This article contains SPOILERS for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms had a finale bringing great closure to the tale, and while not every character got a happy ending, there's one in particular that had to get a nice sendoff.
As much as the series has put the focus on Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his would-be squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ensell), there are a few other important characters that joined on their road trip: the horses. Dunk inherited three of them named Thunder, Chestnut, and Sweetfoot when Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb) died at the start of the season. The steeds were some of Dunk’s first companions on his journey, and helped him out a lot.
In order to prepare for the Trial of Seven, Dunk was forced to sell Sweetfoot to the local stable in order to afford armor, parting ways with a tearful farewell. After the fight, the newly knighted Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas) bought Sweetfoot and returned the palfrey to Dunk. However, Dunk decided to let the horse go with Raymun. This is a departure from the source material, where Sweetfoot is never seen again.
Speaking to Collider, showrunner Ira Parker explained that it was important to the creators to give both the horse and its owner a happy ending to brighten up the story.
“We all felt, pretty early on, that a lot of people, including us, were going to care only if Dunk got reunited with that horse," he said. "If he wins the tournament, fine. The Trial of Seven, great, we want him to live. But the horse, that was a hard seed to watch. Obviously, Dunk has a great affinity for his animals, so we felt that it was appropriate to at least address that. And he’s going to an apple farm. What could be better? It’s like horsey heaven.”
The last sight of Sweetfoot is wandering through a field with the spirit of Ser Arlan of Pennytree riding on her back. It’s a great moment to symbolize how Dunk is stepping up as a true knight with Egg as his squire. That means leaving behind parts of his past, including the aging horse.
It was a nice storyline, as the Game of Thrones world does have an affinity for animals, and not just dragons. The direwolves are a key part of the Stark family legacy and other animals pop up as well, such as ravens. It’s no surprise Dunk would have a connection to this horse he’d known for so long, and just like its owner, Sweetfoot isn’t a powerful stallion but a typical world-weary horse trying to get by.
While it might have been nice to see Sweetfoot continue to journey with Dunk and Egg, it’s much better for the steed to get a happy ending, living her last days on a farm and well cared for. At least Dunk (and viewers) got a chance to say goodbye, making Sweetfoot the rare case of a Westeros character who gets a happy ending.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 is streaming on HBO Max.