Westeros has returned to screens with a fresh perspective that trades massive dragon battles for a more grounded look at life on the road. The premiere of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on January 18, 2026, introduced global audiences to Ser Duncan the Tall, a man who represents a very different kind of warrior than the high-born lords seen in earlier series. While names like Stark, Lannister, and Targaryen carry weight and wealth, the term hedge knight describes a class of warriors who live on the fringes of society, often with nothing but a horse, a sword, and the open sky.
The true meaning of a hedge knight in Westeros
A hedge knight is essentially a wandering warrior who does not serve a specific lord or hold any land. The name comes from a very literal and humble reality: because these men lack the money to pay for an inn and have no castle to call home, they often sleep outdoors under hedges or trees. In the social hierarchy of the Seven Kingdoms, they are frequently viewed with a mix of pity and suspicion.
While a landed knight serves a master in exchange for a home and steady meals, a hedge knight is a freelancer. They travel the continent looking for temporary work, such as guarding merchant caravans or serving as extra muscle for minor lords during local disputes. Many spend their lives traveling from one tournament to the next, hoping to win prize money or perform well enough to catch the eye of a powerful lord who might offer them a permanent position.
The status of a hedge knight is often fragile. Because “any knight can make a knight,” the lack of official paperwork or records in a medieval setting means many men claim the title of “Ser” without ever having been properly dubbed. This leads to a reputation for being little more than “robber knights” or brigands in some parts of the realm. However, for a man like Dunk, the role represents an opportunity to live by a code of honor that is often ignored by the wealthy elite.
Ser Duncan the Tall and the life of a wanderer
The story begins with Peter Claffey as Dunk, a massive man of nearly seven feet who starts his journey in the most unheroic of waysโburying his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. This opening sets the tone for the series, focusing on the harsh realities of being poor in a world dominated by royalty. After Arlan’s death, Dunk inherits three horses and a suit of old armor, officially beginning his life as a hedge knight.
“A hedge knight is the truest kind of knight. Other knights serve lords who serve kings, but a hedge knight serves only the people.”
This philosophy, passed down from Ser Arlan, defines Dunk’s character. Unlike the knights of the Kingsguard who protect a crown, or household knights who protect a castle, the hedge knight’s only true oath is the one they take to protect the weak and the innocent. Throughout the first episode, titled The Hedge Knight, Dunk struggles with the social stigma of his rank. When he tries to enter the tournament at Ashford, he is mocked and told that he needs someone of high birth to vouch for him, highlighting how difficult it is for a commoner to move up in the world of Westeros.
The meeting of Dunk and Egg
The dynamic of the show shifts when Dunk meets a bald, sharp-witted boy named Egg, played by Dexter Sol Ansell. Egg insists on becoming Dunk’s squire, despite the knight’s initial refusal. This partnership is central to the series, as it pairs a physically imposing but socially inexperienced man with a young boy who possesses a surprising amount of knowledge about the great houses of the realm.
Their journey explores the gap between the legends of chivalry and the gritty reality of survival. While Dunk is motivated by a desire to be a “true knight,” he is constantly reminded of his poverty. He has to sell his mentor’s equipment just to afford the entry fees for the tournament, and he faces immediate conflict with Prince Aerion Targaryen, an arrogant royal who views hedge knights as nothing more than dirt beneath his boots.
Global release and streaming schedule for 2026
The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms consists of six episodes, each running between 35 and 45 minutes. The series is currently airing weekly, with new episodes arriving every Sunday in the United States and Monday in most other international markets.
The release schedule for the remaining episodes of the first season is as follows:
- Episode 1: The Hedge Knight โ January 18
- Episode 2: Hard Salt Beef โ January 25
- Episode 3: The Squire โ February 1
- Episode 4: Seven โ February 8
- Episode 5: Title TBA โ February 15
- Episode 6: Season Finale โ February 22
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Cast and characters in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
The series features a cast of newcomers and veteran actors who bring this earlier era of Westeros to life. Since the show takes place roughly 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the political landscape is different. The Targaryens are at the height of their power, but the last dragons died out decades ago.
- Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall: A low-born man from Flea Bottom who takes up the mantle of a knight.
- Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg: A mysterious young boy who becomes Dunk’s squire.
- Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen: A cruel and vain prince who serves as the early antagonist.
- Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Breakspear: The honorable heir to the Iron Throne and Hand of the King.
- Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen: The stern father of Aerion and Egg.
- Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon: Known as the “Laughing Storm,” a charismatic and powerful knight.
- Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle: A puppeteer who becomes a catalyst for the central conflict.
HBO has already confirmed a second season for the series, which is expected to adapt the second novella, The Sworn Sword, with a tentative release window in 2027. This first season focuses entirely on the events at the Ashford tournament, where the simple life of a hedge knight is thrown into the middle of a royal scandal that will change the history of the Seven Kingdoms forever.
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