A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 4 Review | TIR Screens

Brief Recap Episode 3

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been both comedic and heartfelt in delivery episodes 1 and 2 and most of 3 until Aerion attacked Tanselle and activated Dunk, leading to the reveal of Egg as Aegon Targaryen, prince and heir to the Iron Throne.  While Dunk had been preparing to enter the Tourney at Ashwood Meadows since the beginning of the series, the end of episode 3 left us wondering if that would happen. See the ep3 review here.

The Shift From Charm to Consequence

Dunk has an arraignment of sorts. Baelor meets with Dunk prior to the arraignment, along with Egg. In this scene neither mince words regarding what occurred and their feelings towards Aerion. After Egg is asked to leave, Baelor essentially preps Dunk that a trial by combat is his best bet to deal with the fallout from striking a prince.

Raising the Stakes: Trial by Seven

During the arraignment, Aerion ups the stakes and demands a trial by seven, not a one-on-one with Dunk but seven on seven combat, knowing that Dunk does not have six loyal knights to back him. To add insult to injury, Daeron has also claimed that Dunk stole Egg from him back at the inn in episode 1.

Armor, Symbols, and Doubt

Dunk is released to secure a team. He also visits Steely Pate to pick up his armor. Tanselle also leaves his painted shield with the armorer before heading off to safety in Dorne. Pate adds some extra features to the shield at the low cost of 1 copper. Dunk is not very hopeful at the odds against him and sees death when looking at the painted falling stars to which Pate points out that the elm tree at the center is tall and alive, like Dunk.

Promises Before Dawn

Later Ser Steffan Fossaway promises to support Dunk and promises to secure some additional knights to make up the seven. Egg also promises to secure support before the trial that is to occur in hours at dawn. A sober (mostly), Daeron tells Dunk that he had no choice but to claim Dunk kidnapped Egg when questioned by his father, Maekar. To make up for the lie, he will go down easily during the tourney as he is one of Aerion’s seven.

Betrayal at the Trial

At the beginning of the Trial by Seven, we are immediately faced with Ser Steffan’s betrayal as he switched sides to support Aerion for the promise of a lordship. Disgusted with his cousin, Raymun refuses to squire for him and remains on Dunk’s team. Dunk is down two men now and Raymun asks Dunk to knight him so he may support him. This was my favorite scene to this point of the season, literally brought tears to my eyes. Gunshy, Dunk hesitates and is called over to the master of games to “check in”. The Laughing Storm steps in to knight the young Fossaway.

Dunk’s Plea

Dunk is told that he still needs another man or will have to forfeit. He petitions the crowd and is met with laughter, flatulence and no assistance. Dunk’s speech is touching and calls out the valor of a true knight and that he supports the ideals and did only that in his protection of Tanselle at the hands of Prince Aerion.

The Final Entrance

It appears all is lost as there are no takers and the episode is coming to an end, then enter Prince Baelor armored on horseback, pledging to Dunk’s team.

Is he there to really help Dunk, he seems to have been sympathetic to this point, but is he playing for team Targaryen, we’ll have to wait until Sunday at 10 pm EST to find out.

TIR Episode 4 Rating: 10

What Critics Are Saying

• Esquire — A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Is a Sports Story Now. I Love It. Esquire’s review playfully reframes Episode 4 as more than just a trial, noting how Dunk’s journey into the Trial of Seven transforms the tournament into a battle for honor and survival: “Dunk must assemble a squad of men who believe in him enough to die for it…” Read Esquire Review
• Den of Geek — “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 4 Review — Seven” “From Dunk and Egg’s reunion to their preparation for the hedge knight’s trial by combat, ‘Seven’ is full of richly charged emotional moments that ask what it means to be a true knight or to fight against injustice.” Read Den of Geek Review
• In Between Drafts — Episode 4 Review “That A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 4 pulls all of this off is remarkable. That it does so while maintaining true emotional resonance and thematic coherence is why this show keeps surprising me.” Read In Between Drafts Review

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Critics Score: 100%

IMDB Rating: 9.7/10

Inside the Episode

Watch Trailer: Weeks Ahead

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5 will resume at the regularly scheduled day and time, Sunday at 10 pm EST on HBO Max.