It didn’t take long for Game of Thrones fans to realize that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was unlike the previous two shows from this universe (the other being House of the Dragon). It may have begun with a somber moment with Duncan, but that quickly turns into him pooping a few yards from where he just buried the man he squired. It was an off-putting moment, and it served its purpose, but it doesn’t give viewers a real look at the man who will later be known as Ser Duncan the Tall.
Normally, aspiring knights in Game of Thrones stories are smooth or have a quality that makes them feared or respected. Duncan (or Dunk as he will often be called in this article) isn’t smooth or confident. What may be worse is that he doesn’t understand how the world of knights and nobles works. This isn’t because he’s dumb. Dunk is naive and seems to have been sheltered thanks to an abusive knight/father figure. That being said, he is the hero the world needs.
When you first meet Duncan, viewers immediately recognize his faults. He looks clumsy, won’t admit to himself that his guardian abused him, and, as Lyonel Baratheon points out, Dunk slouches despite being tall. These are all symptoms of someone in need of a confidence boost. Thankfully, thanks to an episode of Game of Thrones, we know that Dunk is destined for greatness.
According to season 4, episode 1 of Game of Thrones (titled “Two Swords”), Dunk is destined to be one of the greats. In The Book of Brothers, Joffrey Baratheon mentions that Ser Duncan the Tall has four pages worth of good deeds he’s done while being among the Kingsguard. However, before we get there, he has to poop behind a tree, sleep under the stars, and beg to be vouched for. And that is what will make his humble, sometimes embarrassing, beginning an unforgettable story.
As this article is being written, only one episode of HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been released. Duncan has just gotten a squire (Egg) and still hasn’t figured out how to become a recognized and respected knight. And while having his name in The Book of Brothers says that he was one of the best, fans of Game of Thrones know how things are embellished to make tales seem grander.
It may seem odd that this article ends with a negative vibe, but this universe is known for breaking the hearts of fans. We've seen good people turn bad due to corrupt kings, queens, politicians, and more. They've also gone evil after tragedy turns their attitude sour. Despite the pattern this universe has of making people sad, the reviews for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show that Ser Duncan the Tall will become a valiant hero who inspires people to be better people.