distinguishes itself from other shows within its first few minutes through the use of cutaway gags: sudden shifts to past scenes that add a humorous punch to lines of dialogue. When paying tribute to the recently deceased Ser Arlan of Pennytree, Dunk notes that he never struck him when he didn’t deserve it—only for the scene to cut to a rapid montage of moments where, presumably, he did deserve it.
This inclination to look backward is one of the show’s greatest strengths, yet it also highlights an absence in these cutaways: the most pivotal moment in Ser Duncan the Tall’s life.
Warning! Spoilers for Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 1, “The Hedge Knight,” ahead!
Though the series premiere features ample scenes of Ser Arlan Pennytree, we never actually see him knight his squire. When Dunk speaks to the Games Master in Ashford, the action cuts not to the knighting itself but to a young Dunk asking Arlan if he thinks he’ll ever become a knight, with Ser Arlan responding by spitting his food onto the roadside. When the Games Master asks if there were witnesses to the knighting, Dunk simply mentions a bird was nearby.
With no witnesses, Ser Arlan never indicating an intent to knight Dunk, and a show filled with cutaways and flashbacks never revisiting this moment, a key question emerges: was Ser Dunk ever knighted? We know he takes honor and ceremony very seriously, but could he be lying to others?
Now that he is among other knights and, crucially, has a squire of his own, we may learn more about his backstory. Yet even if he was not formally knighted, it does not make him any less honorable. Perhaps it is not the oath that defines a knight, but the honor. And if telling a small, harmless lie is the only way to uphold that honor, does it truly count as dishonesty?
Whether Dunk was knighted by Ser Arlan remains unclear, but it is clear he deserves to be in Ashford fighting alongside others. In fact, he may be more deserving than many who simply inherited their titles.