• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has finally lifted the lid on Egg’s true identity
• The final scene of its third episode, titled ‘The Squire’, reveals all
• It’ll shock anyone who hasn’t read the ‘Dunk and Egg’ book trilogy

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 has debuted on HBO Max and other streaming services – and it finally solves one of the show’s biggest mysteries.

Titled ‘The Squire’, the Game of Thrones prequel’s latest chapter lifts the lid on Egg’s true identity. And, for viewers who haven’t read The Hedge Knight, aka the first installment of the ‘Dunk and Egg’ book trilogy, it’ll come as much of a shock to them as it does to Dunk.

Full spoilers immediately follow for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ (AKotSK) third entry. Turn back now if you haven’t watched it yet.

What is Egg’s real name in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

Ever since AKotSK premiered on HBO Max and other streaming platforms in mid-January, non-book readers have theorized that Egg is hiding a big secret. That being said, he’s not only a member of House Targaryen but also Prince Maekar Targaryen’s youngest son, who went missing days ago.

Viewers who made those predictions will feel vindicated by what’s revealed in ‘The Squire’.

First, around the 22:00 mark, Egg is startled by a fortune teller when she tells Dunk and Egg what the future holds for them individually. What spooks Egg? As well as saying “you shall be king”, she tells Egg that he will “die in hot fire, worms shall feed upon your ashes, and all who know you shall rejoice in your dying”.

Such comments will immediately prick the ears of Thrones fans, because the noble Westerosi family most commonly associated with fire is House Targaryen. Nonetheless, anyone can be burned alive, so this doesn’t necessarily confirm Egg is a Targaryen.

What goes down in episode 3’s final scene does, though. As Dunk enjoys a drink or five with new pal Raymun, they’re interrupted by a panicked Egg. He tells Dunk that Aerion Targaryen has attacked Tanselle, a performer of a travelling stage troupe that Dunk has become besotted with.

When he sees that Aerion has ransacked the group’s tent and injured Tanselle – Aerion considers the group’s dragon-based play blasphemous because of its depiction of the beasts that House Targaryen holds sacred – an enraged Dunk attacks the Targaryen prince before being apprehended by Aerion’s guards.

Aerion orders his entourage to begin punishing Dunk by knocking out all his teeth, but, arriving on the scene, Egg intervenes and pleads for Dunk’s life.

Aerion immediately recognizes the diminutive individual and, after a curt conversation, Egg basically confirms he’s a Targaryen to Dunk and the assembled crowd – and, by proxy, to us. And, while his real name isn’t said aloud before episode 3’s end credits roll, Egg is the individual known as Aegon V Targaryen.

Who is Aegon V Targaryen? And have we heard that name before in Game of Thrones?

I’m not going to discuss Aegon V Targaryen at length because, well, spoilers for the rest of this season and season 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which was announced alongside many other TV show renewals by HBO Max last November.

What I will say, though, is that he’s a future Westerosi king and has a very important role to play in the continent’s future and the Thrones universe at large. There’s more you can read about him online if you really want further details on what lies in store for him.

This isn’t the first time that Egg has been mentioned in one of HBO’s adaptations of George R.R. Martin’s beloved fantasy universe, either. In episode 7 of Game of Thrones season 5, a delirious Maester Aemon calls out to someone called Egg on his deathbed. As we learned that Aemon is a Targaryen in episode 9 of Thrones‘ first season, it’s clear that he is related to Egg. Only those who’ve read the Thrones books, though, were able to make this connection prior to AKotSK episode 3’s release on one of the world’s best streaming services.

That’s not the only thing that ties Egg to Thrones‘ sweeping tale. Indeed, Aegon V Targaryen is also the grandfather of Aerys II Targaryen, aka The Mad King.

For the uninitiated: Aerys was the 16th and final Targaryen to sit on The Iron Throne. He’s also responsible for concocting the wildfire plot that would’ve destroyed King’s Landing – and killed countless innocents in the process – during the final event of the great civil war known as Robert’s Rebellion.

However, Aerys’ plan was thwarted when Jaime Lannister, one of Aerys’ Kingsguard, murdered him to prevent all those deaths. So, when Egg’s fortune is told in ‘The Squire’, it’s likely that, the soothsayer’s “you will be king” line notwithstanding, she’s actually talking about Aerys with all the fire and worms business.

What’s going to happen to Dunk after A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4?

That would be telling, dear reader! I’m not going to ruin what happens next, but you can watch AKotSK episode 4’s preview above if you want some insight into where things go from here.

There’s also this spoiler-filled ‘in the weeks ahead’ trailer for AKotSK season 1, too, that will give you a sense of what’s to come in this season’s final three episodes. I’d advise you not to watch the above teaser or read the aforementioned article if you’re actively avoiding spoilers, though.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.