HBO’s second Sport of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is already an authorized hit on Rotten Tomatoes. Set to premiere its first of six episodes this coming weekend, this return to Westeros might lack in dynastic, psychological duels, and fire-spewing beasts, but the charming central pairing of Peter Claffey’s Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell’s Prince Aegon Targaryen makes for equally pleasurable viewing, in response to the critics. And because of their varied evaluations doing the rounds, the collection has debuted with an 84% rating on the aggregator website.
Known as ‘Dunk’ and ‘Egg’, the hedge knight and his younger, royal-blooded squire journey across the seven kingdoms a century previous to the occasions of Thrones. George R. R. Martin’s novella The Hedge Knight is tailored in full right here, with two extra tales, The Sworn Sword and The Thriller Knight, each supposed to make it to the small display too. So how do the primary on-line reactions learn? Effectively, IGN hailed the collection as “essentially the most purely pleasurable and heartfelt tour to Westeros in a while.” So we’re off to a promising begin.
“It’s the most purely pleasurable and heartfelt tour to Westeros in a while, and one that may function an entry level to the franchise for viewers who might really feel they’re too far behind on all of the lore to hitch now. Due to its compact storytelling – Season 1 is simply six episodes, with most working roughly half-hour lengthy, the primary three directed by Owen Harris and the latter three by Sarah Adina Smith – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by no means feels bloated or prefer it’s spinning its wheels ready to get to some huge payoff the best way that Home of the Dragon and Sport of Thrones generally did.”
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ is a “Whole Delight From Begin to End”
As for a way the BBC rated Dunk and Egg’s maiden outing, reviewer Neil Armstrong labeled it “a complete delight from begin to end” whereas additionally claiming that it is the most “enjoyable” model of Westeros followers have seen “for a very long time – perhaps ever.”
“The outdated gods and the brand new had been smiling over the manufacturing when Claffey and Ansell had been forged. They’re good individually and the chemistry between them is extraordinary. You’d assume they’d been working collectively in a Laurel and Hardy-style double act for many years, but Claffey – a hulking former rugby participant – has solely been appearing for a few years and that is his first lead half. It’s extremely humorous. There’s humor within the different reveals, however that is of a unique order altogether: achieved with a lightness of contact and positively oozing allure. There’s bodily comedy, dry humor and virtually Monty Pythonesque absurdity.”
Empire Journal‘s piece famous its “splendidly and handsomely shot” visuals; “the muddy helmet-eye-view digicam angles of the jousting scenes particularly show a spotlight. And like its heroes, it retains an old school, chivalric ethical compass: a collection merely sworn to guard the harmless.” Over at Polygon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms obtained applause for “glorious character work and scene-setting” that makes it “a simple start line for Sport of Thrones newbies and a refreshing palate-cleanser for present followers.”
Highlighting “the specter of oversaturation” that “loomed” over the brand new collection, GamesRadar+ talked about how showrunner Ira Parker delivers “a resonant, at occasions dramatic, and all the time heartfelt story that wants solely six episodes to earn its place within the Tune of Ice and Fireplace pantheon, expertly grounding itself in acquainted Sport of Thrones trappings whereas additionally placing out successfully by itself.”
Extra reward for Claffey and Ansell’s dynamic cropped up at THR, which known as them “an ideal comedian duo” who’re “attuned to one another naturally and likably […] Placing this offshoot on the shoulders of two inexperienced stars may have been a catastrophe. As a substitute it is the Claffey/Ansell rapport, and never something within the ongoing plot, that already has me looking forward to additional — a second season was already ordered — tales of Dunk and Egg.” Judging by Parker’s most up-to-date perception, it appears like Dunk and Egg are effectively and actually right here to remain, and will even break a Thrones report.
- Launch Date
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January 18, 2026
- Community
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HBO
- Administrators
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Owen Harris
- Writers
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George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker
