“Has honor left the noble house of Westeros?!” This quote from Ser Duncan the Tall sent chills down our spines, setting the tone for what truly made A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms feel like a Game of Thrones extension without the incredibly heavy themes.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a prequel series and spin-off of the epic fantasy series by George RR Martin, set roughly 90 to 100 years before the original show and 72 years after House of the Dragon. Adapted from the novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg, the story follows hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his adventures with his squire, Egg, as they roam the Seven Kingdoms. Little does the world know that Egg has a royal secret.
Join us as we take a look at why A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms deserves your attention in this High Five review. Beware, minor spoilers and comparisons with GOT ahead.
A Legend in Full Display
Ser Duncan the Tall is the stuff of legends for the Game of Thrones. He was first mentioned in GOT season 1 episode 3 by Old Nan, citing him as one of Bran Stark’s favorite knights, and in Season 4 Episode 1 when Joffrey Baratheon reads from the White Book—a massive, historic, and official logbook kept in the White Sword Tower at the Red Keep—where Duncan had four pages dedicated to him, when most knights had only one page. Now, in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, we see the hedge knight’s legend in the flesh.
It’s a refreshing take on the world that Martin crafted because of how lighthearted the storytelling is—the series took a typical “To Be a Master” trope, sprinkling it with GOT’s signature ominous tone, while still keeping adorable and humorous moments. At its core, we see the man, the legend that is Dunk and his squire Egg experiencing Westeros through an unexpected perspective.
Chemistry That Clicks
Sir Duncan and Egg under the lying down under the stars | Photo from HBO Max
The moment Duncan and Egg meet at the tavern in episode 1 is the start of something surprising. Actors Peter Claffley and Dexter Sol Ansell begin with an interaction that feels organic for Duncan and Egg, as if they’ve really known each other for a while. When the duo eventually have more scenes together, the playfulness and warmth feel extremely moving, making them extremely likeable from the get-go and drawing viewers into their relationship.
Aside from these two goofs, the cast (both on the side of truth and pride) includes Finn Bennett as Aeiron Targaryen, Daniel Ings as Ser Lyneol Baratheon, Sam Spruell as Maekor I, Bertie Cavell as Baelor Targaryen, and Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway, all giving dynamic and nuanced performances that fully immerses viewers into this version of Westeros.
Atmospheric Soundtrack and Score
GOT was known for its epic, orchestral, and often sweeping compositions by Ramin Djawadi. For A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Dan Romer composed the tracks, including a jazz-inspired intro and other new elements that fit the theme for the smaller and more episodic stories that the series offered. Taking inspiration from what came before, one of the tracks for AKOSK actually incorporated some parts of Ramin’s composition, pulling viewers into this massive world that spans decades and centuries.
Fantasy Comes Alive
George RR Martin himself complimented the production of the series, citing how both the actors and sets leapt out of the pages of his novellas. From the casting to the costume design and sets, each element was handpicked as a tribute to Game of Thrones while also giving something new for the audience to see. The costume and art department, as well as the special and practical effects teams really pulled through to realize the vision for Dunk and Egg’s story.
A Knight for the Innocent
The original Game of Thrones series was known for its controversial power struggles—morals be damned, characters will do whatever it takes to become the ruler sitting atop the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a stark contrast to this by showing that morality is oftentimes what makes a man great. The series showed Ser Duncan’s dark past, and yet he chose to stay good and true to the code he was trained in. It was a refreshing, yet heartbreaking premise because the cost of being good, oftentimes has great sacrifice attached to it. For that fact, this prequel stays true to its Game of Thrones roots while giving everyone a knight to believe in.
All in all, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ticked every box that made Game of Thrones loved by everyone. Our only critique is that it’s too short and we want to see more of Dunk and Egg’s interactions. HBO Max has confirmed that the series will go on yearly, so that’s something to look forward to, but as we await its return, SEA Wave gives this series 4 out of 5 waves.