A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Episode 2’s Puppet Present Defined

Winter is coming, and so are spoilers for the primary two episodes of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.”

George R. R. Martin’s fantasy world is increasing. “Recreation of Thrones” helped change tv by bringing excessive fantasy to the plenty and fascinating the entire world with a story of knights and dragons and incest. Then, “Home of the Dragon” expanded on its father or mother present’s household politics and intrigue by specializing in the inner conflicts of the Targaryen dynasty. Now, we’re getting one thing recent with “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” a present that could not be extra totally different from its predecessors. Certainly, it is a easy, lighthearted (however in no way devoid of violence), at occasions hilarious, and at all times endearing and heartfelt fantasy story.

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a petty hedge knight attempting to make a reputation for himself whereas accompanied by his younger squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). The present would not characteristic wars, political backstabbing, or dragons, which is an enormous a part of what makes it particular. Most of all, it is simply enjoyable and brings to thoughts the fan-favorite highway buddy arcs of “Recreation of Thrones,” like Arya (Maisie Williams) and the Hound (Rory McCann) touring collectively.

That being mentioned, even when the story of Duncan (also referred to as Dunk) isn’t as grand as what we have seen in earlier “Recreation of Thrones” collection, that does not imply it is solely missing for legendary feats and incidents. Slightly, we nonetheless get these right here, full with a cool dragon, within the type of a pair of puppet reveals carried out within the collection’ first two episodes. And in case you had been questioning, these performances aren’t merely recounting random tales; they’re dramatizing legends from the historical past of Westeros. Let’s discover that.

Within the first episode of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” we see some puppeteers, led by Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), telling the story of a person preventing a ferocious dragon with a sophisticated defend. It is a dramatization of the smallfolk-favorite story of Serwyn of the Mirror Protect from the Age of Heroes, which precedes the arrival of the Andals 1000’s of years earlier than “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” begins.

Sewryn is a legendary determine who, in line with songs, slew a terrifying dragon named Urrax with a spear to the attention. Serwyn had polished his defend to the purpose that it was basically a mirror, permitting him to method the dragon safely because it noticed solely its personal reflection within the defend. We do not know the way a lot of the story is true, admittedly. In George R. R. Martin’s supply materials, he is believed to have been a member of the Kingsguard regardless of that establishment not current till millennia after Serwyn’s dying. The Age of Heroes itself equally predates the existence of dragons, however that does not matter; everybody loves dragon-slaying story.

Then, in episode 2, we get the story of Florian the Idiot, who’s mentioned to have been a knight within the period of the First Males regardless of knighthood solely arriving in Westeros with the Andals millennia later. Nonetheless, Florian is remembered as a valiant warrior (of non-noble beginning) who fell in love with a maiden in a narrative so well-known that the city of Maidenpool is actually named after the place they met. This legend can be notably fascinating since Martin hasn’t mentioned a lot about who Florian really was, past him (once more) being a knight who was referred to as a idiot and fell in love with a maid.

With their unimaginable sensible dragon and life-size Florian puppet, these reveals are extra an excuse for some cool visuals (or as an instance how terrible Dunk is at flirting). They’re additionally a wonderful solution to discover among the many legends of Westeros that can most likely by no means be absolutely tailored into TV reveals. Sadly, a lot of the canceled “Recreation of Thrones” spin-offs might’ve examined these in larger depth, together with the deserted collection in regards to the Age of Heroes and the Lengthy Night time. Therefore, so far as particular person legends about heroes like Serwyn or Florian go, that is most likely going to be our greatest (and solely) take a look at them.

Fortunately, although, these puppet reveals make Westeros really feel extra like a lived-in place than if HBO had churned out extra prequel collection each few years. Granted, “Home of the Dragon” and its portrayal of Targaryen historical past has enriched “Recreation of Thrones,” however there’s nonetheless one thing partaking about getting to look at characters react to seeing these dramatizations of historic legends on “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” By exhibiting that these tales of legendary heroes from millennia in the past proceed to captivate common Westerosi folks in its timeline, the collection itself comes throughout as a chapter in a bigger story that by no means ends (to paraphrase Samwise Gamgee from “The Lord of the Rings”).

In the long run, with the ability to make Westeros really feel like an actual place filled with historical past, legends, and tradition is what really issues. We do not want a Florian the Idiot spin-off present, we simply must see how he continues to be remembered lengthy after his time.

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering on Sundays.