It’s time to return to Westeros.
Rather than focusing on the grand politics of the Iron Throne, HBO’s latest Game of Thrones prequel spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, travels back in time to focus on the lesser hedge knight, Tall Ser Duncan (Peter Claffey). The show departs from the serious politics and dragon battles of “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon,” and is a more humorous, down-to-earth story of Sir Duncan’s chivalrous ways while participating in a jousting tournament. He is also joined by a bald young squire named Egg (Dexter Sol Unsell), whom he meets along the way, as well as new Targaryens, Baratheon, and more.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on a series of novellas by George R.R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series and creator of the Game of Thrones universe. The first novella, The Hedge Knight, was published in 1998 and introduced readers to Sir Duncan, aka Dunk, and the Egg. Martin has since published “The Sworn Sword” in 2003, “The Mystery Knight” in 2010, and has plans to publish more in the “Dunk and Egg” series (but first he must complete the final two books of “A Song of Ice and Fire” and the second part of “Fire and Blood,” on which “House of the Dragon” is based).
Introducing the latest Westeros characters from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms below.
Tall Sir Duncan (Peter Claffey)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
You may remember hearing vague references to the adventures of the tall Sir Duncan here and there on “Game of Thrones,” but when we meet him in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” he’s still a clumsy, lanky man who goes by his childhood nickname, “Dunk.”
Dunk became Sir Duncan after being knighted by Sir Arlan (Danny Webb) of Pennytree, with whom he had traveled for years. Few people in Westeros have ever heard of him. Dunk had a hard time getting anyone to take him seriously, as no one witnessed his knighthood ritual. Still, he aspires to greatness.
Egg (Dexter Sol Unsell)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Egg, the adorable bald boy, makes Dunk go crazy. But he is also his only friend. Dunk first met the child at an inn he stayed at on his way to a jousting tournament. Egg quickly becomes defiant, making cheeky comments when Dunk calls for help from his horse, then making fun of his clothes, and honestly telling Dunk that he doesn’t look like a knight. Still, he asks Dunk to take him in as his squire, hoping to leave the inn and see a little more of the world. Dunk declines, but Egg heads off on his own, effectively giving himself the job of a squire, and builds a fire and cooks dinner at Dunk’s camp before Dunk returns for the night. It was Egg who told Dunk that he should call himself Sir Duncan in order to gain more respect. They are an odd pair, but good for each other.
Sir Erlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Ser Arlan is an old hedge knight who is Dunk’s mentor. After his death in the premiere, Dunk takes Arlan’s sword and heads to the tournament to become a knight himself.
Rayman Fossoway (Sean Thomas)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Raymun is the cousin and squire of Lord Steffon Fossoway, a knight of the tournament.
Stephon Fossoway (Edward Ashley)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Ashley (The Lost City of Z, The Terror, Masters of the Air) plays Stephon Fosoway. Lord Steffon, knight and heir of House Fossoway of Cider Hall during the reign of King Daeron II Targaryen, was one of the participants in the tournament at Ashford Meadow. This tournament is a key event in George R.R. Martin’s story about Sir Duncan and the Egg, The Knight in the Hedge.
Lionel Baratheon (Daniel Ings)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Ing, best known for his role as Luke Curran in the Channel 4/Netflix comedy series Lovesick, plays Lionel Baratheon. Lionel, nicknamed “The Laughing Storm,” was the lord of Storm’s End and head of House Baratheon during the reign of King Aegon V Targaryen on the Iron Throne. He is a character from George R.R. Martin’s “Dunk and Egg” short story “The Hedge Knight”, which is the basis for the HBO series. Ing’s other notable credits include “The Crown,” “Black Mirror,” “Sex Education” and “The Gentlemen.”
Tansel (Tanzan Crawford)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Australian actress Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things, Swift Street) will play Tansel. Tansel, nicknamed “Tansel Too Long” in George R.R. Martin’s “Dunk and Egg” story “The Hedge Knight,” was a puppeteer in Dorland during the reign of King Daeron II Targaryen.
Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Aerion Targaryen is the second son of Prince Maker Targaryen (Sam Spruell). Although he is the grandson of the King, he and his brothers cannot take the Iron Throne because Maker has an older brother, Baelor. Aerion will be played by Finn Bennett, known for his roles in HBO’s True Detective: Nightland, Netflix’s Black Doves, and the 2025 film Warfare.
Baelor Targaryen (Barty Carvel)
Barty Carvel, who plays Baelor Targaryen, has stage credits including Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical and Rupert Murdoch in Ink, as well as film roles including Macbeth (2021) and The Crown. He will next appear in the HBO Harry Potter series as Cornelius Fudge.
In “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” Baelor is the eldest son of King Daeron II and crown prince of Westeros.
Maker Targaryen (Sam Spruell)
Image credit: Stephen Hill
Spruell, known for his roles in the Fargo TV series (2014), Legends (2015) and Small Ax (2020), will play Maker I Targaryen. The Maker appears in George R.R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight, the original story for Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, as well as in Martin’s major books, A Song of Ice and Fire. He was the fourth son of King Daeron II Targaryen, Prince of Summerhall, and a military commander who participated in the two Blackfyre Rebellions.
