A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is not Game of Thrones, and that’s OK
Game of Thrones redefined the television landscape. George R.R. Martin’s the novels inspired HBO’s most-watched show of all time. From its blockbuster nature and epic scope to its shocking twists and strong character development, Game of Thrones became appointment television during its eight seasons. Dragon Housethe first spin-off of the series, is very similar to its predecessor, but with more dragons. Game of Thrones’ second spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdomstook a different but effective approach to Martin’s universe.
Based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novels, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wrapped up its terrific first season on HBO on February 22. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms may not have a dragon, but the low-stakes story is a winning formula and a welcome addition to the Game of Thrones universe.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is smaller than Game of Thrones in the best way
The story takes place in a single location
Game of Thrones had one of the few opening credits sequences that served any purpose. As soon as this iconic theme song started, viewers followed a map that highlighted key locations in Westeros where the episodes took place. There was no rush to hit the “skip intro” button when the theme song played.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms chose to transmit the theme song. There is no orchestral arrangement combined with an evolving map of Westeros. Instead, the spin-off features a simple title card that lasts a few seconds. This simplistic approach fits into the theme of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms-less is more.
Game of Thrones featured a large ensemble in multiple locations. One minute you’re with the Starks in Winterfell, and a short while later it’s time to check in on the Lannisters in King’s Landing. Highlighting the multiple points of view of the characters, although ambitious, can be quite confusing. A Knight of the Seven Kingdomswhich takes place approximately 90 years before the events of Game of Thronescleverly focused on a single character, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), in a single location, Ashford. The audience gets to know Duncan, aka Dunk, his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) and their motivations through six episodes lasting 30 to 40 minutes.
Game of Thrones’ The biggest strength and weakness was its scale. Game of Thrones’ The battle episodes, including the Assault on Castle Black and the Battle of Blackwater Bay, rivaled the action of any blockbuster blockbuster of the last 15 years. Those Got the battles generated such a level that the following episodes often became disappointing, while fans were waiting for more high-flying assaults.
There are no major battles between rival houses at sea or battles against the Army of the Dead. There is an epic fight sequence in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in episode 5 which uses its lower budget to its advantage: the fog added a chilling element of suspense before the chaos begins. The camera inserts the audience directly into the battle, giving multiple viewing angles from Dunk’s helmet. It’s a different approach to combat, but one that makes Dunk easier to follow and root for.
The battle for the Iron Throne takes a back seat
It’s easy to root for Dunk and Egg
The main storyline of Game of Thrones is the battle for the Iron Throne. Winter may be coming and Jon Snow must discover his heritage, but make no mistake: who will earn the right to sit on the Iron Throne is the ultimate question that has taken eight seasons to answer. The fate of the world is a question with as high stakes as possible.
Dragon House essentially copies the showdown for the Iron Throne, but it was received with mixed results. The highs have been excellent, especially with the addition of more dragon-on-dragon fights. However, the highlights are few and far between. The entire season 2 was heading towards a war at sea, which had to be pushed back to season 3. All bark and no bite!
have a third Game of Thrones show about the Iron Throne would have been exaggerated. Fortunately, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms considerably reduced his stake. Dunk is a humble hedge knight who wants to win a jousting tournament. Ultimately, his main goal is to be an honorable knight, one who defends the innocent. It’s refreshing to see a character from this universe not lie, cheat, and steal his way to the top. Dunk isn’t the smartest guy in the room, but represents the best type of person Westeros has to offer.
The lines are so clearly drawn in this show. Dunk and Egg are the unlikely heroes the audience can root for. There is no moral ambiguity with Dunk. Viewers don’t have to do mental gymnastics like they used to with Jaime Lannister or Daenerys Targaryen. Sometimes it’s fun to just root for the good guy and his sidekick.
New seasons should arrive as soon as possible
Don’t expect to wait long for more adventures with Dunk and Egg
The broadcasts have been interrupted for too long. Stranger Things releasing five seasons in 10 years is unacceptable. Surprisingly, Game of Thrones There was only one hiatus that lasted more than a year: the series took a two-year hiatus between seasons 7 and 8. If Game of Thrones started today, there wouldn’t be a new season every year. Look Dragon Housewho waited two years between each season.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Shouldn’t have any waiting issues. It’s a small show set in one area. Even if Dunk and Egg venture into new villages in future seasons, this series could theoretically release a new season every year if it sticks to six half-hour episodes. Season 2 is expected to arrive in 2027, and it’s only a matter of time before HBO commits to Season 3. Hopefully A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms never features a single dragon. Stay in this sandbox Game of Thrones universe, and I will be there every time.
A knight of the seven kingdoms
- Release date
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January 18, 2026
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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Ira Parker
- Directors
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Owen Harris
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Peter Claffey
Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Great
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Daniel Ings
Ser Lyonel Baratheon
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Henry Ashton
Prince Daeron ‘the Drunkard’ Targaryen
If you’re looking for more content, check out the feedback from Heaven with Sterling K. Brown, or binge a political thriller on Netflix.
- Subscription with advertisements
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Yes, $10.99/month
- Concurrent streams
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2 or 4
- Live TV
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Live sports available in Standard and Premium plans
- Price
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Starting at $10.99/month or $109.99/year
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