By now, Game of Thrones is synonymous with dragon fire-fueled civil wars and supernatural armies marching through the frost. But, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the third entry in HBO's ever-expanding universe adapted from George R.R. Martin's fantasy novels, self-consciously sets itself apart from all the pomp and pageantry of its forebears by narrowing its scope to a knight and his squire – and that's what makes it instantly refreshing.
Here, it's not the fate of the kingdom at stake but the reputation of one man: Peter Claffey's Ser Dunk the Tall. Dunk, a former squire himself, has only recently been knighted following his master's death. Left alone in the world, he has no coin and no clear path forward. So, like any good adventurer, he sets off to make his fortune. Dunk intends to enter a great tournament, which, if he can win, would reward him with not just money but also a future. After all, Dunk is but a hedge knight: a knight with no name, no land, and no prospects.
