It’s set 100 years before Game of Thrones
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ story happens roughly a century before the War of the Five Kings. The Targaryens still sit on the Iron Throne, but their dragons are gone, and their dynasty feels less powerful than before.

This is a Westeros in transition: politically fragile, shaped by the aftermath of civil war, and filled with uncertainty. 

While the show is its own thing, it still offers plenty of fan service for Game of Thrones fans, who will enjoy picking up on familiar names and historical breadcrumbs along the way.

Its lead star was once a professional rugby player
Casting Ser Duncan the Tall — famously described as towering over most men — was no easy task. HBO found its answer in Peter Claffey, a former Connacht Rugby player with minimal acting experience.

The result? A performance that feels authentic. Claffey brings both physical presence and a gentle, slightly awkward charm to the character. His Dunk is someone who looks every bit the knight but is far less comfortable navigating courtly life.

Alongside him, Dexter Sol Ansell shines as Egg, whose wit and warmth make him the perfect counterbalance. Together, their chemistry forms the heart of the show.

It draws from unpublished George R. R. Martin stories 
While only three Dunk and Egg novellas have been published — The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight — the TV series goes far beyond them.

Martin has provided showrunner Ira Parker with additional, unpublished stories from his private archives, giving the show a wealth of fresh material. That means even longtime fans won’t always know what’s coming.

It tells a ‘bottom-up’ story of Westeros
Unlike previous entries in the franchise, which focus on kings, queens, and great houses, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shifts perspective entirely.

Dunk has no castle, no army, and no political power. He travels on foot and horse, sleeps where he can, and survives on honour more than influence. Through him, the series explores Westeros from the ground up; it centres the perspective of the smallfolk and wanderers who live in the shadow of the great game but never get to play it. 

It’s a refreshing change that shines a different light on Westeros and proves there’s more to it than just the Iron Throne.