A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: the shock of episode 5 explained
An unexpected twist that will shake Westeros for a long time, and mark the history books…
It was a habit in Game of Thrones. No one is safe. And A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms did not deviate from tradition, with episode 5 broadcast on HBO Max in France.
Spoiler alert!
The famous trial “Trial of Seven” between Ser Duncan the Great and the supporters of Prince Aerion Targaryen took place. And he was violent. Bloody. The battle was intense and deadly, culminating in the death of a key figure.
The episode concludes with Dunk, seriously injured by Aerion but managing to gain the advantage, while Aerion, aware of his imminent defeat, surrenders and withdraws his accusations against Dunk. But Prince Baelor Targaryen succumbs to a violent blow to the head from Maekar, his little brother, during the fight.
In a recent interview with EW, actor Bertie Carvel and showrunner Ira Parker returned to this dramatic turning point.
Bertie Carvel explained that he explored different versions of the scene: “We experimented with Ira and Sarah (Adina Smith, director of episode 6) different ways that Maekar could be involved in Baelor’s death, accidental or deliberate. It also showed Maekar’s deep desire to be number one, which comes to fruition in the death of his brother.” The actor adds:
“Maekar’s guilt and grief are wrapped up in this realization: he is the next heir to the throne.”
But then why did the Hand of the King dare to get involved in a deadly battle? Why did you agree to take such a risk?
For Ira Parker, Baelor’s choice to risk his life in this “Trial of Seven” reflects what it takes to make Westeros – and perhaps the real world – better: “Dunk survives, and as he says in the next episode, ‘Maybe one day the kingdom will need my foot more than the life of a prince.’
Parker also referenced an iconic scene from Game of Thrones, that of Joffrey examining a Westeros History Book:
“As we will see later, Ser Duncan will have four pages in this book one day. So Baelor’s sacrifice was not completely useless…”
