A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Review: Dunk & Egg's Refreshing & Intensely Charming Story Revitalizes Game Of Thrones

HBO turns the wheel again by revisiting Westeros in a new timeline through the eyes of a green hedge knight and his bold squire. This time, however, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms dares to embark on themes and tones that the HBO franchise has only just touched on before – and Game of Thrones’ charm, heart, and humor have never been more enthralling.

The six-episode season, adapted from George R.R. Martin’s first Dunk and Egg novella, The Hedge Knight, is set about halfway between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, with this version of Westeros being unfamiliar territory compared to the sprawling large-scale, volatile political landscape of its predecessors.

Rather than from high lords vying for the throne, Ira Parker's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 tackles Westerosi politics from the perspective of Dunk (Peter Claffey) – soon referred to as Ser Duncan the Tall – a Flea Bottom-born, largely built hedge knight who heads to the Tourney of Ashford after the death of his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. On the way, he meets a bold and wise young boy, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), who insists upon being his squire, with the tourney teaching Dunk and Egg that not all knights subscribe to the honorable code he was taught.

Within five minutes of meeting Dunk, it’s clear that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has no intention of selling audiences a darkly dramatic, morally-corrosive narrative of a lowborn man’s ambitions to become the most powerful, glorious, and respected knight in Westeros. This isn’t that story. Rather, this is a simpler tale of a knight trying to prove his worth so a lord will hire him, with little to lose but his oath and honor.

Energizing the franchise, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms maintains its focus on the often overlooked smallfolk, behaviorally unconventional lords, humble livelihoods, and occasionally repulsive aspects of the lives of those born outside nobility. In that change lies A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ refreshing allure.

This isn’t a show that’s trying to be Game of Thrones in scale and darkness, with such contrasts also resulting in some unsubtle and surprising instances of mockery against the original series. But that humorous, more light-hearted tone is exactly what compellingly sets the series apart within HBO’s sprawling franchise, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms manages to brilliantly balance its comedic edge with more serious, emotionally-driven turns.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' Risky Tonal & Thematic Departure From GOT Charmingly Breathes New Life Into The HBO Franchise

Overall, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a rare triumph for the good of heart in Westeros; a rare glimmer of hope in a franchise that audiences have so often seen riddled with deceit, dishonor, and cruel brutality at any and every turn. Those elements can still be found, but through Dunk and Egg’s buddy comedy-like journey at Ashford, there’s more hope to be found in Westeros; not just for the smallfolk, but for the lords and leaders of the realm above them that is in desperate need of "good men."

From beginning to end, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 succeeds in depicting the Game of Thrones franchise’s most pure, charming, and uplifting on-screen tale yet. Audiences will find more smiles and laughs than dread or shock amid the well-paced twists and turns of the tourney, with the delight and utter sweetness of this story being possible through the instantly gripping chemistry between Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg.

Peter Claffey & Dexter Sol Ansell Lead An Outstanding Ensemble That Elevates George R.R. Martin's Novella

Both newer actors, Claffey and Ansell give masterclass performances throughout all six episodes, carefully navigating the nuance of the hedge knight and his new squire as they navigate the grittiness of impoverished knighthood before facing some heavier, perspective-changing shifts in their dynamic later in the season.

Not only do Claffey and Ansell authentically and effortlessly make it feel like Martin’s Dunk and Egg walked directly out of his pages, but they also add a deeper emotional complexity to these characters through new original scenes and some notable changes from the novella.

The cast is rounded out by layered and exhilarating performances throughout its ensemble. Among the biggest standouts is Daniel Ings as Lord Lyonel Baratheon, whose bizarre, captivating performance is certain to make him an instant fan-favorite. Meanwhile, Bertie Carvel gives a more calm yet dignified turn as the chivalrous Baelor Targaryen, Shaun Thomas brings a brilliant humor and naïveté to squire Raymun Fossoway, and Finn Bennett compellingly commands all his scenes as the arrogant, villainous Aerion Targaryen.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' Scrappy Underdog Story Is The Powerful Perspective The Franchise Needed To Complement GOT & HOTD

In unfamiliar territory for a Game of Thrones series, Westeros is in peacetime after a devastating rebellion. However, a feeling of unrest still simmers as House Targaryen, now completely without its dragons and still overcoming rebel Blackfyre dissent, strives to maintain the power and glory of its once-fear-inspiring house, which relegates them to attending tourneys of smaller houses like the Ashfords.

This tonally distinct, dragonless era of Targaryens is unrecognizable in comparison to the grandness and ferocity of the House of the Dragon during the time of Rhaenyra, with the family being far from the awe-inspiring rebirth of the dragons with Daenerys. Still, there’s a large variety of arrogance, honor, duty, envy, and expectation among the Targaryens that’s found in any Game of Thrones timeline, with these surprising internal conflicts culminating in many of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1’s most intense and high-stakes moments.

The lack of war means the big battles that have helped to define the franchise since 2011 are absent, but the series has no lack of masterfully-crafted action-packed sequences on the tourney stage. The prequel’s action may be smaller in scale, but the framing, direction, score, and intensity of this combat make it no less enthralling. Rather, it expertly matches the gritty shift in tone, innovatively expanding upon the franchise’s battle resume by approaching the stakes and intensity from a more personal, scrappy perspective.

Before House of the Dragon season 3 dives into a devastating, battle-packed season this summer, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms kicks off the year with an intimately charming and nuanced take on Westerosi life and politics from an often-ignored perspective. Departing from the epic fantasy attractions of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon was a risk, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms deliciously pays off this gamble in pushing forward and revitalizing the franchise with its emphasis on inspirational, humble underdog stories.

While there may still be some kinks to work out in regard to tonal extremes and certain character motivations, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 is an impressive first outing in the journey of Dunk and Egg. With season 2 already on the way, the series’ next installment has even more intense and enriching personal conflicts to contend with as Egg commits to being Dunk’s squire, which may better enhance A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as Game of Thrones’ most endearing story and character study yet.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 premieres on HBO on Sunday, January 18 at 10 p.m. ET.