---
title: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"
year: 2026
kind: "series"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms"
fi1m_id: "a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms"
imdb_id: "tt27497448"
tmdb_id: 224372
wikidata_id: "Q120277524"
fi1m_score: 73
critics_score: 66
critics_reviews: 7
published: "2026-09-11"
updated: "2026-09-17T17:12:41.700733+00:00"
region: "FR"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026)

Created by George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker · CNC 16 · Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure

## Identity

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/tv/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms
- **Type:** Series
- **Fi1m ID:** a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms
- **IMDb ID:** tt27497448
- **TMDB ID:** 224372
- **Wikidata ID:** Q120277524
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27497448/, https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/224372, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120277524

**Fi1m score: 73** · Critics 66 from 7 reviews

*In a sentence:* A knight and his squire make good company; the toilet jokes have invited themselves

> Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell make this small-scale fantasy good company. The friendship is worth following, even when the story stretches thin and the humour turns needlessly coarse.

## Synopsis

Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall (Peter Claffey) is a knight whose story becomes tied to that of Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), his squire. Set in Westeros before *Game of Thrones*, the series follows their developing friendship and the demands of living by a knight’s code when fair treatment is far from assured. Around them are other knights and Prince Maekar Targaryen (Sam Spruell). Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s fiction, the six-episode first series concentrates on the pair and their place among people with more power, status and influence.

## Review

*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* is an enjoyable fantasy, though its small story sometimes feels stretched. Dunk and Egg give us a way into it that requires no appetite for grand political manoeuvring. The series is interested in what it takes to behave honourably when decency offers little protection, and it approaches that question with more humour than solemnity. Within a genre that can confuse complicated family histories with interesting people, this is a sensible place to start.

Peter Claffey plays Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall with an earnestness that could easily become dull, but he makes Dunk’s wish to do right worth taking seriously. Dexter Sol Ansell’s Egg provides the livelier half of the partnership, and their exchanges have the ease that a comic pairing needs. We grew fond of them sooner than we expected, because Claffey lets Dunk’s decency survive the jokes at his expense. Their affection gives the comedy somewhere to go once the initial mismatch has been established.

Gustav Danielsson and Federico Cesca’s photography keeps the emphasis on the pair, allowing their rapport to carry scenes that have little else happening. Tom McCullagh’s production design gives their surroundings a lived-in quality, so this feels like somewhere people have to get on with ordinary life. That is a useful choice for a fantasy concerned with people who have little control over the larger world. Dan Romer’s score is most welcome as support for the lighter mood; the actors have already made the relationship worth caring about.

The writers, including Ira Parker, are less sure about how far to push the coarseness. Bodily-fluid jokes keep intruding on a relationship that is already funny without them, and their insistence becomes tiresome. We do not need Dunk made ridiculous quite so emphatically to understand that he is no grand, polished hero. The humour works better when the pair have to accommodate each other; repeated crudeness starts to feel like a substitute for finding something else for them to do.

Paulo Pandolpho’s editing allows the pairing time to work, but cannot disguise the shortage of incident. Even across a six-episode first series, there are passages that seem to be waiting for the next worthwhile exchange. The limited scale need not be a problem: a small disagreement can sustain a scene if it tells us something new about the people involved. Here the writing sometimes settles for reminding us why we already like them, and liking them does not quite fill the gap.

Directors Sarah Adina Smith and Owen Harris keep the central relationship convincing when the mood becomes darker, even if some of the early pleasure diminishes. The programme is right to test its characters’ decency, and it does not need to become a refuge from everything unpleasant to justify its warmer approach. Its modest ambitions leave room for two performances that deserve the attention. If fantasy is your sort of evening, try it for Claffey and Ansell, with a reasonable tolerance for toilet humour.

*Fi1m score 73, published 11 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics welcome A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as a warmer, smaller-scale visit to Westeros, with praise clustering around Dunk and Egg’s rapport, the lead performances and the emphasis on friendship over carnage. The humour and ordinary protagonists make the setting feel more approachable, while supporting performances also earn approval.

The spread is wide, however, running from wholehearted enthusiasm to sharp dismissal. Reservations centre on thin plotting, padding and a scope that can feel limiting rather than intimate. NME enjoys the central relationship but questions the shortage of female characters; Collider finds the adaptation too faithful and insufficiently developed, despite its supporting cast. The Independent offers the strongest dissent, finding the bodily-fluid humour gratuitous and the lowered stakes unappealing. The consensus favours the gentler approach, though the reviews differ on how much substance there is beyond the appealing central pair.

## Straight answers

**Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms worth watching?**

*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* is worth watching if fantasy is your sort of evening, and we scored it 73. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell make the knight and his squire good company, and the story needs no appetite for palace politics. Expect a slender plot across six episodes, and a good deal of toilet humour that the pair did not need.

**How long is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and what is it rated?**

*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* is rated 16 by the CNC in France. It is a drama and sci-fi & fantasy series.

**Where can I watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in France?**

*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* is streaming on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video in France, and it is also available to buy from Amazon Prime Video. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and is it suitable for children?**

*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* carries a UK 18 certificate and is not suitable for children. The humour leans hard on coarse bodily-fluid jokes, and the mood darkens as the series goes on, which the certificate implies goes beyond what younger teenagers should see. Adults who dislike crudeness will find it tiresome rather than upsetting.

**How does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compare to Detectorists?**

*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* and [*Detectorists*](https://film.one/tv/detectorists) are both about a mismatched friendship whose small concerns deserve the attention they get, but *Detectorists* is the more precisely written of the two. Its plots barely matter and it knows it; the fantasy series pads its thin story with crude jokes. Choose the knight for swords and a squire, the metal detectors for quiet.

**Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms based on a true story or a book?**

*A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms* is based on fiction by George R. R. Martin, set in Westeros before *Game of Thrones*, not on a true story. You do not need to have read the source or seen the earlier programme; Dunk and Egg give you a way in that asks for no prior knowledge of the family histories.

**What should I watch after A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?**

After *A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms*, try [*Detectorists*](https://film.one/tv/detectorists) (2014, Fi1m 87): For another mismatched friendship whose small concerns deserve the attention they receive. Then [*The Princess Bride*](https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride) (1987, Fi1m 86): For storybook adventure that takes loyalty seriously without becoming solemn about it; and [*Seven Samurai*](https://film.one/film/seven-samurai) (1954, Fi1m 95): For ordinary lives made worth defending, and honour tested through practical choices.

### Reviews we read (13)

- **The Telegraph**, Ed Power (4/5): The review calls it an unexpectedly tender, feel-good prequel that delivers justice to the Game of Thrones universe by focusing on friendship rather than dragons or shock deaths. It singles out the sweet depiction of the unlikely bond between Dunk and Egg, along with strong supporting performances, as standout elements. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-sky-atlantic-review/)
- **The Times** (70/100, inferred): The critic describes it as a pleasingly concise and playful reinvention of Westeros, a funny Game of Thrones prequel set after House of the Dragon. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-release-review-got-9k27rxwxd)
- **The Independent** (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the series an odd, body-fluid-drenched spin-off that lowers the stakes and ramps up puerility, likely to baulk Game of Thrones fans. It singles out the gratuitous bodily fluids and crasser tone as points of complaint in this modest prequel based on the Dunk and Egg stories. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-game-of-thrones-b2899360.html)
- **Empire**, John Nugent: The critic finds it a sweetly enjoyable bite-size alternative to the franchise, praising the odd-couple relationship between Dunk and Egg and its chivalric moral compass. Notes it is slight by design and may disappoint fans seeking sweeping canvases. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms/)
- **IndieWire**, Ben Travers: The critic praises the series for opting for a lighter, kinder tone over the usual carnage of the Game of Thrones universe. They single out the chemistry between the lead characters and the show's focus on honor and whimsy in a treacherous world. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-game-of-thrones-series-1235172708/)
- **The Guardian**: The critic praises this heartwarming underdog tale of a simple soul and his squire as the Game of Thrones spin-off needed now, a safe space amid real-world troubles. It singles out the endearing protagonists Dunk and Egg for their charm and the series' lighter, more intimate approach compared to prior entries. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jan/19/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-game-of-thrones-we-need-now)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Daniel Fienberg: Proves smaller can be better; charming, smaller, smarter, funnier glimpse. Praises the two-hander and comic duo of Claffey and Ansell. Notes it becomes darker later, diminishing amiability somewhat. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-hbo-game-of-thrones-1236468525/)
- **Variety**, Alison Herman: It's minor Game of Thrones and that's a good thing; praises the shift to smaller scale, ordinary people, and the duo's rapport. Notes it's savvy IP management but focuses on the refreshing small story. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-game-of-thrones-prequel-1236621563/)
- **Vulture**: The critic highlights how the series succeeds through its small-scale, everyman sensibility and strong lead chemistry. They single out the lived-in portrayal of Westeros and the intimate focus on two guys figuring things out together as key strengths. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-hbo-premiere-season-review.html)
- **Consequence** (B+): Finds it a warm, lighthearted take with focus on the odd couple Dunk and Egg, praising their chemistry and different tone from prior series while noting some thin plotting. [Read](https://consequence.net/2026/01/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-hbo/)
- **/Film**, Jeremy Mathai (8/10): Praises it as a heartfelt, wholesome return to Westeros with strong leads and humor, a near-flawless adaptation. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/2069836/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-game-of-thrones-prequel-review/)
- **NME**, Nick Levine (3/5): The critic finds it a sweet but slight story with slapstick humor replacing political intrigue, praising the sweet relationship between Dunk and Egg while complaining about lack of female characters and some padding. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-game-of-thrones-prequel-3922955)
- **Collider**, Therese Lacson (5/10): Calls it a loyal but overly faithful adaptation that feels narrow and padded, praising standout supporting performances while criticizing the focus on a straightforward lead and lack of expansion. [Read](https://collider.com/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-review-hbo-game-of-thrones/)

## Details

- **Created by:** George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker
- **Creator:** George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker
- **Director:** Owen Harris, Sarah Adina Smith
- **Writer:** Ira Parker, Aziza Barnes, Annie Julia Wyman, Ti Mikkel, Hiram Martinez
- **Novel:** George R. R. Martin
- **Cinematography:** Gustav Danielsson, Federico Cesca
- **Editor:** Paulo Pandolpho
- **Music:** Dan Romer
- **Production design:** Tom McCullagh
- **Costume design:** Lorna Marie Mugan
- **Producer:** Lisa Byrne, Layla Blackman
- **Cast:** Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall; Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg; Ross Anderson as Ser Humfrey Hardyng; Danny Collins as Ser Humfrey Beesbury; Ellie McHale-Roe as Lia the Lovely; Bamber Todd as Young Dunk; Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion; Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer
- **Certificate (CNC):** 16
- **Release (France):** 18 January 2026
- **Genres:** Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
- **Also in:** [Emmy Outstanding Drama Series winners](https://film.one/collections/emmy-drama.md) (Nominee, 2026)
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sItUCKJQLTU

## Where to watch in France

- HBO Max: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy, sd

*Checked 2026-09-11.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IS, IT, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, UA, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Detectorists* (2014), Fi1m 87: For another mismatched friendship whose small concerns deserve the attention they receive — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/detectorists.md)
- *The Princess Bride* (1987), Fi1m 86: For storybook adventure that takes loyalty seriously without becoming solemn about it — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride.md)
- *Seven Samurai* (1954), Fi1m 95: For ordinary lives made worth defending, and honour tested through practical choices — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/seven-samurai.md)
- *Hunt for the Wilderpeople* (2016), Fi1m 82: For another unlikely partnership, with pricklier humour and room for unexpected affection — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople.md)
- *The Green Knight* (2021), Fi1m 78: For a stranger, more severe examination of what a knight owes others — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-green-knight.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/tv/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms