The series 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms', based on George R.R. Martin's short novels, delves into the adventures of a wandering knight and his squire in a Westeros predating 'Game of Thrones'. Set a century earlier under Targaryen rule without dragons, the adaptation highlights moral dilemmas and loyalty in a more human context. It will premiere on HBO Max on January 19.
The world of Westeros expands with the series 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms', adapting three tales by George R.R. Martin focused on Dunk, a knight without lineage, and Egg, his squire hiding his true identity. Set about a hundred years before 'Game of Thrones', the story unfolds in a realm ruled by the Targaryens, where the shadow of dragons lingers despite their absence.
In the first tale, 'The Hedge Knight', Dunk takes the title after his master's death and heads to the Ashford Meadow tourney. There, he defends a puppeteer from a noble, leading to a trial by combat in which Prince Baelor Targaryen dies. Dunk rejects the court and presses on with Egg, seeking pure justice.
'The Sworn Sword' places the pair as sworn swords to Ser Eustace Osgrey in a drought-stricken rural area. A dispute over a dam with the Red Widow, Lady Rohanne Webber, ends in a champion's fight that promotes reconciliation and emphasizes loyalty as life preservation.
Finally, 'The Mystery Knight' takes Dunk and Egg to a tourney concealing a Blackfyre conspiracy against the throne. Brynden Rivers, the Hand of the King, quells the treason, highlighting the fragility of peace in Westeros.
These stories paint a moral portrait of knighthood eroded by politics and everyday conflicts, yet upheld by individual acts. The series recaptures the intimate scale of Martin's early works, explaining the future fractures of the Iron Throne.
