Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms delivered almost exactly what I’d hoped for from a George R.R. Martin adaptation. The show largely honored the spirit of The Hedge Knight novella and where it did diverge, the changes generally strengthened the story, helping it align tonally with Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. As someone who loves both the novella and the graphic novel, seeing Dunk and Egg finally brought to life on HBO was a real treat.
In the video below, I sat down with Mac Marshall and Carlos Torres for a fun, nerdy discussion about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1. They’re well-versed in the HBO corner of Westeros but hadn’t read The Hedge Knight in either form. It was genuinely interesting to hear their take – knowledgeable fans of the broader GRRM universe, coming to Dunk and Egg’s story completely fresh.
Things I Liked
- I loved the smaller scale and limited locations compared to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
- The score was simple and charming. My favorite track was “Quieter Accommodations (Dunk’s Whistle)” which only had an acoustic guitar and a whistle.
- I really enjoyed the way the smallfolk spoke. This was a nice change after spending dozens of hours with highborns and their minions in the other GRRM shows.
- The changes to Baelor and Maekar were great, making them more well-rounded characters. Credit should go to the actors as well, for making these characters deeper and more interesting.
- The Trial of the Seven is one of my favorite fight scenes from all the GRRM shows. The sound design was particularly outstanding.
- Lyonel Baratheon’s expanded role was highly entertaining.
Things I Didn’t Like
- They removed one of the most important scenes in the novella – the “A Knight Who Remembered His Vows” scene, just before the trial. This was a criminal omission.
- Book Daeron was the funny drunk you see at your favorite bar. Show Daeron was kind of a bummer.
- While it was nice having a healthy dose of humor after the morose House of the Dragon, Dunk’s explosive diarrhea and Ser Arlen’s greatsword were a bit much. One of the gags would’ve been fine, but having both back-to-back was gratuitous.
- The song choices in the finale were strange and pulled me out of the show. Hearing jazz and “Sixteen Tons” in medieval-inspired fantasy series was bizarre.
What Did You Think of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1?
Despite some minor criticisms, I really enjoyed A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 and can’t wait for the next round. One of my friends describes the tales of Dunk and Egg as being “like the adventures of Arya and the Hound if they weren’t assh*les.” I can’t argue with that.
Anyway, when you have a chance, please let me know what you liked and didn’t like about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1.