The world of *Game of Thrones* is growing, and it’s learning from a common error made by other major fantasy series. *Game of Thrones* has been the leading show in the fantasy genre for over a decade, becoming a massive television hit and now a full-fledged franchise. *House of the Dragon* has already proven successful, and HBO hopes to create even more spin-offs. While not everything has been flawless – some viewers disliked the final season of *Game of Thrones* and *House of the Dragon* has received some criticism – the franchise has generally expanded very well.
Both *Game of Thrones* and the *A Song of Ice and Fire* books by George R.R. Martin clearly build upon the foundation laid by J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings*. Martin admired Tolkien’s work but also aimed to avoid the clichés that had become common in fantasy after Tolkien. Similarly, *Game of Thrones* achieved the same cultural impact on television as *The Lord of the Rings* did in literature, and its success likely paved the way for shows like *The Rings of Power* to be made.
Now, HBO is trying something similar to what Warner Bros. did with *The Lord of the Rings*: creating a prequel series set decades before the main story, and keeping it relatively short and light in tone. Warner Bros. took the enjoyable 310-page book *The Hobbit* and stretched it into three lengthy movies totaling over seven and a half hours (just the theatrical cuts!). They tried to recapture the epic scale of *The Lord of the Rings*, even though *The Hobbit* didn’t really call for it. While the movies made money, many felt they were overly long and ultimately damaged the reputation of the entire franchise.
The world of *Game of Thrones* also includes *A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms*, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s *Tales of Dunk and Egg* novellas. Set about 90 years before the main series, it follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall, a knight, and his young squire, Egg, as they travel through less-known regions of Westeros. Unlike the epic scope of *Game of Thrones*, these stories aren’t centered on dragons, the White Walkers, or the fight for the Iron Throne. While they still contain action, violence, and surprises, the *Dunk and Egg* stories are smaller in scale, more lighthearted, and a quicker, easier read.
Given HBO’s success with shows like *Game of Thrones* and *House of the Dragon*, it would have been easy for them to make the new series in the same style. They could have given audiences more of what they already know and like, similar to what happened with *The Hobbit* films. Luckily, the trailer for *A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* shows they’re taking a different approach. It’s full of humor, feels light and refreshing, and really emphasizes the central, unusual relationship between the main characters. It appears the show is staying true to the source material, and the fact that the first season will have six 30-minute episodes suggests this is the case.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Is Perfect For Game of Thrones Right Now
This is good news not only because it avoids the mistakes made with *The Hobbit* series, but also for the long-term health of HBO’s *Game of Thrones* universe. While the first two spinoffs have strengths and weaknesses, any franchise hoping to expand with multiple shows needs variety to succeed. If everything feels too similar, it risks becoming repetitive and simply weakening what fans originally enjoyed.
Epic tales like Aegon’s Conquest are great and will always be popular, especially with exciting dragon battles. However, to truly build a vibrant world, we also need smaller stories focused on individual characters, and projects that aren’t afraid to be funny or explore different regions of Westeros. Not every story needs to revolve around the fight for the Iron Throne or preventing the end of the world.
Martin’s world is incredibly rich and detailed, offering endless possibilities for stories. The fact that HBO is expanding on it with *A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* is really promising. Hopefully, the show will be both critically acclaimed and widely enjoyed, as it deserves.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on HBO and HBO Max on January 18th, 2026.
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2025-10-18 22:40