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Early Reviews Size Up HBO’s ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Ahead of Jan. 18 Debut

Critics describe a lighter, compact shift for Westeros, reflecting Martin’s close involvement.

Overview

  • HBO’s six-episode Dunk-and-Egg adaptation premieres Jan. 18 on HBO and HBO Max, with half‑hour installments and a second season already ordered.
  • First-wave reviews on Jan. 13 highlight a smaller, more comedic scope than Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, with many praising the lead duo.
  • Several critics single out Dexter Sol Ansell’s performance as Egg, with Peter Claffey’s Ser Duncan earning notices for an affable, grounded take.
  • Assessments are divided on tone and substance, with recurring criticism of crude bodily-humor and a thin, low-stakes narrative.
  • Showrunner Ira Parker says George R.R. Martin approved every change to the adaptation, and Martin has voiced interest in writing more Dunk and Egg stories.