A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 3 trailer has Game of Thrones fans ‘anxious’

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 3 appears to set up a tone shift as the latest Targaryen villain, Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett), armors up. It’s a recognizable feeling for Game of Thrones fans.

So far, the HBO series has been a lighthearted companion to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, centering on hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his sidekick squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).

Based on George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novella’s, the story is intentionally narrower in scope and packed with plenty of humor (poo gags and all). That said, it still connects to the wider mythology given the show is set when the Targaryens hold the throne. 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 2 introduces us to a number of the (mostly) white-haired royals, including the show’s big bad, Aerion Targaryen. Warning: potential spoilers ahead!

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 3 trailer hints at familiar kind of cruelty

We’re yet to see the full extent of Aerion’s callousness, but the trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 3 suggests a dark turn for the show, with Game of Thrones fans comparing him to the evil King Joffrey. 

Although the preview starts off in a more lighthearted tone, it switches when Raymun (Shaun Thomas) asks Dunk if he’s found an opponent yet. “I suppose Aerion and I are quite equally matched,” Dunk replies. 

But Raymun warns that the Targaryens are “tyrants” who burned their lands and enslaved their people, describing them as “incestuous aliens.” During this warning, we see clips of Finn Bennett’s prince donning his menacing black and red armor. 

As one YouTuber pointed out, we also see shots of a bonfire that Dunk gets caught up in, as well as a clip of Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) when the line “enslaved our people” is said. 

“As we saw in the weeks ahead trailer, it seems like she becomes a victim of Aerion, which almost triggers the situation that Ser Dunk ends up in in the second half of the story,” they explained. 

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Following this, there’s a series of other shots, with the YouTuber adding, “It seems like during the tourney, it’s going to kick off and that’s probably where the shift in the show’s tone is going to change. 

“From there, it’ll lead to Aerion waving his authority around and assaulting Tanselle.” Later in the trailer, we see Aerion with a bloody mouth, which will no doubt have Dunk involved somehow. 

And if there’s one thing entitled rulers don’t like in George R.R. Martin’s world, it’s being shown up and made to look weak in front of others. 

The preview has created both excitement and concern, with one writing, “Watching Aerion walk out in that black and red armor gave me pure Joffrey-level anxiety. 

“Finn Bennett has mastered that ‘Targaryen Madness’ look in just two episodes. You can tell he’s been waiting his whole life to find someone like Dunk to bully. This trial is going to be legendary!”

HBO

Another quipped, “I am sure this Aerion guy is a well adjusted, proper fellow.”

Alongside the parallels between Aerion and Joffrey, some fans have pointed to the fact that Joffrey essentially spoiled Aerion’s fate in Game of Thrones. 

In one scene, he gives Margaery Tyrell a history lesson, saying, “Over there, the ashes of Aerion Targaryen. Aerion Brightflame. He thought drinking wildfire woful turn him into a dragon. He was wrong.”

It’s worth noting that it’s currently unknown whether this is how his story will play out in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon made notable changes to George R.R. Martin’s source material, from reordering events to reinterpreting key character moments. So any supposed “spoilers” from the other TV shows may not apply here.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 3 drops on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, February 1. Until then, read about why there are no dragons in the show, if Dunk is related to Hodor, and the new TV shows coming to streaming this month.