“The Morrow” caps off one of the greatest seasons of modern television with a quiet, somber, contemplative finale. After two and a half episodes of dreadful tension and enthralling action, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms dedicates its finale to slower scenes composed of heavy conversations and melancholic landscapes. The episode is mostly structured around Dunk’s interactions with the surviving members of The Trail of the Seven, being offered a job and some moral clarity from Lyonel Baratheon. Unsure of his future, Dunk checks in with the rebellious Raymun Fossoway and most of the grieving Targaryens. Around midway through, Dunk is offered the opportunity to have Egg squire for him, but Dunk rejects it, escalating tensions between him and Egg. After a brief flashback, the episode reaches a sweet, optimistic conclusion. Overall, the scenes and lines ripped straight from the book are conveyed excellently, with the show-original moments standing out as well.
Firstly, dedicating an entire episode to the postmortem atmosphere of The Trail of the Seven was an excellent choice. The quaint hills and living crowds have been injected with a sense of sadness, even adding a liminal quality as the audience can’t help but wonder what the realm would have looked like had Baelor not died so meaninglessly. The episode takes full advantage of this liminal atmosphere by reflecting it in Dunk’s uncertain future. All of Dunk’s scenes with minor characters, notably Egg’s family, give these overshadowed characters powerful moments to shine. This is most apparent with Valaar and Maekar, who are at their most emotionally compelling throughout this episode. As for the Targaryens, Egg is given a grim, depressing solo scene that does wonders for his complex characterization, making him an unpredictable personality in the series going forward.
The most notable aspects of the episode lie in its diversions from the book. Most of the added scenes, notably those with Raymun Fossoway, pair very well with the closely adapted ones and solidify him as one of the most enjoyable characters in the show. On the other hand, this episode makes daring choices regarding some ambiguities in the source material. Rather than appearing like changes for the sake of change, the divergences pair well with the thematic choices that have permeated the season. These choices were not a failure in adaptation; rather, they speak more to the creators of the show taking a stance in interpreting the material, and said interpretations work very well for this version of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Despite its short runtime, this season set the precedent for what could very well be one of the greatest television shows of all time, showcasing a brilliant understanding of character, atmosphere, and tonal shifts. With both loyal mirrors to Martin’s text and show-original creations, everyone involved in this show has demonstrated a fabulous understanding of the world. The show successfully captured the peaceful joy of the tourney, the horrors of combat, the excitement of Baelor swearing for Dunk, the devastation and pure tragic shock of his subsequent death, and the somber, liminal atmosphere that follows–all with tangible glimmers of hope.
Rating: 10/10