HBO’s new Game of Thrones show A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is breaking records and dividing fans. The series holds an impressive 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated first season in the entire franchise. However, its audience score has fallen to around 69%. This large gap has sparked discussions about review bombing, where some viewers leave negative ratings en masse. The show’s different tone and style seem to be the main reason for this split reaction.
Why Critics Praise A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Critics are celebrating the show as a refreshing change for the Westeros universe. It is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas and follows the journey of a simple hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his clever young squire, Egg.
The story is set about a hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones. Unlike its predecessors, the show trades epic battles and dragon fights for a smaller, character-driven story focused on friendship and humor. The six-episode first season adapts the first novella, The Hedge Knight, and has already been renewed for a second season.
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a welcome return to Westeros that works better in the buddy-comedy arena,” reads the Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus.
Audience Reactions and The Tone Debate
While critics enjoy the shift, a segment of the audience is unhappy. The primary complaint from verified viewers on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes is the show’s lighter and more comedic tone.
Fans expecting the high-stakes political intrigue or dark fantasy of Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon are finding something very different. Some audience reviews describe the series as “fake and cheesy,” “corny,” or “slapstick”. This stark difference in expectation versus reality appears to be fueling the lower audience scores.
The show establishes its unique tone early. A now-talked-about scene features Ser Duncan hearing a heroic version of the classic Game of Thrones theme in his head, only for the moment to be undercut by a sudden, vulgar bodily function. This moment, which surprised even George R.R. Martin, was a deliberate choice by showrunner Ira Parker to show that Dunk is “not a hero yet”.
“All we’re trying to say here is that Dunk is not a hero yet. He’s just a nervy kid with a nervous stomach,” Parker explained about the scene’s purpose.
Comparing Franchise Scores and Viewer Numbers
The score gap highlights a clear divide. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ 95% critics’ score surpasses Game of Thrones‘ overall 89% score and House of the Dragon‘s 87%. Its audience score, however, is currently the third-lowest in the franchise, only above the final season of Game of Thrones and the second season of House of the Dragon.
Despite the online debate, the show is a major viewing success. Its premiere drew 6.7 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days, making it a top-three series launch on the streaming platform. It quickly reached the number one spot on HBO Max’s top 10 list in the United States and numerous other countries.
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The Show’s Creative Direction and Future
The creative team was aware the show would be different. Ira Parker, the creator and showrunner, worked closely with George R.R. Martin and has expressed openness to all fan reactions. Martin himself has praised the adaptation, calling it “as faithful as adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for”.
The series focuses on the relationship between Dunk, played by Peter Claffey, and Egg, played by Dexter Sol Ansell. Parker describes it as a “very human story” about two people helping each other, rather than a saga about ruling the Iron Throne. With three existing Dunk and Egg novellas, the plan is to reasonably adapt the story over three seasons. Martin is also writing more stories in the series for potential future use.
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