A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Excludes 1 Crucial Novella Scene

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As a huge fantasy fan, I’m really excited to say that this new show is quickly becoming a worthy successor to Game of Thrones! It’s been fifteen years since we first visited Westeros, and this prequel proves there’s still a massive appetite for George R.R. Martin’s world. While everyone seems to be loving it so far, it’s not without its flaws, but overall I’m really enjoying it.

The TV show made a change from the source material, The Tales of Dunk and Egg – a series of stories set roughly a century before Game of Thrones. Fans quickly noticed a key scene was left out of one episode. Now, even the show’s creator, Ira Parker, wishes they hadn’t cut it, as it removed an important idea from the original story.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Excludes a Crucial Part of the Novella

A particularly touching moment in The Hedge Knight – the story that season one of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on – happens right before Dunk enters a duel to defend his honor and his life. As he’s about to ride into battle, Dunk notices the crowd cheering and asks Steely Pate what he’s done to earn their support. Steely Pate simply replies, “A knight who remembered his vows.”

Sadly, this important scene was removed from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms during the editing process. Writer George R.R. Martin later acknowledged that cutting the scene was a mistake, as it was crucial for developing Dunk’s character throughout the first story.

This scene highlights a powerful contrast. Though Ser Duncan the Tall is a low-ranking knight – barely a knight at all – he embodies more true nobility than many of his social superiors. In a time when knights often misuse their position, trade their integrity for wealth, and chase empty fame, Dunk is a rare example of a warrior dedicated to keeping his promises.

He’s a selfless fighter, always protecting those who can’t protect themselves, embodying the spirit of a classic knight. When he bravely gave his life to save a Dornish leader from a furious prince, everyone at the tournament erupted in applause, recognizing him as the hero the kingdom needed.

The TV adaptation, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, handles the scene with the crowd quite differently than the original story. Sadly, it leaves out a hopeful moment and instead uses a crude joke, with the crowd making fun of the knight. According to Ira Parker, this was a significant misstep that briefly throws the whole series off track.

Fortunately, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms quickly recovers and offers some truly compelling moments. However, a single, seemingly small event casts a shadow over everything.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Book Accuracy Is Its Greatest Strength

It’s unexpected that the show left out Dunk’s powerful scene in Episode 4, considering A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms usually sticks very closely to George R.R. Martin’s original story. The series, especially in its early episodes, largely follows the novella, with a few added scenes to explore the characters more fully. Up until now, staying true to the book has been the show’s biggest strength.

Many book adaptations change the original story, but it’s a pleasant surprise when a series stays true to the source material. This new series does just that. While George R.R. Martin was involved with Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, those shows weren’t quite as faithful to the books as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is.

The show is a huge hit because it stays true to the original story, and it’s currently the best-rated Game of Thrones series on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 95% approval score. If it continues to be this popular, it looks good for the long-term fifteen-season plan Ira Parker has for this surprisingly enjoyable prequel.

The series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms does a great job of bringing George R.R. Martin’s stories to life. Even though it leaves out a key scene from The Hedge Knight, this Game of Thrones prequel remains a faithful and impressive adaptation of the original tale.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to stream on HBO Max.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to stream on HBO Max.

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2026-02-18 03:08