Season 1 - 6 episodes (2026)
Buy the book on Amazon (paid link)
Created by: Ira Parker, George R. R. Martin
Based on: Tales of Dunk and Egg by George R. R. Martin
Starring: Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Tanzyn Crawford, Daniel Ings, Sam Spruell
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer
Plot
Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg wandered through Westeros while the Targaryen dynasty ruled the Iron Throne and dragons were still remembered. Great destinies and enemies await the incomparable friends.
Verdict
The narrow focus helps this show in comparison to it's sprawling predecessor, Game of Thrones. Duncan is a wannabe knight and his sidekick Egg isn't much of a squire. This short season revolves around the tournament Duncan hopes to enter for acclaim, and a false accusation levied against him. Justice takes the form of a battle where the gods will decide the victor. That episode is nothing less than thrilling, and the the interactions between Dunk and Egg are always engaging. The story's simplicity compared to the other series in the universe makes this accessible and refreshing. While it takes a couple of episodes to find stable footing, it gets better with every episode. By the end I was enamored with the show.
Watch It.
Review
Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones (2011), this is the second spin-off from the original series after House of the Dragon (2022). The series has already been renewed for a second season.
In the first episode Duncan (Peter Claffey) buries the knight for which he squired. He's trying to figure out what's next, joining the games at Ashford to prove himself as a worthy knight. While he claims he was knighted, I don't believe it. He has nowhere else to go, taking on the young Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as his squire. We've heard them mentioned in the other series. After the first episode, I guessed a harrowing situation would be the turning point for Duncan to become a hero. That or history would rewrite his story to be more heroic. What I didn't like was the attempt to be more comedic. We see Duncan defecating in the first five minutes with no real need for a gross out gag. I was concerned that would be the tone for the season, but thankfully it's not.
 |
| E1: Peter Claffey plays Ser Duncan the Tall |
Duncan lacks the confidence of a true knight, and proper knights don't respect him. While he squired for a decent knight, that man is all but forgotten. With that legacy, what chance does Duncan have? He commissions a sigil for his armor by Tanselle, an artist and performer. When Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) attacks her during a show, Duncan attacks Aerion. It seems the Targaryen's are evil in every age. You know that is going to cost him, but the big reveal in episode three is Egg's parents.
What will be Duncan's punishment for striking a Targaryen? He gets advice to ask for trial by combat as a last ditch effort to save himself. Instead Aerion asks for a trial by seven where he and six knights face off against Duncan and six of his knights. It certainly seems like a cowardly move by Aerion, but how will Duncan find six other knights? If you were waiting for this show to hit the high gear, episode four is it. Duncan manages five knights, knighting a sixth on the spot. He appeals to the crowd with no takers, that is until Baelor Targaryen rides in and agrees to fight for Duncan. When the original Game of Thrones music kicks, it's such a great moment. I was also completely disappointed that was the end of the episode. I couldn't wait to see more.
 |
| E6: Dexter Sol Ansell, Peter Claffey plays Aegon V "Egg" Targaryen, Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall |
Episode five features the battle. It's engrossing and brutal with Duncan taking a beating and at one point flashing back to how he became a squire. This show gets better with each episode.
The final episode is the aftermath of the fight. There's plenty of blame to go around after the trial by seven. Then there's the question of whether Egg will squire for Duncan. Egg's father doesn't want that, and Duncan doesn't want to deal with anymore royalty. His conflict is that the realm needs more good men, and he knows he has a lot to teach and learn from Egg.
Short episodes and season with a focus on just one event provide this a focus another Game of Thrones spin-off desperately needed. Duncan is an honorable knight in a world where that isn't plentiful. It's his honor that creates conflict with Aerion, and that sets the course for the rest of the season. He's the knight of legends, though we wonder how. In this season we see one event that could dictate the future of his story. He opposed the Targaryens and lived to tell the tale of a trial by combat.
No comments :
Post a Comment