Editor’s Note: The following incorporates spoilers for the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms brief tales.

House of the Dragon’s season finale marks the starting of one other 2-year wait earlier than the subsequent season, however HBO gave us a sneak peek at a brand new Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, to assist tide us over till then. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a set of brief tales printed by George R.R. Martin following the adventures of a younger knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a legendary warrior who will finally turn out to be Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

After a tragedy throughout a tourney, Prince Maekar Targaryen (Sam Spruell) asks Dunk to take his youngest son, Egg, (Sol Ansell) beneath his wing as a squire, hoping his youngster learns to stay amongst the widespread folks and keep away from the pitfalls of his spoiled siblings. The tales happen 89 years earlier than the most important Game of Thrones collection and observe our heroes by a war-torn Westeros sizzling off the heels of the Blackfyre revolt. History tells us Egg will develop as much as turn out to be King Aegon V ‘The Unlikely,’ one of the best Kings in Targaryen historical past. Nevertheless, Egg is only a cussed youngster and Dunk is a naive, inexperienced knight when the story begins. Each brief story tells a singular story however carries an overarching narrative throughout every installment. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is nicely fitted to the tv format. The tales function virtually like a Game of Thrones equal of The Mandalorian, the place a Hedge Knight wanders the realm in search of jobs, accompanied by his younger follower whose secret id makes him of nice worth.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight (2025)

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is predicated on George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas and is ready round 100 years earlier than the occasions of Game of Thrones. It follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, who would later turn out to be King Aegon V Targaryen.

Cast

Peter Claffey , Dexter Sol Ansell , Finn Bennett , Bertie Carvel , Tanzyn Crawford , Daniel Ings , Sam Spruell

Main Genre

Fantasy

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Martin Parker , Ira Parker

Writers

Martin Parker , Ira Parker

Expand

Dunk Started Out as an Orphan Born in Flea Bottom

Not a lot is thought about Dunk’s start. He was an orphan on the streets of Flea Bottom when he was recruited as a squire by an previous knight from a lesser home, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb). Arlan and Dunk journey round Westeros serving numerous noble lords like the Tyrells. Arlan skilled Dunk in sword-fighting, and he dreamed of changing into a Kingsguard knight from the second he first picked up a sword. Dunk’s age is estimated at round 16 at the begin of the story. But Peter Claffey is at present 28, which means HBO has opted to age him up as they did with many earlier characters, similar to Jon (Kit Harington), Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), and Arya (Maisie Williams).

We first meet Dunk whereas he’s burying Ser Arlan’s physique on the option to a tourney in Ashford. Dunk claims Arlan knighted him earlier than he died, however whether or not that is true remains to be up for debate. Throughout the story, Dunk’s internal dialogue suggests he fabricated this mislead make him legible for tourneys and repair to different lords. This lie haunts him all through the brief tales, making him always query whether or not he’s a worthy warrior.

Related

How Does ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Connect to ‘House of the Dragon’?

Where will the subsequent spinoff match into Westeros’ story?

Dunk Plays a Vital Role in the Targaryens’ Story

Dunk isn’t the smartest character. Arlan refers to him as ‘Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall,’ a saying that Dunk usually repeats all through the story. He stands at 7ft tall, rivaling the Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) in stature. He is powerful, succesful, and prioritizes honor amongst all else. During the Ashford tourney, he stops Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) from beating a helpless puppeteer named Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) and suffers dire penalties. Many Targaryen nobles round this time have been loathsome people who flaunted their energy on the smallfolk, Prince Aerion particularly. While the relaxation of the crowd stand idly by and watch Aerion beat an harmless lady, Dunk intervenes, unaware that he’s placing his personal life in hazard. His actions result in a trial by fight throughout the tourney, the place he should combat towards Aerion and his retinue of fierce warriors. Despite his low stature, Dunk wins the folks’s favor by standing up for the widespread folks in the face of untouchable nobles. Despite his setbacks, Dunk has a robust ethical compass that prevails in the face of turmoil. Many readers liken him to Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) from Game of Thrones, given that he’s large, a succesful swordsman, and a knight who “remembered his vows.”

As the story unfolds, Dunk turns into more and more entangled in Targaryen conspiracy. He performs a key function throughout the second Blackfyre revolt in the third brief story, The Mystery Knight. Additionally, a number of completely different Targaryens point out they’ve seen him in their desires. Targaryens are recognized for his or her present for prophetic visions, a genetic trait handed down by their line. Upon assembly Daeron the Drunken (Henry Ashton), the Prince precisely predicts Dunk’s destiny throughout the tourney. Later, in The Mystery Knight, Daemon II Blackfyre predicts Dunk will at some point turn out to be a Kingsguard Knight. We know from Westerosi histories that Egg will turn out to be obsessive about the Targaryen prophecy, which finally results in their demise.

Ser Duncan Becomes a Renown Knight Later in Life

George R.R. Martin claims he’ll want roughly 12 tales to inform the full story of Dunk & Egg, however we all know a lot about their later life from references in the mainline collection and The World of Ice and Fire historical past guide. Dunk will certainly develop as much as turn out to be a legendary warrior. He slew Daemon III Blackfyre in battle and ended the fourth Blackfyre revolt. Dunk’s historic duel with Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings) remains to be remembered in present-day Westeros. After Egg’s son, Prince Duncan the Small, renounced his betrothal to Lyonel’s daughter, he declared himself unbiased of the Iron Throne and appointed himself the new Storm King. After a bitter revolt, he fought the King in a trial by fight, the place Dunk stood as Egg’s champion. Lyonel was often known as ‘The Laughing Storm,’ and considered one of the finest fighters of his era. Despite his renown, Dunk prevailed in the duel, thereby ending one other revolt. Dunk finally misplaced a combat towards a younger Barristan Selmy (Ian McElhinney) throughout a tourney in his later life. Given that Barristan grew as much as turn out to be one of the strongest fighters in Game of Thrones, it’s a testomony to Dunk’s capacity that he was solely defeated by an immensely expert warrior throughout his later years.

While Dunk accrued many heroic feats all through his life, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will introduce him as a timid, inexperienced boy who should navigate the harsh realities of Westeros after having an infinite accountability thrust upon him. If the books are something to go by, Dunk will doubtless turn out to be a fan-favorite character in years to return. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is scheduled to premiere early subsequent summer time.

House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones can be found to stream on MAX in the U.S.

Watch on MAX