Cover Dunk and Egg in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
Dunk and Egg in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
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HBO’s latest return to Westeros trades dynastic warfare for a wandering knight and his curious squire. The result is ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’, a story built on character, a little humour and an unexpectedly humane view of the Seven Kingdoms
The world of Westeros has grown large enough to carry many moods. Game of Thrones delivered intrigue and warfare. House of the Dragon leaned into bloodline politics and civil war. Then came A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a series that steps away from grand courts, dragons and follows an unlikely pair.
It is smaller in scale, as well as intimate. The season adapts The Hedge Knight, one of the novellas from George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, following Ser Duncan the Tall—known more commonly as Dunk—and his young squire Egg, who carries a secret royal lineage. Their story unfolds roughly a century before the events of Game of Thrones, when the House Targaryen still ruled the Iron Throne (but without their dragons by their side).
Six episodes may appear modest for a fantasy series. Yet that tight scale becomes part of the appeal. Critics have described the show as a more intimate and light-hearted return to Westeros, focusing on a single journey rather than a sprawling network of plots.
Here are five things that made the first season memorable.
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The chemistry between Dunk and Egg
Above Dunk and Egg in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
Dunk and Egg in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
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The series lives or dies through its central duo. Thankfully, the pairing works.
Ser Duncan the Tall, played by Peter Claffey, is an earnest man who believes deeply in knightly honour, even when the world around him falls short of those ideals. Beside him stands Egg—portrayed by Dexter Sol Ansell—curious and sharp for his age.
Critics frequently singled out the bond between the two characters as the show’s emotional centre. Most observed that “the wonderful brotherly bond between Dunk and Egg gives the fantasy-free A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms a great sense of charm.”
Their relationship carries humour and tension, but also warmth (especially during the slow scenes like cooking and eating). It offers something the larger franchise is not really known for: companionship built through travel and conversation.
A smaller, more intimate story
Above Dunk and Egg in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
Dunk and Egg in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
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One of the series’ most interesting choices lies in what it refuses to do. There are no massive armies marching across continents and no apparent continent-wide political chessboard. Instead, the narrative follows Dunk’s attempt to prove himself at the Ashford tournament and the trouble that follows. The plot is tightly focused, almost like a medieval road story.
Critics have pointed out that the show “chooses to tell one story up close” rather than juggling multiple narratives across kingdoms. It is a breath of fresh air that changes the rhythm of the franchise.
Westeros through ordinary eyes
Above Tanselle in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
Tanselle in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
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Most viewers first encountered Westeros through kings, queens and conspirators. Dunk offers a different vantage point. He begins the series as a hedge knight—a wandering warrior without land, title or patron. His struggles revolve around simple things: earning entry into a tournament, finding armour, proving his honour in a world that rarely rewards such ideals.
Through Dunk’s perspective, the Seven Kingdoms become less mythic. Inns, dusty roads, travelling merchants and village gossip fill the frame. The shift echoes what several critics called a “more humane world” within the familiar landscape of Westeros.
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The balance of humour and danger
Above Prince Aerion Brightflame of House Targaryen in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
Prince Aerion Brightflame of House Targaryen in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
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The tone may surprise long-time fans. The series allows room for a refreshing humour.
The opening scene of the premiere sparked conversation precisely because it undercut heroic expectations, portraying Dunk in a moment of anxiety rather than triumph. Author George R. R. Martin himself later remarked that the moment caught him off guard, saying, “I don’t know if we really need the s---.”
That irreverent streak continues throughout the season. Characters tease one another. Egg often plays the sharper mind behind Dunk’s decisions. But despite those, the world retains its edge. The climactic Trial of Seven delivers brutal consequences, including the tragic death of Prince Baelor Targaryen, reminding viewers that the laws of Westeros remain unforgiving.
A faithful adaptation of a beloved novella
Above Dunk in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
Dunk in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photo: HBO and IMDB)
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Season one adapts The Hedge Knight, the first of Martin’s Dunk and Egg stories. The show keeps the core structure of that tale: Dunk’s arrival at Ashford, the tensions among Targaryen princes and the dramatic Trial of Seven.
The adaptation has largely been praised for capturing the spirit of the source material. Dialogue, character motivations and the central themes of honour and growth carry through from page to screen. That very faithfulness may explain the strong critical reception. The season opened to high approval ratings from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a score above 90 per cent.
For a franchise often associated with scale and shock (and dragons), the show’s greatest strength lies in its simplicity. One knight, one squire and a road stretching across Westeros.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
