I just finished watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026) on HBO Max, and I’m happy to say I absolutely loved it. After waiting what felt like ages for a new fantasy series free of contrived modern messaging, I was not disappointed. With episodes averaging about thirty-six minutes, each installment left me wanting more and eagerly anticipating the next. Now that the six-episode run has concluded, it plays beautifully as a single, sweeping three-hour-plus cinematic experience.
As someone who hasn’t read George R.R. Martin’s books, I can’t comment on its faithfulness to the lore. But as a longtime fan of sword-and-sorcery tales and the chivalric and martial traditions of Europe, I can confidently say this is one of the best entries in the genre in recent years.
Set in the fictional land of Westeros—specifically around the tourney at Ashford Meadow—the series is both visually and audibly arresting. The performances and dialogue are consistently strong, but the chemistry between Dunk—Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey)—and young “Egg,” Prince Aegon Targaryen (played by Dextor Sol Ansell), is the heart of the show. Their dynamic is warm, often humorous, and at times moving.
The costumes, cinematography, and musical score are all first-rate. I especially appreciated the realistic brutality of the battle scenes, the quiet heroism of the protagonist, the layered courtly intrigue, the betrayals, the sacrifices, the pageantry, and the genuine narrative twists. More than once, I found myself honestly surprised.
The show is not without its flaws. Even though it's brief, each episode has at least one scene involving excrement, vomit, or urine. While perhaps meant to underscore realism, these moments felt unnecessary and gratuitous. They detract from an otherwise elevated tone.
Other than that, the only continuity error I noticed was a brief scene where Dunk appears with his shield after he's already parted with it.
Reports indicate that showrunner Ira Parker has expressed interest in extending the series to twelve or fifteen seasons over several decades—a goal that may prove unrealistic given the limited source material at hand.
That said, even two or three additional seasons of comparable quality would be a rare achievement in today’s entertainment landscape. With season two reportedly already in production, we may not have to wait long. Hopefully, it will avoid the sharp decline in quality that often afflicts sophomore efforts.
If this first season is any indication, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms stands as a refreshing return to character-driven fantasy rooted in honor, loyalty, masculinity, and the enduring allure of knighthood.
~ By Giovanni di Napoli, February 24th, Feast of Beato Tommaso Maria Fusco
