A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits await these improbable and incomparable friends.
Episodes
The Hedge Knight
On his journey to the forthcoming tournament in Ashford, Dunk meets a clever young boy named Egg, who offers to…
Hard Salt Beef
Dunk appeals to various lords in order to gain entrance into the tournament...but Egg advises him to hold onto his…
The Squire
After Egg attempts to train Dunk's uncooperative horse, Dunk teaches his new squire an important skill. As they take in…
Seven
After landing himself in the Targaryens' crosshairs, Dunk exercises his right to request a trial by combat.
In the Name of the Mother
Dunk finds himself drawn to the promise of a new future.
The Morrow
The people of Ashford mourn a significant loss following the tournament; Dunk reflects on his future and evaluates his responsibilities…
Where to watch
EPISODENEW.COM Review
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" arrives not as a mere prequel, but as a carefully etched fresco depicting a Westeros still vibrant with the echoes of dragons, yet subtly shifting towards the familiar decay. This six-episode mini-series, charting the unlikely odyssey of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, is a masterclass in understated world-building, a testament to the power of intimate narrative within an epic canvas.
Directorially, the series thrives on its deliberate pacing, a refreshing antidote to the breakneck speed often favored by its genre contemporaries. The camera lingers on the sun-baked plains and the grimy inns, not just as backdrops but as characters in themselves, subtly conveying the economic and social stratification of the era. The cinematography, with its earthy palette and natural light, eschews the fantastical for a grounded realism, making every joust feel genuinely perilous and every roadside encounter fraught with genuine tension.
The screenplay, while occasionally leaning on convenient narrative contrivances to propel our heroes from one predicament to the next, excels in its character work. Ser Duncan, portrayed with a poignant blend of naiveté and burgeoning conviction by Peter Claffey, is a refreshing departure from the brooding anti-heroes we've become accustomed to. His moral compass, though often tested, remains remarkably true. Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg is a revelation, his impish charm and precocious wisdom serving as the perfect foil, illuminating Duncan's innocence with stark precision. Daniel Ings, in a more supporting role, nevertheless carves out a memorable presence, hinting at the complex political machinations brewing beneath the surface.
However, the series' greatest strength, its deliberate pace, occasionally verges on languid, particularly in the mid-section where some episodes feel more like extended vignettes than crucial plot advancements. While this allows for deeper character exploration, it risks testing the patience of viewers accustomed to a more immediate payoff. Yet, this is a minor quibble in a series that largely succeeds in its ambition to tell a smaller, more human story within a grand, mythic setting. "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is not merely an appetizer for what came before; it is a rich, satisfying meal in its own right, reminding us that true heroism often resides in the most unexpected of hearts.
