If you’re still reeling from the latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, you’re in good company. The latest episode not only gave fans a dose of blood, battle, and brutality, but it also turned the series from a campy medieval coming-of-age story into a true entry in the Game of Thrones world. Fans got swords, maces, and unexpected deaths. No dragons, though. Still, the episode served as a reminder that when you think you know what’s coming in this world, the rug can always be pulled from under you. And when you fall in love with a character who only wants to do the right thing, you should prepare to have your heart broken.
The episode is a cinematic triumph, with the breadth and scale fans have come to expect from most Hollywood blockbusters. Its use of flashbacks, sound design, and slow, intentional shots is a wonder to experience on screen. However, all of that pales in comparison to the shocking death that unfolds at the end of Episode 5 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Spoilers ahead for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Baelor’s Death in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Repeats a Pivotal ‘Game of Thrones’ Moment
When Prince Baelor joined the Trial of Seven in Episode 4 to defend Dunk, he was so confident he would make it out alive, and why wouldn’t he be? But after the trial in Episode 5, with Dunk emerging victorious and swearing fealty to the prince, what should have been a beautiful moment turns tragic. When Baelor’s helmet is removed, we see that the back of his head has been caved in. He suggests it was likely his brother. An attentive viewer has even identified the moment Maekar likely struck Baelor, and it appears unintentional. Even the glimpses we see of Maekar in the Episode 6 trailer make it clear he is heartbroken by his brother’s death. What’s particularly interesting about this dynamic is that Baelor did what he thought was right by defending Dunk, and Maekar did what he thought was right by defending his son. In the end, it is this desire to do right that damns Westeros over and over again.
What’s more, Baelor’s fate is reminiscent of the tragedy that befalls Ned Stark. The characters are similar too. Both men were upright and honorable, and in the end, that’s what cost them their lives. One might even say they were honorable to the point of death. Yes, there are similarities, but there are stark (pun intended) differences as well. While Ned was a poor player in the game of thrones, Baelor was not even playing the game at all, but proximity to the throne always demands blood. If Aerion had not been a prince of the realm, he would never have had the audacity to bully the puppeteers. Dunk would not have intervened, and events would not have spiraled the way they did.
While Ned was naïve, Baelor understood he was entering a fight to the death. What makes both deaths so powerful, and perhaps especially tragic, is that each man believed he would survive. But Ned made the fatal mistake of underestimating Cersei, and Baelor believed the Kingsguard would not harm him, not once considering the only person who would be bold enough to strike him, his brother. In both shows, the deaths catch fans off guard. They hit hard because we are rooting for these men. We want to see good men win, but just like in real life, that is not always the case.
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Baelor Targaryen and Ned Stark’s Deaths Forever Change the Course of Westeros
Baelor’s death kicked off a brutal domino effect in Westeros. After his death, Maekar becomes next in line to the throne, after which Aegon V, who we know as Egg, becomes king. Egg’s son, Jaehaerys II succeeds him as king. Jaehaerys is then followed by Aerys II, but Game of Thrones fans will know him better as the Mad King. This sets the stage for Robert’s Rebellion, which eventually leads us into Game of Thrones and Ned Stark’s story. Like Baelor, Ned’s death also triggers a chain of events that unfold across eight seasons of prestige television.
There is no denying that both men deserved the throne. They were steadfast and noble, but as any fan of the franchise knows, good men don’t always make good kings. In this case, they rarely become kings at all.
Step on the battlefield with Dunk and Baelor, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO Max.
