If this series proves anything, it’s that sometimes the smallest stories in Westeros, a tall hedge knight and his mysterious little squire, can remind us why we fell in love with the Seven Kingdoms in the first place.
by Nav Qateel
After the disappointing ending of Game of Thrones, a series that began so utterly brilliantly and would go on to finally leave a bad taste in the mouths of diehard fans like me, House of the Dragon never really quite rose to the occasion. However, George R.R. Martin’s novella The Hedge Knight has been faithfully recreated, other than some minor dialogue changes in episode one, to once again give fans hope with HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The world Martin invented obviously meant so much to so many people, and being taken back there in a meaningful way, with a fraction of the budget I might add, appears to be that lightning in a bottle being captured just like it was back in 2011.
One hundred years before Game of Thrones is set, we are once again transported back in time to follow the exploits of Ser Duncan the Tall, who is accompanied by his tiny, intelligent squire Egg. Duncan’s mentor dies, a brutal man but a man of his times, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, leaving his tatty armor and sword to be claimed by Duncan. Having no money, Duncan “Dunk” decides to enter a tourney and sets out with three horses and a willingness to test the skills that we see Ser Arlan passing on to him during a flashback. Just as Dunk sets out we are witness to a scene I found quite horrendous. Why we must watch people defecating for the sake of “realism” is unnecessary in my opinion, but this went above and beyond that. Anyway…
On his way to the tourney Dunk meets a young boy who is quite knowledgeable about the knights competing in said tourney. Young Egg seems to know everything about the event where Dunk knows very little. After asking Dunk to squire for him, with Dunk refusing, Egg follows along anyway without Dunk knowing. Eventually they team up, with Egg providing the brains and Dunk the brawns, and this duo is where this show shines. Upon arriving at the tourney Dunk learns that he must be a known knight or have someone speak for him, and this leads to some amusing scenes as he tries to find an old friend of his mentor’s to speak on his behalf, like when he gets drunk with none other than Prince Aerion Targaryen, who appears to be somewhat insane. This more or less makes up the first episode, promising a show that’s a return to form. The show only gets better.
As the series progresses through its final half, the tension surrounding the tourney escalates dramatically, particularly after Dunk finds himself entangled in a conflict with the cruel Prince Aerion. What begins as a simple misunderstanding quickly spirals into something far more dangerous, forcing Dunk to stand by his sense of honor even when it means placing himself in direct opposition to the powerful Targaryen princes. The show does an excellent job building this tension, making it clear that Dunk’s stubborn morality, while admirable, could easily cost him his life.
This all leads to the Trial of the Seven, one of the most thrilling sequences in the entire series. Watching Dunk, who never even wanted to be a knight in the grand political sense, suddenly thrust into a legendary trial normally reserved for the highest nobles is both exhilarating and nerve wracking. The battle itself is chaotic, brutal, and wonderfully staged, reminding viewers why this world captured our imaginations in the first place. Each blow carries weight, and every participant feels like they are fighting for something larger than themselves.
The conclusion of the trial is extremely satisfying, tying together the threads of Dunk’s honor, Egg’s loyalty, and the fragile politics of Westeros. At the same time, it leaves viewers longing for more of these characters and their adventures. The ending feels complete, yet it clearly hints that this is only the beginning of Dunk and Egg’s long journey through the Seven Kingdoms.
Being back in Westeros was a dream come true, and thanks to the handling of the source material being done properly, this show is not to be missed. It was also announced that we were getting a second season due to the overwhelming success of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, something I suspected would occur.
Nav’s Score: 10/10
