The Filmscape Reverie

By: Maria Cieslarczyk

Warner: Spoilers (but not dragons) ahead! Read at your own risk.

If you’re an avid medieval fantasy lover like myself, hold onto your dragons because we are SO back, baby!

George R.R. Martin’s special world of Westeros re-welcomes its die-hard fans with the prequel spin-off show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026) based on the bestselling author’s famous novellas.

The series follows a hedge knight by the name of Ser Duncan the Tall, who dreams of following in his deceased predecessor’s footsteps to protect the innocent and take on the sacred vows of knighthood…despite having no funds or connections. We all have our crazy dreams, and that’s probably why I immediately knew I’d root for this genuine underdog.

Ser Duncan’s adventures begin when he decides to enter a jousting tournament. Along the way, he befriends a young boy named Egg, who (after much relentless convincing on Egg’s part), Dunc takes under his wing to become a squire.

As the tourney commences, Dunc springs to action to save Tanselle, a beautiful puppeteer, from the hands of the cruel Targaryen Prince Aerion…none other than Egg’s brother! After the revelation that his squire is none other than the young Prince Aegon himself, Dunc must fight in a Trial of Seven against Aerion…which means that he must recruit six more knights to fight alongside him.

And that’s where it gets REALLY messy…!

Apart from its juicy plot, I love that viewers are presented with a more grounded version of Westeros. As my friends and family know, Game of Thrones is my favorite series of all time. Yes…I confess that I, too, pretend that Season 8 does not exist.

Instead of the battles for glory and high-stakes political games of Game of Thrones, this show brings us within the nitty-gritty everyday reality of many commonfolk. It is a significant perspective not explored before, and it shows the depths, hardships, laughter, and beauty of the mundane. I quite enjoyed seeing how the everyday people function within the grand scheme of things.

It was rather touching to hear Dunc’s story of growing up as an orphan and still struggling with poverty while chasing his dreams and maintaining his justice-oriented noble heart. I liked watching Dunc and Egg sleep under the stars and camp outside to cook a delicious breakfast together, as well as play tug-of-war with none other than Lyonel Baratheon!

I wouldn’t classify this show as being entirely wholesome or without violence (as we know, the GoT cinematic universe never shies away from the bloodshed and dark realities of human nature). However, in comparison to Game of Thrones and its other prequel series, House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms definitely has the most whimsical sequences where we witness Dunc and Egg’s friendship develop as they enjoy the lightheartedness of the tourney…before things take a rather crazy twist.

Another aspect that enchants me is the way that the themes of valor and righteousness are explored. I haven’t watched a show in a while that made me feel this type of pull at my heartstrings. It is a hopeful reminder that being a good person reaps its own rewards. That people – poor or rich – will still stand up for what’s right even if it’s the difficult thing to do.

It is even a reflection of the world we live in now, where morality is questioned and it seems that evil gets away with its cruelty. This show proves otherwise…especially as Prince Baelor (Egg’s uncle, and the heir to the Iron Throne) takes arms alongside Ser Duncan, even competing against his own flesh and blood to stand up for what he believes in.

With the last episode (ep. 6) premiering this upcoming Sunday, I highly recommend catching up on the show to watch the grand finale with the rest of us fantasy lovers. I know I’ll be dying to see what happens next…and see how the events unfolding here eventually lead up to the events of Game of Thrones.

So, prepare your swords and shields! A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming now on HBO Max.