In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ first episode was the poop scene. Episode two“Hard Salt Beef,” brought another memorable moment involving bodily functions, and showrunner Ira Parker knows people are going to be curious about why certain size-related decisions were made.
If you’re still unaware of last night’s episode, here’s a heads-up:
At the start of the episode, Dunk (Peter Claffey) recounts memories of his late master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), recounting the man’s honorable qualities. Dunk hopes that someone will remember Ser Arlan’s honorable actions and fighting spirit and agree to vouch for him so that Dunk – a hedge knight with no credentials – can compete in the Ashford tournament.
However, the visuals let us know that Ser Arlan’s most distinctive feature is something that usually remains hidden, even though it is on full display in the opening moments of “Hard Salt Beef”: his enormous manhood. It’s “rewind the episode and make sure you saw what you thought you saw” writ large. And while Parker joked about whether or not it was a prosthetic while talking to Weekly Entertainment (“I forget”), he knew full well that the scene would make an impression. He also had good reasons for wanting to include it.
“I felt bad for Ser Arlan at one point…Dunk is trying to find someone who can even do it. remembers him – the people he served for, the people he bled for, these knights and these lords,” Parker said.
But Dunk doesn’t stand a chance, at least at first. That’s why Parker said: “I felt the need to give [Ser Arlan] its only special thing, channeling a little Boogie eveningsI guess.”
However, it’s meant to be a fun side, not something the audience dwells on. “It’s just one side of the story we’re telling,” Parker said. “It was a difficult time for anyone, let alone a fighting warrior who lived under the trees in the 14th century…I thought he had something that helped him get through these really intense battles. He has a certain energy in him, if you will.”
What “flourishing” could A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are viewers treated to in episode three? New episodes arrive Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.
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