A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Review: This Near-Perfect Adaptation Is Exactly What Game of Thrones Needed

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The world of Game of Thrones is growing! Since the original series ended in 2019, HBO has been exploring new stories set in Westeros. We’ve already seen House of the Dragon, and while other potential shows didn’t make it to air, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is here to change things. It’s not just adding another show to the franchise; it’s showing us what kinds of stories the Game of Thrones universe can tell.

If you’ve seen Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, you might think you know what to expect from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. But forget those expectations! This six-episode series, created by Ira Parker and George R.R. Martin, is based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas – specifically, the first story, The Hedge Knight. It follows Ser Duncan the Tall (known as Dunk) and his young, bald squire, Egg. And it’s wonderfully different from what you might anticipate.

Rating: 4.5/5

Pros Cons
Seeing a different side to the Game of Thrones franchise Not all of the humor lands, and it occasionally distracts from the drama
The entire cast is brilliant Some of the key supporting players could’ve been fleshed out more
You’ll immediately love Dunk & Egg
The show is funny, full of heart, and has a couple of great action scenes
It’s superb on a technical level, and looks fantastic

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Shows A Different Side Of Westeros

Compared to the sprawling epic of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Tales of Dunk and Egg are a quicker, more lighthearted read. They’re significantly shorter and have fewer characters and plotlines. This difference is reflected in the TV adaptation, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which has only six 35-minute episodes and features more humor than the graphic content in Game of Thrones. The stories also offer a fresh perspective on Westeros, shifting the focus away from the great houses and onto the life of a wandering hedge knight.

While House of the Dragon successfully continues the style of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a welcome change of pace. The world feels richly developed thanks to the other shows, but this new focus is captivating. It’s refreshing to watch a story where the problems aren’t about saving the entire kingdom, but rather smaller, more personal conflicts.

Although this installment is generally more lighthearted, it still packs an emotional punch. It features genuinely moving moments and thoughtfully examines familiar themes from the series—like honor, morality, and internal struggles—but through a fresh lens. The action, while less frequent, is genuinely exciting, with one particularly immersive sequence. It trades dragons and political intrigue for a different kind of story, but maintains a strong sense of importance throughout.

Dunk & Egg Are Already Two Of Game Of Thrones’ Best Main Characters

While the series is called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Tales of Dunk and Egg would have been a fitting title. Although it might not have been as strong for marketing, that title really captures what the story is about. Unlike other shows in the series, this one focuses primarily on Dunk and Egg, and it’s their growing bond that makes it so compelling.

We’ve seen stories inspired by Lone Wolf & Cub in popular franchises recently, but this one is particularly well done. The characters Dunk and Egg genuinely need and want each other’s company, growing through their interactions. Thanks to the fantastic chemistry between actors Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell, their relationship brings a lot of humor, charm, and emotional depth to the series.

Claffey delivers a fantastic performance as Dunk, bringing a powerful physical presence to the role. This physicality often adds humor, but he also perfectly captures the character’s emotional depth. The series thoughtfully explores the true meaning of knighthood, and Claffey portrays this journey beautifully. Anell is equally impressive, bringing a lively and spirited energy reminiscent of Maisie Williams’ Arya Stark in the early seasons of Game of Thrones. He also brings a touching vulnerability to the character, conveying deep emotion with subtle expressions that immediately make the audience connect with and care for him.

The supporting cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is excellent as well. Daniel Ings truly shines as Lyonel Baratheon; he’s instantly likable and consistently steals the show with his vibrant performance. Sam Spruell also impresses as Prince Maekar Targaryen, evolving from a reserved character into someone genuinely moving. Finn Bennett deserves recognition for perfectly portraying Aerion Targaryen as one of the franchise’s most hateable villains – a clear sign of his acting skill.

Not Everything In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Lands (But It Comes Close)

I really loved the series overall, but it wasn’t flawless. Few shows are, and any problems it had were relatively small. One issue was the humor – while generally good, it sometimes felt forced, especially later in the season. A few of these jokes didn’t really fit and actually weakened some of the more dramatic scenes, which would have been more impactful without them.

I also wished some of the secondary characters had been developed further. The show did a great job expanding the roles of certain book characters, and it’s understandable that couldn’t happen with everyone. However, even though Bertie Carvel and Tanzyn Crawford were excellent as Baelor Targaryen and Tanselle, I wanted to see more of them, considering how important they are to the plot.

Final Thoughts On A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

I enjoyed this show just as much as I loved the original stories. It’s fantastic to revisit the world of Westeros and see a different perspective. Bringing Dunk and Egg to life was a real pleasure, and the actors, the production team, and everyone involved did an amazing job. The show expands on the source material in a way that feels natural, and I’m glad they maintained the same tone and atmosphere as the books instead of trying to make it overly grand.

George R.R. Martin has mentioned he envisions around 10 to 12 stories featuring Dunk and Egg. If he ever writes them and HBO decides to turn them into a TV series, I’m in for the long haul – I’d happily watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for the next ten years or more.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms begins on Sunday, 18th January at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.

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2026-01-14 01:11