a knight of the seven kingdoms-co-created by Ira Parker and Martin, and show-run by Parker – takes place between the events of dragon house And game of ThronesWhich themselves are separated by almost 200 years. Therefore, the new show is set in the generations after Dance of the Dragons but before the Mother of Dragons. At this point the Targaryens are still very much in power, something that is not a matter of concern a knight of the seven kingdoms‘ Hero… until it suddenly becomes his biggest problem.
When we first meet Dunk (Peter Claffey), he is burying the recently deceased Ser Arlan of his master, Pennytree (Danny Webb). a knight of the seven kingdoms It’s a far cry from the castles we’ve seen in previous Westeros shows. Instead, it shows us how people who weren’t born with fancy titles go day to day – including hedge knights and their squires. It is a life of rain, mud and sleeping under trees; dealing with buzzing flies and tasteless food; And I am not the owner of more than your horse, your sword, and the clothes on your back.
Being a knight gives a man a certain status, but it has some limitations. As Dunk – “Ser Duncan the Tall” is the obviously descriptive name he chooses for himself – is repeatedly explained to him, a dirt-poor hedge knight is the lowest rung of the ladder. This is clearly brought to mind as he heads to Ashford Meadows, intending to enter a tournament where other competitors include lords and princes of high lineage. He has almost no money, and this is a place where loyalty is tied to whoever pays the highest price.
As a knight of the seven kingdoms As its six episodes (all of which io9 was able to watch for review) explore, being a knight — sworn to “protect the innocent” — and being an honorable man aren’t always the same thing. In fact, as Ser Dunk discovers through an unintentional mistake, there are often deep divisions between the two. Worse, the people with the most power can sometimes be the most despicable of them all, a timeless lesson that Dunk learns the hard way.
The decision to investigate the tournament at Ashford Meadows is actually Dunk’s first move after Ser Arlen’s demise. And he doesn’t stay alone for long; Although he resists the idea, he is intrigued by a bald-headed little weirdo named Egg (Dexter Sol Ansel), who really wants to be his partner. No spoilers here, but if you haven’t read Martin’s novels, take a closer look a knight of the seven kingdoms Will uncover the secret of the Egg before the story unfolds.
And that narrative is a compressed narrative, especially compared to its broader likes. game of Thrones And dragon house. Although there are flashbacks to add important details – since Martin’s stories rely heavily on Dunk’s internal dialogue, this frees the show from the need for any voice-overs –a knight of the seven kingdoms Basically it happens in one place over a few days.
But the stakes are still high. They are both life or death in the wrestling ring, where men compete knowing considerable risks, and also in the rowdy camp that emerges around the tournament. There, Duncan sees firsthand what an angry, impulsive, wrathful Targaryen prince is capable of – with the confidence that comes from being above the law simply because of who his family is.
dragon house Fans are well aware of that particular Targaryen trait, but you don’t have to watch the show game of Thrones to enjoy a knight of the seven kingdoms. Previous knowledge of Westeros is a bonus, as you’ll recognize some names and become familiar with the kingdom and its tumultuous history. But with Dunk – an unconventional, instantly likable hero – as its entry point, the perspective here is much more immediate and intimate.
This extends to the supporting characters, who enter the story naturally as part of the hustle and bustle of the tournament and make an immediate impact due to the show’s consistent mix of clever writing and amazing performances. Claffy and Ansel are a fantastic leading pair, but the character actors filling out the rest of the cast are also memorable, whether they’re playing sleazy villains, dirty guys trying to get ahead, or sleazy good guys. That latter group includes Daniel Ings as the gruff, terrifying but lovable Ser Lionel Baratheon, as well as Webb’s crotchety old Ser Arlen; The more we learn about his time with Dunk, the more it becomes a surprisingly poignant basis for present-day events.
Filled with poignant and profound meditations on personal integrity? Yes. Horrific violence? In fact, it’s a lot. But also, raunchy humor and corny jokes? you better believe it. a knight of the seven kingdoms Confident enough to adopt all of the above. It’s as self-contained as any Martin-adapted Westeros work, almost dictated by the anthology format. sting and egg Novel. (This first season is derived entirely from his first story, “The Hedge Knight.”) And while it takes place in a world that Martin fans already know and love, it has its own flavor.
An example that illustrates this well: while its most recurring musical cue is a whistling motif that underlines the Western feel of the story, it also brings out that famous game of Thrones Subject at two important places.
There’s a surprisingly heroic, hair-raising moment. The second is an extremely cheeky call-out – this is followed by the show’s first display of ridiculously bawdy humor, a tactic used sparingly but effectively throughout the series. The show takes its characters and situations seriously, but doesn’t Self Very seriously, and it makes all the difference.
it would be easy to complain about this a knight of the seven kingdoms Too short, because we’d love to spend more time hanging out with Dunk and Egg. But episode six is actually pretty much perfect – just like the end of the show. Thanks to Seven, a second season is already on the way.
a knight of the seven kingdoms It will premiere on January 18 on HBO and HBO Max with a weekly rollout of new episodes.
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