HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode two opens with Dunk (Peter Claffey) describing Ser Arlan as having a peaceable nature, being a skilled fighter, and a man who never complained. While we’re hearing this lovely voiceover description, we’re shown that Ser Arlan also had an incredibly large penis.
Dunk attempts to remind House Florent and House Hayford about Ser Arlan, but no one remembers. Neither does Lord Leo “Longthorn” Tyrell (Steve Wall) who Dunk recalls Ser Arlan claimed was his favorite time serving any House. Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) thinks Dunk should give up as it’s just undignified now; no one is even listening to his pleas.
Also, Egg believes Ser Arlan must have been a shit knight since no one remembers him. Egg suggests Dunk give up and just ride for himself in the tourney. But Dunk remains convinced that someone will remember Ser Arlan.
Everything comes to a standstill as House Targaryen rides into camp. Egg wants to return to their campsite instead of sticking around, asking for a sword or a mace to protect himself and their meager belongings. Dunk warns him not to steal anything or run off, or he’ll hunt him down with dogs. Egg quickly points out he doesn’t have any, and Dunk threatens to get some.
House Targaryen is met with applause as they ride through camp, and Lord Ashford’s emissary loudly proclaims Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), firstborn son of King Daeron the Good, is welcome at the tourney. (Baelor is the Hand of the King and heir to the Iron Throne.) His brother, Maekar (Sam Spruell), is less enthusiastically welcomed.
Prince Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen (Finn Bennett) mistakes Dunk for a stable boy and Dunk politely corrects him only to be insulted in return. Suddenly a horse misbehaves and Dunk acts quickly to calm him. Ser Roland Crakehall (Wade Briggs) and his sworn brother, Ser Donnel of Duskendale (Bill Ward), compliment Dunk, and Ser Roland makes a friendly joke about Dunk’s height before asking for a proper place to shit. Ser Donnel asks where Dunk’s from and can relate when Dunk says, “No place really.”
Donnel claims his family were crabbers at Duskendale, and Dunk wonders how he became a member of the Kingsguard. “Same way we became crabbers,” replies Donnel.
Following a servant into the castle, Dunk sneaks around until he finds himself outside the room where the Targaryens are gathered. They discuss why two of Maekar’s sons are missing, and Baelor points out that Daeron has done this before.
A young girl whispers to Dunk that the sons are probably dead.
Daeron and Aegon have only been missing a day, and Baelor believes Ser Roland will find them. He also believes that Daeron doesn’t belong on a field any more than Aerys or Rhaegel. Maekar thinks Daeron will change or else he’ll see him dead.
Maekar notices Dunk skulking about outside and Dunk introduces himself, explaining he asked Ser Manfred Dondarrion and others to vouch for him. Maekar couldn’t care less about Dunk, but Baelor is patient and listens. Dunk wonders if Baelor remembers Ser Arlan and Baelor does, describing him as never winning a tourney but never shaming himself either. He also recalls that Ser Arlan unhorsed the Grey Lion and overthrew Lord Stokeworth in King’s Landing.
Baelor tests Dunk by asking the Grey Lion’s true name, and Dunk declares it’s Ser Damon Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock. Maekar is incredibly obnoxious and wonders why Baelor would remember a hedge knight who’s so far beneath them in status. Also, why would he ever agree to joust with one? Baelor recalls that Ser Arlan was his opponent in the tourney to celebrate the birth of Lord Baratheon’s grandson. It took four lances, but he finally unhorsed Ser Arlan.
Dunk corrects him that it was seven. Baelor insists it was four and Dunk knows he’s treading on thin ice, bending the knee and agreeing to four. Dunk was told Baelor gave Ser Arlan back his horse and armor, even though he lost. Ser Arlan described Baelor as the soul of chivalry.
Ser Baelor sides with Dunk and with his backing, the master of the games, Plummer (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor), allows Dunk to join the tourney. Maekar is so over all of Dunk’s praise of his brother that he rudely dismisses Dunk with a “f**k off.”
As Dunk walks off, Baelor reminds him that since he’s not Ser Arlan’s trueborn son, he needs a sigil of his own.
Later, Dunk and Egg enjoy a play, clapping with everyone in the crowd. Dunk is obviously smitten with the Dornish puppeteer, Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), and approaches her afterward to give her cash. It’s a good thing Egg is with him, as Dunk is awestruck. Dunk finally speaks up when Tanselle says she paints. Dunk asks if she could paint something over the chalice on his shield and create a new sigil. They decide they’d like green grass, an elm tree, and a shooting star above the tree.
Afterward, Dunk knows the conversation didn’t go well. He asks Egg for his opinion, and Egg points out they’re both gigantic, which might not be promising but at least means they have something in common. (Tanselle’s nickname is Tanselle Too Tall.)
Egg admits that he’s small for his age and doesn’t believe he’ll ever be a knight. Dunk confesses he was always told he was stupid… but he doesn’t elaborate. Egg asks how he responded, and Dunk says that’s his own problem. Egg’s totally confused because he thought they were having a nice chat. Fortunately, Ser Lyonel “The Laughing Storm” Baratheon (Daniel Ings) interrupts their awkward discussion by pulling them into a tug-of-war competition.
Dunk’s the anchor and Egg’s right up front as the two sides pull with all their might. Lyonel screams for everyone to pull and then leaves his men to handle it without him as he grabs a drink. They’re about to lose when he rejoins them and pulls his opponents across the line.
Night falls, and Dunk asks armorer Steely Pate (Youssef Kerkour) if he can make him a gorget, greaves, and great helm. Steely Pate agrees to make him practical armor and nothing fancy for 800 stags. Dunk offers to trade him Ser Arlan’s armor, but Pate sells only original armor.
Duncan’s walking off disappointed when Pate makes him a deal: the old armor plus 600 stags. Duncan has two stags and hands them over, promising to pay the rest the next day.
He’s gentle with his horse when he explains he needs to sell her to buy armor, but he’ll buy her back again when he wins. Dunk hands back a few of the coins he received for the sale, asking the man to give her oats and an apple tonight.
Dunk and Egg sit down for a drink and Dunk reveals that Ser Arlan was 60 and never a champion. Dunk believes he can get on with a great House – maybe even House Targaryen – if he’s a champion of Ashford Meadow. Egg points out the House of the Dragon doesn’t employ hedge knights. Dunk attempts to win this verbal joust by saying Ser Donnel is just the son of a crabber. But Egg is far too wise and knows all the knights. “His father owns half the crabbing fleets in Westeros,” says Egg.
It’s time for the first joust and Dunk and Egg hurry toward the field. For once Egg doesn’t feel small, sitting proudly on Dunk’s massive shoulders. The joust features Prince Valarr, Baelor’s son, and Egg hints that he’s not very good.
Multiple competitors face off simultaneously, riding down their lanes with lances out front. Dunk seems overwhelmed after just the first clash, and Egg asks to be let down off his shoulders. The competition continues and it’s incredibly brutal. Dunk seems unable to catch his breath as he watches, stunned as he has flashbacks of burying Ser Arlan.
Back at camp, Egg mimics the riders while Dunk sits quietly by their fire. Dunk asks if great knights “live in the hedges and die by the side of a muddy road?” He’s come to realize Ser Arlan wasn’t a great fighter, didn’t have any friends, and died alone.
Ser Arlan was good to him and raised him to be honorable. But the lords can’t even remember his name. “His name was Ser Arlan of Pennytree. And I am his legacy,” says Dunk. “On the morrow, we will show them what his hand has wrought.”
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