A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Full Cast, Characters, Plot & Where to Stream the New Game of Thrones Prequel

Westeros is a land defined by its legends, but the legends usually wear crowns. A century before the War of the Five Kings, the realm was a vastly different place—peaceful, vibrant, and ruled by a Targaryen dynasty at the absolute height of its power. This isn’t the bleak, winter-is-coming world of Game of Thrones, nor is it the dragon-scorched tragedy of House of the Dragon. Instead, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a “boots-on-the-ground” perspective of the Seven Kingdoms through the eyes of a man who owns nothing but his horse, his armor, and his word.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, the series brings a Western-like sensibility to the Seven Kingdoms. It’s a story of chivalry, not just as a coat of arms, but as a choice.

The Plot of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: A Tall Tale of Chivalry and Secrets

Set roughly 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the story begins with the death of Ser Arlan of Pennytree, an old hedge knight. His squire, a massive but humble young man named Dunk, decides to take up Arlan’s mantle and enter a tourney at Ashford Meadow to seek his fortune. Along the way, he encounters a bald, precocious boy nicknamed Egg who insists on becoming his squire.

What starts as a simple quest for glory at a local tournament quickly turns dangerous when Dunk’s innate sense of honor puts him at odds with the royal family. Unlike the world-ending stakes of the Night King or the dragon wars of the Dance, this plot is an intimate “underdog” story that explores the class divide between those who are born with titles and those who actually live by a knight’s code.

Where to Stream A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max). For those watching on cable, it airs weekly on the main HBO channel. Internationally, the series is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, and JioHotstar in India.

Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode Schedule

The first season follows a weekly release format, airing every Sunday night at 10:00 PM ET. Here is the calendar for the debut season:

The Quest and the Screen

The first season, consisting of six episodes, adapts the novella The Hedge Knight. The plot follows a massive, unproven knight named Dunk and his unlikely, bald-headed squire, Egg, as they navigate a high-stakes tournament at Ashford Meadow. You can find the series streaming exclusively on Max.

Peter Claffey — Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk)

To play Ser Duncan the Tall, HBO needed someone who could physically dominate a room while maintaining a sense of naive vulnerability. They found that in Peter Claffey. Standing at 6’5″, Claffey is a former professional rugby player from Ireland, a background that serves him well for a character who has to look like he can take a hit as well as he gives one. Claffey portrays Dunk not as a superhero, but as a man desperately trying to live up to the noble vows he’s taken, despite being born in the gutters of Flea Bottom.

Dexter Sol Ansell — Egg (Aegon V Targaryen)

Egg is a character who needs to be equal parts precocious and mysterious, and Dexter Sol Ansell fits the bill perfectly. Interestingly, Ansell is becoming a bit of a specialist in “origins of power”—he recently played the young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Here, he swaps the Capitol for the dusty roads of Westeros, playing a squire who is clearly far more educated than the knight he serves.

Sam Spruell — Prince Maekar Targaryen

As Prince Maekar Targaryen, Sam Spruell embodies the weight of the crown. Maekar is a man living in the shadow of his more charismatic brothers, and Spruell brings a gritty, battle-hardened intensity to the role. Having appeared in Fargo and Dune: Prophecy, Spruell is adept at playing men whose silence is more threatening than their words. His Maekar is the quintessential “middle child” of a royal dynasty—grumpy, capable, and dangerously overlooked.

Finn Bennett — Prince Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen

The Targaryens have a saying about the gods tossing a coin whenever one of them is born to decide between greatness and madness. Finn Bennett plays Prince Aerion “Brightflame,” and it’s clear which side his coin landed on. Bennett, fresh off his breakout role in True Detective: Night Country, brings a chilling, erratic energy to Aerion. He’s the kind of villain who views himself as a literal dragon trapped in a man’s body, making him the most dangerous person at the Ashford tournament.

Bertie Carvel — Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen

If Aerion is the madness, Bertie Carvel’s Prince Baelor “Breakspear” is the greatness. Baelor is the heir to the Iron Throne and a man of immense honor. Carvel is a chameleon of the screen and stage—you might recognize him as Tony Blair from The Crown or the terrifying Miss Trunchbull from Matilda the Musical. That range is vital for Baelor, a man who must be both a formidable warrior and a diplomat capable of holding a fractured family together.

Tanzyn Crawford — Tanselle (the Dornish puppeteer)

Tanzyn Crawford plays Tanselle, a Dornish puppeteer who provides Dunk with his first taste of romance and a reminder that the “smallfolk” have their own dignity. Crawford, an Australian actress recently seen in Tiny Beautiful Things, brings a grounded warmth to the campgrounds of Ashford. Her character’s height—or lack thereof compared to Dunk—creates a charming visual dynamic that emphasizes just how much of an outsider Dunk really is.

Danny Webb — Ser Arlan of Pennytree & Youssef Kerkour — Steely Pate (the blacksmith)

Every hero needs a foundation, and for Dunk, that’s Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb) and the blacksmith Steely Pate (Youssef Kerkour). Webb is a veteran actor with a massive filmography including Alien 3, and he brings a weathered, paternal soul to the man who rescued Dunk from the slums. Meanwhile, Kerkour, an Olivier-nominated actor, portrays the blacksmith who gives Dunk his “identity” by painting his shield. These characters remind the audience that in this era of Westeros, the common man is just as essential to the story as the prince.

Daniel Ings — Ser Lyonel Baratheon “The Laughing Storm”

The Baratheons have always been a rowdy bunch, and Ser Lyonel Baratheon is no exception. Daniel Ings, known for his comedic and charismatic turns in Sex Education and The Crown, plays “The Laughing Storm” with infectious glee. Lyonel is a reminder that in this “Golden Age,” some knights actually enjoy the sport of it all. He is a fierce competitor who respects strength above all else, foreshadowing the boisterous nature of his descendant, Robert Baratheon.

Courtesy: Town & Country