The HBO series set in Westeros is getting praised for staying close to George R.R. Martin’s book. But the person in charge of the show now admits he made a clear error by removing a short but powerful moment between Ser Duncan the Tall and a blacksmith. The scene, which many book fans consider the true meaning of the whole tale, was originally in the script before it “fell out.”
Ira Parker, the showrunner of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, did not hide behind excuses. During a Reddit Q&A session, a fan asked directly why the show left out the emotional exchange between Dunk (Peter Claffey) and the blacksmith Steely Pate (Youssef Kerkour) . In George R.R. Martin’s novella The Hedge Knight, that moment happens right before Dunk is about to face his possible death in the tournament. Parker replied with a rare level of honesty for a Hollywood producer, admitting it was his mistake and he should have kept it in.
The Scene That Went Missing: “A Knight Who Remembered His Vows”
In the original story, Dunk is walking to the joust fully expecting to die. He is scared and alone. Along the way, common people—the smallfolk—greet him with respect. Dunk does not understand why. He asks Steely Pate, “Why? What am I to them?” The blacksmith answers simply: “A knight who remembered his vows.”
It is a quiet moment, but it carries the entire weight of who Dunk is as a person. He is not a great fighter. He is not rich. But he tries to do the right thing, even when it costs him.
The fan who asked the question pointed out that many readers believe this exchange is “the soul and the moral of the entire novella.” They noted that cutting it was strange, especially since the rest of the adaptation has been so careful.
Parker responded directly to the criticism.
“Honestly it was a mistake on my part. Not my first, not my last on this show. That scene was in the script at one point, then fell out. I agree that ‘a knight who remembers his vows’ is the soul of this story, but I think that is still very much at the core of the show, even if I stupidly left out this scene.”
He explained that while the exact words are missing, Dunk’s actions throughout the series still show the same idea. The character continues to act like a knight who remembers his promises, even when it puts him in danger.
Fans Appreciate the Rare Honest Answer From a Showrunner
What stood out to viewers was not just the admission of error, but how Parker said it. He did not try to defend the choice or blame the network, time limits, or other production pressures. He simply said he was wrong.
“I have to say I think your honesty is really refreshing,” one reader replied to Parker’s comment.
Another fan on social media wrote that it has been a long time since they saw a showrunner openly admit to a mistake without adding excuses.
Parker has built a reputation during the press tour for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as being unusually open. He previously told Deadline about the challenges of adapting a story that mostly takes place inside a character’s head, and how he relied on actor Peter Claffey to express Dunk’s thoughts through body language and eyes rather than voiceover.
A Second Mistake: Targaryen Coats of Arms Also Wrong
The Reddit AMA also revealed another error that Parker says he regrets. In the show, the Targaryen princes Maekar and Aerion appear with the standard three-headed dragon sigil of House Targaryen. According to Martin’s books, this is incorrect.
As princes of the realm with their own households, Maekar and Aerion should have their own personal coats of arms that incorporate the dragon but are distinct designs. Instead, the art department used the generic royal standard.
Parker admitted this was also a mistake, though smaller in scale compared to the missing dialogue. For hardcore fans who pay attention to heraldry details, it was a noticeable slip in an otherwise visually accurate production.
Episode 4 Sets a Franchise Record Despite the Omission
Even with these admitted errors, the show is performing extremely well. The fourth episode, which aired on February 8, 2026, currently holds a 9.7 rating on IMDb. This makes it the highest-rated episode in the entire Game of Thrones franchise since Season 7’s “The Spoils of War” in 2017.
The episode features the trial by seven, a chaotic and brutal fight where Dunk must find six other knights to stand with him against Prince Aerion and his champions. Critics have praised the sequence for its claustrophobic camera work and the emotional weight carried by Claffey’s performance.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms recently topped the HBO Max charts in 78 countries, proving that a smaller, character-driven story can still draw a massive global audience.
Where to Watch and What Comes Next
The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms consists of six episodes. New episodes air Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and are available to stream immediately on Max.
For viewers in the UK, the show airs on Sky Atlantic and NOW, with episodes available on Mondays. Australian audiences can watch on Binge and Foxtel, while Canadian viewers can stream on Crave. In India, the series is available on JioCinema. UAE and MENA region viewers can watch exclusively on OSN+.
Episode 5 is scheduled for February 15, 2026, with the season finale arriving on February 22, 2026.
HBO renewed the series for a second season back in November 2025, months before the first episode even aired. Season 2 is expected to premiere in 2027. Showrunner Ira Parker confirmed that filming for Season 2 is already underway in Belfast. The production shot 10 days before taking a break for the holidays and the premiere. Parker says the remaining work will take about 14 weeks, which is slightly longer than Season 1.
Season 2 will adapt the second Dunk and Egg novella, The Sworn Sword, which takes place during a drought in the Dornish Marches. Parker previously mentioned the challenge of finding a sunny location with no water to match the books, which adds unexpected costs.
George R.R. Martin has reportedly shared outlines for up to 12 Dunk and Egg stories he plans to write, meaning the show could run for many seasons if the audience stays engaged.
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A Mistake That Highlights What Makes Dunk Different
In a strange way, Parker admitting he cut the “knight who remembered his vows” scene by mistake actually reminds viewers why that line matters so much.
Dunk is not supposed to be perfect. He stumbles, he forgets things, he says the wrong words at a grave, and he has no idea what he is doing half the time. But he keeps going. He gets back up. He tries to help people even when it would be smarter to walk away.
The showrunner made a mistake. He admitted it. He did not pretend it was intentional genius. He just said he was stupid and moved on. That honesty, rare in the entertainment business, feels strangely fitting for a show about a big, awkward guy who only knows how to do one thing: the right thing, even when he does it badly.
Also Read: Aldis Hodge’s Cross Season 2 Achieves 90% Rotten Tomatoes Score, Crushing Its Own Season 1 Record
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