A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Draws Millions as Game of Thrones Spinoff Makes Triumphant Debut
HBO's newest Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, storms out of the gate with 6.7 million viewers in its first three days, marking another hit for the fantasy franchise.
So, I guess people aren’t tired of “Game of Thrones” spin-offs after all. In case you were wondering how HBO’s new prequel, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” is doing: the answer is, pretty damn well. The show pulled in 6.7 million views in just its first three days in the U.S., spread across HBO and Max (RIP 'HBO Max' as a name, by the way).
On paper, that’s one of the strongest launches HBO has ever had—top three, apparently—so it’s no shock they’ve already greenlit a second season. The only downside is that new episodes won’t land until next year, so consider your fantasy fix on pause for the foreseeable future.
Comparing the Numbers: Is This the Next “House of the Dragon”?
Okay, if you’re nitpicking, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” didn’t quite beat the premiere numbers for “House of the Dragon” season 2 (which came out swinging at 7.8 million). But honestly, 6.7 million views is a number most shows would kill for, and it’s clearly enough to keep the execs happy.
What’s This One Even About?
Unlike the main “Game of Thrones” series—with all those Starks and Lannisters stabbing each other every five minutes—“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” heads way back in time. We’re talking about a hundred years before the original show, following a guy named Dunk (played by Peter Claffey). He’s a lowly squire who ends up posing as the knight “Ser Duncan the Tall” after, let’s just say, a knight-shaped vacancy opens up. Tagging along is Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), Dunk’s squire, who is more than he seems. If you’ve read George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas, you already know the tone here isn’t quite as relentlessly grim as old-school Westeros. There’s actually a hint of optimism, which feels downright edgy for this franchise.
- Dunk (Peter Claffey): The squire-turned-knight, a big guy with surprising heart.
- Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell): His pint-sized sidekick, squire, and, let’s be honest, possible walking spoiler for anyone who doesn’t read ahead.
Critics Aren’t Hating It
The show’s off to a good start with critics, too. Over at JoBlo, Alex Maidy handed out an 8/10 and called it ‘a welcome detour’ from all the usual dragon carnage and those infamous Targaryen family hang-ups. In his words:
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is an exciting and enjoyable story for those who have read Tales of Dunk and Egg and know where this story leads. Even if HBO could have made this as a movie, the episodic format keeps people coming back just to see where it all goes. It’s a welcome addition to the Game of Thrones world that actually tries something new.'
So, are you all in on another trip through Westeros, or is this one franchise that’s officially stretching itself too thin for you? Either way, with numbers like this, it looks like we’ll be getting plenty more sword-swinging, egg-carrying adventures for a while.