Minority Mindset

The new show inspired by George R.R. Martin’s stories is a welcome change from its predecessors, Thrones and House of the Dragon. Instead of focusing on large-scale dragon fights or complicated political schemes, this six-episode season tells a more personal story. It follows Egg, who is secretly Prince Aegon V but pretends to be a commoner, as he runs away from home before a tournament. He befriends Dunk, a large but inexperienced knight, and becomes his squire. The show features simple pleasures – puppet shows, parties, jousts – and focuses on the growing bond between Egg and his new mentor. Even with a dramatic event – Dunk accidentally getting involved in a massive duel that resulted in the death of the crown prince – the show felt surprisingly refreshing. It proves you don’t need a full-blown war to create compelling family drama.

Fans are in a bit of a tricky situation. The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was based on The Hedge Knight, but its characters don’t appear in the following two stories, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight. This creates a challenge for season two. Viewers enjoyed seeing Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon and are curious about Maekar Targaryen’s future, especially after his son ran off. The question is whether season two will closely follow The Sworn Sword like season one did The Hedge Knight, meaning a completely new cast of characters. Or will the show find ways to bring those familiar faces back through flashbacks or by expanding the story to other locations? However, adding those elements could change the feel of the show, which many appreciated for its focused, smaller-scale story. If the season constantly cuts away to other parts of Westeros, will it still feel like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

Television often feels like a perfect fit for wrap-up episodes. However, beyond the British tradition of Christmas specials, we rarely see shows conclude with a focus on simply spending time with characters, rather than pushing the plot forward. This makes me wonder if some viewers of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms might find this week’s finale a bit anticlimactic. The main storyline really wrapped up in episode five, and this final episode mostly consists of tying up loose ends and giving the characters a peaceful farewell.

Okay, so the internet is buzzing with some pretty major spoilers for “Avengers: Doomsday.” Apparently, there’s talk that both Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine… don’t make it. I’m hearing reports that both characters actually die in the film. Now, these are just rumors at this point, but they’re gaining traction, and if true, it would be a huge shock! We’ll have to wait and see if these claims hold up, but it’s definitely got fans talking.

The fantasy genre offers a huge range of stories, from personal tales inspired by ancient myths to grand adventures and fresh takes on history. These five fantastic films, however, haven’t gotten the attention they deserve, and it’s time for viewers to rediscover them.

Season 2 will likely diverge slightly from the original story. The Season 1 finale changes a minor detail from George R.R. Martin’s novella, The Hedge Knight, but this change could have significant consequences. Beyond that, the finale focuses on the characters’ sadness following Baelor Targaryen’s death, with both Dunk and Maekar feeling the loss, and Egg grieving a lost potential friendship with Dunk. Despite the sorrow, things ultimately improve for Dunk and his young squire.