Dunk's mettle is put to the test in the brutal trial of seven. Years earlier, Dunk finds himself drawn to the promise of a new future.
I was not surprised to see Dunk, as a young boy, being wimpy and submissive. He tries to stay out of trouble because he is not physically imposing. His wide-open eyes reflect his fear of confronting harsh realities, which is why he loses himself in a fantasy—a fantasy in which his mother will one day return to him. Because he is so timid, so weak, he clings to someone capable and assertive. At first, that person was a young girl named Rafe. She was later replaced by Ser Arlan. In the present, Dunk tries to attach himself to Baelor Targaryen. "I am your man, Your Grace," Dunk says enthusiastically, seeking the approval of his new master, and he does so after defeating Aerion. It is no small achievement, but Dunk has always seen himself as a small man. One victory is not enough for him to regard himself with even a little respect.
From the beginning, Dunk had fantasized about winning the Ashford tournament. In one episode, he was struck with fear when he witnessed the bloody carnage firsthand. And now, when he finally gets the chance to prove himself, he vomits, fumbles, and is easily struck down by his opponents. Dunk finds himself in the midst of real violence and is instantly overwhelmed by the experience. All those grand aspirations come tumbling down in the face of extreme danger. It takes time for Dunk to regain his composure. Once he does, he charges at Aerion with all his might. He does not fight like a skilled warrior; instead, he hurls his body at Aerion with brute force and desperate vigor. Dunk looks like a possessed man. What possesses him? The crushing weight of his past—the memory of his helplessness in the conflict that led to the death of his first love, Rafe.
A flashback tells us that Dunk and Rafe used to steal from fallen knights. A Gold Cloak, meanwhile, bullied them and stole from them. Rafe retaliated by stealing something from him. This angered the Gold Cloak, and after a frustrating conversation with a merchant who tells them that the price of passage to the Free Cities has doubled, the two urchins come face-to-face with him again. The encounter leads to Rafe's death. Poor Dunk is unable to fight back. Only seconds earlier, he had lowered his head and told Rafe that they should just walk away. How could such a boy strike back?
It is very possible that, without his six companions, Dunk would not have been able to defeat Aerion. The chaos helps him, as the loathsome Targaryen is struck by multiple attackers. Dunk, too, is beaten down, but Arlan's voice rouses him and gives him the strength to stand up to this bully, one not so different from the Gold Cloaks who killed Rafe. Hereafter, Ser Duncan the Tall should stand tall and proud. He has finally proved himself capable and honorable. At last, the armor of knighthood fits him like a glove.
Final Score: 6.5/10
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