A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review highlights a charming Dunk & Egg story

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a six-episode HBO adaptation of George R.R. Martin's The Hedge Knight that focuses on hedge knight Ser Duncan (Dunk) and his squire Egg; Screen Rant's review awards the season 9/10 while the early Rotten Tomatoes critics score debuted at 81%.

HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms reintroduces Westeros through a smaller, character-driven lens ahead of its January 18, 2026 premiere. The six-episode season adapts George R.R. Martin's first Dunk and Egg novella, The Hedge Knight, and is set roughly between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. The story follows a Flea Bottom-born hedge knight, Dunk, and a bold young squire, Egg, as they travel to the Tourney of Ashford and encounter both humor and harsher realities of knighthood. The series leans into lighter, more hopeful tones while retaining moments of emotional and thematic weight. Key details: - The season consists of six episodes and adapts The Hedge Knight novella by George R.R. Martin. - The timeline sits between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones and shows a dragonless era for House Targaryen. - Peter Claffey stars as Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and Dexter Sol Ansell plays Egg. - Screen Rant's review by Jordan Williams awarded the season a 9/10 and highlighted the show's charm, humor, and lead performances. - Rotten Tomatoes' early critics score debuted at 81% based on 32 reviews, noted as a record-low so far for a Game of Thrones spinoff franchise. - The article notes that HBO has already renewed the series for a second season ahead of the season 1 premiere. Summary: The series presents a smaller-scale, often lighter perspective on Westeros, focusing on the experiences of underdogs rather than large-scale political warfare. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres January 18, 2026 on HBO, and a second season has been announced; further reception and audience response remain to be seen.