Bigger may not be better for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ' second season.
In the world of fantasy television, it’s natural to expect every season to be bigger than the previous one. Game of Thrones did that, with each year producing more lavish battle scenes and raising the stakes in the storylines. House of the Dragon has followed that lead with the upcoming third season, giving us a full-scale civil war with a massive sea battle sequence.
Then there’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Season 1 was already a break from the Game of Thrones format, with episodes running just around 30-40 minutes each. That fit the smaller storyline of Ser Duncan (Peter Claffey) and his would-be squire Egg (Dexter Soll Ansel), navigating the kingdom of Westeros decades before the events of the original series.
Speaking to the Associated Press from the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, where season 2 is filming, showrunner Ira Parker revealed that rather than the second installment being bigger in scope and storyline, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be different.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 will feel “even smaller” than season 1
“If anything, I’d say season 2 might feel even smaller,” Parker said. “It’s not at all busy and everything. There’s almost some loneliness creeping into this.”
The second season adapts George R.R. Martin’s novella “The Sworn Sword” as Dunk and Egg travel to a land plagued by drought. It sounds like it will follow the same path as the first season, in just six episodes, averaging 35-ish minutes. And don’t expect bigger stakes or action, as Parker insisted the focus is always on the two leads.
“It is 100% a function of the underlying material. We don’t want to have to stretch the story,” Parker explained. “We like building out the world and hanging out with our characters and having some fun in Westeros. But we don’t want to have odd little side quests.”
Why going smaller likely only helps A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
This is a major break from the grand scope of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, so, just like with the first season, it’s definitely a risk. However, it’s been working, as viewers and critics alike embraced A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for not requiring intricate storytelling or complex fights. The only real fight of season 1 was the trial of seven, though it wasn’t your typical battle.
The focus is on Dunk and Egg themselves, two people who are both trying to learn more about Westeros. Dunk wants to prove himself as a true knight, while Egg wants to get away from the shadow of House Targaryen. The second season is set to develop their friendship and tell a small-scale story set in a small land, tackling it better than pitting them on a grand quest across the kingdoms.
There are also economical considerations, as a six-episode season with a smaller cast, plus not needing huge visual effects, means HBO can save money on the production. That’s not mentioning they can film it much faster, and fans don’t have to wait two or three years for the next season, which continues its momentum.
The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms proved itself right out of the gate. There’s no need to mess with what made the show work, like longer episodes or elevating the stakes. Viewers and critics enjoy a story set in this franchise that explores different parts of Westeros. Yes, it’s always a risk to go against a franchise formula that works, but it might pay off massively.
The second season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is due on HBO sometime in 2027.
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