What makes A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms different from Game of Thrones? Co-creator has an answer

The world of Westeros is expanding yet again with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, offering a totally different experience from the world of Game of Thrones. This time, the story tightens its focus to a smaller and more grounded point of view, following everyday people and not the high-flying schemes of lords and rulers.

The series is adapted from George R. R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas that have garnered praise for their warmth and character-centric storytelling. It attempts to achieve a lighter, optimistic feel, even if it is set in an all too familiar terrain defined by power plays and dying breath legacies.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and the vision behind its differences from Game of Thrones

What can be immediately seen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is that it has no customary title sequence, a conscious decision that separates it from Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Without the usual intricate animation and majestic orchestral music, the episodes open with a plain title card in a medieval-inspired font.

As co-creator, Ira Parker told Entertainment Weekly, this was no easy choice, describing:

“All decisions came down to Dunk, trying to channel the type of person he is into every aspect of this show, even the title sequence. The title sequences on the original [Game of Thrones] and House of Dragon are big and epic and incredible. Ramin Djawadi’s score is orchestral and large and beautiful. That's not really Dunk’s M.O. He’s plain and he’s simple and he’s to-the-point. He doesn't have a lot of flash to him.”

Parker also described the overall tone of the show as having a grounded attitude, and closer to the grit of medieval life than to high fantasy spectacle. He added:

“This could basically be 14th century Britain. This is hard nose, grind it out, gritty, medieval knights, cold with a really light, hopeful touch. It's a wonderful place to be. We are ground up in this series, we are starting right at the bottom. We're not with the lords and ladies, the kings and queens.”

True to that promise, the story of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms never leaves the point of view of Dunk, Egg, or the working-class people they meet, offering a novel view of Westeros.

What will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms be about?

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the tale of Ser Duncan the Tall, or Dunk, played by Peter Claffey. Dunk starts as the squire of Ser Arlan of Pennytree, a poor hedge knight who roams the land without the protection of a noble family. When Ser Arlan dies, Dunk dubs himself a knight and sets out on the road to make his living at a tournament in Ashford Meadow.

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Accompanied by possessions like a wooden shield and a rope-bound sword hilt, Dunk embodies perseverance and humility. Instead of sprawling wars, dragons, or supernatural perils, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms tells a story about knighthood, tenacity, and human ties.

Viewers will be thrown into a world that is smaller in scale but much more colourful. It marks a definite divergence from the grandiosity of earlier Game of Thrones productions, instead deriving its strength from minimalist simplicity. This new take allows for a tale that builds up not through spectacle but through heart, making it unique even within the fantasy franchise.

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