A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Series-Premiere Recap: Big Ser

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Right from the start of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, we’re introduced to Ser Duncan the Tall – or ‘Dunk,’ as everyone calls him, played by Peter Claffey – and he’s in a pretty somber situation. He’s burying his old mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, the man he’s been a squire to practically his whole life. Dunk insists Ser Arlan knighted him, but honestly, it’s a bit of a claim since no one actually saw it happen. Plus, it seems like most of Westeros has forgotten who Ser Arlan even was, including people he used to work for! And Dunk himself? He’s incredibly green, clinging to this idealistic view of knighthood that doesn’t quite match up with reality, it seems.

Dunk is a huge man – truly enormous. He’s built like a knight, though he lacks the equipment and renown. By the end of the first episode, he even gains a squire, a small, bald boy nicknamed “Egg.” Despite this, Dunk is, at heart, more childlike than Egg himself. Sometimes you just have to go to war with the people you have available.

George R.R. Martin originally presented the characters of Dunk and Egg in his 1998 novella, “The Hedge Knight,” which also served as the basis for the first episode of the “Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” series. This was shortly after the release of A Game of Thrones, the first book in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, and before the second, A Clash of Kings, hit shelves. At that time, the world of Westeros wasn’t widely known, and Martin’s epic story hadn’t yet grown into the complex, detailed, and expansive series it is today.

Compared to even the fairly straightforward A Game of Thrones, “The Hedge Knight” is remarkably simple. It follows young and naive Dunk as he enters a jousting tournament and predictably finds trouble, which only Egg can help him resolve. That’s essentially the whole story. The events take place over just a few days and involve a small number of characters.

Compared to the epic scope of shows like HBO’s Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms might feel smaller in scale. However, that was intentional. This story offers a lighter, more charming, and frequently humorous take on the world of Ice and Fire.

The show immediately signals it’s not aiming for epic grandeur. When Dunk takes up his old master’s sword and vows to prove himself at the Ashford Meadow tourney, the iconic Game of Thrones theme swells… but is quickly cut short by a very human moment – Dunk needing to use the bathroom. A small bird observes as he does his business near the tree where he buried Ser Arlan. It’s a far cry from the traditional stuff of heroic legends.

Dan Romer composed most of the music for Seven Kingdoms, and it clearly draws inspiration from the classic scores of Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti westerns. Characters like Ser Duncan and Ser Arlan are “hedge knights”—wandering swordsmen who aren’t bound to any lord, but pledge to protect the helpless and serve the kingdom. Think of them as similar to a lone gunslinger from old western stories, but with a stronger sense of honor. Romer’s simple, folk-inspired music—featuring quiet, whistling tunes—captures the feeling of those films about brave, solitary heroes.

The first episode focuses heavily on introducing Dunk and establishing his personality. Actor Peter Claffey, along with the show’s costumes and writing, effectively portrays Ser Duncan as humble and kind. His appearance – a simple belt and worn, somewhat dirty clothes – reflects his modest background. He’s naturally sympathetic, with a sincere and earnest demeanor. Even those who tease him, like the women at Ashford Meadow, feel bad seeing him upset. One of them jokingly describes a hedge knight as simply a “sadder” version of a real knight, and Dunk quietly remarks that his unhappiness doesn’t need to be pointed out.

Ira Parker, who co-created and wrote the series, cleverly introduces Dunk by showing him interacting with characters who are more familiar with the world of Westeros. In the longest scene of the first episode, Dunk is a guest of Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), who is initially baffled by this large, clumsy newcomer. Ser Lyonel, sporting a ridiculous antlered helmet and a mischievous smile, seems ready to punish Dunk for freely eating his family’s food without offering anything in return. However, Dunk is so naive and kind-hearted that Ser Lyonel feels sorry for him and unexpectedly invites him to join in some roughhousing and dancing. Dunk is simply too good-natured to dislike.

The story centers around a sympathetic but unsuccessful character. While it’s unclear if Dunk is an underdog in the jousting tournament at Ashford Meadow – we haven’t seen anything to suggest he is – he’s definitely low on the social ladder. As Dunk tells Ser Lyonel, he has no land or family wealth, meaning if he loses his first match, he’ll have to sell his horses to cover his debts.

Even if he’s permitted to enter the competition, there’s a problem. The tournament organizer says he can’t allow just anyone – especially mercenaries – to compete with so many nobles present. Dunk’s only chance is if Ser Manfred of House Dondarrion speaks for him; Ser Manfred’s father once hired a famous knight, Ser Arlan, for a dangerous mission. Unfortunately, Ser Manfred is too busy with his own affairs – and the women who have been making fun of Dunk – to offer any assistance. It seems this opportunity might be lost before Dunk even gets started.

I’m so excited about Seven Kingdoms! It takes place about 80 years after House of the Dragon and 90 years before Game of Thrones, but honestly, you don’t need to be a huge lore expert to enjoy it. The story follows Dunk, and he’s actually pretty clueless about all the noble families and fancy history – he grew up poor and learned what he knows from a relatively unimportant knight, Ser Arlan. It’s great because it feels fresh and you don’t need to know everything about Westeros to jump right in!

This story isn’t about the kings and queens of Westeros. It follows Dunk, a character who struggles with poverty – he’s often forced to sleep outdoors in harsh conditions. He was taken in from the slums of King’s Landing by a stern man who didn’t hesitate to punish him, even for minor mistakes, which is shown in a funny, yet tough, sequence. Life has never been easy for Dunk.

A bit of good fortune comes early in the story. While traveling to Ashford Meadow and stopping at an inn for food, the main character meets a boy named Egg, initially thinking he’s just a stable hand. Egg quietly follows him to the tournament and then demonstrates his value by setting up a campsite – complete with a fire and freshly caught fish. Though Egg recognizes the knight isn’t particularly skilled, he sees someone who could use help and welcomes the chance to assist.

The episode wraps up with Egg trying to lift Ser Duncan’s spirits. He points out that while all the other knights were passed out in their tents, he got to see a shooting star. Dunk tells him to be quiet, but honestly, even he’s a little cheered by the thought. I mean, he’d been telling himself earlier that day there’s nothing wrong with letting yourself enjoy a pleasant idea, and seeing that star felt like one of those moments. It’s a small thing, but it’s a sweet ending to a tough day for the big guy.

A Few Clouts in the Ear

Despite being made with a smaller budget than its predecessor, this Westeros show doesn’t feel inexpensive. The sets are remarkably detailed and filled with people. The creative team has done an excellent job making the locations feel incredibly real – even small details like the warm candlelight in the Baratheon pavilion, which creates a cozy atmosphere against the surrounding shadows, are beautifully done.

Okay, so I’ve been thinking about Dunk, and it’s really bugging me – is he really a knight? We never actually see anyone knight him. He keeps remembering Ser Arlan, his old mentor, but Arlan never explicitly says he’s making Dunk a knight. And when the master of the games asks about it, Dunk gives this weird answer about a bird being the only witness! It’s the same bird we see when Dunk is… well, taking care of business, right after he tries out Ser Arlan’s sword and says how good it feels. Seriously, is Dunk suggesting a songbird witnessed him knighting himself? It’s just so strange!

Keep an eye on a few characters as the story unfolds. Ser Steffon Fossoway (played by Edward Ashley) is a boastful knight who challenges Dunk to a duel, and his cousin Raymun (Shaun Thomas) reveals Steffon has a habit of hurting opponents during practice. The unnamed, drunk knight from the inn who cryptically tells Dunk, “I dreamed of you,” will reappear later. Finally, the mysterious lady puppeteer and her impressive wooden dragon, who briefly capture Dunk’s attention, will be back before the story ends.

• Too true, from the inn-keeper: “Never knew a joust to change the price of eggs.”

One of Ser Manfred’s lovers bluntly described Dunk’s desire to compete in jousting tournaments, saying he was willing to risk his life to entertain others.

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2026-01-19 06:56