A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Dunk’s Penny and a Lore-Friendly Explanation
Fans of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the Game of Thrones prequel, have been largely positive about the series since its debut. However, one detail in the season finale sparked debate: the way Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (Peter Claffey) affixed a penny to a tree in remembrance of his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb).
The Tradition of the Pennytree
Ser Arlan is known as Pennytree due to a historical tradition within the Game of Thrones universe. The custom involves warriors hammering a coin into a tree before going to war for great luck and divine protection, retrieving it upon their return. A similar, though more superstitious, practice exists where hammering a coin into a tree is believed to bring good fortune.
The Debate Over Dunk’s Technique
In the finale, Dunk attempts to honor this tradition, but his method raised eyebrows. He hammered the penny flat-side first into the tree, which would be difficult to accomplish and unlikely to hold. The more practical approach would be to drive the penny in lengthwise, using one of the rounded sides.
Dunk the Lunk: A Fitting Explanation
However, viewers quickly offered a plausible explanation rooted in the character of Dunk himself. As frequently noted both in the original source material and the series, Dunk is not known for his intelligence. He is often referred to as “Dunk the Lunk,” or described as being as “stupid as a castle wall.”
As one Reddit user pointed out, Dunk’s misunderstanding and clumsy execution of the tradition are entirely in character. His stubbornness and strength would explain why he’d attempt the method incorrectly and succeed despite the difficulty. Another user suggested it’s fitting that he would misinterpret a lesson from Arlan and proceed to do it wrong.
Looking Ahead
Season 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is scheduled for 2027, with a potential Season 3 following in 2028. Before that, Season 3 of House of the Dragon will premiere in June 2026.