Did the gods Truly Favor Ser Duncan the Tall or Is He Actually a Fraud?

Ser Duncan’s underdog saga brings into question the truth of his knighthood and nobility

*Spoiler Talk* Press Play to Set the Vibe While You Read

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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season one has completed, and that emptiness that I feel with each ending of a GOT story has returned yet again. There’s a twinge of happiness to it because this was an excellent adaptation from the book.

This was very much a “trust the process” watch for many people, especially for those who are more into the serious heroic and dramatic tales that GOT is known for. Needless to say, the ending more than paid off. Out of the entire series I can’t get that one line from Lyonel Baratheon, aka The Laughing Storm, out of my head- “ The gods don’t favor a fraud.”

The “fraud” in this context was Prince Baelor in Lyonel’s eyes. I would be lying if I said there wasn’t any truth to what he said, despite how harsh it was; as the saying goes, sometimes the truth hurts. But is Prince Baelor the only “fraud” in this particular saga? One may even take this saying and reflect on Duncan’s true character. Did the gods favor Ser Duncan the Tall as a true knight or was he a fraud that got extremely  lucky?

Dunk Through Egg’s Perspective

We see much of Drunk’s personality blossom through his relationship with Egg. From the beginning, we see Egg takes a keen liking to Dunk (despite him being a smart ass to him half of the time). Dunk is resistant at first, but comes to see much of himself in Egg and decides to allow him to squire for him. They appear to bond naturally, despite being total opposites. Even when Dunk learns that Egg is a prince, and has lied to him, he still can’t seem to let go of that bond that they quickly developed.(Sidenote, this makes Egg a total fraud too right? JK..Kinda) This is enough to show us that Dunk is a sweet and forgiving man, but it is really through Egg’s perspective that we gain a deeper understanding of why he latches on to him so much.

Throughout the story we learn that Egg is no stranger to knighthood. Once we learn that he is a Targaryen, we realize that this young noble has spent his life seeing “the best of the best;” from the kingsguard that protects his family to the prince knights that he yearns to become when he gets older. But there’s just something about Dunk that makes Egg persistent in trying to squire for him. He sees a man who is not wealthy, yet he still embodies nobility in ways that he is unfamiliar with. He sees Dunk’s appreciation for nature, his kind spirit, and his internal drive to be honorable and decides that this is the man he wants to become like.

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Dunk is also the polar opposite of Egg’s brother Aerion; a vicious man who doesn’t follow the honor code of knights. In one day alone he purposely attacked a horse during a tourney match and broke the finger of a woman puppeteer over a play that he didn’t like.

His other brother Prince Daeron isn’t much better, as he is a liar and a drunkard. They have been given all of the luxuries of life, and it didn’t make either of them good knights (or men). Their royal status grants them social nobility, while their actual characteristics deem them to be…frauds. 

It was Dunk who took the role that both of these men should’ve been for Egg- mentors, loving brothers, and honorable knights that live by their code. Egg surely favored Dunk for this, but did the gods as well?

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Ser Duncan the Tall Through Lord Lyonel Baratheon’s Perspective

So, in the book I absolutely loved Lyonel Baratheon aka The Laughing Storm. However, I was not expecting to love him as much as I did in the tv series. Lyonel just about stole every scene that he was in, and I love that the show added more depth to his relationship with Duncan.

As Duncan is being overlooked by other nobles and knights, Lyonel immediately took notice of him. Was he particularly nice at first? That’s debatable. Yet, just like Dunk and Egg, Lyonel and Duncan appeared to form an almost instant bond as well.

The first episode with the two meeting one another for the first time is one of the best moments in the entire story. I love when Lyonel tells Duncan “The seven above gave you tallness, so be tall! ” He doesn’t mind that Dunk is in his tent simply for a free meal, and they proceed to dance the night away. They end the night with Dunk wearing Lyonel’s Baratheon antler crown as they have a heart to heart chat. True bromance.

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Lyonel goes on to fight in The Trial of the Seven on Duncan’s side, and offers him a place with him at Storm’s End when the battle is over. This leads to the intense “fraud scene” mentioned earlier.

Lyonel appears to become very offended that Duncan is hurt at the passing of Prince Baelor Targaryen, and goes on to boldly proclaim that “the only good dragon is a dead dragon.” Additionally, he makes it known that he and the other five men truly put their lives on the line for Duncan during the trial, while Prince Baelor knew that most men on the other side would avoid hurting him based on his royal status. Again, facts. 

This scene is also interesting because Duncan asks “then why have the gods favored him?” Lyonel dismisses the question by saying that Duncan’s suffering in winning is not favor but instead mockery. Another interesting and brutal blow from The Laughing Storm. There’s a lot to unpack here.

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The show is a bit different from the book in the trust that that audience has that Duncan was knighted by Ser Arlan of Pennytree. In the book, you pretty much don’t question if Dunk is telling the truth (at least I didn’t), but in the show he more so appears to be lying. The truth is still not revealed and is left ambiguous. If Dunk is actually lying, this would of course make Dunk a fraud.

For Lyonel to believe that Dunk is being made a mockery of insinuates that he also doesn’t believe that Dunk was truly knighted, but that he also doesn’t care. There are a couple other hints that support this. From their first meeting, he asks Dunk’s name and he answers “Ser Dunkl,” and Lyonel replies “that’s ridiculous.” Later on in the story he also notices that Dunk hesitates to knight apple boy Raymun Fossoway so that he can fight by Duncan’s side in the trial in place of his cousin. Lyonel steps in to perform the ritual for him instead (in a very gorgeous scene nonetheless). 

Like Egg, Lyonel sees goodness and nobility in Dunk. He may not believe that Duncan was ever officially knighted, but he still offers him a place by his side and claims that he will love or hate him like a brother based on his decision. Lyonel may not believe that the gods have favored Dunk, but for some reason, he surely does. 

Ser Arlan of Pennytree Through Dunk’s Perspective

It all comes back to good ol’ Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Did he really knight Duncan or not? We may never know. What we do know is that Ser Arlan molded Dunk into the Duncan into the legendary knight that everyone came to know, love, and remember. 

Despite not having riches and being a relatively unknown hedge knight, Ser Arlan proved to be the one person that Dunk looked up to the most. It’s clear that Dunk wants to take a similar path as Ser Arlan from the beginning. Dunk’s options were limited but he still had a couple directions that he could’ve gone with his life. He decided to commit to knighthood because he had grown to admire the lifestyle deeply. 

Drunk’s initial plan makes sense. Enter the tourney, win at least one fight, and make a name for himself as a legitimate knight and earn some winnings. This would essentially set up a way for him to continue finding hedge knight work. There is even a moment where he admires the kingsguard knights; seemingly thinking that he could become one himself one day.  By the end of the trial, Dunk’s opportunities have essentially exceeded his expectations and he receives two separate offers to serve House Targaryen and House Baratheon- he rejects permanency with both.

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Dunk deciding to continue life as a hedge knight instead of a sworn sword of a noble house speaks volumes. I don’t blame Dunk for saying “I think I’ve had enough of princes,” but I think his decision was backed by more than royal fatigue.

In a way, Dunk seemingly ends up worse than how he started by the end of season one. He didn’t win the tourney, so there was no money won. He is broken and battered, and three men have died while fighting for his honor. Yet, on the other side he has beaten the odds and survived a once in a lifetime battle that has solidified his honor and reputation. Not to mention, the whole point of the battle was because he was doing what all knights are sworn to do- protect the innocent. He has made a bigger name for himself than he ever anticipated.

I believe that Duncan decided to continue life as a hedge knight after this because he realized that he would not have gotten as far as he did without  Ser Arlan. Even during the trial, he saw flashbacks and visions of Ser Arlan; this man was everything to him.

Despite not being remembered by all the noble and well known knights, he realized that Ser Arlan was the epitome of a true knight. He kept enough coin to make sure they never went hungry (or thirsty), he fought fearlessly and protected the innocent (a personal experience for Dunk), and he knew he always had a home in nature. That was a good, respectable life that Dunk found admirable. 

Continuing life as a humble hedge knight-who was now well known- may have been Dunk’s way of paying respect to both Ser Arlan and the gods for favoring him enough to help him survive as long as he did. Whether he was truly knighted by Ser Arlan doesn’t matter by the end of the season to Egg, Lyonel, the gods, or even the audience. We all see Dunk for who he truly is, and we all favor him. 

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-A. Monique