Chris Connor reviews the second episode of the Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms…
After a promising opening episode that introduced us to a new corner of Westeros’ history, the story of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms picks up in episode two. Ser Dunk and his newfound companion Egg continue their travels to Ashford. Ser Dunk spends much of the episode trying to remind an assortment of noble figures and royalty of his liege, Ser Arlan. While much is lifted directly from the source material, we do get some additional context around Ser Arlan and his background, which are welcome additions that help to flesh out the story.
The castings are spot on, mirroring what’s on the page wonderfully and continuing to make this the most faithful adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s work to date. Bertie Cavel is a particularly enjoyable addition to the cast as Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne who treats Ser Dunk more kindly than other nobles.
While a relatively slight chapter of the story, it is a treat to spend more time in the company of Ser Dunk and his young companion, with Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell sharing charming chemistry that drives the show and never makes it dull. This show is more focused on just a few characters than its two predecessors, and all the better for it. It is also the most fun this series has been in some time, with the humour of these characters wonderfully translated for a new audience.
At a relatively brisk 31 minutes, it is on the short side, but given the size of the source material, this is no real shortcoming. After two episodes, there is plenty to admire in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it is slowly moving pieces into place, revealing more about Ser Duncan’s background while teasing clues about Egg’s that will be revealed in the coming weeks. More humorous than other Westeros adaptations, this works in its favour and has helped make it stand on its own, a completely different beast to what’s come before, slighter but no less impressive.
Chris Connor
