“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” has come to an end with a bittersweet season 1 finale. This “Game of Thrones” spinoff was only on HBO and HBO Max for six weeks, but in that time, it established a fervent fandom and introduced us to some brilliant new characters from George R.R. Martin's fantasy universe. Sadly, we lost one such character in the Trial of Seven in the penultimate episode, “In the Name of the Mother,” and it wasn't just Dunk and Egg reeling from the loss; we were devastated, too.
The season finale was also bittersweet because this show has been so good. It’s already a contender for the best show of the year, and some fans have gone as far as to say it’s surpassed the original “Game of Thrones” series. Even I, who found the season premiere to be a bit of a slow start, have come away impressed, particularly with the season’s fourth episode, “Seven,” which holds its own against the best episodes that recount “A Song of Ice and Fire.”
We went into the season finale waiting to see how the show would land the plane, especially after back-to-back drama. Below, you can find our recap of the finale, tidbits from the history of Westeros that had been touched on in the show, plus news and updates about the future of the show.
Join us live as ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ season 1 ends tonight with a brief 29-minute finale
Welcome to our live coverage of “The Morrow,” the season 1 finale of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” We’re just two hours away from when the episode will start at 10 p.m. ET, and in the lead-up to the opening scene, we’re recapping what’s happened so far, diving a bit into Westerosi history and making some (potentially) dragonfire-level hot takes.
But once the show starts, you’ll want to make sure you’re paying attention so you don’t miss a moment. This final episode of season 1 is just 29 minutes long from when it starts to when the credits roll, so looking down at your phone for even a moment could cause you to miss a significant portion of the episode. — Malcolm McMillan
Baelor gave us the moment of the season in ‘Seven’
Tonight might be the finale, but the emotional climax of this movie was undoubtedly Baelor’s (Bertie Carvel) reveal that he’d be fighting alongside Dunk, aka Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), at the Trial of Seven. As a Targaryen, the crown prince and the Hand of the King, the idea of him fighting against his family in what’s nominally a fight to the death is a stunning one. But for the character we’d seen crafted in front of our eyes over the season to that point, it was the only choice that Baelor could make.
Fans of the “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas that this show is based on knew this moment was coming, but even they couldn’t have anticipated the needle drop of the “Game of Thrones” theme that accompanied Baelor’s announcement. It’s the high point of the season, bar none, and might be the best moment “Game of Thrones” has had on HBO since “The Winds of Winter” back in 2016. — MM
Pour one out for a good one: RIP Baelor Targaryen
@kellyw00 ♬ I Will Take Ser Duncan's Side/Game of Thrones Theme A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms EP4 End Credits 七王国の騎士 - Sliverk
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is a very different kind of show from “Game of Thrones.” But one thing is true in both: Good men don’t last long in Westeros. - Kelly Woo
Dunk’s flashback gives us a deeper insight into the world of Westeros
In last week’s episode, we got two episodes in one. There was the Trial of Seven between Dunk and his comrades against Prince Aerion (Finn Bennett) and his knights, but there was also a lengthy flashback to Dunk’s time in King’s Landing and the origins of how he became the squire to Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb).
In this flashback, we see a couple of things that hint at the larger world of “A Song of Ice and Fire.” Dunk (portrayed by Bamber Todd in this flashback) and his childhood friend Rafe (Chloe Lea) are raiding a battlefield just outside the city, which fans of the books will know as the site of the Battle of the Redgrass Field. This is part of Daemon Blackfyre’s rebellion against the crown, which gets a few mentions across the season.
We also get a mention of Essos and the Free Cities. In “Game of Thrones,” these are meant to feel a world away from Westeros, but in this show, we’re reminded that Essos is just across the Narrow Sea, and travel between the continents is simply a matter of having enough money. — MM
The Blackfyre Rebellions for beginners
I just mentioned Daemon Blackfyre’s rebellion, which is a spectre that looms over the world of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” though we only get brief glimpses of its aftermath. This was the first of several Blackfyre Rebellions, which played a major role in weakening the Targaryen dynasty in the lead-up to “Game of Thrones.”
So I felt a brief explainer of these rebellions against the throne could be useful context, and I’m going to keep things spoiler-free in terms of “House of the Dragon” and “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” But if you want no spoilers whatsoever, just skip over this post.
OK, everyone who wants to be gone is gone? Let’s dive into it.
The Blackfyre Rebellion was the first of five attempts by House Blackfyre to usurp the Iron Throne from their Targaryen relatives. The name comes from the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, which was given to the bastard Daemon Waters by his father, King Aegon IV, and the house took on the Targaryen sigil and colors, but reversed to portray a black dragon on a red field rather than a red dragon on a black field.
Aegon IV had a lot of bastards, dubbed “Great Bastards,” but when he died, he legitimized them all, including Daemon. Not long after Aegon’s death, Daemon declared he was the legitimate heir, and his half-brother, King Daeron II, was really the bastard of Aegon’s brother, Aemon. He then summoned an army to fight against the crown, which was then destroyed by Daeron II and the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms at the Battle of the Redgrass Fields.
That’s where “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” picks up, and House Blackfyre will get mentioned again as this series goes on. The last Blackfyre Pretender wasn’t defeated until 257 AC (After Conquest), mere decades before the events of “Game of Thrones.” — MM
Understanding Maeker and his sons
I’ve been enjoying the videos made by A Game of Thrones Historian on TikTok. Here’s one that delves into Maeker’s relationships with his sons, particularly the three at the tournament: Daeron, Aerion and Egg. Getting insights into those relationships, grounded by the books, is valuable to understanding the series. - KW
Does the finale need to be good for ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ to surpass ‘House of the Dragon’
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is, notably, not the only “Game of Thrones” spin-off we have. It’s not even the first. “House of the Dragon” already has two seasons in the books and two more are coming.
But the retelling of the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of Dragons has been far rockier than the retelling of Dunk and Egg’s adventures. The second season was not beloved, and I even declared that it was repeating the biggest mistakes from “Game of Thrones.”
Frankly, “Seven” alone has me rating this show higher than its older sibling, and unless the season finale totally drops the ball, I think “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” has taken the Iron Throne for now. Even a merely underwhelming finale wouldn’t have me changing my tune. Simply put, this show has executed its storytelling far better than “House of the Dragon.” — MM
Speaking of ‘House of the Dragon,’ it’s coming back this June
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” time on the Iron Throne might be short-lived, though. We’re getting not one, but two “Game of Thrones” spin-offs this year, because “House of the Dragon” is returning with season 3 this June.
On Thursday, we got a season 3 teaser trailer for the show, and I’ll admit, I’m ready to be hurt again. While season 2 underwhelmed and felt like it ran out of money by the end, season 3 looks like a big-budget bloodbath and I cannot wait to see how it goes and who is still alive by the end. — MM
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ has re-energized my inner ‘Game of Thrones’ fan
Because I’ve been keeping tabs on all the rumored “Game of Thrones” spinoffs and because I was a little dissatisfied by the “House of the Dragon” season 2 finale, I went into “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” with slightly lower expectations.
I read all three of Dunk & Egg’s stories well in advance of the show’s premiere and really warmed to the two titular heroes, and knew knew it wasn’t going to be the same kind of “Thrones” show, so I went into this new spinoff hoping to just have a good time — but going into tonight’s finale, I’m ready to crown it my show of the year, so far.
Despite a slower start, this has been a great watch, boasting a strong sense of humor that’s been a little lacking in its bigger, grander cousin. I knew the story beats that were coming, but they’ve been rendered brilliantly in the show, and it’s featured some all-time “Thrones” moments; Dunk’s big speech, Baelor’s hands feeling like wood, and, of course, Dunk’s desperate brawl with Prince Aerion.
About six months ago, I was wondering whether Westeros might have lost its luster, but going into tonight’s finale (and having just watched that “House of the Dragon” season 3 trailer), I’m fully aboard this particular fantasy hype train all over again. — MS
Your favorite moment from season 1 so far
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 1 has only been six episodes (at about half an hour a piece). Yet so much has happened! It’s hard to pick one moment as the best, but we’re gonna make you do it:
Can’t wait for more Dunk & Egg’s adventures? Pick up “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” now
If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to Dunk and Egg, I’ve got bad news: after today, we won’t be seeing them for a little while. Sure, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 2 was given the go-ahead before the first season premiered, but HBO has said Dunk and Egg’s adventures won’t continue until 2027.
If you need more from our new unlikely heroes, there’s an easy way to get up to speed on what’s still to come for the pair: you could always read the book “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is based on! — MS
Grab your wine and hard salt beef — just 20 minutes to go!
There are just 20 minutes to go before the season finale of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 1 kicks off. Once it starts, it’s just 29 minutes from start to finish, so you want to go ahead and grab your snacks now. As soon as the opening hits, you won’t have a spare moment to take a break. I’ll be live-blogging every scene of the finale, so stay tuned. — MM
We're live!
Cue the music! And it’s … jazz?
Lyonel Baratheon makes Dunk an offer
After a surprisingly jazzy cold open, we see Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings) chatting with Dunk, and he makes the budding hedge knight an incredible offer: “Come with me to Storm’s End, and I will love you like a brother.”
But Dunk doesn’t accept, at least not yet. He seems shaken by Lyonel’s happiness to see a Targaryen dead. Especially a Targaryen that Dunk feels responsible for getting killed.
Baelor is burned
We see Baelor put to rest by (symbolic) dragonfire, and then Dunk goes to talk to Baelor’s son, Prince Valarr (Oscar Morgan). It, um … does not go well, and Baelor’s heir dismisses Dunk from his presence.
Mazel tov to Ser Raymun
After the funeral, Dunk runs into Ser Raymun (Shaun Thomas), who seems in good spirits. He’s just beaten his cousin, is newly knighted and has a new shield and a fresh sigil to go with the new title. He’s also got a new wife, Rowan (Rowan Robinson), who we know better as Red, the sex worker in Ser Manfred’s (Daniel Monks) employ.
Dunk meets with Prince Maekar
Misery may love company, but Prince Maekar doesn’t appear to hold any love for Dunk. He expects both to be blamed for his brother, Baelor’s, death, and is highly skeptical that the cost was worth saving Dunk.
What is Dunk doing?? Take Egg to be your squire, you lunk!
Despite not appearing to be overly fond of Dunk, Maekar makes him an incredible offer: Take Egg as a squire, come to the royal estate at Summerhall, train with the best soldiers in the Seven Kingdoms and become a great knight.
But there is a catch — he’d have to swear to serve Maekar. While he was keen to swear fealty to Baelor a day past, Dunk seems less keen on it now. He says he’s done with princes, which Prince Aegon (Dexter Sol Ansell) overhears.
Turns out Dunk isn’t the knight anyone thought he was
Aegon’s parting words to Dunk are “Maybe you’re not the knight I thought you were.” We then flashback to a conversation where Ser Arlan tells the tale of how he got the name Ser Arlan of Pennytree.
Except it’s not a flashback, something that’s visually apparent from the lack of the vignette at the borders of the shot’s frame. Dunk instead is asking Ser Arlan a question from beyond the grave: “Why did you never knight me?” A stunning revelation, though one that some viewers have suspected to be the case.
Ser Humfrey Beesbury with the greatest coffin of all time
“Fucking bee magic,” indeed.
Prince Daeron pleads with Dunk to take Egg as a squire
At Beesbury’s funeral, Dareon (Henry Ashton) comes to Dunk, and he’s an unwelcome sight. But he’s also the second Targaryen to ask Dunk to take Egg on as a squire.
Egg is ready to break
Egg just walked into Aerion’s room, ready to extinguish the “Brightflame.” But waiting in the room is Prince Maeker, who seems to have anticipated this, even appearing to understand that Egg might want to kill his wounded brother as he lies sleeping, an act that would be considered heinous, even for a Targaryen prince.
Dunk agrees to take Egg on as a squire, but a hedge knight’s squire — and is rebuffed
Dunk comes to see Maekar again, who seems to be ready to leave Ashford Meadow and Dunk behind for good. He agrees to take on Egg as a squire, but as a hedge knight, not as someone living in cushy Summerhall.
Here, we get an incredibly deep, yet brief exchange between the prince and the knight. Maekar refuses to have his son live as a peasant and eat hard salt beef. Dunk replies that Daeron and Aerion both lived as princes and did not turn out to be worthy of being kings. Maekar, stunningly, seems to agree with that last part, calling Egg his “last son.”
A reference to the fact that he won’t have another son at this stage in his life? It could be. Or perhaps, it’s an acknowledgement that even he knows Daeron is lost and Aerion is a monster, leaving Aegon his last hope for an untainted legacy.
Dunk bids goodbye to Raymun, Sweetfoot and Ashford Meadow
Dunk prepares to leave, only to be reunited with Ser Arlan’s beloved horse, Sweetfoot. It’s revealed Ser Raymun has bought back Dunk’s horse, which Dunk then promptly gifts to his newly knighted friend, knowing that Sweetfoot is far better off surrounded by apples.
Egg returns! And drops a bombshell!
Egg arrives right as Dunk is departing, saying his father has allowed him to squire with Dunk. But that’s not the biggest reveal Egg drops on us. Turns out, there are nine Kingdoms! We then get a title card, “A Knight of the Nine Kingdoms,” as our heroes ride off into the wide world of Westeros. Hopefully, that’s not a permanent name change.
Turns out Aegon is a liar — roll credits!
In a, perhaps unsurprising twist, Maekar reveals that Egg hasn’t been granted permission to squire with Dunk. Instead, he’s run off again, lying to Dunk (again) in the process. Weirdly, a satisfying bookend to the story; we start and end with Egg misleading Dunk to go on an adventure with him.
What is that song?
As the credits roll, we hear “Sixteen Tons” performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford. If it’s a familiar tune, that’s not a total shock. The pro-Union anthem about hauling tons of coal has been covered numerous times and features in shows and movies on several occasions. For an episode that started with an anachronistic needle drop, it’s fitting that we end with another.
But this choice must have a deeper meaning other than being a great song. Dunk has often felt like a stand-in for the proletariat during this season, but he’s about to train a Targaryen, so I wouldn’t attribute it to anti-royalist sentiment. Perhaps the song is referring to the life of servitude that Dunk has just agreed to undertake, forever destined to serve the crown as Egg’s guardian.
Season 1 wraps up neatly, and we’re on to our next adventure
Overall, a solid season finale. Definitely tame compared to the previous two episodes, but that happens sometimes with finales. Sure, there are some season finales, including a few “Game of Thrones” season finales, that leave you stunned. But often, it’s the penultimate episode that drops the hammer, and then the finale is left to clean up whatever is left.
That was certainly the case for “The Morrow.” But despite the lack of a stunning moment or an incredible monologue, it was more than serviceable. A fine cap to an excellent season of television. — MM
Your reaction to the finale
Now that the finale of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is over, tell us what you thought:
What to expect in season 2?
In terms of what the show gives us, we know that Dunk and Egg are off on a new adventure, purportedly with the blessing of Prince Maekar — though we know that’s not quite the case.
But we know for a fact that season 2 will adapt the novella “The Sworn Sword,” which was published as part of the “Legends II” anthology. If you don’t want to be spoiled at all, turn back now, but I’m not going to give up much in the next paragraph.
“The Sworn Sword” kicks off with Dunk in the Reach in the service of Ser Eustace Osgrey of Standfast. He’s a complicated character, as we learn, and this story is largely set within the confines of a (relatively) local squabble over land. So if you’re someone who likes getting into the weeds of the feudal system of Westeros, season 2 could be the season for you! But don’t be surprised if the showrunners add a wrinkle or two to the existing text. — MM
Could ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ run into the same issue that ruined ‘Game of Thrones’?
On the subject of existing texts … well, let’s just say George has done it again. “A Song of Ice and Fire” author George R.R. Martin is notorious for leaving some stones unturned, as he still has yet to finish his seminal series.
That led to problems in “Game of Thrones” where the showrunners ran out of source material to go off of in the final few seasons. The final seasons were poorly paced and made decisions that stunned and angered fans, declaring them out of character.
Well, bad news, friends. George has only finished three novellas in the “Tales of Dunk and Egg” series. He’s said there are as many as 12 (!) novellas he has mapped out, but are as of yet unfinished.
The good news is that Ser Duncan the Tall and Aegon’s stories are relatively set in stone, with a definitive endpoint in the Westerosi canon. So while “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” could run into the same problem that derailed “Game of Thrones,” there’s at least an end of the road that we’re ultimately heading towards, rather than seemingly having to make it up as we go along. — MM
Come join us again in 2027 when we (hopefully) get season 2
Well, this is the final chapter in our tale of live reacting to the “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” season 1 finale. Join us back in 2027 when we’re supposed to get season 2, which is currently in production.
If you don’t want to wait quite that long to hear from us, though, make sure to follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' finale reviews are in...
As the dust settles on that "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" finale, I figured I'd see how the episode went down with critics — and it looks like we weren't the only ones who enjoyed the show, judging by the reactions out there.
At IGN, the finale earned an 8/10 from Jim Vejvoda, who wrote: "There’s a small but welcome return of humor after a couple of very gloomy episodes, but for the most part “The Morrow” is a dramatic and ultimately hopeful conclusion to what’s been a wonderful journey back through Westeros."
Likewise, Den of Geek's Lacy Baugher said the show "wraps up its pretty perfect first season with a quiet, reflective, and yes, pretty perfect, finale."
Reflecting on the themes of the series at AV Club, Jarrod Jones also proclaimed it 2 "terrific season finale" and praised the series' "six exceptionally well-crafted episodes." — MS
Get to know Maekar Targaryen a little better
Want to get inside the head of the man who played Maekar Targaryen? Now you can. The Hollywood Reporter recently published an interview with actor Sam Spruell, wherein the British actor discusses Maekar's role in the series and confirms that he he won't be cropping up in season two. It sees Spruell discussing Maekar's emotions following the Trial of Seven, and how he is feeling when his youngest son runs after Dunk to continue their adventures.
Asked if the Targaryen Prince sees Egg's move as a "gut punch," Spruell said: "Yeah, exactly. It says something about Aegon’s judgment of where he’s going to get the best paternal figure and where he’s going to learn about the world in a more morally stable way. There is a wisdom to Dunk that comes naturally and instinctually, and I don’t think Maekar will ever get close to it.
"That’s what makes Dunk’s heroic nature so compelling. It is just in him in a way that it’s not in Maekar. So Egg can see that as well. He can see that if he’s to be the person that he wants to be, he must follow Dunk rather than his own father, which is unbelievably upsetting for Maekar. So I hope that some of that upset and humiliation will be explored potentially in future books or seasons of the show," Spruell adds. — MS
What's up with that title change?
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" ended with a title card changed to "A Knight of the NINE Kingdoms" following that revelation from Aegon. If you're left wondering whether that's a real name change, it sounds like it was just showrunner Ira Parker having a good time.
Speaking to Variety (who opened their interview with a question about the title change), Parker seemed to just be having a bit of fun and leaning into the series' vibe.
"That's maybe me getting a little too jokey," Parker said. "People may hate it or crucify me for that, but there's a bit of a lighter touch to these shows. And I'm going to learn some things. People are going to have a reaction to it, and I'm going to have a reaction to it after not seeing it for a few months. And we'll see.
"I like it. Enough of the wonderful creatives that I worked with liked it, too. It came from an honest place. It's all true. It's nine kingdoms at that point. We want to make Westeros a fun place to hang out, even when terrible, terrible things are happening and everyone's sad, just like real life. You can still make jokes at a shiva, and it's OK. We need that relief. So even in a bad spot, Dunk and Egg and still Dunk and Egg again." — MS
That Prince Maekar scene "will be addressed," says showrunner
As mentioned, the season ended with a sweary outburst from Maekar, confirming that Egg ran away against his wishes. Sam Spruell might have confirmed he's not in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 2, but Ira Parker has said there are plans to "address" what happened in the future. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Parker said that the added scene (which wasn't in the original story) "will be addressed" — though it also sounds like it won't massively shape the next season, either.
"I would say we are attempting to be as compartmentalized as possible. That's the nature of the novellas. It's not that there are uncertain strings that are pulled all the way through, but every season Dunk and Egg are in a new place, we set up a story, we tell you the story, and we close out the story."
"So this is a little bit of a thread, but I don't want to start getting into two big ripple effects that change the nature of the story we're allowed to tell in [season] 2 that make it too big. It will be addressed, but hopefully it will not detract from anyone's enjoyment of "The Sworn Sword."" — MS
Have your say: which 'Game of Thrones' show is best?
We've already asked for your thoughts on the season as a whole, but I thought I'd pose another question entirely, given how much fun "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has been. Of the three shows based on George R.R. Martin's books, which one is your favorite? — MS
Dive deeper into the finale with the 'Official Game of Thrones' podcast
If you want even more info about the latest season, you could always go and listen to the new episode of the "Official Game of Thrones Podcast." You can either watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
In the episode, hosts Jason Concepcion and Greta Johnsen reflect on the finale, throw back to a discussion with George R.R. Martin at New York Comic Con, where he explained why the finale was his favorite episode of the season, and discuss their thoughts about the finale with Ira Parker. — MS
Go 'Inside the Episode' with the 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' companion series
I've spent my morning digging around for news stories and reflections on the "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season finale, and if you want to soak up as much info about the show as possible, there's another official companion to the show you should go stream, too.
Alongside the official podcast, HBO also releases a shorter "Inside the Episode" video series, which does exactly what that title would imply. Through chats with cast and crew, each episode briefly unpicks the corresponding episode, and you can go watch the clip for the season finale now. — MS
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' has been a big hit for HBO Max
I'll be really interested to see if and when viewing figures come in for the season finale, as, so far, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has been a major success for HBO Max.
If you didn't know, it was reported last Friday that the new "Game of Thrones" spinoff has practically been appointment viewing for HBO. The series has been averaging close to 13 million U.S. viewers per episode. Per Variety, that means the show is "on pace to be the third biggest series debut in the history of HBO Max."
Plus, HBO said three-day viewership for each episode has grown from week to week (barring the fourth episode, which aired early due to Super Bowl LX), with the penultimate episode drawing in 9.2 million U.S. cross-platform viewers in its first three days of availability. I wonder how many tuned in for the finale? — MS
'Breaking Bad' vs 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'
The most stunning part of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" isn't that it's been great. Yes, it's a pleasant surprise, but "A Song of Ice and Fire" has produced great episodes and seasons of shows before.
No, the most shocking thing about this "Game of Thrones" spin-off is the beef it's started between George R.R. Martin stans and lovers of one of the greatest shows of all time ... "Breaking Bad."
If you haven't followed this feud, here's the lowdown. “Ozymandias,” the 14th episode of Breaking Bad season 5, used to be the episode to score a perfect 10.0 rating on IMDb. But that record was broken when “In the Name of the Mother,” episode 5 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," debuted on IMDB with a 10.0 rating of its own.
"Breaking Bad" fans couldn't let that stand, so they started to "review bomb" (intentionally give poor reviews to lower a rating) "In the Name of the Mother." Clearly, they forget that the North remembers, as "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" fans then review bombed "Ozymandias."
Now, nobody has a 10.0. This is why we can't have nice things. — MM
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' episodes ranked by IMDb ratings
Speaking of IMDb, here's the breakdown on which "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episodes were rated the highest by viewers. Just bear in mind that review bombing might have taken a few episodes a few notches lower that they would be otherwise.
- "Seven" (episode 104): 9.6 out of 10 (92K ratings)
- "In the Name of the Mother" (episode 105): 9.5 out of 10 (144K ratings)
- "The Squire" (episode 103): 9.1 out of 10 (68K ratings)
- "The Morrow" (episode 106): 8.6 out of 10 (35K ratings)
- "Hard Salt Beef" (episode 102): 8.4 out of 10 (62K ratings)
- "The Hedge Knight" (episode 101): 8.2 out of 10 (65K ratings)
Current state of 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' season 2
If you're wondering when season 2 is coming, there's good news. In an interview with Deadline, HBO chief Casey Bloys said that "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will be an annual show. Filming already began in Belfast, Northern Ireland, back in December of 2025, so it seems like showrunner Ira Parker is on track to deliver on Bloys' promise.
What's up with Maeker's other son, Aemon?
Among the many emotional moments of the finale, one was Maeker almost tearfully declaring, "He's my last son," regarding Aegon. I took that to mean that he's Maeker's last chance to do do right by a son, since Daeron is a drunk lump and Aerion is a sociopath exiled to the Free Cities. But wait ... what about Maeker's other son, the one who wasn't present at Ashford. The one we met in "Game of Thrones" as a very old man: Aemon. I'll let Game of Thrones Historian explain:
What happens to Lyonel Baratheon?
While we know Dunk and Egg are off to new adventures (particularly their experiences in the second novella, "The Sworn Sword"), what do we know about what happens to the other characters? Let's delve into the future of one of the breakouts of season 1: Lyonel Baratheon.
Warning: Spoilers from the books!
Seriously ... lots of spoilers ahead.
The "Laughing Storm" almost certainly parties hard across the realm before eventually becoming Lord of Storm's End. He maintains a strong alliance with Egg once he becomes king, but that falls apart when Aegon's son and heir, Prince Duncan (yes, named after Dunk), forsakes his engagement to Lyonel's daughter to elope with Jenny of Oldstones. Angry and insulted, Lyonel begins a rebellion against the Targaryens, which ends with a trial by combat fought by Dunk.
Lyonel loses, but survives and retains his position. King Aegon, trying to make peace, sends his daughter, Rhaelle, to Storm's End. She marries Lyonel's son, Ormund. Rhaelle and Ormund's grandson is Robert Baratheon, whose own rebellion ends House Targaryen's centuries-long claim on the Iron Throne.
It's extremely unlikely that we'll see Lyonel on future seasons of "AKOTSK," but — hey, we can hold out hope for a cameo.
Who do you want to see again?
Like we said, we know what Dunk and Egg are up to. And if you've read the books, you know which characters do (or do not) appear in the next chapters. But forgetting all that for a moment, which supporting character would you like to see return — somehow, in some way, in some shape?
12 seasons and a movie?
We know that "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will definitely be back for a second season, but just how long can this story go on for? Possibly for a long time, or at least that's what showrunner Ira Parker hopes. He told The Wrap that he would like to model the show after "Boyhood," the acclaimed movie that Richard Linklater filmed over a decade.
"I would love to make 12 of these,” Parker said. "I’d like to do four with Egg the boy, four with Egg the Prince and four with Egg the king — but do them every 10 years.
"So do a pocket, Peter and Dexter can go off, have their careers, everybody goes, and then in 10 years, we’ll come back and we’ll do another four of these. Just chart them through their whole life, because they do have such interesting lives. It does marry up with the flagship show so well at the end.”
And that's a wrap on our finale coverage
After just six episodes, about three hours in total, later, we're saying goodbye to "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" ... for now.
We're excited to see more of Dunk and Egg's adventures in season 2. Until then, enjoy your hard salt beef and view of the stars.
