HBO’s Ambitious New Fantasy Series Is an Instant Streaming Sensation

Fans are returning to Westeros with HBO’s latest offering, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The first episode of the series is here with some of the most lovable characters in the universe, Ser Duncan the Tall and his quick-witted squire, Egg. The series, based on George RR Martin’s The Hedge Knight novella, is very source accurate. As the book comes to life in the new series, fans have another title that could rival the original in its length. While it’s smaller in scope than House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, the light-hearted story, adorable characters, and an interesting premise make up for the lack of spectacle, as the streaming verdict shows.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has debuted as the top series on HBO Max’s charts, as per FlixPatrol. The series stands tall among titles like fan favorite The Pitt, Heated Rivalry, Industry, and even Euphoria. Certainly, the series has caught fans’ attention and, in the coming week, should deliver strong viewership numbers for the streamer.

Is ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Worth Your Time?

The series follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they travel through the seven kingdoms, helping smallfolk and Lords alike. The debut season will cover the first novella, The Hedge Knight, while a second season has been greenlit covering the next novella, The Sworn Sword. It has some good performance, a humorous tone that’s never been seen before in the universe, and a heart-tugging tale. In Collider’s review, Therese Lacson writes:

“Martin has been critical of any creator who has expanded on or altered his world (down to nitpicking the Targaryen sigil), so it’s understandable that he would love this series as the author, but it’s never been more evident that a good adaptation requires more than rigid adherence to the source material. As a fan, it’s exciting to imagine what a different interpretation can do with the same story. Seeing actors embody beloved characters who we’ve only gotten to spend a few paragraphs with should mean that viewers get more than just what’s written. In this adaptation, it’s the actors’ performances that make the show, specifically Ansell, Ings, and Carvel. If the show had stretched out its story to give it room to breathe, other actors likely would shine as well. Beyond that, there’s not much to write home about.”

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.