A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been a welcome contrast to previous George R.R. Martin adaptations, but a major moment in Episode 4 harked back to Game of Thrones.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms plays out between the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.
Rather than telling an epic story about scores of characters, it zooms in on two protagonists, a Hedge Knight named Ser Duncan the Tall, and his young squire called Egg.
But as the series nears its grand finale, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has finally done something that the show threatened during Episode 1. Meaning Episode 4 SPOILERS ahead…
Why A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms undercut Game of Thrones score
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 1 commenced with a sad sequence that saw Dunk burying his deceased mentor Ser Arlan of Pennytree.
When he picks up his master’s sword, and decides to compete in the tournament at Ashford Meadow, the classic Game of Thrones theme tune strikes up, but is then rudely interrupted by Dunk emptying his bowls.
‘Tales of Dunk and Egg’ author George R.R. Martin wasn’t sure what to make of the scene, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “Not to say that my characters don’t take sh*ts, but I normally don’t write about them at any length. When I saw the rough cut, I wrote, ‘What is this? Where did this come from? I don’t know if we really need the sh*t.’ But [showrunner Ira Parker] liked it for whatever reason.”
Parker says he meant no disrespect to Ramin Djawadi’s original score, explaining that the scene was more about character. “He’s not a hero yet, you know?” says Parker of Dunk. “All we’re trying to say here is that Dunk is not a hero yet. He’s just a nervy kid with a nervous stomach.”
That musical interruption also served another purpose – to truly set Knight of the Seven Kingdoms apart from its predecessors, in both tone, and score.
Ser Duncan is finally worthy of iconic theme tune
But then it happened. During Episode 4, Ser Duncan agrees to compete in the ‘Trial of Seven’ against Prince Aerion, but although he finds five champions to fight alongside him, he struggles to convince a sixth.
Just as all seems lost, Prince Baelor Targaryen – heir to the Iron Throne – sweeps in on horseback and states: “I will take Ser Duncan’s side,” because “this man protected the innocent as every true knight must.”
As those words are spoken, Djawadi’s iconic GOT score kicks in, making it a spine-tingling moment. But also one that remains consistent with what Ira Parker said of the music – Dunk wasn’t worthy of that theme at the start of the series, but Ser Duncan is now.
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