A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has wrapped its first season after only six episodes. The latest Game of Thrones spinoff set itself apart from the others with its unique tone and characters, while also feeling firmly set in the world of Westeros.
The series delivered a fantastic first season that, despite the lower stakes and scale compared to the rest of the franchise, still has us eagerly waiting for more. However, among the first six episodes, some stood out more than others. Here’s a look at all episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, from worst to best.
6. Episode 2, "Hard Salt Beef"
As a sign of a truly great show, even the lowest-ranked episode is far from a bad one. “Hard Salt Beef” simply ranks lower than the rest, as it is not quite as exciting as what’s to come. The episode is still letting audiences settle into this world and the new approach.
That’s not a bad thing, as the episode really helps to build this smaller world filled with fun characters. It also strengthens Peter Claffey’s charming performance as Dunk, a protagonist quite unlike the other heroes of the franchise.
5. Episode 1, "The Hedge Knight"
The first episode of any series can often be one of the lesser episodes in the overall series. There is a lot of setup to do, and things can feel rushed as they try to get the story moving. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms deals with these growing pains admirably, quickly making this a story we’re willing to be patient about.
There are some big swings in the episode, especially with the more comedic approach. However, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ clever take on the theme song displays the confidence the creators have in this new take. It’s not an epic start, but we feel in good hands.
4. Episode 6, "The Morrow"
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms upholds the Game of Thrones tradition of having the penultimate episode of the season deliver the biggest moments. As such, the final episode of the season is usually reserved for dealing with the aftermath. "The Morrow" sticks to the small-scale nature of the show by focusing on the personal impact of the events on key characters.
The episode ends up being quite emotional, from Dunk’s memories of Ser Arlan to Maekar Targaryen’s surprising vulnerability. It is not a wild, mind-blowing finale, but it firmly cements Dunk’s journey as a character and sets up the adventure ahead.
3. Episode 3, "The Squire"
“The Squire” is an episode that really establishes the great writing in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, all leading up to that great last-minute reveal. The twist about Egg’s true identity is a terrific moment that changes the show going forward. However, the episode is great even without that final moment.
The real joy of the episode is seeing the relationship between Dunk and Egg develop. We get to see these two misfits starting to recognize that they make a great team. They cheer on the jousts, mock each other, and feel like old friends. It is also an episode that suggests Dunk is very much like some other Game of Thrones heroes, willing to do the right thing, even if it is not the smart thing.
2. Episode 4, "Seven"
Episode 4 is when the show's tone shifted slightly, and the small-scale story suddenly took on stakes far bigger than the audience or Dunk could have anticipated. In the aftermath of his fight with Aerion Targaryen, Dunk faces a trial of seven, forming his own team to take on the powerful Targaryens.
The episode is indeed building up to the bigger next episode, but it does so with great character moments and tension. The relationship between Dunk and Egg develops further while Dunk gets his hero moment with his terrific speech to the knights of Westeros. It caps off with the chill-inducing moment Baelor Targaryen agrees to fight alongside Dunk.
1. Episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother"
Everyone came into the penultimate episode of season 1 knowing they were going to see the epic trial by combat, but the episode revealed so much more. It took big risks in adapting a much darker tone as well as throwing in an extended flashback just as the action was starting. However, it all makes for an exhilarating journey.
Seeing Dunk’s backstory and his meeting with Ser Arlan helped explain so much about his honorable and determined nature. Of course, the battle stands out, delivering the most brutal fight in Game of Thrones. It makes the audience wince and cheer alongside Dunk, only to deliver a gut punch with the final twist.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 is streaming now on HBO Max.