Please vote on the theme for Season 5 for the podcast. Also sign up to the newsletter to keep up to date with news and blog posts on the website.
This podcast episode delves into the 4th episode of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," titled "Seven." Liz discusses this episode's faithfulness to the source novella, particularly concerning the rare and chaotic Trial by Seven. The discussion emphasizes Dunk's unexpected support from the smallfolk, who recognize his genuine chivalry.
Liz also provides important podcast updates, including plans for Season 4's "House of the Dragon" reactions and a listener survey to determine Season 5's topic, with fan theories currently leading. Listeners are encouraged to engage via the podcast's website and email.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-westerosi-primer/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
00:01 --> 00:05 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Westerosi Primer.
00:06 --> 00:12 [SPEAKER_00]: For full show notes and more, about all things Westeros, head to the Westerosiprimer.com.
00:14 --> 00:26 [SPEAKER_00]: Before I start playing the intro music, check out this friend of the show.
00:46 --> 00:50 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much.
00:59 --> 01:00 [SPEAKER_00]: Greetings, fellow accolades.
01:00 --> 01:03 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to another episode of the Westerosie Primer.
01:04 --> 01:05 [SPEAKER_00]: My name is Liz.
01:05 --> 01:07 [SPEAKER_00]: If you're new to this podcast, welcome.
01:07 --> 01:10 [SPEAKER_00]: I hope you enjoy this journey of all things Westeros.
01:11 --> 01:17 [SPEAKER_00]: And in this episode, I'll be talking about a night of the 7 Kingdoms episode titled 7.
01:17 --> 01:25 [SPEAKER_00]: In case you weren't aware, this episode was originally aired on HBO 2 days
01:25 --> 01:45 [SPEAKER_00]: because here in the United States, Sunday night was Super Bowl Sunday, so in order to avoid competing for Eisen Ears here in the United States, HBO opted to air the episode a couple of days earlier than normal.
01:45 --> 01:54 [SPEAKER_00]: On the one hand, for all of you viewers, you undoubtedly were excited to get an opportunity to watch the episode earlier than usual.
01:54 --> 02:03 [SPEAKER_00]: On the other hand, that means that your wait for episode five is going to be an extra couple of days.
02:03 --> 02:23 [SPEAKER_00]: As I've done in the previous episodes, I will be discussing my general thoughts and reactions to the latest episode in the first half and then in the second half I will be discussing a couple of important announcements so I would very much appreciate it if you stick around to the very end.
02:23 --> 02:30 [SPEAKER_00]: Now with that said, let me get to my overall thoughts about the episode titled 7.
02:30 --> 02:39 [SPEAKER_00]: I imagine a number of you were very curious and somewhat confused as to why the title of the episode would be 7.
02:39 --> 02:47 [SPEAKER_00]: And if you did watch the episode, you know that the reason is because
02:47 --> 03:00 [SPEAKER_00]: As mentioned in the TV show trial by seven is actually a form of trial by combat and it is of course extremely rare that anybody actually uses it.
03:00 --> 03:10 [SPEAKER_00]: They do mention in the show that it had been about a century or so since anybody ever invoked trial by seven because
03:10 --> 03:31 [SPEAKER_00]: That form of trial-by-combat is extremely difficult to arrange because realistically speaking, how often is there going to be a situation where you will have 14 people be willing to do get out over something that has nothing to do with you?
03:32 --> 03:32 [SPEAKER_00]: Really?
03:32 --> 03:34 [SPEAKER_00]: That's not very common.
03:34 --> 03:50 [SPEAKER_00]: In fact, as far as I know, aside from this particular incident of trial by seven, there's only been one other mention of trial by seven in anything that George wrote in any of the stories.
03:51 --> 04:03 [SPEAKER_00]: And the one other time he ever mentions trial by seven is actually an incident of
04:03 --> 04:19 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, if you are curious about what that particular incident was about, I actually did briefly discuss that already in an earlier episode of this podcast.
04:19 --> 04:27 [SPEAKER_00]: You would have to go to episode
04:27 --> 04:40 [SPEAKER_00]: But essentially, Megor, the cruel who was the third Targaryen king in the Targaryen dynasty, and he also is one of the sons of Aegon the Conqueror.
04:40 --> 04:51 [SPEAKER_00]: He was a participant in a trial by seven, and incidentally, he was the only one who actually survived the trial by seven, although he barely survived.
04:51 --> 04:54 [SPEAKER_00]: He suffered serious injuries and
04:54 --> 04:58 [SPEAKER_00]: almost died, but he locked out and recovered.
04:58 --> 05:06 [SPEAKER_00]: Although some would argue he actually got way worse in personality afterwards.
05:06 --> 05:09 [SPEAKER_00]: But that's neither here nor there.
05:09 --> 05:12 [SPEAKER_00]: Anyway, back to the TV series.
05:12 --> 05:38 [SPEAKER_00]: So overall, I have to say that out of the four episodes that have aired so far, this particular episode happens to be the one I personally feel like is the most faithful in terms of very literal adaptation from the source material to TV show.
05:38 --> 05:52 [SPEAKER_00]: I would say, for example, this is just me making up numbers, but it really is just to give you an idea how faithful they were with adapting the novella for this show.
05:52 --> 06:00 [SPEAKER_00]: I would say this particular episode over 90% of the episode was literally straight from the book.
06:00 --> 06:08 [SPEAKER_00]: There were a few details changed here and there, but I don't feel like the changes were very significant.
06:09 --> 06:18 [SPEAKER_00]: The only bit I do feel like it doesn't really mash up is the fact that
06:18 --> 06:38 [SPEAKER_00]: Dunk didn't reach out to Lionel Barathean earlier and it was actually egg who ended up asking him for help, but that's mainly because they changed things a little bit in the TV show and the TV show, as I mentioned back when the first and second episode aired.
06:38 --> 07:00 [SPEAKER_00]: Dunk wound up speaking with Lionel Baratheon a lot earlier in the story, based off of the TV show, meanwhile in the novella, the very first time Dunk ever speaks to Lionel Baratheon is literally right before they are about to do the trial by seven.
07:00 --> 07:10 [SPEAKER_00]: Basically, the conversation that Dunk and Lionel have in this episode is the very first time they ever spoke in the novella.
07:10 --> 07:23 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, why this is very strange is because if you've talked to the man, at least two or three times already by this point, you would think that Dunk would have
07:23 --> 07:32 [SPEAKER_00]: at least asked the guy whether or not he would be willing to join in the trial by seven with him.
07:32 --> 07:49 [SPEAKER_00]: So that's a bit of continuity error is more of a thing that a book reader like me would notice versus most of you who would not necessarily have noticed that, but it's just a little
07:49 --> 07:59 [SPEAKER_00]: But like I said, a good chunk of the episode was more or less a pretty faithful adaptation of what actually happened in the book, including the dialogue as well.
07:59 --> 08:09 [SPEAKER_00]: The only thing though, that's another minor detail is the fact that my car in the book doesn't question what a trial by seven is.
08:09 --> 08:13 [SPEAKER_00]: He clearly knows what it is because presumably,
08:13 --> 08:32 [SPEAKER_00]: As I explained earlier, one of their Targaryen ancestors made where the cruel participated in a trial by seven, and that would have undoubtedly been a thing that was recorded in history, and they would have learned quite a bit about that, as part of their own history, about their own family.
08:32 --> 08:36 [SPEAKER_00]: So one other detail that I
08:36 --> 08:53 [SPEAKER_00]: also forgot to mention, is that when Donk is heading off to the turny grounds where the trial will take place, along the way he gets stopped by random people among the small folk who wish him that luck.
08:53 --> 09:01 [SPEAKER_00]: And he's incredibly surprised by that because he did not expect anybody to actually back him, especially against the Targaryens.
09:01 --> 09:08 [SPEAKER_00]: Up to this point, nobody has bothered to help him without anything in return.
09:08 --> 09:12 [SPEAKER_00]: And he surprised by the unexpected support.
09:12 --> 09:34 [SPEAKER_00]: and silly paid had to explain to him that no actually you have white a lot more support than you thank you do among the small folk because you are doing something that knights are supposed to do and you show that you actually give a crap about small folk because you are
09:34 --> 09:53 [SPEAKER_00]: among the small folk yourself, you are doing something that most of the nights competing in the journey would never have bothered to do because they don't have the guts, they don't have the genuine good heart that you do.
09:53 --> 09:55 [SPEAKER_00]: so that is why they're cheering you on.
09:55 --> 10:03 [SPEAKER_00]: I do admit it is a bit of a shame that they don't include more of that in the episode.
10:03 --> 10:09 [SPEAKER_00]: We do get little hints at it but not much as was depicted in the book.
10:10 --> 10:25 [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, overall, I would say this particular episode was very solid and I'm sure a number of you out there were completely shocked that the final champion to side with dunk was Prince Baylor himself.
10:25 --> 10:38 [SPEAKER_00]: Prince Baylor is a character that I did discuss a bit when I was doing the episodes in season two of this podcast regarding the Targaryen Dynasties.
10:38 --> 10:44 [SPEAKER_00]: So if you're interested, I would highly recommend that you also check out some of those episodes.
10:44 --> 10:47 [SPEAKER_00]: Baylor Rake Spear.
10:47 --> 10:56 [SPEAKER_00]: is a character that I do discuss quite a bit in episode 2115 and I do briefly mention him in 2116 and 2117 if I recall correctly.
10:56 --> 11:04 [SPEAKER_00]: It's been a while since I recorded those episodes and I don't have the scripts that I wrote for those episodes in front of me at the moments.
11:04 --> 11:17 [SPEAKER_00]: Just in general, in those episodes, I do discuss Baylor, Brake Spirit because he is a very important figure during this particular time period in the history of Westeros and, of course, the Targaryen dynasty.
11:17 --> 11:23 [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, so I'm not going to spoil what happens at the trial by seven.
11:23 --> 11:34 [SPEAKER_00]: I will only say that it is a very exciting event that happened in the book and I genuinely do look forward to seeing the trial by seven on screen.
11:34 --> 12:01 [SPEAKER_00]: I do recall that it does get very chaotic, which isn't too surprising because as I've mentioned in the earlier episodes, the novellas are primarily in dunks perspective, so unsurprisingly, the way the trial by someone gets depicted in the novella is very chaotic because you're getting it from the perspective of a guy who is participating in the trial and
12:01 --> 12:05 [SPEAKER_00]: a lot of craziness is going on all around him and in front of him.
12:05 --> 12:20 [SPEAKER_00]: So I imagine they will do a good job capturing a lot of that in the fifth episode, and yeah, that's all I can really say about that without spoiling anything for anybody.
12:20 --> 12:34 [SPEAKER_00]: I will say they did a very excellent job with hiding the fact that it was going to be
12:34 --> 12:38 [SPEAKER_00]: how Baylor does seem very sympathetic towards Dunk.
12:38 --> 12:52 [SPEAKER_00]: It's also very telling and a pretty good representation of what sort of a man Baylor was as a historical figure within that particular universe.
12:53 --> 13:04 [SPEAKER_00]: He definitely lives up to the reputation he has as being a chivalrous man of honor
13:04 --> 13:11 [SPEAKER_00]: And I wouldn't be too surprised because as Gets mentioned, I do believe in a different episode.
13:11 --> 13:20 [SPEAKER_00]: It may be in the third episode or the second episode, but there is a brief mention of how Arlin participated in the Battle of Redgrass Field.
13:20 --> 13:31 [SPEAKER_00]: Which was a historical event that occurred in the Black Fire Rebellion or rather the first one again I get more into that in the second season of this podcast.
13:31 --> 13:38 [SPEAKER_00]: So if you are curious about that particular event I do discuss it in the season two of this podcast
13:38 --> 13:49 [SPEAKER_00]: I also briefly mentioned it as well in the earlier episodes of the season when I was discussing the novellas, but you're gonna get spoiled.
13:49 --> 13:53 [SPEAKER_00]: So it's on you if you choose to look into it.
13:54 --> 13:56 [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, that's my overall thoughts of this week's episode.
14:10 --> 14:20 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, if you're sticking around, I appreciate that you are continuing listening to this podcast episode, because I do have a couple of announcements.
14:21 --> 14:30 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, if you've listened to the previous episodes, I will apologize that I am repeating myself, but I do have to mention this because I am trying to promote these things.
14:30 --> 14:40 [SPEAKER_00]: Well, there are some of you listening to this episode who are listening to my podcast
14:40 --> 14:42 [SPEAKER_00]: I currently have a...
14:42 --> 14:46 [SPEAKER_00]: I keep referring to it as a poll, but I guess you could technically call it a survey.
14:46 --> 14:53 [SPEAKER_00]: But regardless, basically, I am kindly requesting, and pretty much begging you guys, too.
14:53 --> 15:06 [SPEAKER_00]: Please participate in my poll slash survey where I am asking all of you to let me know what topic you would
15:06 --> 15:23 [SPEAKER_00]: Season 4 of this podcast, which I currently am uncertain when I will be releasing those episodes, but basically it will be my reaction and discussion of season 3 of House of the Dragon.
15:23 --> 15:36 [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, at this point in time, I cannot tell you when that will be coming out because
15:36 --> 16:03 [SPEAKER_00]: I have read a lot of speculations and rumors that possibly season three will be coming out in August, which if that's the case will be a potential problem for me because the second half of August, I will be away on vacation in which case there would be a potential delay in the release
16:03 --> 16:09 [SPEAKER_00]: as naturally I cannot record or watch the show while I am traveling.
16:09 --> 16:19 [SPEAKER_00]: But that is something that will remain to be seen and it is something that I will be discussing in my blog and newsletter.
16:19 --> 16:23 [SPEAKER_00]: Which of course is the other thing that I am going to be promoting next.
16:23 --> 16:39 [SPEAKER_00]: to circle back to my request that more of you participate in the survey slash poll, I really do appreciate it if you guys would please let me know what topic you would like me to discuss in season five of this podcast.
16:39 --> 17:03 [SPEAKER_00]: I still as of this recording only have three votes and the winning vote currently is me explaining and discussing the various fan theories that book readers have had for the past 30 odd years that most of you show only folks would know absolutely nothing about.
17:03 --> 17:17 [SPEAKER_00]: I would be more than happy to discuss and explain those theories, but again, if you prefer me to discuss a different topic, you need to participate and vote and let me know what you think.
17:18 --> 17:23 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, as I mentioned before, I will be doing the next season of the podcast as a reaction to House of the Dragon.
17:23 --> 17:28 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, being that we don't know what the official release date will be,
17:28 --> 17:46 [SPEAKER_00]: you will have to either read on my blog for the podcast or sign up to the newsletter where as soon as the release date gets announced I will determine when will be the release date of this podcast.
17:46 --> 18:16 [SPEAKER_00]: Now, the survey slash poll I'm running, I am letting you all know that the poll will end officially on February 22nd, and of course, when I release the reaction to the season finale of a night of the seven kingdoms, I will announce what will be the topic.
18:16 --> 18:42 [SPEAKER_00]: So, unless more people vote something differently, that may be the season five topic, in which case I will then go on a short hiatus after on night of the seven kingdoms ends and do a little break and then I will begin doing my research and preparing those scripts months and advanced of when I will eventually release season five of the podcast.
18:42 --> 19:12 [SPEAKER_00]: I would also like to remind those of you listening to this podcast that I have created a website, which is thewesterrosyprimer.com, and on that website you can get all sorts of information about the podcast in general and also the previous episodes I recorded, another really cool feature on the website is that on the episode pages you have the ability to
19:12 --> 19:17 [SPEAKER_00]: You can leave comments about whether you agree or disagree with anything I said in the episode.
19:18 --> 19:20 [SPEAKER_00]: You can share your opinions.
19:20 --> 19:30 [SPEAKER_00]: You can even submit questions in the comments section, or you can send your questions to host at the Wester Rosie Primer.com.
19:30 --> 19:47 [SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, so that is this week's episode, tune in next time when I will do a reaction and discussion of the next episode of the TV show, which is titled in the name of the mother, Valar Morgoulis.
20:24 --> 20:25 [SPEAKER_00]: What did you think of this episode?
20:26 --> 20:31 [SPEAKER_00]: Check out thewesterocprimer.com and let me know what you think of this episode.
20:32 --> 20:36 [SPEAKER_00]: If you have a friend or two that might like the show, make sure to share.