Game of Thrones’ New Spinoff Gets Encouraging Rotten Tomatoes Score (But It’s Far From a Franchise Best)

by

Premiering in 2011, Game of Thrones quickly became a landmark television series. Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s epic novels, the show combined fantasy with realistic political drama, captivating audiences worldwide for almost ten years. For most of its run, it received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with critics praising its well-developed characters and unexpected plot twists. Although the final season in 2019 was controversial, the franchise remained strong with the success of House of the Dragon. Now, HBO is returning to the world of Westeros with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new series offering a fresh take on the established story.

Okay, so I’ve been following the reviews for the new Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and while the first reactions are mostly good, it seems like it’s not quite hitting the same high notes as previous seasons. Right now, it’s sitting at 83% on Rotten Tomatoes after 36 reviews. That’s a decent score, but it’s noticeably lower than what we’ve come to expect from this universe. Every season of the original Game of Thrones was above 90% until the very last one, and House of the Dragon also started strong with 90% and 84% for its first two seasons. I expect that score to change a bit as more reviews come in, but honestly, I’m not totally surprised. This new show seems to be a smaller, more focused story, and maybe that’s leading to a little bit of critical disappointment given the incredibly high bar set by everything that came before.

What Critics Are Saying About A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

Unlike the intense power struggles for the Iron Throne and the danger of dragons seen previously, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a view of Westeros through the eyes of everyday people. This shift in focus mirrors George R.R. Martin’s original Dunk and Egg novellas – shorter, more grounded stories that complement his main A Song of Ice and Fire series. In our review, James Hunt applauded this approach, noting that while the series expands on the source material, it remains faithful to the books’ characters and tone, avoiding the over-the-top epic scale of the main franchise.

As a big fan of fantasy, I’ve been really captivated by the latest Game of Thrones series. Jordan Williams from Screen Rant put it perfectly – the show has a real charm, heart, and humor that’s just incredibly engaging. What’s really striking is how much more focused it is on the characters themselves, which a lot of reviewers have praised. Williams even went so far as to say it’s the most endearing character study we’ve ever seen! Alison Herman at Variety also pointed out that the smaller scope is a huge benefit, offering a welcome change of pace. But honestly, the best part for me is the connection between Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg. Their chemistry is fantastic and brings a warmth that was often missing in the darker storylines of the original Game of Thrones.

The new show isn’t winning over everyone. In a review for USA Today, Kelly Lawler called it an unnecessary continuation of the franchise that doesn’t capture what made the original series so appealing. Therese Lacson of Collider added that a good adaptation needs to do more than just closely follow the source material, implying that simply recreating the original story might not be enough. While many reviewers praise the show’s actors, the lack of large-scale action remains a sticking point. Ultimately, whether the spinoff succeeds will likely hinge on if viewers can connect with a more grounded and character-driven story about the Seven Kingdoms, rather than one focused on epic battles and political intrigue.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is scheduled to be released on HBO and Max on January 18, 2026.

Looking forward to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/game-of-thrones-show-episodes-underrated-masterpieces/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-14 15:10