Viewers of the new Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, got a very big surprise in the opening scene of the latest episode.
Following the shocking poop moment in the first episode, where Ser Duncan the Tall had a rather graphic encounter as the iconic Game of Thrones theme played, this episode took things up a notch.
Enter Ser Arlan of Pennytree - completely naked and stepping outside for a casual pee.
A Moment of Full-Frontal Nudity
Ser Arlan's exposure isn’t without precedent in the Game of Thrones universe.
Full-frontal nudity, especially among male characters, has made its rounds in the franchise.
From Hodor’s (Kristian Nairn) awkward moments to Aemon Targaryen’s (Ewan Mitchell) own instances, this isn’t the first time the show has explored this territory.
However, the scene featuring Danny Webb’s Arlan is particularly memorable for its sheer audacity.
The actor's nudity has sparked discussion, with showrunner Ira Parker even joking about the situation in an interview with Entertainment Weekly: “Was that a prosthetic? I forget. I thought he just showed up on set that way, but maybe it was prosthetic.”
Fans react
The sheer size of Ser Arlan's manhood was quite confronting, and it's really got people talking online.
One person wrote: "Watch episode 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. And I was what the f**k was that??!! So long like a trunk."
A second added: "Seeing a horse sized schlong 10 seconds into the episode is some peak HBO."
While a third said: "Starting off the second episode of a knight of seven kingdoms showing an old man with a THICK dangling foot long is certainly a choice."
Ser Arlan’s Underrated Role
In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Parker revealed that his decision to emphasize the nudity was motivated by his empathy for Ser Arlan, a character often forgotten by others in the world of the Seven Kingdoms: “I felt bad for Ser Arlan at some point. He was the only person who’s ever looked out for Dunk and really stuck with Dunk.
"And he died on a muddy road in the middle of nowhere, was buried without ceremony, and now Dunk is going around trying to find somebody who just even remembers him — people that he served for, people that he bled for, these knights and these lords. They can’t even remember his name. I felt the need to give him his one special thing, to channel a little Boogie Nights, I suppose.”
Character Development Through Flashbacks
While this scene is undeniably funny, it also serves as a vehicle for enriching the character of Ser Arlan.
Through the use of flashbacks, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adds depth to Arlan’s character, showing him in a more prominent light than in the book.
In the novel, Dunk often reflects on his relationship with Ser Arlan, but the show offers a more tangible sense of their bond.
And also confronts us with his manhood that was abnormally large.
But then, this is the Game of Thrones universe after all!