'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' showrunner explains shocking poop scene in 'Game of Thrones' prequel premiere

The new Game of Thrones prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already generating conversation, thanks in part to an unexpected and eyebrow-raising moment in its premiere episode.

Instead of opening with a traditional heroic introduction, the series begins with its central character, Ser Duncan the Tall, known as Dunk, squatting in the woods, a choice that immediately caught viewers off guard and even surprised Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin.

The six-episode HBO series, based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, plays with audience expectations right from the start. As the familiar sense of epic adventure seems to build, the moment is undercut by the decidedly unglamorous reality of Dunk relieving himself, prompting a wave of reactions online questioning both the necessity and intention of the scene.

Showrunner Ira Parker explained that the moment was carefully designed to establish character and tone rather than serve as crude humor. “So in the script it reads, ‘Duncan hears the hero theme in his head,’” Parker said. “He was going to hear that call to greatness that we all hear when we decide we’re going to do something really difficult that we’ve never done before.”

That imagined sense of heroism is quickly dismantled, Parker noted, to show Dunk’s vulnerability and inexperience. “But then the reality of doing this, how difficult it is, how scary it is. That turns his guts to water. Because he’s not a hero yet,” he said. “All we’re trying to say here is that Dunk is not a hero yet. He’s just a nervy kid with a nervous stomach.”

Parker added that the moment reflects a larger theme running throughout the season. “And as badly as you want to do something great, as soon as you actually have to go off and do it, it becomes trickier,” he said. “And that’s what the whole season is for him.”

George R.R. Martin himself admitted the scene caught him by surprise when he first saw it. “Not to say that my characters don’t take shits, but I normally don’t write about them at any length,” Martin said. “When I saw the rough cut, I wrote, ‘What is this? Where did this come from? I don’t know if we really need the shit.’ But Ira liked it for whatever reason.”

Despite the unconventional opening, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms aims to offer a more intimate and grounded story within the world of Westeros, focusing on personal growth and small-scale adventures rather than sweeping political battles. And if the premiere is any indication, the series is not afraid to embrace the awkward, human moments that come before true heroism.