A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Divides Fans With Bold Opening

The much-anticipated Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has landed, and it’s already got punters talking. The premiere wastes no time setting a different tone for Westeros, opening with a scene that’s caught viewers off guard and sparked plenty of debate online. If you haven’t caught the first episode yet, be warned—there are some light spoilers ahead.

The show starts with Ser Dunk the Tall laying his old master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, to rest. As Dunk contemplates his next move, the iconic Game of Thrones theme swells in the background, only to be abruptly cut short by a rather graphic moment: Dunk, in need of relief, heads behind a tree and noisily empties his bowels. It’s a jarring shift from the usual epic mood, and it’s got fans wondering what to make of this new approach.

Showrunner Explains the Unusual Choice

Showrunner Ira Parker shed some light on the decision, saying,

"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."

The intention was to play with expectations, flipping the classic hero’s introduction on its head in a way that’s both humorous and a bit confronting.

Fans React to the Tonal Shift

Reactions from the Game of Thrones community have been mixed. One viewer on Reddit 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 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."

Some viewers found the humour a bit much, while others appreciated the fresh take. 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."

Mixed Feelings and High Hopes

Not everyone was on board with the crude gag. Some felt it was unnecessary, with remarks like,

"Dunk having the runs at the start was not needed,"

and,

"Despite the existence of s8, GoT theme music did not deserve 'THAT' kind of transition."

Still, the episode’s overall reception seems positive, with many keen to see where the series heads next.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will continue airing weekly, giving fans plenty of time to decide if this new flavour of Westeros is to their taste. For those wanting to avoid spoilers, there are spoiler-free reviews and release schedules available to keep up with the latest episodes.