The latest episode of HBO‘s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, titled “Seven,” premiered early on HBO Max. But if you’re skipping the Super Bowl to find out the latest of what’s going on with Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) on the channel proper, then you might have some questions about one particular aspect of Episode 4, and spoilers past this point: what does Daeron’s (Henry Ashton) prophecy mean for Ser Duncan The Tall’s future?
So, just to recap a little bit, in case you didn’t figure it out, the guy with Targaryen hair paying with Targaryen gold in the series premiere was, indeed, a Targaryen. Specifically, he’s Daeron Targaryen, the oldest son of Maekar Targaryen (Sam Spruell). He’s also gifted — or rather cursed — with the sight, and able to have dreams of the future. That’s why the drunken lout told Dunk, on first seeing him, that he was had dreamt of him.
Now granted, a lot has happened since then, and this episode not only does Daeron accuse Dunk of having kidnapped Egg — he’s lying, of course — but he also gives him a lot more of the content of that dream.
“I dreamed of you,” Daeron tells Dunk. “I have seen you sir. And a fire. And a dead dragon. A great beast with wings so large they could cover this meadow. It had fallen on top of you. But you were alive, and the dragon was dead.”
As Daeron explains, his dreams are real, but they’re not a one-to-one. Meaning, a dragon is not going to fall on top of Dunk… And in fact, there are no dragons left alive at this point in time in Westeros. So what is Daeron telling Dunk? What does this prophecy mean?
What Daeron’s Prophecy Means In George R.R. Martin’s Novellas
Look, are you sure you want to know the answer to this one? Because this show is very fun, and we’re all having a nice time here (except Dunk). But hey, George R.R. Martin published the first Tales of Dunk & Egg novella, titled “The Hedge Knight,” in 1998. So in terms of what happens in the book this season is based on, it’s fair game. But it’s also pretty heartbreaking, so get ready.
In the book, as in the show, Dunk is forced to compete in a Trial of Seven for beating up Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett) while protecting Tanselle Too-Tall (Tanzyn Crawford), as well as Daeron’s lie. The lineup of who is on Dunk’s side is a little different (or at least how they get there), as well as the general circumstances, but the thrust is the same. And the big twist at the end of this week’s episode, that Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) joins Dunk’s side, is the same in the novella as well.
So what happens next? A second book spoiler warning here, just in case you missed the first one. Dunk does indeed win the Trial of Seven but absolutely pummeling Aerion, though he takes plenty of damage himself. Aerion surrenders, ending the Trial — though on Dunk’s side, Ser Humfrey Beesbury is slain during the Trial, and Ser Humfrey Hardyng dies of injuries afterwards. Don’t worry, Ser Lyonel Baratheon, aka the Laughing Storm, survives (though he’s a relatively minor character in the novella), and Ser Raymun Fossoway lives to make apple cider another day.
But the biggest punch in the gut? Baelor approaches Dunk after the battle, and Dunk pledges his life to the Prince… This whole time, Dunk has been looking for someone honorable, and he finally found him. Unfortunately for, well, everyone, Maekar conked Baelor in the back of the head with a mace during the Trial. Baelor takes off his helmet, revealing the horrific extent of his injuries — basically half his skull is gone — and promptly collapses, dead.
It’s all extremely terrible, not least of which because Baelor was a good guy, and next in line for the crown. While we don’t know what would have happened, the next 60-70 years or so of Westeros history, with some exceptions, is a series of declines, tragedies, and outright disasters for the Iron Throne. If Baelor had survived, a fair man might have brought more peace to the Seven Kingdoms, and perhaps we would have gotten none of the epochal events of Game of Thrones.
So to wrap this back to the prophecy, the “dead dragon” is Baelor, of House Targaryen (aka the Dragon House). His “wings so large they could cover this meadow” shows the breadth of Baelor’s influence on the kingdom. And the “fallen on top of you” is open to interpretation, but it could be that he protected Dunk, or more likely that Baelor’s death continues to weigh on Dunk in the subsequent two novellas by Martin.
Whether things will play out the same way on TV as they did on the page? We’ll have to tune in next week to find out.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:
New episodes of A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms premiere Sundays on HBO and HBO Max, at 10pm ET. The season will premiere with one episodes on January 18, followed by one new episode weekly until the season finale.
Here’s what we expect from the full list of episodes in A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms with premiere dates.
- Sunday, January 18, 2026: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Season 1, Episode 1
- Sunday, January 25, 2026: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Season 1, Episode 2
- Sunday, February 1, 2026: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Season 1, Episode 3
- Sunday, February 8, 2026: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Season 1, Episode 4
- Sunday, February 15, 2026: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Season 1, Episode 5
- Sunday, February 22, 2026: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Season 1, Episode 6 *Season Finale*
Where To Watch A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
Comic Book Club Live Info:
Discover more from Comic Book Club
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.