A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ep 4 just broke out two secret weapons that change the whole show

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Note: Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode four follow after the break below

We were impressed by Ser Arlan, but episode four revealed an even more powerful player in Westeros.

This time, the focus is on the characters of Princes Baelor and Aerion Targaryen. Even dedicated fans have to admit that the newest book in George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series started a bit slowly and wasn’t as action-packed as previous installments.

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But now, in episode four, everything has changed.

Last week, it was revealed that young Egg is actually Prince Aegon, a grandson of King Daeron II. This changes everything for Dunk, who previously attacked Egg’s brother, Prince Aerion. Now, Dunk must fight a trial by combat, but he needs to find six other knights to support him in the battle.

We’d already been introduced to Baelor and Aerion, the potential heirs to the throne, but this episode really lets their characters develop. Their performances are so strong, they take the story to a whole new level.

Bertie Carvel portrays Prince Baelor as a hopeful leader – thankfully, he’s next in line for the throne instead of his impulsive brother, Maekar (Sam Spruell). Baelor acts like a caring father figure, both by asking his nephew Egg to make amends with a prisoner and by genuinely listening to Egg’s concerns about his older brothers, rather than brushing them off.

“I wish Ser Duncan had killed him [Aerion],” says Egg.

“He is your brother,” chides Baelor. “And the septons tell us we must love our brothers.”

This moment reveals a lot: he understands how dangerous Aerion is, but feels obligated to remain loyal to his family. When Aerion avoids responsibility for dealing with Dunk by invoking a trial by combat, Baelor does the same to avoid his brother Maekar’s wrath for opposing Aerion – he simply says, “Let the gods decide.”

Baelor consistently demonstrates both fairness and political savvy as he navigates his complicated family, and Bertie Carvel brilliantly portrays this with subtle gestures. Carvel conveys the weight of Baelor’s responsibility – trying to be just while also maintaining power – without being overly dramatic.

This season introduces a level of complexity we haven’t seen before, bringing back what initially drew us to shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon: intricate political maneuvering brought to life by a talented cast.

That introduces us to Aerion Targaryen—a truly imposing figure, like the Shaquille O’Neal or Ronald McDonald of the Westeros world. Every good story needs a villain, and in Finn Bennett’s ‘Brightflame,’ Aerion fills that role perfectly, easily matching the cruelty of even the infamous King Joffrey.

He shares personality traits with Joffrey – vanity, a sense of entitlement, and arrogance. However, he’s much more intelligent and, while he relies on others for protection, isn’t a coward. His unkindness towards those he considers beneath him isn’t simply due to how he was raised; he genuinely believes his Targaryen heritage places him above others.

Raymun Fossoway claims, when intoxicated, that the ruling family isn’t human at all, but a different species. However, even if the Targaryens are different, that doesn’t make them better than anyone else.

According to Bennett, one of the most tragic things about Aerion is his constant need for validation. He feels deeply unloved by his family and believes achieving the crown will prove his worth. He convinces himself that his actions are what his uncle and father would have wanted, using that as justification.

Unlike its more fantastical counterparts, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms feels grounded and realistic, focusing on relatable characters and the genuine impact of their choices, making both the successes and failures all the more powerful.

Okay, so Dunk is really stuck in the middle right now. He’s dealing with people who are Targaryens, but totally different ones – one’s a good, fair ruler, the other is, well, a bit of a tyrant. It’s not just about him anymore, though. This whole situation feels like it could decide the fate of all seven kingdoms, and the pressure is on.

You can watch ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ on Sky Atlantic and Now in the UK, and on HBO and HBO Max in the US.

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2026-02-10 00:21