A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Dunk is directly linked to beloved Game of Thrones character

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So, HBO just dropped this new show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it follows Ser Duncan the Tall, who’s a total legend from Westeros. It’s cool because one of my favorite characters from Game of Thrones is actually related to him – a direct ancestor, apparently! It adds a whole new layer to the story, knowing their connection.

Brienne of Tarth, played by Gwendoline Christie, is a popular character from Game of Thrones. She’s well-known for being incredibly honorable and for her impressive stature.

Although Dunk and Brienne share qualities like honor, fighting skill, and height, their connection goes deeper – Dunk is actually Brienne’s ancestor.

How is Brienne related to Dunk?

The first clue appeared in the fourth book, A Feast for Crows, when Brienne has her shield repainted.

The image resembled a painting more than a formal coat of arms, and seeing it instantly transported her back to her childhood. She remembered being in the cool, dim room where her father kept his weapons and armor, tracing the chipped and worn paint with her fingers – the green leaves of the tree and the trail of the falling star especially stood out in her memory.

Ser Duncan the Tall’s emblem featured a falling star above an elm tree. Somehow, a shield bearing this design ended up at Evenfall Hall, the home of Brienne of Tarth. Later, in the story, Brienne has a shield made with the very same emblem.

During a book signing in 2005, George R.R. Martin revealed that a descendant of Dunk appears somewhere in the books, and he suggested there’s a clear clue about it in A Feast for Crows. Most fans believe this is that clue.

At the Balticon convention in 2016, a fan questioned George R.R. Martin about whether the connection between Brienne and Dunk would ever be explained. He responded that it would be revealed “eventually,” promising answers in the future.

In Game of Thrones, Dunk becomes a well-known member of the Kingsguard, but knights in this group take a vow of celibacy. Since we don’t know about Dunk’s life before becoming a knight, Brienne’s ancestor was probably born before he joined the Kingsguard.

Peter Claffey, who plays Dunk, shared that Gwendoline Christie’s performance really influenced him. He was a big fan of the original show and admired Christie’s portrayal of Brienne, noting that their characters have a lot in common.

She’s incredibly honorable and always strives to do the right thing. Her biggest dream is to become a knight, but it’s especially challenging because she was originally a lady in Westeros. This makes her journey much more difficult than Dunk’s was, though you can still see some similarities between them.

Christie and Dexter Sol Ansell, who plays Egg, previously collaborated on the 2024 film Robin and the Hoods. Claffey playfully teased Ansell, saying he’d worked with her granddaughter!

We’ll likely discover more about the relationship between Brienne and Dunk when The Winds of Winter is eventually published.

Also, some fans believe Dunk is actually Hodor’s great-grandfather, so you can explore that possibility. While you’re at it, we’ve got all the latest information about Season 3 of House of the Dragon.

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2026-01-19 01:19