A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Biggest Book Change Gives the Show Its Best Character & Scene

by

So far, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the most accurate adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s work within the entire Game of Thrones universe. While every season and show has taken some liberties with the source material – some more controversial than others, as evidenced by Martin’s comments on House of the Dragon Season 2 and the challenges Game of Thrones faced in Season 5 when it moved beyond the books – Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on the The Hedge Knight novella, remains remarkably true to both the story and the original book’s atmosphere.

The adaptation of Dunk and Egg feels remarkably faithful to the source material, capturing the right tone and scope for this more intimate story, and much of the dialogue is lifted directly from George R.R. Martin’s writing. However, as with any adaptation, some expansion was needed to fill the time and give the actors, particularly those in supporting roles, more opportunities to develop their characters.

As a huge fan of the show, I have to say the cast is fantastic, but Daniel Ings as Lyonel Baratheon really stood out to me. He took a character I thought I knew and absolutely blew my expectations away – he’s a genuinely fun addition! Just a heads up, there’s a tiny spoiler in there about the first episode.

Lyonel Baratheon Steals The Show In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

Lyonel appears in the tourney at Ashford Meadow, a key event in The Hedge Knight, but he isn’t a major focus at first. While he becomes important later, Dunk mostly observes him from a distance. Lyonel is a crowd-pleaser, known as The Laughing Storm for his hearty laugh, and he wins over onlookers as he competes. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adds a new scene specifically for the show, offering a different perspective on his character.

There’s a scene with Dunk and Lyonel in his tent that completely stole the show for me. Dunk’s just casually enjoying Lyonel’s food and ale, and Lyonel is understandably thrown off by this unexpected guest. He’s clearly trying to figure out if Dunk’s there to cause trouble, but it quickly becomes clear that Dunk just wants to…hang out. What follows is genuinely delightful – they share drinks, tell jokes, and even dance together! It’s a wonderfully silly, slightly bizarre, and surprisingly heartwarming moment. Honestly, it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in this series so far, and Lyonel is the heart of it all. Huge credit to the writers and the actors – they absolutely nailed it.

Okay, so I just watched the premiere of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and wow, Ings is incredible as Lyonel. Peter Claffey as Dunk is fantastic too – their chemistry is great. The dancing is…well, it’s a little weird, but intentionally so, and honestly, it’s hilarious because you totally buy they’re completely plastered. But what really got me was how Ings plays Lyonel. He can switch from being totally charming and likeable to someone genuinely intimidating in a heartbeat. He’s such a strange, captivating character – a brilliant drunk, honestly. Watching him felt like seeing Robert Baratheon at his peak. Seriously, it’s the best scene in the whole premiere, and it feels both faithful to the source material and like it adds something new. It’s just… really good.

The success of adapting A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms hinges on expanding the source material. Because the original stories are brief, the adaptation needs to flesh out under-developed plot points and characters. It also requires creatively exploring events that were hinted at but not directly shown – things happening ‘behind the scenes’ during the tourney that weren’t explicitly written.

The scene in Lyonel’s tent is a fantastic example of how to make a supporting character truly memorable. It fits perfectly into the story and instantly makes Lyonel likable, almost guaranteeing he’ll become a fan favorite. As Lyonel’s role grows, this early connection is smart storytelling, and it suggests we’ll likely become similarly invested in other supporting characters throughout the season.

New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release on Sundays at 10pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.

What are your thoughts on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/list/upcoming-game-of-thrones-spinoffs-prequels-shows-explained/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-19 06:41