Warning: Spoilers ahead for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5!Bertie Carvel has garnered a lot of attention for his portrayal of Baelor Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is another great sign for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter show. HBO has prioritized expanding the Game of Thrones franchise since the main series ended in 2019. So far, there are two prequel series and more Game of Thrones spinoffs in development.
By 2027, however, HBO will have another epic fantasy show to bolster its programming slate with the arrival of the network’s Harry Potter adaptation. Until then, all eyes will remain on the Game of Thrones franchise, at least when it comes to HBO’s current fantasy offerings.
While there have been several standout performances from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ cast, including Dunk and Egg actors Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell, viewers can’t seem to get enough of Bertie Carvel’s Baelor Targaryen. Sadly, Carvel’s time in the Game of Thrones prequel was cut short.
Baelor Targaryen’s Arc In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Didn’t Last Long
When thinking about House Tagaryen in the Game of Thrones universe, words like “madness” and “chaos” often come to mind, not “honor” or “compassion.” That said, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a reminder that not all Targaryens are the same, thanks in part to characters like Egg and Baelor.
Baelor Targaryen is the older brother of Maekar, making him Egg’s uncle. He’s also the heir to the Iron Throne, seeing as his father, Daeron II Targaryen, is the king during the events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Unlike other Targaryens present in season 1 of the prequel, such as Aerion and Maekar, Baelor values diplomacy and fairness over authoritative power.
Not only does Baelor vouch for Dunk for the tourney, but he also steps up to fight on the hedge knight’s side during the trial of seven, fighting against his own brother and nephew. In honoring his role as a knight, Baelor unfortunately becomes one of the knights killed from the trial of seven.
What begins as a brave act ends in tragedy when Baelor dies at the end of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5. Maekar basically bashed in Baelor’s skull with his mace, but the fatal injury isn’t discovered until Baelor’s helmet is removed. He quickly succumbs to the injury, marking the end of Baelor Targaryen in the prequel series, but it’s not the end of Bertie Carvel in an HBO fantasy series.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Bertie Carvel Is Playing Cornelius Fudge In HBO’s Harry Potter Show
Though Bertie Carvel’s time as Baelor Targaryen was limited to just a handful of episodes in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the actor will return for another epic fantasy series on HBO. Carvel has joined the cast of HBO’s Harry Potter show and will portray Cornelius Fudge in the upcoming adaptation, which will release its first season in 2027.
In the Harry Potter franchise, Cornelius Fudge serves as the Minister for Magic, who was notably played by Robert Hardy in the film series. Interestingly, Cornelius doesn’t appear until Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Carvel’s casting either suggests that Cornelius will appear earlier in the HBO adaptation or that the series is getting a jump on casting for future seasons.
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Either way, Cornelius will eventually become a critical figure in the Harry Potter show as the story evolves. He’s the one who removes Dumbledore as Hogwarts’ Headmaster and paves the way for Dolores Umbridge to serve as the replacement. Granted, the Minister’s reluctance to believe Harry’s warnings about Voldemort’s return and treatment of Dumbledore eventually backfires.
Bertie Carvel’s Role In HBO’s Harry Potter Show Helps Make Up For Baelor’s Death In The GOT Prequel
Despite being teased as a faithful adaptation of the Harry Potter books, there will be some changes to HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation. Either way, after Bertie Carvel’s time as Baelor in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it will be exciting to see the actor in a diplomatic role that lasts several seasons, something that his Harry Potter casting seemingly sets up.
With A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adapting George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk & Egg novellas, Baelor’s fate was essentially set in stone. The character also died as a result of the trial of seven in The Hedge Knight novella, and while Baelor is an intriguing figure in the show, it wouldn’t have made sense to keep him alive, even though Carvel will surely be missed as the series continues.
Carvel’s casting in the Harry Potter show doesn’t completely redeem Baelor’s quick death in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but it’s nice to know that the actor will be a part of another massive fantasy franchise in a more significant role. Ultimately, it also gives the Harry Potter show an additional cast member highly capable of giving an enthralling performance.