What you should know before watching ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’

George R.R. Martin welcomes “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” fans back to the fantasy world of Westeros with the new series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” All six episodes of the first season are now streaming on HBO Max, and a second season plans to enter production soon.

Before diving into the world of Westeros once again, here are five things you should know about the most recent show in the “Game of Thrones” universe.

1. The show is based on a series of novellas

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is based upon “Tales of Dunk and Egg,” another work by Martin. The series of novellas follows Ser Duncan, a tall, but sometimes slow hedge knight, and his squire, the young but knowledgeable Egg.

Courtesy of HBO Max

The first season follows the first novella in “Tales of Dunk and Egg.”

The series so far contains three novellas, with “The Hedge Knight” serving as the plotline of the first season of the show. The remaining seasons are expected to follow the other two novellas that have been published so far, though Martin plans on continuing the series.

2. The timeline

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” storyline begins 209 years after Aegon’s Conquest —  approximately 90 years before the events of “Game of Thrones.” This means you will not see characters such as Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow or Cersei Lannister, but their ancestors may make an appearance.

The story subsequently takes place after “House of the Dragon,” which has its third season set to be released later this year. This means that while the Targaryen family still sits the Iron Throne and rules the kingdom, the story takes place after the fated Dance of the Dragons.

3. There are no more dragons

Following the events of the Targaryen civil war taking place in “House of the Dragon,” do not expect to see any fire-breathing beasts in the world of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” 

While the lack of dragons may serve as a dismay to members of the Targaryen family and some fans, note that even without dragons this show still carries a sense of fantasy.

4. The show focuses less on nobility

While its predecessors “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” showed the lives of the royal and noble families of Westeros, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” takes a chance to focus more on the working class.

Courtesy of HBO Max

In contrast to “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon,” this show focuses more on the working class rather than the royal and noble families.

The story provides a historical look into what life looked like for the majority of people in the medieval ages. This is primarily shown through the character of Dunk who was an orphan boy turned hedge knight, providing his fighting skills to nobles in exchange for money. Other working class characters include squires, shopkeepers and blacksmiths all trying to make a living.

5. The show has a lighthearted tone

In contrast to the other two shows in the franchise, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” portrays a more lighthearted and at times uplifting story.

While there are still dark and gritty moments throughout the show, along with bloody battles that keep audiences on the edge of their seats, jokes and heartfelt moments weave their way into the story seamlessly.

This aspect of the show might be the most charming of them. It reminds audiences even in worlds littered with prophecies and mythical beasts, it is the characters who make the story the most magical.