A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – The Morrow review S1 E6
The Morrow continued the grand tradition of Game of Thrones season finale episodes. Unlike the usual TV model, the penultimate episode is the season standout while the season finale sets the stage for next year’s shenanigans.
That doesn’t mean that Morrow was an underwhelming episode. Hardly. This was more of a catch your breath installment with new storylines being set in motion. Many of those potential subplots unlock all kinds of fun potential for next year.
In the wake of the Trial of Seven, Prince Baelor — the heir to the throne — is dead unintentionally slain at the hands of his brother, Maekar. Dunk, the man whose bravery inspired Baelor to fight at his side, is nursing his very serious wounds while carrying a mountain of guilt for his role in getting the future king killed.
Ser Lyonel Baratheon doesn’t understand all the fuss and sadness over the death of a dragon. Any dead Targaryen is a good one in Lyonel’s opinion. Showing more intelligence than he or anyone else gives him credit for, Dunk stands up for Baratheon as he recognized the realm was in good hands under his rule. With the throne now passing to Maekar, there’s a very good chance things won’t work out so well for him.
Regardless, Lyonel offers Dunk a place by his side in the never-ending quest for a good battle…or booze, whichever comes first. Dunk doesn’t turn him down, which is good enough for Lyonel. The death of the future king does tend to put a buzzkill on the tournament with just a handful of vendors left and most of them are throwing salty looks Dunk’s way.
At least he can still count on his pal, Raymun, who’s got plenty of reasons to be in a good mood. He survived the Trial of Seven, showed up his cousin Steffon and he’s married Red (Rowan Robinson), who Dunk remembers as one of the working girls from his arrival to the tournament. And Red is having his baby. Dazed and battered, Dunk still realizes it’s for the best not to ruin the day of one of his few remaining friends so he soliloquies about the morrow instead of smartening Raymun up.
Maekar’s crew comes to bring Dunk before the future king ver. 2. Dunk isn’t sure what to make of this meeting although he seems fairly certain Maekar didn’t summon him to kill him. Maekar is surprisingly reserved and not nearly as peeved as one might think. He sees a kindred spirit in Dunk, who will be regarded as the louse that got Baelor killed.
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Morrow shows a remorseful Maekar who has already started taking some steps for viewer redemption. He’s sending his bastard son Aerion away to the Free Cities after he recovers. That probably works out well for Maekar too since Aerion’s cowardly refusal to fight Dunk one on one led to his uncle’s death. Maekar also has an offer for Dunk — continue his knight training with one of the King’s Guard while officially taking on Egg as his squire.
This is a pretty solid job offer although Dunk says he’s done with princes and politely turns down the role. Egg was eavesdropping and not thrilled that his make-a-wish big brother turned down the offer to make their partnership actually endorsed by his father.
That cues up the big flashback in Morrow as Dunk reflects on Ser Arlan continuing to train him as a knight. It seemed like the big reveal for Morrow would be the twist that Arlan died before actually knighting Dunk. Whether that is the case isn’t revealed here still leaving some mysteries for non-book fans. Dunk’s big takeaway is that a knight always has to finish the story. So too does Cody Rhodes.
Dunk returns to Maeker with a counteroffer — he’ll take Egg on as his squire, but not at Summerhall. Egg will accompany Dunk on the road really seeing the seven realms and helping whoever they encounter. Maekar doesn’t love that option and turns Dunk down.
With his fate uncertain, Morrow finds Egg contemplating what it would take to find some happiness with his family. Maybe killing his wounded brother Aerion? Before he can make that fateful decision, Maekar makes a noise, so Egg realizes he is not alone with Aerion. Would Egg actually have killed Aerion? Probably. He sure was hoping someone else would kill him during the jousts.
Raymund actually bought Sweetfoot to return to Dunk. Fighting a battle is one thing but going to the horse pawn shop to get your boy’s horse back. That’s a good friend. Dunk appreciates the gesture but would rather Raymund keep Sweetfoot. No need to keep up with three horses when you boy can easily take one and be guaranteed it’s going to a good home.
Dunk puts a coin on the tree per the tradition of old knights, another lesson he got from Arlan. To finish off the Morrow happy moments, Egg shows up saying he is to be Dunk’s squire after all. With Maekar’s permission, Dunk resumes Egg’s training, but first he needs a steed of his own. Dunk gives Chestnut to Egg while he keeps Thunder as his ride.
That makes for a nice and clean way to wrap up Morrow complete with a little Fast and Furious tribute as Arlan “rides off” with Sweetfoot as Dunk and Egg head off to their next adventure. In a very brief aside, we learn that Maekar is looking for Egg showing that he absolutely did not sign off on Egg going on a road trip with the hedge knight. Since Egg easily avoided detection when Maekar knew where he was going now his youngest is as good as gone until he wants to be found again.
Morrow was a solid conclusion to the season finale that was less about some epic battle and more laying the groundwork for season 2, which definitely can’t come soon enough after this excellent first season.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Photo Credit: HBO Max
After watching Morrow, check out the paperback of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Amazon.
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