards long-time viewers. It does not distract from the main story or require explanation within the episode. It simply exists for those who pay close enough attention, adding another layer of depth to an already rich world .
Where to Watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms consists of six episodes. The penultimate episode, which contained the Brienne Easter egg, is now available for streaming. The season finale is scheduled to release on February 23, 2026 .
Viewers in the United States can watch the series on HBO Max and Max. In the United Kingdom, the show airs on Sky Atlantic and streams on NOW. Canadian audiences can find it on Crave. For viewers in India, the series is available on JioHotstar at 8:30 PM IST . Australian viewers can stream the show on Binge and Foxtel Now.
The show has already been renewed for a second season, with filming scheduled to begin in Ireland later this year .
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