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‘A Knight of Seven Kingdoms’ episode 5 preview rips open Dunk’s past and we're eager to find out what's next

Dunk’s past collides with his present in 'A Knight of Seven Kingdoms' Episode 5 teases a trial, a battle, and choices that could change everything.

The long-awaited 'The Trial of Seven' finally takes center stage. HBO dropped a preview of what to expect in episode 5 of 'A Knight of Seven Kingdoms'. The fifth chapter picks up from Dunk (Peter Claffey) answering for his 'crimes' as he leads six other knights into battle against Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett) and his men.

The network's caption to the preview read, "Before Ser Duncan the Tall can learn the fate of his future, he must relive his past." The clip opens with a young Dunk looking to make his future as a knight. The scene then shifts to the battle, where he retches out of sheer nervousness when Prince Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) asks him not to die. Towards the end, the preview shows Dunk going toe-to-toe against a knight. The final minutes of episode 4 saw Dunk desperately search for a sixth knight after Ser Steffan sprung a surprise by joining Prince Aerion. This led to Raymun (Shaun Thomas) being knighted by Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), one of the knights fighting alongside Dunk. The final surprise came in the form of Prince Baelor joining the hedge knight.

While there is no synopsis, the official description for the show says, "A century before the events of 'Game of Thrones,' two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends."

Furthermore, the teaser doesn't offer much, but it is safe to speculate that the episode will have Dunk's past interspersed with his present. With the series finale approaching, the battle appears to be far from over, and the aftermath of the jousting will likely carry over to Season 2. 

In related news, showrunner Ira Parker shed light on Dunk's noble actions, even if it landed him in trouble. "I think he would do the same thing over again," Parker told GQ, when asked about his pummeling of Aerion after the latter's brutal abuse of the puppeteer in Episode 4. "In the heat of the moment, if somebody were to physically restrain Dunk, [and] say, 'Hold on, think about this.' No—I think he goes, and he saves Tanselle again. Love is love. He's got a thing for the puppet girl."

The showrunner also weighed in on Baelor's decision to fight for Dunk. "On one hand, he knows what Aerion is and knows that Aerion deserved to be punched in the face," Parker said. "On the other hand, standing up for this guy means you're fighting against your brother and you're fighting against your family. He has to make—everyone has always said that I am this great prince and that I'm going to make this perfect king and that I'm such an honorable guy." 'A Knight of Seven Kingdoms' Episode 5 will release on HBO and HBO Max on February 15, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.