The New Game of Thrones Show Flashes Something ... Huge in Episode 2. It's Not Even the Most Impressive Part.

"Jenny G. Zhang: After a series premiere that seemed to be received pretty well by viewers-although the diarrhea smash cut was certainly divisive-we open the second episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms with another jump scare: big dong alert, courtesy of Ser Arlan of Pennytree, who is truly packing the heat. (While he is probably not a Best or a Worst Person in Westeros this week, he certainly deserves some kind of title.)"

"We are treated to Dunk's sweet, highly embellished remembrances of his old mentor, as he spends a portion of the episode begging various noblemen around the camp to recall a not-particularly-great hedge knight who once served them, all so that Dunk can officially enter the tournament lists. Sadly, this effort is proving fruitless, as, again, see above re Arlan-and, besides, as this episode hits home again and again, the highborn barely register the smallfolk as people, let alone remember them for their service."

"The world-building is effective, as we become more enmeshed in this camp through Dunk's explorations of it, and I like seeing how the other half lives after Knight 's television predecessors focused primarily on the exploits of the great houses. I also really appreciated that this episode is essentially about small kindnesses, whether it's Dunk trying to burnish Arlan's legacy or a member of the Kingsguard bestowing a (real? false?) sliver of hope that someone of humble birth could rise to glory."

The second episode opens with a jump scare featuring Ser Arlan of Pennytree, notable for his conspicuous endowment. Dunk pursues entry to the tournament lists by asking noblemen to recall his former hedge knight mentor, but the highborn largely ignore the smallfolk. The episode uses Dunk's explorations of the camp to deepen world-building and show everyday life beyond great houses. Small kindnesses drive emotional beats, including efforts to burnish a humble knight's legacy and a Kingsguard member offering a sliver of hope that someone of low birth could rise to glory. Humour and tenderness sit alongside class tension.

Read at Slate Magazine