A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is out now, marking our long-awaited return to Westeros. This time, though, we're not here for royal civil wars or battles for the Iron Throne – this show is operating on a much smaller, but no less entertaining, scale.
Based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set between Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon (but more on that in our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms timeline) and follows a knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and his mysterious squire Egg. Funnier, warmer, and more light-hearted than what we've come to expect from Westerosi adaptations, the show is a welcome change of pace while we wait for House of the Dragon season 3.
Below, you'll find everything you need to know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, including the release date, a list of cast members, and some spoiler-free plot details.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release date
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiered on HBO and HBO Max on January 18, 2026. New episodes are airing every Sunday (or Monday, if you're across the pond), which you can read more about with our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms reviews
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuted to a solid Rotten Tomatoes score (although it fared slightly lower than Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon's first seasons) and reviewers were overwhelmingly positive about the show.
Indeed, our own A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review gave the show four stars, with our reviewer writing that it was "a surprisingly heartfelt, light, and fun return to Westeros, with a delightful duo at its core. Swapping kingdom-shaking battles for grounded character drama, this latest installment in the ever-expanding Game of Thrones universe is also a moving, resonant exploration of what it truly means to be a knight."
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer
The final trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was released in December 2025 and shows us more of Ser Dunk and Egg. Dunk is trying to make a name for himself as a noble knight, but he isn't having much luck. He takes on youngster Egg as his squire, and it looks like the duo become fast friends. It also looks like Dunk inadvertently crosses the Targaryens, which causes him some trouble. The trailer also has a much lighter, more jokey tone than you'd expect from Westeros. Check it out above.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms revolves around a mysterious young squire named Egg and a hedge knight named Dunk, but there are still plenty of supporting characters to meet. This is Game of Thrones, after all.
Check out the full A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast list below:
- Peter Claffey – Dunk/Ser Duncan the Tall
- Dexter Sol Ansell – Egg
- Finn Bennett – Prince Aerion Targaryen
- Bertie Carvel – Prince Baelor Targaryen
- Sam Spruell – Prince Maekar Targaryen
- Henry Ashton – Daeron Targaryen
- Daniel Ings – Ser Lyonel Baratheon
- Tanzyn Crawford – Tanselle
- Danny Webb – Ser Arlan of Pennytree
- Steve Wall – Lord Leo Tyrell
- Daniel Monks – Ser Manfred Dondarrion
- Ross Anderson – Ser Humfrey Hardyng
- Edward Ashley – Ser Steffon Fossoway
- Shaun Thomas – Raymun Fossoway
- Youseff Kerkour – Steely Pate
- Tom Vaughan-Lawlor – Plummer
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms plot
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, which follow the adventures of Egg, an eager young squire, and the hedge knight Dunk, AKA Ser Duncan the Tall. The series takes place 72 years after House of the Dragon and 100 years before Game of Thrones. You might also notice that there isn't a single dragon to be found, and yet the Targaryens are still in power.
The official synopsis of the show promises the story of "a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends."
As you'll have seen in episode 1, Dunk is at a bit of a loose end after the death of his master, Ser Arlan Pennytree, who he's been squiring for since he was a boy. Now a knight in his own right, Dunk sets out to compete in the Ashford Tourney, where he hopes to make a name for himself and win some much-needed cash. Along the way, he meets Egg, a mysterious squire who's determined to be Dunk's squire – whether he likes it or not.
Martin shared high praise for the show prior to its release, calling it "as faithful an adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for (and you all know how incredibly reasonable I am on that particular subject)."
"Ira [Parker, showrunner] and his team wrapped the first season months ago, and moved right on to post production," Martin also said of the spin-off. "I've seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well. Wait until you guys meet the Laughing Storm. And Tanselle Too-Tall."
Parker himself has also shared that he made the show specifically with Martin in mind. "They say when you're writing that you should not try to please everybody, that you shouldn't write for the audience, that you should pick one person and you should write for them. And this season, season 1, I did that for George," Parker revealed at New York Comic Con (via Temple of Geek). "The fact that he's happy makes me very happy as well, too."
That's a wrap on everything we know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. For more, get the lowdown on more spin-offs with our guide to the other upcoming Game of Thrones shows and movies.
