The new prequel series in the Game of Thrones universe, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, premieres on Monday, January 19, 2026, on HBO Max with six episodes adapting George R. R. Martin's The Hedge Knight. Set approximately a century before the events of the main saga, it features a Westeros where dragons no longer exist, but House Targaryen still occupies the Iron Throne.
Bertie Carvel's Reflections
In statements collected by Europa Press, Bertie Carvel, who plays the heir apparent Baelor Targaryen, touched upon the state of the dynasty featured in the series. "The dynasty is on its last legs," he stated, drawing a parallel with the current political situation in the United States and the campaign strategies of its leaders.
According to Carvel, this comparison reflects how a powerful family faces its decline and the tensions of power in a complex moment, a theme that, according to him, also resonates with contemporary reality.
A Different Approach to the World of Westeros
Although the plot includes great houses and their position in the Seven Kingdoms, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms does not focus solely on the traditional power struggle, but also on the coming-of-age story of the young knight Dunk, who wishes to become an honorable and effective knight. Carvel described that combination of honor and idealism as one of the elements that make this prequel unique within the Game of Thrones universe: "Baelor is a prince with a lot of weight on his shoulders, but also vulnerable. He is not a classic hero; he struggles to maintain his family's honor as problems multiply around him." He also highlighted the relevance of the political elements in the story: "The series shows how the decisions of a few can affect an entire kingdom, and how ambition and secrets shape the history of the most powerful houses."
For his part, Sam Spruell, who plays Maekar Targaryen in the series, highlights that one of the central themes of the fiction is how power can corrupt those who hold it. According to his statements, this element manifests in the narrative when the hedge knight, Dunk, represents a "refreshingly simple and direct" worldview, in contrast to those who are too immersed in the intrigues and ambitions of power. For Spruell, Dunk functions not only as the protagonist, but as "a reminder to everyone of why they are there and what they should be doing in life," while he "learns about the darker side of this world," recognizing that in life there isn't always a direct relationship between virtuous actions and expected outcomes.