A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a reminder that not every story in Westeros needs to change the world. There are no dragons or battles for the Iron Throne, but this Game of Thrones prequel is funny and tender. Is it necessary? Maybe not, but it’s a fun side quest.
Game of Thrones proved what was possible with George R.R. Martin’s rich world; political fantasy became appointment television, dragons were cool again, and main characters were killed off quicker than you can say, “Red Wedding.” Significantly, GoT turned a niche genre mainstream.
House of the Dragon followed, and it fully leaned into those expectations. It’s an extravagant yet contained, slow-burn journey to Westeros; two seasons in and the big battle is yet to start.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms heads in the opposite direction. Martin and showrunner Ira Parker pull the camera away from the Iron Throne and throw it in the dirt (sometimes literally). It’s not quite as addictive as its predecessors, but by the end it earns its place as a more lighthearted entry to the franchise.
What is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms about?
A sequel to House of the Dragon and a prequel to Game of Thrones, the HBO series adapts George R.R. Martin’s novellas, Tales of Dunk and Egg, with Season 1 specifically tackling the story set out in The Hedge Knight.
The plot centers on Ser Duncan the Tall, aka Dunk (Peter Claffey), a huge yet humble hedge knight who, after losing his master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), chooses to enter a tournament in a town called Ashford Meadow.
In case you had any doubt about the difference to its TV predecessors, the show’s opening sequence sh*ts on Game of Thrones… literally. Dunk wields Arlan’s sword, inspiring him to forge ahead to Ashford. The GoT theme tune starts playing, but it’s swiftly interrupted by Dunk emptying his bowels behind a tree.
Along the way, he picks up a persistent stable boy named Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), who seems to be far more invested in Dunk’s future than Dunk is himself. Their dynamic is the beating heart of the show, and will have you in tears (whether through laughter, tragedy, or joy).
A smaller Game of Thrones story with lower stakes
Where Game of Thrones was a sprawling, multi-front political war, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a self-contained underdog tale through-and-through. The stakes are low, but by the final few episodes you’ll still be rooting for the good guys.
The wider lore is still tied in – it’s set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne – but it does so without turning it into homework. You don’t need to be a George R.R. Martin expert here, although equally there’s something to enjoy if you’re a devotee.
As for the tone, it’s noticeably lighter than both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Don’t get it twisted, the violence is there, and when it arrives it’s as brutal as you can hope for, but the moments in between are goofier and the story is comfortable being small.
Claffey plays Dunk with an endearing naivety, but he can get serious when he needs to, while Sol Ansell’s Egg is sharp without being smug. And when the story needs a villain, it really finds one: Finn Bennett’s Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen is a detestable bastard, one you’ll want to punch through the screen.
Visually and physically, its DNA is unmistakably Westerosi; sweeping landscapes that map the world in your head turn to lived-in inns and village alleys that you can almost smell. And when the fighting gets going, the humor is swapped for realism: the armor looks heavy, the blows are clumsy, and blood is delivered by the bucket.
A shaky start but a worthwhile payoff
The biggest challenges A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms faces are seen in those first few episodes. This rings particularly true if you’re unfamiliar with the Dunk and Egg novellas, as it’s unclear where the story is headed and why any of the roster of characters matter.
The tone can also feel mismatched at times, especially early on. Sometimes it leans too hard on the cheap gags and polished folkiness – no hate, but certain scenes feel more like late-stage The Witcher than a fresh GoT tale.
That being said, once the show finds its footing, it becomes clear what the series is aiming for, and the payoff is worth it. It’s not flawless, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms serves up an entertaining tale about decency, loyalty, and what it truly means to be a knight.
Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms good?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms doesn’t try to replace Game of Thrones or out-drama House of the Dragon. It’s a perfectly serviceable small story in a big world, one with plenty of heart and hope.
It won’t go down as era-defining television, but it doesn’t need to. With excellent cast performances, bone-crunching fight sequences, and a solid payoff, the result is a charming tale that respects Westeros without being crushed by it.
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