All the Major Deaths Coming in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1

So, HBO is mining the George R.R. Martin universe yet again, but instead of another dive into political misery and dragon-fueled carnage, we're getting something in a slightly lighter (but no less bloody) register: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It's based on Martin's novella 'The Hedge Knight', which—if you can believe it—leans more toward underdog knights, chivalry, and the odd slapstick tourney mishap, not just random acts of televised cruelty. That said, it wouldn't be Westeros if a handful of people didn't get mercilessly killed before the end credits.

The first season is rolling out in January 2026 on HBO (and, of course, Max), with a tight six-episode run slated. The showrunners are Ira Parker and Martin himself, so you know the lore points will be on lock. For the main cast, we've got Peter Claffey playing the massive but charming Ser Duncan the Tall, Dexter Sol Ansell as his mysterious squire Egg (who, for those playing at home, is Targaryen royalty in disguise), plus Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, and Daniel Ings in supporting roles.

What Makes This Story Different?

Unlike Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, this prequel dials down the high drama (just a notch) and cranks up the 'wandering knight with a heart of gold' vibes. But we're still in Westeros, so: yes, death is a regular guest star, and every loss manages to warp the fate of the realm just a little more.

Who Doesn’t Survive Season One?

If you know the novella, you probably already have a betting pool going. For everyone else: warning, there are spoilers here. If HBO sticks to the plot (and the early indicators say they will), here's the likely body count for Season 1. This is the full hit list for anyone who gets more than two lines and doesn't make it out of Ashford Meadow.

• Ser Arlan of Pennytree
  Dunk's mentor, and the closest thing to a father figure he's got. Ser Arlan is a classic old-school hedge knight: no money, no status, but a solid sense of honor. He dies quietly of old age before Dunk even gets to the big tourney, so there's no dramatic murder—just a lonely grave under a tree and a young man left figuring out the rest solo. This death isn't sensational, but it's the emotional domino that launches Dunk's whole story.
• Prince Baelor Targaryen (aka Baelor Breakspear)
  Baelor is one of the rarer noble Targaryens—competent, fair, actually well-liked. He sticks his neck out for Dunk in a Trial of Seven (think: medieval tag team cage match, but with more horses and less regard for life expectancy). After the trial, Baelor congratulates Dunk...only for everyone to realize he's been fatally whacked on the head, completely by accident, by his own brother Maekar during the melee. Oops. His death isn’t just tragic for the characters—it's a pretty major destabilizer for the Targaryen family tree going forward.
• Ser Humfrey Beesbury
  If you like knights with similar names, you're in luck. Beesbury is one of the crew Dunk recruits for the trial when he's desperate for allies. During the first charge, he's taken out by Ser Donnel of Duskendale (who's Team Bad Guy, naturally). His on-screen time is brief, but his death underscores that these trials are high-stakes, no matter how noble your cause.
• Ser Humfrey Hardyng
  Another Humfrey (this never stops being confusing). Hardyng is already banged up from a previous fight with Prince Aerion, but joins Dunk's side out of a personal grudge. Despite being barely able to walk, he bravely (or foolishly) rides again and—predictably—gets fatally injured in the trial. This guy's death is less about the drama and more about reminding us that even the 'rules' of Westerosi justice are about as safe as a dragon in a barn.

Other than this core group, there are a couple of background characters who might drop, but nobody you'll be pausing HBO to look up on the wiki. Despite the show aiming for a lower body count than its infamous big siblings, the deaths they do include are there for a reason—they set up Dunk's arc and poke at the boiling cauldron of Targaryen politics, which eventually explodes a century later.

The Essentials (for Trivia Nerds)

Here are the high points, stripped down for easy recitation at your next watch party:

Title: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Type: American fantasy drama, Game of Thrones prequel
Source: Based on GRRM's 'Tales of Dunk and Egg' novellas
Showrunners: Ira Parker, George R.R. Martin
Premise: Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and his squire Egg, wandering Westeros about 100 years before the main show.
Main Cast: Peter Claffey (Dunk), Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg), plus Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Daniel Ings
Episodes/Platform: Six episodes, airing weekly from January 18, 2026, exclusively on HBO/Max

'Baelor took off his helm, and everyone could see then...that it was not sweat running down his face.'

Yeah, that’s the vibe this story has—chivalry, good intentions, and the occasional shock to the system.

Got thoughts, predictions, or gripes about the new prequel? Drop them in the comments below. New episodes land every Sunday, so there's plenty of time to catch a few more knights (and maybe a Targaryen or two) catching an untimely fate.