On Screen: “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Set almost a century before HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and almost a century after “House of the Dragon,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is a light-hearted glimpse into the medieval fantasy world of Westeros.
Based on “The Hedge Knight” novella by George R.R. Martin, this often humorous spinoff revolves around 6-foot-6 inches tall Duncan (Peter Claffey), a naïve, aspiring Knight, who is first seen dutifully burying his aged mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytrue (Danny Webb) — then relieving himself behind a tree.
Awkward, impoverished Duncan the Tall — known as Dunk — fancies himself a ‘Hedge Knight,’ traveling the countryside, sleeping under the stars. In feudal terms, he’s an itinerant knight errant, meaning he has no inherited title or land.
On his way to a jousting tournament in Ashford, he picks up a bright, ambitious, bald-headed nine-year-old lad named Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), who is determined to be his Squire as Dunk tries to establish himself among the ancestral families, including the Targaryans, who currently occupy the Iron Throne.
“Every Knight needs a Squire,” observes Egg. “You look like you need one more than most.”
Soon we’re introduced to Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), debauched Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), imperious Prince Maekar (Sam Spruell), engaging Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas) and villainous Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), but the only apparent dragon is a puppet and there’s still no mention of the threat posed by the White Walkers.
According to showrunner Ira Parker, who created the show with Martin, the introductory season consists of six approximately 40-minute episodes — and it’s already been renewed for a second season. Both leading actors are ‘finds’ — 246 lb. Claffey was an Irish rugby player who did bit parts in Netflix’s “Vikings Valhalla” while Ansell’s only acting experience was on a British soap opera.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is a scrappy 7, streaming on HBO.
Susan Granger is a product of Hollywood. Her natural father, S. Sylvan Simon, was a director and producer at M.G.M. and Columbia Pictures. Her adoptive father, Armand Deutsch, produced movies at M.G.M.
As a child, Susan appeared in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Margaret O’Brien, and Lassie. She attended Mills College in California, studying journalism with Pierre Salinger, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism.