To say that HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been a breath of fresh air from the Game of Thrones franchise would be an understatement. That saga is known for its violence, destruction, and downright barbaric nature, so to see a relatively light-hearted, oddly funny buddy comedy about a would-be knight and a squire with a secret backstory has been truly refreshing.
But the fun and games came to an end (or, well, they were at least put on pause) for the fifth episode of the debut season. Titled "In the Name of the Mother", it sees Ser Duncan the Tall (a.k.a. our beloved Dunk) take part in the infamous Trial of Seven against Aerion Targaryen, which is an uphill battle through and through.
Needless to say, the stakes in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have never been higher as fans are naturally worried for their favorite characters. And with that in mind, we're here to report on who makes it out of the battle alive.
Every death in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Although episode 5 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms does revolve around the Trial of Seven, it also features a flashback to Ser Duncan The Tall's past. There, we see him in his youth, along with his friend Rafe. And that sequence actually brings about more deaths for the show than the actual battle does.
A soldier on the battlefield: While young Dunk is scavenging on the battlefield, he comes across a fallen soldier trapped under his horse. The man is crying out for help and he is also seemingly a member of House Frey. Although Dunk tries put him out of his misery, he and Rafe ultimately decide to help him. In the end, he dies before they can even move the horse.
Rafe: During the flashback sequence, Dunk's childhood friend Rafe joins him as they get up to mischief together. However, during an altercation with a bunch of thieves, Rafe pushes her luck by stealing a knife from them and that unfortunately results in one of them slitting her throat. It ends an era of innocence for Dunk and paves the way for the beginning of his journey towards becoming the squire of Ser Arlan of Pennytree.
Thieves: Ser Arlan of Pennytree shows up to rescue Dunk from the thieves just after they kill Rafe. Dunk's former master disposes of the killers by slaying them himself. And that's how the pair who would become unlikely allies ended up meeting for the first time.
And with that, we returned to the present day when Ser Dunk's battle with Aerion Targaryen ended in a truly shocking way, offering up what was easily the most jaw-dropping moment of the whole episode.
Prince Baelor Targaryen: In what was undoubtedly a blow to Dunk, his friends, and all the viewers watching, Dunk's victory over Aerion Targaryen came with an extreme price. Baelor was the big addition to his team and it looked as if that team had indeed emerged victorious - not unscathed but alive to celebrate their success.
However, after asking for assistance removing his helmet - which had been caved in - part of Baelor's head came away with it, immediately killing him and resulting in him falling dead into Dunk's arms. It's a sad gruesome way for one of the most beloved A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms characters to go, but it's very in-line with what fans have come to expect from the Game of Thrones Universe.
Dunk does not die in the Trial of Seven
Although it very much seemed like Ser Duncan the Tall might fall to Aerion Targaryen on more than one occasion, the fan-favorite character survived the ordeal - ultimately winning the Trial of Seven by defeating his sworn enemy. And, after all he had been put through, it was satisfying to see him claim such a decisive, definitive victory.
That being said, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms really went out of its way to convince audiences that he might die. He was brutally assaulted from the very beginning of the battle, suffering stab wound after stab wound and one blow to the head after another. There was even a moment when it truly looked like he was done for, momentarily "dying" until Egg's pleas for him to get up reminded him of Ser Arlan's exact same demand from him years beforehand. And, with that, he rose to his feet and defeated his enemy.
It goes without saying that it was Bealor's death that left audiences speechless as the credits rolled on what was undoubtedly A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' most violent hour.