Game of Thrones may have ended in 2019, but its legacy lives on by way of two spin-offs that return fans to Westeros at different points in time. They’ve been a nice distraction from the fact that author George R.R. Martin has yet to finish writing his epic Song of Ice and Fire series, and now, the best of the two has returned to the streaming charts to prove that its success wasn’t a fluke. Set roughly 90 years before the events in Game of Thrones, the series follows a kind-hearted but inexperienced hedge knight who sets out to make a name for himself following the death of his mentor. Along the way, he picks up a young squire hiding a massive secret, and together, the duo eventually find themselves arriving at a major jousting event where the hedge knight can prove himself a champion. However, his delusions of grandeur are put on hold when he defends a young noblewoman from the cruelty of Prince Aerion Targaryen. Finding himself in the middle of a dispute involving some of the realm’s most powerful knights and members of the Targaryen family, the knight must prove his worth in a trial by combat that could determine not only his own fate, but also expose the true identity of his mysterious squire.
A More Intimate Westeros Is on Display in ‘Game of Thrones’ Best Spin-off

Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell in A Knight of the Seven KingdomsHBO

Titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the Game of Thrones spin-off is an adaptation of Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. It stars Peter Claffey as the titular knight known as Dunk, and Dexter Sol Ansell as his squire, Egg. Released earlier this year, the 6-episode series was a massive hit for HBO, as it easily surpassed the greatness of House of the Dragon. Rather than focusing on large-scale wars and grand conspiracies, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms utilizes adventure, chivalry, and character-driven storytelling to deliver an intimate look at the world of Westeros during a relatively peaceful era in its history. That’s not to say it ignores politics completely, but the tension in the Targaryen dynasty is more of a bubbling undercurrent than a raging river. As such, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms drew widespread acclaim from viewers and critics, who appreciated seeing a different side of Westeros. The classic medieval adventure holds a Certified Fresh score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is head and shoulders above the 88% rating given to House of the Dragon. It also sits slightly higher on the Popcornmeter with a 79% audience score, which is five points higher than House of the Dragon’s 74%. Does that mean A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is better than its predecessor? In the eyes of many, the answer is a clear “yes.”
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Returns to the Streaming Charts

While House of the Dragon might be enjoying its spot at the top of the charts on HBO Max following the premiere of Season 3 a little over a week ago, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is also getting some love on streaming. Per Flix Patrol, the series is currently the seventh most popular show on HBO Max in the United States, and it’s also been popping in and out of the Global Top 10 over the past five days.

No doubt it’s been bolstered by the return of House of the Dragon, but even still, that’s a great accomplishment for the little spin-off that could, which ended its first season four months ago and is now back to show Game of Thrones fans that it’s definitely the superior show.

Release Date

January 18, 2026

Network

HBO

Showrunner

Ira Parker

Directors

Owen Harris

Writers

George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker

Peter Claffey

Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall