After six incredible episodes, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 has officially come to an end. Yes, that’s right, Episode 6 was the closing chapter in the show’s first season.
Unlike Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, which have seasons that consist of seven to ten episodes which eat clock in around an hour or longer, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 consists of six episodes which all hover around the 35-minute mark. This is a far departure from what many fans are accustomed to which has led to a mix of disappointment and confusion among the audience. In fact, some fans hadn’t even realized Episode 6 was the final episode of the season and I can understand why to a point.
It’s entirely fair to say that Episode 6 was a much quieter episode in comparison to Episode 5, which delivered the show’s most intense and shocking episode yet. There wasn’t a minute in Episode 5 when my heart wasn’t either racing or being broken, with the creative team serving up an amazing episode with the adaptation of the trial of seven.
Yes, there was fallout from the trial of seven but the episode kept with tradition for the Game of Thrones franchise with a finale that was less climactic than the penultimate episode. There is a cliffhanger set up at the end of Episode 6, but it’s not quite as flashy as some of the cliffhangers earlier episodes delivered which might have some fans thinking there are more episodes still to come this season and/or wanting more episodes of the season. That is not the case. Episode 6 was the final episode of season 1 and there is no Episode 7 coming fans’ way next week, but that’s okay.
This might be frustrating to some viewers, but the fact is that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 did exactly what it set out to do: faithfully adapt George R.R. Martin’s novella, The Hedge Knight. While it might be disappointing to know there is no seventh episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and the season is shorter than the usual Game of Thrones show, we don’t need another episode this season. The show beautifully adapted Martin’s works to tell a truly compelling story that contained a perfect and complete arc for our two title characters.
It’s because of how faithful the show was to the source material that there is an understandable desire for more episodes. I myself would have loved twice as many episodes in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 because the team behind the show brilliantly executed their creative vision to give us a wholesome fantasy adventure. I’m amazed at how fast I fell in love with Dunk and Egg, two amazing characters who were played to perfection by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell. It’s understandable to want more of these characters and adventures with the duo.
Thankfully, this is not the end of Dunk and Egg’s journey!
Much like in the book, the show’s first season ends with Dunk and Egg hitting the road together with Dunk taking Egg on as his squire with the hope of teaching him the ways of the common people and the pair setting out together. It sets up the events of the second Dunk and Egg novella, The Sworn Sword, which takes place roughly a year and a half after The Hedge Knight.
Filming has already begun on season 2 which is slated to arrive in 2027, meaning we won’t have to wait two years for the next batch of episodes! The second season will adapt The Sworn Sword, which will take Dunk and Egg on quite a journey.
In the second novella, the pair set out to find puppeteer Tanselle and encounter Ser Eustace, an older knight who takes the pair under his charge. Don’t worry, there is plenty of drama for the show to adapt with Ser Eustace taking in another knight who spells trouble for Dunk and Egg, and the pair also finding themselves caught up in the schemes of local nobility.
After an incredible first season, it’s going to be exciting to see how Dunk and Egg’s story will continue in its next chapter and we’re certain it’ll be another incredible season!
Keep reading Winter is Coming and tune in for our weekly podcast, Take the Black, to follow along with our coverage all season long.