‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ season 1 review

I’d argue that “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is the most delightful show on television right now. As a huge fan of “Game of Thrones,” I was so happy with the first season. It provided a fresh perspective of the “Song of Ice and Fire” world with a much lighter tone.

The synopsis

The show is set a century before the events of “Game of Thrones” and it follows two unlikely heroes: a naive but courageous knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg. (Watch the trailer below)

The gag

The biggest highlight of the show for me was the comedic tone. The original series and “House of the Dragon” have some funny moments, but it’s not a focus like it is in this show. From the first scene on, the series plays on the comedy of the mundane characters living in Westeros and I loved how it humanized the world.

Another thing I loved about the show was the casting. Specifically, the boy they got to play Egg, Dexter Sol Ansell, was so precious and charismatic. I hope he can keep that sense of childlike wonder as he ages over the coming seasons. Like seriously, protect that kid at all costs. As for Peter Claffey, who played Dunk, I thought he also delivered an excellent performance and I’m excited to see where he takes the character.

I also liked that we got a glimpse at the dynamics of the Targaryen family after the events of “House of the Dragon.” I hope they continue to show the family drama even when Dunk and Egg are on the road on other adventures.

The drag

I’d say my biggest critique of the season would be that by focusing on a smaller story like this, the show doesn’t feel quite as epic as the other series in the “Game of Thrones” universe. So, viewers shouldn’t expect the same level of political maneuvering or grand battle scenes.

My only other real complaint is about the length of the episodes. Most are around a half an hour and I just wish they were a little longer or that we got more than six episodes in the season.

The verdict

Overall though, the show was delightful and I can’t wait for the series to evolve even more. I think you’ll like it if you’re a “Game of Thrones” fan. You don’t necessarily need to be familiar with the previous shows to enjoy it, but that context will help you appreciate it a bit more.