Dunk And Brienne's Connection Teased In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

Published Feb 27, 2026, 9:45 AM EST

Lyonel Baratheon's Mention Of Tarth Sets Up Brienne Being A Descendant Of Dunk

At the start of the episode, Lyonel Baratheon (Daneil Ings) is reclining on a tree alongside Dunk, trying to cheer him up after the death of Baelor (Bertie Carvel). He offers Dunk the opportunity to stay in his court, and among many adventures, he says they could sail to the island of Tarth.

Game of Thrones fans may remember that island because of another very tall knight. Lady Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) from Game of Thrones was often referred to as Brienne of Tarth. As you may have guessed, it's because she's the heir to the lordship of House Tarth. It's another reference to her as a descendant of Duncan.

It's not clear, exactly how Dunk and Brienne are related, but because there are about 90 years between A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Game of Thrones, the connection could come from anywhere. George R.R. Martin has confirmed that Brienne is a descendant of Dunk, but hasn't said how.

It is curious how a boy from the streets of Flea Bottom would eventually have descendants who are lords of one of the more wealthy houses in the Stormlands. It might suggest that Duncan's friendship with Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) gives him access to a world he never would have experienced before.

The history of the Tarths is not very well known, but in Tales of Dunk and Egg, the novella from which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is adapted, a knight named Quentyn Tarth is mentioned as one of the jousters. Perhaps it's another reference to how Dunk and the Tarth's lineages will be intertwined.

How A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Already Referenced Brienne Of Tarth

This isn't the first time, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms referenced the connection between Brienne and Dunk. In episode 5, in the flashback to Dunk's life as a boy in King's Landing, he and his friend Rafe (Chloe Lea) walk down a familiar-looking tree-lined path.

This is the same path, and almost the same shot, that Brienne walked down in Game of Thrones season 4, episode 5, "First of his Name" when Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) sends her from King's Landing.

Showrunner Ira Parker said, "It's the exact same road in Belfast, same trees and everything. There's no attention drawn to it, but anyone who's a deep, deep fan of the show, hopefully, will pick up on that." A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms doesn't make a habit of these nods, but it's nice to see them once in a while.