The first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has all of the style of George RR Martin, with a fresh tone and scenes! The first episode, “The Hedge Knight” named after the first novella is directed by Owen Harris and written by co-creator, Ira Parker. Harris directed episodes of the sci fi limited series, Mrs. Davis. Parker was co-executive producer of House of the Dragon. The novella began in an anthology, Legends (1998), set in George RR Martin’s world of Westros. Rain falls down on three horses making them look mournful with the grey sky behind them; Thunder, Chestnut, and Sweetfoot. To the side is gnarled tree and before them on a hillside, a man is digging a grave. Finished, he walks back to the horses to pick up the body of an elderly man, Ser Alan of Pennytree (Danny Webb).
We see the man, tall with blue shirt, brown hair matted by the rain, set the body down. This is Duncan, called Dunk (Peter Claffey), he says a remembrance, saying that the knight never hit him unless he deserved it. Claffey was Joe Walsh in the comedy drama, Bad Sisters (2022-2024). Cut scenes of repeated hits! This feels almost word for word, a close adaptation to the novella, but there is more richness, emotion and some humor, to seeing the story on film. Dunk says it was the inn boy who ate the widow’s pie, we see the end scene with Ser Alan hitting Dunk. Ser Alan is in the grave almost as if in sleep. Dunk weeps and says he wishes the knight didn’t die. Daylight at the hill, Dunk wakens, he lies on the grass thinking about what to do.
He says to the horses, he would be an outlaw or a beggar, and then looks to the shovel. Dunk looks towards the longsword resting against the tree. He says he could be a city guard, flipping the blade, then brings up the tourney at Ashford Meadow. A closeup of Dunk’s dirt smeared face and then the theme music comes in before we see Dunk relieve himself behind the tree, kinda graphic and a twist from Game of Thrones heroism to just using the tree as a toilet! Dunk looks at the grave before leaving on the white horse, Sweetfoot. At dusk turning into night, Dunk rides up to an inn, a few lanterns and lit windows. The back of the head of a young boy is seen watching the approach of Dunk. He is dressed in a long, brown robe and bald (Dexter Sol Ansell). The boy is played by Anesell who played Little Dan in the fantasy show, Robin and the Hoods (2024). Dunk asks if he is the stable boy.
He tells the boy to give oats to the horses, the boy says quietly that he would do so if he wanted, Dunk tells him he will give a copper or a smack in the ear. Perfect attitude for the kid from the book. His name isn't introduced yet. Dunk enters the inn, sees that it looks empty, and is about to leave when he sees the innkeeper, a stout woman (Jenna Boyd). He sees a drunk man (Henry Ashton) collapsed on his table. The innkeeper asks if he wants lamb or duck and Dunk says he will eat both meals. The drunk man lifts himself up with a dagger and says he dreamed of Dunk. A lord in red robe and black cloak he places on the table a coin with the three-headed dragon, symbol of the Targaryens. Dunk is just stunned. The lord stumbles up the steps.
Later, Dunk walks to the stable with his shield (a silver cup with wings) at his back, and he hears the boy playing. Dunk finds the boy is on his horse, Thunder, with helmet and chainmail coif over his robe. He pulls the boy off of Thunder and says he was on a war horse. The boy says he doesn’t look like a knight, Dunk has a belt made of rope!, and wants to go to the tourney. He tells Dunk that his mother is dead. Dunk says he was an orphan until a knight took him and trained Dunk. The boy wants to be his squire, but Dunk just tosses him a sack to fill with oats. Dunk throws a coin that falls in the hay and then rides away. It is day again as Dunk rides alone across the countryside. He reaches the tourney, a several tents, and horses, makes me think of a Rennissance Faire! It is filled with crowds, a few men point out Dunk like a joke, the hedge knight pauses to see the joustings lists. A castle is in the distance.
At the gates, Dunk asks three guards in red cloaks to see the Master of the Games, he is led by one guard up steps. A few kids are at swordplay while the Master of the Games, Plummer (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor), is at a table with a quill and some bread. Dunk bumps his head on the doorway! He explains that his name is Dunk and that he was knighted by Ser Arlan. Dunk draws the longsword with Ser Arlan’s crest on the hilt. We see a brief glimpse of the young Dunk riding next to Ser Arlan asking if he will be a knight. Ser Arlan just spits out a piece of food! The truth of the past is a funny addition that was not in the book. Plummer asks if there were any witnesses to his knighting. He becomes serious telling Dunk about what happens to false knights, hanged by their arms and legs, called the Ashford Chair. The Master of the Games asks again if there were witnesses and then laughs at Dunk’s nervousness.
He says Dunk is dressed like a farmer. Plummer says there are princes so the tourney needs to be legitimate. Dunk is about to walk away and tells the Master of the Games he saw the pavilion of Ser Manfried Dondarrion who knew Ser Arlan. He is reminded that defeated knights give up their arms, armor, and ransom. Dunk says he will not need a ransom and bumps his head again! Dunk ties his horses to a post and tries to find the tent of Ser Manfried. Two women, Daisy (Abigail O’Regan) and Beony (Carla Harrison-Hodge) lovers of Ser Manfried, says he is asleep. Daisy calls him a hedge knight who has to sleep in the outdoors. Dunk talks it over to Sweetfoot and says that Ser Arlan says a hedge knight was the “truest knight.” He says that he will win the first tilt, in the field, a knight in red spins to strike at his opponent. The sword blades are covered with cloth, but even blunted, the edges will dull, wooden swords would be used (like in the book) unless the swordsman can afford to use another sword!
The bearded knight, Ser Steffon Fossoway (Edward Ashley), overpowers his rival, Raymun (Shaun Thomas) who uses a mace, then walks up to Dunk asking about his longsword. Ashley played the noble, Cambridge in the historical epic, The King (2019). Thomas was in the fantasy adaptation, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016), playing Dylan. He challenges Dunk to fight since his cousin is not ready. Dunk refuses and Ser Steffon says he should go back to the hedge. It is interesting that some of the scenes are shuffled around, but nothing seems to be missing in terms of story and dialogue. He leads his horses in a field outside Ashford and finds a lone tree. Dunk goes out to take a bath in a stream and then swats his clothes dry. He returns to Ashford on Sweetfoot, but is told that Ser Manfried is still asleep from a “gouty toe.” Dunk enters the pavilion, a red haired woman is naked, but with coins on her eyes. She sits up and the other tells her that she is supposed to be dead.
Dunk is annoyed at their joking and says he only asks for help. A story is being told by a woman (Tanzyn Crawford), she has dark hair, a simple blue dress with some stage jewelry. Crawford was in the comedy drama mini-series, Tiny Beautiful Things (2023). Dunk enters a tent with a dragon puppet, a knight in armor stabs the dragon with his sword. The dragon breathes fire that impresses the audience. She says that the dragon could discover “a man in great disguise.” This is similar to Dunk. He is entranced, Dunk is stunned by her beauty, and she looks up to see him. Then, he shyly walks away. Raymun walks up to him. He says that he was right not to fight with his cousin. Raymun says he is Ser Steffon’s squire. He invites Dunk to eat and leads him to a pavilion covered with deer antlers. There is drink, music, two knights clash swords. Dunk looks at a knight with dark hair, beard, and wearing a golden band with large antlers!
Raymun says he is Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings). Freddie Horniman was played by Ings in the action comedy program, The Gentlemen (2024). A wild, funny part seeing a high born knight be the life of the party. Ser Lyonel stops everything to point out that 4,000 years ago in the field outside was the first joust. He tosses a bag of 100 gold for the knight who can strike him down! Dunk eyes the pouch will everyone begins eating. He eats a giant turkey leg, Ren Faire again!, and then a pastry. One of Ser Lyonel’s men calls him over. Lyonel asks him if he has been punched in the face. He asks why Dunk is slouching. Ser Lyonel tells, “Be tall.” He wants to know what Dunk brought him. There is only two reasons to be in the tent, to bring a favor or kill him. Dunk is nervous replaying, but can only say he is there for supper! Dunk goes onto the dance floor, just pushing his elbows, and women take his arm to dance.
Ser Lyonel walks up to him and then stamps his foot. He tries again and again, but Dunk quickly pulls away his foot as the dance continues. Finally, Dunk slams Ser Lyonel’s foot causing him to scream and the others to cheer! The action we see here is that Dunk is not just all, possibly strong, but fast which might be a hint later. Dunk looks stunned until Ser Lyonel smiles. He pushes the knight again and they join the dance. Later it is quiet, Ser Lyonel sits back telling about a sea voyage while Dunk where’s the stag crown. He says he agonizes too much and asks what he can do without an inheritance. Ser Lyonel takes back the crown and walks away. Dunk sees the two women take away a man, Ser Manfried (Daniel Monks). The action comedy show, Kaos (2024), starred Monks as Nax. Outside, he tells Ser Manfried that Ser Arlan served his father, but Ser Manfried doesn’t care and drunkenly walks off with his women. At Dunk’s clearing, a fire is going with fish on sticks, and the boy from the inn there.
Dunk can’t believe he is at Ashford at his camp. The boy says he traveled there in a lamb cart. Dunk threatens to take him back. The boy says he would have to go to King’s Landing. He asks the hedge knight his name and told he is Duncan. Then, adds he is Ser Duncan the Tall. The boy says his name is Egg. Dunk tells Egg he can act as his squire for the tourney. This is the beginning of a great partnership! The story of a commoner who wants to compete with royal knights might seem like something out of A Knight's Tale (2001) where the commoner wants to change his stars. This series takes everything from A Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon and shifts away from royalty to the working class people. It is so close to George RR Martin's novella, the series could be an audiobook, more like an audio and visual book. No bits and pieces of the original dialogue and scenes, but almost 1 for 1 with some added parts. All of the casting seems right of the Seven Kingdoms. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is spot on George RR Martin, brilliant casting, with potential for violent jousts!
Five+ Shields out of Five!
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