In the name of the Mother, I charge you to protect the young and innocent.
Westeros returns in HBO’s newest TV series, A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms. Game of Thrones newest spin-off received a fair amount of skepticism ahead of its release, similar to its counter-part, as many have still not recovered after the series finale from Game of Thrones. However, after the debut of the season finale last night GoT fans are heralding the newest series as one of the best to be put to screen.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set roughly 90 years before the start of Game of Thrones and tells the story of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg. Duncan makes his way to a nearby tournament where he plans to make a name for himself as a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by competing in the tourney. Along the way he meets a young boy named Egg which he takes on as his squire.
The show has been praised for its departure in style from the other Game of Thrones series. Both House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones are epic fantasy series with large scale stories and political thrillers, whilst a Knight of the Seven Kingdom scales itself back. Shortening its run times to 30-minutes and by following the story of just two characters rather than the larger ensembles shows. The shows tone is also a far departure from its counterparts, with the story being far smaller in scale and surprisingly light hearted.
The first half of the season shows us very much what it’s like to be a regular citizen of Westeros and to see the lighthearted and fun side of living in this fantasy series. Showcasing a more wholesome and down to earth side of Westeros before diving more head on to the deeper narrative at work. Whilst you’ll for sure recognise some familiar names in the series, it’s also refreshing to focus on a character and family that for the most part feels seperate to the larger Westeros mythology.
The shows larger success is carried mostly on its two lead characters. Peter Claffey (Duncan) and Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg) very much carry the show on their backs with their dynamic chemistry they share on (and off) screen. The strength of this shows cast rivals that of the other series, I’m confident in future years Daniel Ings portrayal of Ser Lyonel Baratheon will be talked in the same conversation of fan favourites such as Matt Smiths, Daemon, and Kristofer Hivju’s, Tormund.
By the shows conclusion it’s clear that the story is set to steadily grow in scale as the stakes and consequences from the first season come to light. Overall, A Knight of the Seven Kingdom does away with the slow burn and the down in the dumps political drama and trades it in for a fun and fast paced story about humble beginnings and optimism, a welcomed change to the world of Westeros.
By the time the credits rolled on season one I found myself disappointed, but only because it was over. A feeling I had not felt about Game of Thrones in years and I am beyond ready for its second season. I agree with the fan reception that this is indeed one of the best adaptations GoT has received in years, rivalling the story telling of its original series. Despite what the Breaking Bad fans are saying, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already one of the best shows we’ve seen in 2026, and episode five will be remembered as one of the best episodes of TV in years.
