A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Shocks Fans With Bold Opening
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms kicks off with a jaw-dropping, offbeat scene that’s left Game of Thrones fans split. The premiere’s unexpected humor and tone shift have sparked lively debate online.
The debut of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the newest addition to the Game of Thrones universe, wastes no time signaling a fresh approach to the world of Westeros. If you haven’t caught the first episode yet, be warned—there are some light spoilers ahead. The show opens with Ser Dunk the Tall laying his late mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, to rest. As he contemplates his next steps, the iconic Game of Thrones theme swells—only to be abruptly cut short by a jarringly graphic moment as Dunk relieves himself behind a tree.
Showrunner Ira Parker explained the creative decision behind this scene:
“It was written in the script very early on as the hero theme. We tried a bunch of different versions, and the one that felt the most iconic was the major theme. Because we were not going with an opening title sequence, it felt right to give everybody a little bit of a taste of it to launch into our show. It comes out of how Dunk is feeling in that moment, going from hero to the opposite of hero, as so many of us do sometimes.”
Fan Reactions: Divided Over the Unexpected Humor
This opening moment marks a clear shift in tone from what longtime viewers might expect, and reactions have been all over the map. One Reddit user shared,
“Overall I thought it was amazing. Loved Lyonel Baratheon such a fun character. Did a good job of getting into the story quick. My only critique was the build up to the GOT theme and then Dunk shitting which was funny but took away the hype I was feeling. I wish it had maybe one small action scene to show Dunk's prowess but I am sure that will come.”
Another fan chimed in,
“Good first ep! Wasn't sure in first 5 min, not the biggest fan of the short cutaway gags or the shit joke, but Dunk is great and loved his interactions with Lyonell.”
The mix of humor and drama has left some viewers unsure how to feel, while others have embraced the new direction.
Mixed Feelings and High Hopes
Some fans found the comedic moment jarring but still enjoyed the episode overall. Comments ranged from,
“The scene with the Laughing Storm was great and I was pleased with the episode as a whole. The shitting caught me off guard though. I have high hopes for this series,”
to,
“Apart from the shitting joke, I really loved this as a premiere. I love the vibes. Was able to watch it with my father without being too embarrassed, lol.”
Not everyone was on board with the bold choice, though. A few viewers felt the joke was unnecessary, with one saying,
“Dunk having the runs at the start was not needed,”
and another adding,
“Despite the existence of s8, GoT theme music did not deserve 'THAT' kind of transition.”
What’s Next for the Series
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will continue to air weekly on HBO in the U.S. and Sky/NOW in the U.K. Fans can follow the release schedule or check out spoiler-free reviews for more insight into what’s ahead for Ser Dunk and the rest of Westeros.