The success of Recreation of Thrones—divisive last season however—naturally impressed HBO to return for extra. Home of the Dragon arrived in 2022, a prequel about warring royals patterned so carefully after Thrones that it makes use of the identical theme tune. However A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which premieres January 18, is minimize from a unique fabric. A rougher, stinkier cloth. It’s an method that completely fits the supply materials, George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas—and it makes for a splendidly entertaining TV present that explores Westeros from a wholly new perspective.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—co-created by Ira Parker and Martin, and showrun by Parker—takes place between the occasions of Home of the Dragon and Recreation of Thrones, which are themselves separated by 200-odd years. The brand new present, subsequently, takes place generations after the Dance of the Dragons however generations before the Mom of Dragons. The Targaryens are nonetheless very a lot in energy at this level, one thing that’s of zero concern to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ protagonist… till it instantly turns into his largest drawback.
After we first meet Dunk (Peter Claffey), he’s burying his grasp, the very not too long ago deceased Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb). A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place distant from the castles we’ve seen in the earlier Westeros reveals. As an alternative, it reveals us how individuals not born with fancy titles get by on the day-to-day—together with hedge knights and their squires. It is a lifetime of rain, mud, and sleeping below bushes; coping with buzzing flies and unpalatable meals; and not proudly owning way more than your horse, your sword, and the garments on your again.
Being a knight provides a person a sure standing, however there are limits to that. As Dunk—“Ser Duncan the Tall” is the plainly descriptive title he chooses for himself—is made to perceive time and again, a dirt-poor hedge knight is the lowest rung of the ladder. That’s introduced into clear focus when he ambles to Ashford Meadows, intent on getting into a match the place the different rivals embody highborn lords and princes. He’s bought shut to no cash, and this is a spot the place loyalty tends to be intertwined with whoever’s paying the highest worth.
As A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms explores over its six episodes (all of which io9 was ready to view for assessment), being a knight—sworn by oath to “shield the harmless”—and being an honorable man are not at all times the identical factor. Actually, as the unintentionally blundering Ser Dunk discovers, there’s typically a deep divide between the two. Even worse, the individuals with the most energy can generally be the most despicable of them all, a timeless lesson that Dunk learns in the hardest manner doable.
Deciding to take a look at the tourney at Ashford Meadows is actually Dunk’s first transfer after Ser Arlen’s passing. And he’s not on his personal for lengthy; although he resists the concept, he’s worn down by a bald-headed little oddball named Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) who actually, actually desires to be his squire. No spoilers right here, however even if you happen to haven’t learn Martin’s novellas, shut viewing of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will reveal Egg’s secret before the narrative comes proper out with it.
And that narrative is a compressed one, particularly in contrast to the sprawling likes of Recreation of Thrones and Home of the Dragon. Although there are flashbacks to add necessary details—since Martin’s tales rely closely on Dunk’s inside dialogue, this frees the present from needing any voice-over—A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms principally takes place over a few days in a single location.
However the stakes are nonetheless sky-high. They’re life or loss of life each in the jousting ring, the place males compete realizing the appreciable dangers, and in addition in the rowdy camp that springs up round the tourney. There, Duncan sees firsthand what an offended, impulsive, bratty Targaryen prince is able to—bolstered by the confidence that comes with being above the legislation merely due to who his household is.
Home of the Dragon followers are nicely acquainted with that signature Targaryen trait, however you don’t want to have seen that present and even Recreation of Thrones to take pleasure in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Earlier Westeros know-how is a bonus, because you’ll acknowledge sure names and have a working familiarity with the kingdom and its tumultuous historical past. However with Dunk—an unconventional, instantly likable protagonist—as its entry level, the perspective right here is way more fast and intimate.
That extends to the supporting characters, who enter the story naturally as a part of the bustle of the match and make an instantaneous impression, thanks to the present’s constant mix of intelligent writing and great performances. Claffey and Ansell are a incredible main pair, however the character actors who fill the remainder of the forged are additionally memorable, whether or not they’re taking part in sleazy villains, sleazy guys simply attempting to get forward, or sleazy good guys. That latter group contains Daniel Ings as the raucous, terrifying but endearing Ser Lyonel Baratheon, in addition to Webb’s craggy previous Ser Arlen; the extra we study Dunk’s time with him, the extra it turns into a surprisingly touching spine to present-day occasions.
Touching and filled with deep ruminations on private integrity? Sure. Ugly violence? Certainly, plenty of it. But additionally, bawdy humor and fart jokes? You higher consider it. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is assured sufficient to embrace all of the above. It’s as self-contained as any Martin-adapted Westeros work may ever be, with an nearly anthology format set down by the Dunk and Egg novellas. (This first season attracts solely from his first story, “The Hedge Knight.”) And whereas it takes place in a world Martin followers already know and love, it’s bought its personal taste.
One instance that illustrates this fairly nicely: whereas its most recurring musical cue is a whistling motif that underlines the story’s Western really feel, it additionally brings in that well-known Recreation of Thrones theme in two necessary locations.
One is a stunningly heroic, goosebumps-raising second. The opposite is a cheeky-as-hell invocation—adopted by the present’s first show of ridiculously crude humor, a tactic used sparingly however successfully all through the collection. This present takes its characters and conditions significantly, nevertheless it doesn’t take itself too significantly, and that makes all the distinction.
It’d be straightforward to complain that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is too brief, as a result of we’d love to spend extra time hanging out with Dunk and Egg. However six episodes is really fairly excellent—very like the present itself finally ends up being. Thank the Seven there’s already a season two on the manner.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres January 18 on HBO and HBO Max, with a weekly rollout of latest episodes.
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