A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5 Review | TIR Screens

Brief Recap Episode 4

Episode 4 marked the shift from charm to consequence as Dunk faced an arraignment of sorts after striking Prince Aerion, and Baelor essentially prepped him that a trial by combat was his best bet. Aerion raised the stakes by demanding a trial by seven, knowing Dunk did not have six loyal knights to back him, while Daeron claimed Dunk stole Egg. Dunk secured his armor and painted shield, saw death in the falling stars until reminded the elm tree stood tall and alive, like him, and entered the Trial only to face Ser Steffan’s betrayal as Raymun asked to be knighted. With the crowd offering laughter instead of loyalty, Dunk pleaded for the ideals of a true knight until Prince Baelor entered armored on horseback, pledging himself to Dunk’s team. See the ep4 review here.

From Humor to High Stakes

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms started in a humorous tone and has evolved up to episode 5. We now have a layered story that has added the action we have come to expect with the Game of Thrones Universe in the Trial of Seven. Last week we left off with Prince Baelor stepping up for Dunk and wondering how things would end up for Dunk and his team. The trial was set in a foggy and gritty atmosphere with peak action from the episode’s onset.

Dunk’s Naivety and Consequence

Dunk came to Ashford Meadow to be a true knight. He was quite naïve in his views of how the world around him works. Egg has been crucial in enlightening him to the operations in this world of lords, and Dunk has been faced with the consequences of his beliefs and values. His values led him to defending Tanselle and doing what is right, landing him in grave danger when he learned the world doesn’t play by the same rules for highborns as it does for everyone else, also highlighted in a conversation between young Dunk and his best friend who tells Dunk the highborns go to a different place when they die.

The Trial and the Flashback

Dunk is getting pummeled by Aerion for the majority of the trial. He takes blow after blow, injury after near-fatal injury, knocking him unconscious into a flashback sequence. The flashback sequence takes up a good portion of the episode and takes me out of the action of the trial. It would have been better placed in an earlier episode and not starkly placed in the middle of the action sequence.

The flashback gives us young Dunk and his meeting with Ser Arlan in the midst of a run-in with a gold cloak who killed his best friend Rafe. Ser Arlan steps in with an assist, saving the injured Dunk. Dunk then proceeds to follow a drunk Ser Arlan around Westeros until he is taken in by Ser Arlan as his squire.

Momentum Shift

The trial continues with Aerion still getting the best of Dunk, who almost loses an eye in the process. Dunk is able to land a few blows but is mostly losing. Prince Baelor assists Dunk, knocking Aerion down and changing the momentum slightly, giving Dunk a brief upper hand to land some blows.

Dunk is badly injured and down to the point that Lord Ashford is about to call the trial. Egg is doing his best from the stands to rouse Dunk; his voice plays against a flashback of Ser Arlan also telling Dunk to get up. He eventually does and uses his last bit of strength and shield to beat Aerion into submission, and Aerion yields.

The Cost of Victory

Following the victory, Steely Pate and Ser Raymun Fossaway are tending to Dunk’s injuries, and Prince Baelor comes over. Dunk pledges himself to Ser Baelor. Baelor is also badly injured and asks Fossaway to assist him in removing his helm. Fossaway does, and we see the damage caused by Prince Baelor’s brother Maekar during the trial. When the helm is removed, along with it is the back of Baelor’s skull. A fatal wound. 

Dunk set out to be a true knight, but in proving it, he may have changed the course of the realm forever.

TIR Episode 5 Rating: 7

What Critics Are Saying

• Esquire — A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5 Recap & Review: Esquire’s review calls Episode 5 a brutal, emotionally packed installment that centers Dunk’s resilience and the series’ grounded medieval combat: “It’s gritty, exhausting, and visceral… Dunk’s sheer resilience through the bloodshed defines this chapter.” Read Esquire Review
• Tech Radar — Episode 5 Emotional Fallout: TechRadar highlights the heart-wrenching ending, particularly the shocking death of Prince Baelor “Breakspear,” and notes how the episode has elicited strong emotional reactions from viewers: “The realm needs good men… Baelor’s loss stunned many viewers, underscoring the episode’s emotional depth.” Read Tech Radar Review
• The Wrap — Episode 5 Production Perspective: Coverage from TheWrap includes insights from showrunner Ira Parker, who discusses the episode’s design to make viewers feel the exhaustion and fear of Dunk’s situation — a tonal contrast to earlier episodes: “It’s a gritty, exhausting affair right from the start… even though Dunk has a size advantage.” Read The Wrap Review

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80%

IMDB Rating: 9.8/10

Inside the Episode

Watch Trailer: Week Ahead

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 6, series finale trailer!