Join as Eviliv3 reviews @HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms –  S1E2, Hard Salt Beef. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is created by Ira Parker and George R. R. Martin. A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the third television series in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire franchise and is an adaptation of the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. 

Show Notes

Intro

Welcome to Eviliv3, the live media commentary show that answers the question, why does Ser Arlan of Pennytree have such a huge cock? Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are reviewing HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms S1E2 Hard Salt Beef.

Discussion

• Created by Ira Parker & George R. R. Martin
• Based on Tales of Dunk and Egg by George R. R. Martin
• Composer Dan Romer
• premiere on January 18, 2026, on HBO and will 
• consist of six episodes. 
• In November 2025, ahead of the first season premiere, the series was renewed for a second season, which is expected to be released in 2027.
• Cast
  • Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall / “Dunk”, a hedge knight of lowborn background
  • Dexter Sol Ansell as Prince Aegon Targaryen / “Egg”, a child whom Dunk chooses as his squire
  • Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen, Egg’s older brother
  • Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne, Hand of the King to Daeron II, and Egg’s uncle
  • Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a Dornish puppeteer
  • Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, a knight known as the “Laughing Storm” and the heir to House Baratheon
  • Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen, Baelor’s younger brother and Aerion and Egg’s father
  • Guest
    • Ross Anderson as Ser Humfrey Hardyng, a knight of House Hardyng
    • Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway, a knight of House Fossoway of Cider Hall
    • Henry Ashton as Prince Daeron “The Drunken” Targaryen, Egg and Aerion’s older brother
    • Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate, a blacksmith hailing from the Reach
    • Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, a knight of House Dondarrion of Blackhaven
    • Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway, Steffon’s cousin and squire
    • Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, the steward of Ashford
    • Steve Wall as Lord Leo “Longthorn” Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden
    • Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree, an old hedge knight and Dunk’s mentor

Episode

No.	Title [2]	Directed by [3][4]	Written by [5]	Original release date [2]	U.S. viewers(millions)
2	“Hard Salt Beef”	Owen Harris	Aziza Barnes & Ira Parker	January 25, 2026	TBD

• Dunk eulogizes Arlan to numerous participants at the tournament, including Lord Leo Tyrell, but no one remembers Arlan serving them. 
• He then witnesses the arrival of the Targaryen princes: Baelor, Maekar, and Aerion. 
• The Kingsguard Ser Roland Crakehall and Ser Donnel of Duskendale greet Dunk, but question his legitimacy as a knight. 
• Dunk overhears that Maekar’s children, Daeron and Aegon, are missing and asks the Targaryens to vouch for him. 
• Baelor remembers Arlan and vouches for Dunk, but tells him to create his own coat of arms. 
• Dunk and Egg watch one of Tanselle’s performances, about Florian the Fool, and an infatuated Dunk asks Tanselle to paint his new coat of arms upon his shield. 
• Lyonel drafts Dunk and Egg to help in a tug-of-war game, which they win. 
• Dunk later sells a horse to afford new armor from blacksmith Steely Pate. 
• The tournament begins as Dunk and Egg watch the first jousting matches, which include Prince Valarr Targaryen and Lord Medgar Tully among the participants. 
• After Dunk and Egg return to their camp, because Arlan never achieved fame or glory in his long life, a despondent Dunk feels the weight of the responsibility as Arlan’s only legacy.

Outro

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