A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Fixing Game of Thrones’ Final Season Mistakes

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Although the original series Game of Thrones concluded nearly seven years ago, the world it created continues to grow. We revisited the history of the Targaryen family with House of the Dragon, and on January 18th, a new spin-off series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will add another chapter to this epic story.

I’m really excited about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms! It’s based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, and follows the story of Ser Duncan the Tall – everyone calls him Dunk – a knight who isn’t from a wealthy family. He takes on a young boy named Prince Aegon Targaryen, or Egg, as his squire. Honestly, it feels like a blend of everything I love – the epic scale of Game of Thrones, the adventure of The Mandalorian, and the fantasy of The Witcher. It’s going to be amazing!

Even before it’s released, the new series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms seems to be addressing the main criticism of Game of Thrones‘ final season. Unlike the later seasons of Game of Thrones, this show will be more focused on characters and their stories, rather than big, flashy scenes.

Game Of Thrones’ Final Seasons Were All About The Spectacle

The final seasons of Game of Thrones focused more on impressive visuals and action than on a compelling story. The writers seemed to prioritize creating shocking moments – like the battle of Hardhome – to generate buzz, but those exciting scenes should have supported, not overshadowed, the characters’ journeys and emotional depth.

The power of episodes like “Hardhome,” “Blackwater,” and “Battle of the Bastards” didn’t come just from their impressive action sequences. Those moments truly resonated because they were driven by strong emotions and relatable human stories—like revenge, a sense of honor, and the desperate fight for control. Without those underlying themes, even spectacular action feels empty.

During its final seasons, Game of Thrones seemed to prioritize large-scale action over compelling storylines and emotional moments. Ironically, when the show reached its most epic battle, it was filmed so darkly that viewers struggled to follow what was happening.

House Of The Dragon Couldn’t Go Small After Game Of Thrones

While Game of Thrones was a large-scale story covering all of Westeros and the fight for the Iron Throne, these new spinoffs offer a chance to explore smaller, more personal stories within that world. House of the Dragon, for example, narrowed the focus significantly by telling the history of House Targaryen.

Following the massive success of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon needed to immediately impress with large-scale, dramatic moments. From Rhaenys’s stunning arrival at Aegon’s coronation riding a dragon, to Vhagar’s shocking attack that destroyed Arrax and its rider, the show delivered. Season 2 continued this trend, ramping up the spectacle while still holding off on the full-scale war that viewers were waiting for.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Will Be A Character-Driven Show

Unlike Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, which focus on the power struggles of kings and queens, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a more personal story, exploring life in Westeros from the perspective of ordinary people.

In the world of Game of Thrones, ordinary people often suffer the consequences of the powerful. We’ve seen this dramatically, like when Rhaenys’ arrival at the coronation tragically resulted in many civilian deaths. However, the upcoming story, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will shift the focus and tell events from the perspective of those common people. The story centers on Egg, who is a Targaryen, and his companion Dunk, who is a regular, everyday person.

Unlike shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon which follow many characters and complex storylines, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a much more focused story. It’s similar to The Last of Us, centering on the relationship between a knight and his young apprentice.

Not Every Game Of Thrones Spinoff Needs To Be Like Game Of Thrones

Just because a show is set in the same universe as Game of Thrones, Star Wars, or Marvel doesn’t mean it needs to be a huge, complex story like the originals. These franchises work best when they try out different types of narratives. Not every Star Wars show needs to follow the same formula as The Mandalorian, and not every Marvel series needs to be like Loki.

Franchises often reach their peak when they take risks and try new things. For example, Agatha Harkness wouldn’t fit in as a traditional Avenger, but the show Agatha All Along is a standout success for Marvel. Similarly, Andor is completely different from other Star Wars projects, and many fans consider it to be the best Star Wars content in decades.

As a huge fan of the Game of Thrones world, I’m really excited to see HBO branching out and telling stories from different eras and parts of Westeros. But honestly, they need to learn from past issues. This new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, feels like a real chance to show us just how amazing this franchise can be if they get it right.

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2026-01-02 04:14