The world of Westeros never fails to deliver morally complex characters—and some who are just plain terrible.
In the penultimate episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Slate writers Rebecca Onion and Nadira Goffe dissect who deserves the dubious honor of being crowned “Worst Person in Westeros.”
This week’s episode delivers brutal combat, tragic deaths, and a harrowing flashback that reveals Dunk’s origin story.
The answer might surprise you—or maybe it won’t, given how dark this show can get.
Trial by Combat Sets the Stage
The episode centers on Dunk’s Trial of Seven, a consequence of defending puppeteer Tanselle from Aerion Targaryen’s wrath. With his squire Egg’s help, Dunk assembles his seven-person team despite being a hedge knight with zero combat experience.
Most violence happens within sanctioned combat, making it difficult to assign blame—even to perpetual brat Aerion. But when Dunk blacks out after taking a spear, the show flashes back to his childhood in Flea Bottom, introducing several candidates for worst person status.
A Grim Childhood Revealed
Young Dunk and his friend Rafe scavenge a battlefield near King’s Landing, looting corpses of highborn warriors. When Dunk attempts to mercy-kill a desperately wounded red-bearded man, Rafe stops him with a pragmatic—but cruel—alternative.
They could ransom him if they can get him out alive.
Instead of peaceful death, the wounded man endures two 11-year-olds dragging him from beneath his horse. Onion raises an important question: Does this make Rafe the worst person in Westeros?
Survival Versus Malice
Goffe argues that Rafe’s actions stem from poverty and desperation, not targeted malice. Back in Flea Bottom—a place Rafe describes as “full up on people hurtin'” and “tinder waiting to catch”—the two orphans survive through swindling, thieving, and luck.
Their meager coins face constant threat from bullies, particularly City Watchman Alester. The children dream of escaping to the Free Cities, though young Dunk bleakly wonders if “it’s all shit, every place.”
When Rafe gets caught by the Gold Cloak after multiple encounters, the interaction proves fatal.
Other Contenders for Worst Person
Aerion remains a strong candidate despite his brutal treatment during battle. After all, he started this whole mess by refusing to face Dunk one-on-one and demanding a Trial of Seven instead.
His cowardice claims multiple lives unnecessarily. But crowning him villain repeatedly would become predictable and boring.
The “Good” Guys Aren’t Perfect Either
Ser Arlan saves Dunk from Gold Cloaks after they kill Rafe, offering him a squire position. However, he’s more drunk absent father figure than genuine hero.
Before accepting Dunk, Arlan leaves him shivering on moss for hours, deliberately ignoring the desperate child following him.
Baelor Targaryen defies his family to support Dunk during the Trial, ultimately dying from a catastrophic head injury. When they remove his helmet, his occipital lobe comes away with it—classic George R.R. Martin bait-and-switch brutality.
Though noble, Baelor’s death itself carries no moral weight. His good deed belonged to the previous episode when he first pledged support.
And the Winner Is…
City Watchman Alester emerges as this week’s undisputed worst person. He robs two impoverished children of their silver, then slits Rafe’s throat in front of Dunk.
Gore spatters young Dunk’s face as he watches his only friend slowly choke on her own blood. This traumatic moment shapes Dunk’s entire worldview and explains his protective instincts toward the vulnerable.
As Game of Thrones comportment goes, what he does is not too complex, and we don’t understand his motivations or know much about his life. But this is still, I think we must concur, very bad!
Weighing Good Against Evil
Goffe poses an essential question: Were any “good” actions this week more good than the bad actions were bad?
The answer appears to be no. While Baelor’s sacrifice was noble and Ser Arlan’s rescue was meaningful, neither reaches the moral depths—or heights—of Alester’s depravity.
Murdering a desperate child for pocket change represents evil in its purest, most senseless form. Unlike Aerion’s entitled cruelty or Rafe’s survival-driven pragmatism, Alester’s actions serve no purpose beyond petty theft and casual violence.
What This Reveals About Westeros
Alester’s character—minor as he is—illustrates A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ broader themes about systemic cruelty. He’s not a scheming nobleman or power-hungry royal.
He’s simply someone with slightly more power than the most vulnerable, wielding that power without conscience or consequence. In many ways, this everyday evil proves more disturbing than grand villainous schemes.
The writers use this flashback to demonstrate how Westeros crushes innocence at every level. Childhood in Flea Bottom means choosing between mercy and survival, between humanity and pragmatism.
Young Dunk wanted to grant mercy. Rafe needed to think practically. Alester simply took what he wanted and eliminated witnesses.
The Verdict
Both critics agree: City Watchman Alester earns the title of Worst Person in Westeros for this episode. His actions are unforgivable, uncomplicated by noble intentions or survival necessity.
Congrats, random Gold Cloak of little importance: You’re our Worst Person in Westeros!
Sometimes the most memorable villains aren’t those with complex backstories or understandable motivations. Sometimes they’re just people who commit senseless acts of cruelty because they can.
Alester represents everything wrong with unchecked authority in Westeros—and provides crucial context for understanding why Dunk became the protector he is today.