For fans of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, the debate over whether Ser Duncan the Tall was ever actually knighted remains one of the biggest mysteries in the series. According to showrunner Ira Parker, this will continue to remain a mystery in HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
As a reminder, in the Season 1 finale, “The Morrow,” which aired February 22, 2026, there was a scene in which Ser Arlan of Pennytree appears to pass away after being asked by his squire if he ever planned to actually knight him. Ser Arlan appears to pass away in the middle of his sentence. He then seems to rally enough to continue speaking.
HBO refuses to confirm if Ser Duncan was knighted
In an interview with Collider after the Season 1 finale, showrunner Ira Parker confirmed that HBO added a scene in which Ser Arlan appears to have been asking his squire if he ever planned to actually knight him. This scene was not in the books. Ser Arlan appears to pass away in the middle of his sentence. He then seems to rally enough to continue speaking.
Parker confirmed that this scene was added at the request of author George R. R. Martin. “At that moment, Dunk had never been knighted by Ser Arlan… There is no confirmation, one way or the other, coming out of that scene. That’s exactly how Mr. R.R. Martin requested it. It remains [ambiguous], and people can decide for themselves,” Parker explained. “As far as we know, the continuation of that scene is, ‘Boy, go get me my sword,’ and then he knights him. There is no confirmation, one way or the other, coming out of that scene … people can decide for themselves.”
The show isn’t revealing its hand. To Parker and the writers, the legality of Dunk’s knighthood isn’t as important as the ideology. The concept they wanted to portray was what makes a “true knight.” Is it the title they were given? Or is it how they acted?
Dunk’s uncertainty about his title might just be what makes him different from the rest. While other knights with higher titles might take it lightly, Dunk takes it very seriously. It is this seriousness that encourages him to be a true knight.
But the theory is that there was a clear leaning towards the “he’s lying” theory in Season 1. In Episode 4, before the Trial of Seven takes place, Dunk is asked to knight Raymun Fossoway. He declines. In fact, he lets Ser Lyonel Baratheon knight Fossoway instead. Dunk looked uncomfortable with the task.
Any knight can knight another knight. Dunk is unsure of himself. Why wouldn’t he knight Raymun? The question remains unanswered. Dunk doesn’t know. The viewers don’t know. And maybe they never will.
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