A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 3 Review | TIR Screens

Brief Recap Episode 2

In episode 2, Dunk and Egg arrive at Ashford Meadow, and Dunk, the “hedge knight” quickly realizes that lacking a pedigree and proper armor makes entering the tourney nearly impossible. Prince Baelor “Breakspear” vouches for Dunk’s character, Dunk is officially allowed to enter the tourney. Dunk sets out to obtain armor and a new sigil in preparation for entering the tournament. See the ep2 review here.

The Squire

Episode 3 was aptly named after Dunk’s squire, Egg as he carried the episode with charisma, history lessons through song and courage despite his stature and let’s not forget the major reveal. By finally pulling back the curtain on the boy’s true identity, the show has officially shifted the power dynamic at Ashford Meadow. It is a pivotal chapter that proves the smallest characters often cast the longest shadows in Westeros.

A House in Decline: The Fossoway Perspective

One of the standouts this week was Raymun Fossoway. It’s clear Raymun really hates the Targaryens or at least the exhausting, arrogant circus they bring with them. His frustration highlights the divide between those who chase royal favor and those, like Raymun, who just want to be honorable men. It makes me wonder about the deterioration of the Targaryens since House of the Dragon.

The History Lesson: Egg’s Song

The highlight for me was undoubtedly the song Egg used to show off his “education.” While it sounded like a simple campfire tune, the lyrics are a brutal summary of the Blackfyre Rebellion:

Prince Baelor was the first born, Prince Maekar sprang out last Daemon was the bastard, so they kicked his bastard Grass is green in summer green grass I adore But grass is red all over, when you kill a rebel Horses die in battle, this battle was the front Blackfyre’s not a trueborn, he came from the wrong Country was in peril, The Anvil was a rock The Hammer smashed the bastard with his giant veiny Host of Dornish spearmen

The Significance: This song explains the “Hammer and Anvil” tactic used at the Battle of the Redgrass Field. Prince Maekar (the Anvil) held the line while Prince Baelor (the Hammer) smashed the rebels from the rear. It also subtly hints at why the Targaryens are so paranoid; even their “bastard” cousins like Daemon Blackfyre can nearly topple a dynasty.

The Boiling Point

Tanselle’s puppet show centered around the Targaryens in a manner of humor Aerion found to be mocking. He attacked Tanselle, breaking her fingers, and Egg, witnessing the cruel act, ran to inform Dunk. Dunk steamrolled through the crowd, dismissing all class and rank to save her. This chaos stands in stark contrast to the earlier scenes of tourney revelry, specifically the infectious, rowdy energy of Lord Lyonel Baratheon singing a bawdy song about “Alice with Three Fingers”—a moment that bonded Dunk and Egg in laughter before the night turned dark.

When the action kicked off, it was intense; the sheer physicality of Peter Claffey’s performance was incredible, and all those King’s Guard could barely hold Dunk back once his protector instincts took over. After beating down Prince Aerion, Dunk is surrounded by the King’s Guard. Just as they are about to “remove all his teeth” at the behest of Aerion retaliation for Dunk dislodging one of the Prince’s own, enters Egg with the reveal of the series thus far: he is the missing Prince Aegon Targaryen. In Aerion’s shock, he asks what happened to the boy’s hair, to which Egg responds that he removed it so he wouldn’t look like Aerion. Setting up the last three episodes of the season, where do we go from here?

Just a note tying the series and universe together, Aegon V (Egg) is Rhaenyra Targaryen’s great-great-grandson and Jon Snow’s great-grandfather, which differs in the book as Game of Thrones compresses the lineage by removing Jaehaerys II, making Egg Jon’s great-great-grandfather in book canon.

TIR Episode 3 Rating: 8.5

What Critics Are Saying

• The Ringer – ” ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Episode 3: The Targaryen State of Affairs“: “Technically, this was more of an interfamily dispute, somewhat similar to House of the Dragon, rather than a Westerosi uprising against Targaryen rule.” 🔗 Read The Ringer Review
• Den of Geek — “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 3 Review — The Squire”: “It’s interesting, then, that “The Squire” is also the first episode in which we’ve really seen sustained pushback against the Targaryens, both individually and as a larger concept within the world of Westeros.” 🔗 Read Den of Geek Review
• Forbes – “‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Episode 3 Recap And Review: The Boy Who Would Be King”: “What a lovely episode. I can’t wait to watch this entire season a second time once all the episodes are out.” 🔗 Read Forbes Review

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Critics Score: 100%

IMDB Rating: 8.7/10

Inside the Episode

Watch Trailer: Weeks Ahead

HBO Max announced: A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS will premiere early globally on HBO Max on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 at 12:01am PT/3:01am ET ahead of their respective HBO airings on Super Bowl Sunday, February 8.