HBO‘s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 2 “Hard Salt Beef” introduces one of the most beloved Targaryens in all of George R.R. Martin‘s books.
**Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 2 “Hard Salt Beef,” now streaming on HBO Max**
Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) arrives in Ashford just in time to save Ser Duncan the Tall’s (Peter Claffey) dreams of entering the lists. The Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne is the first — and only — knight at the Tourney with any recollection of Ser Duncan’s mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb). In a moving scene, which actor Bertie Carvell also described as “a test” for Dunk, the powerful Targaryen shows the first bit of real chivalry we’ve seen in the HBO series so far.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place about one hundred years before the events of the original Game of Thrones series. The Targaryens still rule the realm, but no longer have any dragons to ride. Because of this, the family actually has to focus on Westerosi politics. A clutch of Targaryen princes — including Prince Baelor, his son Valarr (Oscar Morgan), brother Maekar (Sam Spruell), and Maekar’s son Aerion (Finn Bennet) — have come to Ashford to mingle with other noble houses of the realm.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows lowly Ser Duncan the Tall and his scrawny squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Because no one was present for his knighting, save for a robin in a tree, Ser Duncan needs another knight to vouch for him and Ser Arlan. No one has any memory of the deceased hedge knight. No one, save for Prince Baelor.
Prince Baelor remembers jousting against Ser Arlan years earlier, giving Dunk a green light to compete at the Tourney.
“I suppose the truth matters,” Bertie Carvel told DECIDER. “It’s also a test, though, that scene, isn’t it?”
“Although he’s a better host than his brother and although he has perhaps better manners, there is still a sense that one should not trespass too much on his hospitality.”
Baelor confirms he jousted against Ser Arlan at a tournament, but disagrees with Dunk’s assertion that they broke seven lances. It was only four.
“But yeah, the truth matters and he does remember and he remembers in detail and that’s who he is,” Carvel said. “And again, you know, these are heroic qualities in our day and age. How nice to be reminded that there are leaders for whom details matter and so does the truth.”
Prince Baelor Targaryen is particularly beloved amongst the hardcore A Song of Ice and Fire fandom precisely because of his “heroic qualities.” He has a fascinating backstory, dealing with the Blackfyre Rebellion and the addition of Dorne to the Seven Kingdoms. When DECIDER asked Bertie Carvel if he did a lot of research into Baelor’s history, he explained he preferred to focus on the scripts.
“I think in the story, the key thing is what you do from one moment to the next. So I’m more interested in the present tense than the past,” Carvel said. “What moves me about Baelor is that he doesn’t know before what he’s going to do. And that’s what keeps it dangerous and alive.”
“How nice to be reminded that there are leaders for whom details matter and so does the truth.”
Bertie Carvel on Prince Baelor Targaryen
“It’s so interesting hearing people talk about these stories as history and that these things are known. But in the moment that they happen, they’re not known. And that’s true of our world, too, isn’t it? Each of us has to decide from one minute to the next how we’re going to behave. That’s what gives our choices a moral dimension that we could go either way. That he chooses what we might regard as to do the right thing is moving precisely because he might not.”
Carvel went on to explain that although he didn’t delve deep into Martin’s world for research, he was absolutely delighted that so many fans do just that.
“We all hold these stories in common, don’t we?” he said. “It takes an audience as well as an actor to make believe. Everybody has to kind of go with it.”
“I hope what I’ve done fits inside the palace that people have made for themselves with these wonderful stories already and enriches it in some way. And when they’re good stories, you usually find that it does.”