Rating: 9.5/10 (Emotional Damage Imminent)
Is everyone else holding their breath? Because I don't think I exhaled for the entire runtime of this episode.
If the last few weeks were about the sunshine, tournaments, and the romance of being a knight, Episode 4 just grabbed us by the collar and dragged us into the mud. This wasn't just "good TV"—this felt heavy. It felt like the calm before a storm that’s about to wipe the map clean.
We watched Ser Duncan the Tall hit rock bottom this week, and honestly? It hurt. But it’s also the fire that’s going to forge the legend we know he becomes. Let’s dive into the cell, the betrayal, and that ending that had me screaming at my screen.
1. Hitting Bottom: Dunk in the Dark
The opening shot broke my heart immediately. We see Dunk in his cell, staring at what looks like stars—the one thing that always gave him comfort when he was sleeping in hedges. But then the camera moves, and you realize... nope. It’s just the damp, cold texture of a prison wall.
It’s such a cruel irony. Dunk spent his whole life dreaming of being inside a castle, of having a roof over his head. Well, be careful what you wish for, right? He got his roof, but it’s a cage. seeing a guy as big and strong as Dunk curled up on that tiny stool just emphasized how small he feels right now. He’s a giant in a world that doesn’t want him.
My emotional wreck moment: When he stroked the wet rat. Even when he’s facing execution, Dunk is still the guy who cares about the little things. He’s worried about his horses while his own life is on the line. That is our knight.
2. Egg’s Visit (Pass the Tissues)
The dynamic flipped so hard here. When Egg walks in, wearing those Targaryen clothes... wow. It’s the first time we’ve really seen him as Aegon Targaryen, not just "Egg." He looked like a mini-Daenerys or Rhaenyra, dripping in royalty, standing over Dunk who is eating with his bare hands because they don't trust him with a fork.
But then came the line that gutted me. Dunk is furious (and rightfully so!), asking if he’s the biggest fool in the world. And Egg, with tears in his eyes, admits he didn’t lie to hurt anyone—he lied because he wanted to be a squire that badly.
"I lied because I wanted to go with you."
I’m not crying, you are. It’s that desperate need to chase a dream, even if you have to tell a "monstrous lie" to do it.
3. The Only Good Targaryen? (All Hail Baelor)
Can we talk about Baelor Breakspear for a second? The man oozes charisma. In a family full of chaotic coin-flips, Baelor is the steady hand. The scene in the library/study was perfect. He treats Dunk like a human being, not a criminal.
But the reality check Baelor gives him is terrifying. Aerion doesn't just want an apology; he wants Dunk’s arm and leg. The way Baelor explains the politics—how a "dead wooden dragon" in a puppet show scares the royals because it looks like a rebellion—shows just how fragile power really is.
4. The Trial of the Seven: The Ultimate Gamble
The audacity of Aerion Brightflame! Sitting there, casually eating nuts while demanding a Trial of the Seven? I have never hated a villain this quickly. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He thinks Dunk is a nobody who can't find one friend, let alone six.
It’s a coward’s move, and even his dad, Maekar, knows it. But it sets the stage for the highest stakes we’ve seen yet. It’s basically a medieval "Survivor Series," and if Dunk loses, he dies.
5. The Betrayal & The Green Apple
Top 10 Anime Betrayals: Steffon Fossoway. I trusted you, Steffon! Last week he was talking about honor and "colonizers" and standing up for the little guy. This week? He sells Dunk out for a lordship. It was a brutal reminder that in Westeros, honor is usually the first casualty.
But then... Raymun Fossoway. What a legend. The moment he looks at his cousin and basically says, "You make me sick," I cheered. And seeing the "Laughing Storm" Lyonel Baratheon just cackle while knighting Raymun on the spot? Cinematic perfection.
Red Apple: Rotten to the core.
Green Apple: Unripe, but decent.
Me: Officially a Fossoway stan (the green kind).
6. The Dragon Dreams (Literal Chills)
Prince Daeron, the "Drunken Dragon," is such a tragic figure. He isn't cruel like Aerion; he's just crushed by the weight of seeing the future. When he tells Dunk about his dream—"A great beast... fallen on top of you. But you were alive"—I got goosebumps.
"Did I kill us?" That line is haunting me. It feels like a horror movie prophecy. We know something bad is coming. You can feel it in the air.
7. The Avengers Assemble
The final sequence? Absolute cinema. Dunk standing there in the rain, looking like he’s about to face the firing squad alone. The smallfolk cheering for him because they see what the high lords ignore: a true knight.
And then they show up. The magnificent seven (well, almost).
Humphrey with the broken leg? Hero.
Robyn Rhysling fighting for the gods? Icon.
The Laughing Storm just wanting to brawl? Legend.
But they were still one man short. The crowd laughed. Aerion smirked. My stomach dropped. And then... the music swelled.
BAELOR. BREAKSPEAR.
When the Crown Prince stepped forward to fight against his own brother and nephew, to save the life of a hedge knight? I actually screamed. That is what a hero looks like. He put his life and his title on the line for justice.
8. Conspiracy Corner (Book Spoilers & Theories)
The Mystery Woman: Did you guys catch the fortune teller with the wine-stain birthmark? BOOK READERS, WAKE UP! That has to be a nod to Bloodraven (Brynden Rivers). A thousand eyes and one? He is definitely watching these events unfold.
The Prophecy: Daeron’s dream about the dragon falling... if you know, you know. And if you don’t know, prepare your hearts for the finale. It’s going to be devastating.
Final Thoughts
This episode stripped away the songs and the silk and showed us the gritty, dirty reality of knighthood. Dunk wanted glory, but he found responsibility instead.
I am terrified for next week's finale. The pieces are set, the champions are ready, and the tragedy feels inevitable.
What did you guys think? Did the Baelor reveal make you jump out of your seat too? Let’s scream about it in the comments!
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