Chris Connor reviews the third episode of the Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms…
As we reach the halfway point in its first season, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues to be a different beast to its predecessors. This has helped make it feel, much like the novellas its based on, like a genuinely fresh entry into the Game of Thrones universe.
‘The Squire’ again is driven by Ser Duncan and Egg as we find out more about the latter of these two unlikely allies. For the most part, it is once again a character-driven episode. When action does arrive, however, at the jousting tourney, it delivers aplomb in short but typically dynamic bursts.
It is commendable how much the team fit into just 30-minute runtimes, without feeling rushed. It synthesises the best of the source material, but with it being so slight fleshes it out and deepens it. With plans for plenty more seasons across these characters’ journey, these little moments will go a long way.
For those unfamiliar with The Hedge Knight novella, the ending of this episode will change the dynamic of what we’ve seen to date. It sets up a radically different second half of the show, one that promises more action and stakes, while keeping the focus on Duncan and Egg.
The commitment to honouring the roots of this particular series of novellas hopefully means we will avoid a situation similar to House of the Dragons’ sophomore season. But for the time being we should enjoy the fact that A Song of Ice and Fire is producing a show of this quality, reminding us of the endless potential this universe has at its very best. While this may be slight, it is nonetheless impressive.
The second half of the season hopefully can match the promise of the opening three episodes to make this a season to remember.
Chris Connor
