Currently airing on HBO and HBO Max, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the latest prequel to the popular Game of Thrones series. It takes place roughly 90 years before the original show, and about 80 years after House of the Dragon, HBO’s other Game of Thrones prequel. Many viewers feel that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms revitalizes the franchise, which had begun to feel overly complicated.
While A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon are distinct shows that fans can appreciate for different reasons, House of the Dragon excels in several important areas.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Will Return Every Year
HBO
Let’s start with some quick news: the third season of House of the Dragon is coming out later this year. The show premiered in 2022, so fans have been getting a new season roughly every two years. While this schedule is typical for high-quality, expensive TV shows, it’s still frustrating to wait so long for new episodes.
Unlike traditional long gaps between seasons, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will return annually. HBO is planning to use this approach – releasing new seasons every year – with other shows like The Pitt and the upcoming American Blue as well. The idea is that viewers will stay more connected to characters and stories with regular, consistent releases, rather than losing interest during extended breaks.
Okay, so as a fan, I’ve noticed A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms feels a bit different from House of the Dragon. It’s not quite as huge and flashy in terms of production, and honestly, the story itself is more focused and smaller in scope. But you know what? That’s perfectly fine with me! The source material – the books – are like that too, so it feels really faithful and well-done.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Honors the Source Material
HBO
The new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is adapted from George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. The first season follows The Hedge Knight, a story about Ser Duncan the Tall, a young and struggling knight, as he enters a tournament hoping to find employment. This story is different from the main Game of Thrones series – it doesn’t involve dragons, supernatural threats, or the fight for the Iron Throne. It’s a straightforward tale, and so far, the show has closely followed the original book. The characters, like Dunk and his young squire Egg, feel incredibly authentic and have been brought to life on screen with impressive accuracy.
It’s understandable that House of the Dragon faces unique challenges. The show is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, which is presented as a historical account of a Targaryen civil war, written long after the events took place. However, even with room for creative interpretation, the show’s writers have significantly deviated from the source material. For example, the second season features several forced and unnatural encounters between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), despite the book establishing they are separated. The writers seem determined to steer the story in their own direction, even if it means straying far from the original text and altering the characters’ independent storylines.
Many viewers were disappointed with how Game of Thrones ended. One reason was that the show’s creators had to finish the story without the remaining books from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Generally, the show was most successful when it closely followed the books, which is why A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a welcome return to form.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’Has a Sense of Humor
HBO
While known for its dramatic twists and character deaths, Game of Thrones still managed to include moments of humor, often through characters like Tyrion Lannister, the Hound, or the playful dynamic between Tormund and Brienne. House of the Dragon, though equally serious, rarely offers these lighter moments. Its characters are largely somber, which, while fitting for the story, can make the show feel relentlessly bleak. Even in dark times, people often use humor to cope, and a little bit of that would be welcome in House of the Dragon.
The story A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms starts with a more lighthearted tone, which naturally leads to more humor. It’s amusing to watch Ser Duncan, a bit of a fish out of water, try to navigate the world of wealthy lords. He often fumbles through conversations and gets lost in grand castles. The dynamic between him and Egg is also funny – despite being much younger and smaller, Egg seems to understand the social rules of this world far better than Dunk does.
Although A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is generally more lighthearted, it doesn’t shy away from serious and even dark moments, especially later in the first season. The humor isn’t just for laughs—it actually makes the darker scenes feel more impactful by creating a strong contrast. House of the Dragon could benefit from using this same approach.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Tells a More Contained Story
As a fan, I’ve noticed that House of the Dragon, while set 200 years before Game of Thrones, really tries to connect to the original show, and sometimes it feels a bit forced. They bring up the White Walkers and the prophecy surrounding them, even though that threat is still centuries away, which is an interesting touch at first. But then it gets a little much, like when Daemon Targaryen actually sees a vision of Daenerys at the end of season two. It feels like they’re trying too hard to link the two stories together.
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Everyone understands House of the Dragon leads into Game of Thrones, but it’s strange because the characters almost seem aware of that fact as well. This makes it feel, at times, like they’re simply going through the motions until the main events actually start.
While A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms hints at future events, the characters are mostly unaware of what’s ahead. This focus on their present journey makes the story feel complete and self-contained.
You can watch new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Sundays, but the next episode will be available on Friday because of the Super Bowl.
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2026-02-06 02:49