A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review:
Cast: Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Daniel Ings
Director: Owen Harris, Sarah Adina Smith
Streaming on: HBO Max
After the high-octane political chess of Game of Thrones and the fiery, dragon-fueled domestic trauma of House of the Dragon, HBO’s latest venture, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, arrives like a cool breeze on a humid King’s Landing afternoon. This isn’t an epic about who sits on the Iron Throne; it’s a muddy, heart-on-sleeve “buddy cop” dramedy set in the world’s most dangerous playground.
The Plot: Honor in the Mud
Set roughly a century before Daenerys was even a thought, the story follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a “hedge knight” with a heart of gold and a purse of… well, nothing. After his master passes away, the towering, somewhat clumsy Dunk decides to try his luck at a tournament in Ashford Meadow. Along the way, he picks up Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), a bald, precocious boy who insists on being his squire.
What starts as a simple quest for a hot meal and a bit of glory quickly spirals into a quintessential Westerosi mess, proving that even without dragons, the Targaryens are still plenty capable of causing a stir.
The High Points: Small Stakes, Big Heart
The show’s greatest strength is its scrappiness. By swapping the Red Keep for muddy tents and puppet shows, the series finds a human pulse that its predecessors sometimes traded for scale.
The Lead Duo: Peter Claffey is a revelation. He brings a vulnerable, “imposter syndrome” energy to Dunk that makes you root for him instantly. His chemistry with Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg) is the show’s North Star—their banter is sharp, sweet, and provides the “comfort watch” vibe you never thought you’d get from George R.R. Martin.
The Tone: It’s funny. Genuinely! From the literal “opening splash” that subverts the iconic theme music to the slapstick jousting mishaps, the show isn’t afraid to laugh at itself.
A “Street-Level” View: We finally see how the “smallfolk” live while the lords play their games. It’s gritty, lived-in, and feels more authentic for its lack of CGI spectacle.
The Low Points: A Slow Burn for Action Seekers
If you’re coming for Battle of the Bastards level carnage, you might find the 30-minute, dialogue-heavy episodes a bit lean. The stakes are deeply personal rather than global, which might feel “small” to those who crave the apocalypse. Also, the Targaryen princes are—as usual—a lot to handle, with Finn Bennett playing Prince Aerion with a “villain-of-the-week” intensity that borders on caricature.
The Verdict
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a triumphant reminder that you don’t need a thousand-ship fleet to tell a great story. It’s a soulful, bite-sized medieval Western that prioritizes character over carnage. It’s the underdog story Westeros deserved, and we’re already ready for Season 2.
Rating: 4.5/5
