The tavern went silent the moment Dunk laid eyes on the boy’s exposed scalp. Every instinct screamed at him, a knight’s honor colliding with a stableboy’s secret. The air hung thick with unspoken truths, a moment that redefined everything they thought they knew about each other.
If you caught “The Squire,” the latest episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, you witnessed the unveiling of a secret that George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg fans have been anticipating since the very beginning.
Before the season even premiered, showrunner Ira Parker shared some insights with journalists, io9 included, about this revelation and the motivations behind the character’s concealed identity.
Spoiler alert if you’re not up to date!
Egg, the persistent kid who earns a shot at becoming Ser Duncan the Tall’s squire, is, in fact, Aegon Targaryen. He’s not some random stableboy; he’s a prince, concealing his telltale Targaryen white-blonde hair by shaving his head. As Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have shown, Targaryens can be cruel and self-centered. While not all are, Egg’s immediate family (excluding his uncle, Baelor) certainly fits that mold. So, could Egg’s undercover operation be about more than just dodging royal life?
Ira Parker and the Motivation Behind Egg’s Secret Identity
Remember when you were a kid and a simple “no” felt like the end of the world? That sting of disappointment is a powerful motivator. Ira Parker points to that feeling as a key to understanding Egg’s actions.
Parker explains, “[The] question actually came up a few times in development: why does Egg follow Dunk? Why chase this guy? I spoke with George about this: did he sense Dunk’s honor? Is that why? George offered an insight that really opened things up for me. He said, ‘Kids feel disappointment more acutely than adults… Egg wasn’t going to get what he wanted, [and] in a very princely way, he said, “Well, I’m gonna figure out a way to get in there.”’”
In essence, Egg desperately wanted to witness the action at Ashford Meadow. Stuck at that roadside inn, as seen in the first episode, he recognized an opportunity when he saw Dunk, a hedge knight in need of a squire.
“In many ways, Dunk is unsuspecting. He doesn’t really know anyone; he has no ties,” Parker continued. “Dunk is the perfect person for Egg to pretend with because he’s not going to be wandering into many important camps where Egg might be found out or caught.”
How will Egg’s Targaryen heritage impact his relationships?
With Egg’s Targaryen identity now revealed, it’s reasonable to expect shifts in his dynamic with Dunk. “The Squire” concludes with a stunned Dunk realizing the extent of Egg’s deception. However, considering the adventures still in store for them—including a second season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms slated for next year—it’s likely this rift will mend relatively quickly. Like a river finding its new course after an earthquake, their bond will adapt.
Parker teases that viewers will see how “[Egg has made a] very honest childish decision, and Dunk calls him out on that because part of maturing, part of this process of being a teacher for a young boy or a mentor for a squire, is that your actions have consequences.”
We shouldn’t forget, “[Egg] is just a kid. He should be forgiven. He is, at this point, unmolded clay. I mean, he’s a Targaryen prince officially, but he’s not anything yet.”
When can I watch the next episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
Dunk and Egg will confront the Targaryen revelation in episode four, which arrives early this week—Friday, February 6—on HBO Max. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will also air on HBO at its usual time, on Sunday, February 8.
What can fans expect from Dunk and Egg in future seasons?
You can probably count on even more unexpected revelations and character growth. The real tension in the show is between a knight who clings to honor and a prince who thinks he can skip the rules. The exciting thing about “unmolded clay” is that it can either become a beautiful vase or a useless lump.
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The big question is, will Egg’s lineage ultimately define him, or can Dunk’s influence steer him toward a different path?