Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is earning mixed but surprisingly solid early reviews.
A new journey into Westeros is underway as critics weigh in on HBO’s latest Game of Thrones spinoff.
Early reactions suggest a familiar world approached from a noticeably different angle.
With its premiere just days away, the series is already stirring debate about how well it lives up to its predecessors.
Early verdict
Ahead of its January 18 debut, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has launched with an 82% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 33 reviews.
The rating is expected to shift as more critics publish their assessments.
The series adapts George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, following hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg, on a series of adventures across the Seven Kingdoms.
While the score marks a positive start, it is the lowest debut rating for a Game of Thrones spinoff so far. House of the Dragon previously earned 90% for its first season and 84% for its second.
How it compares
Within the broader franchise, the only season to score lower remains Game of Thrones season eight, which holds a 55% critics’ rating. Every other season of the original series sits at 90% or higher.
This context places A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in a middle ground: weaker than some recent entries, but far from a misfire.
Rotten Tomatoes has still awarded the series a “Certified Fresh” label.
At just two percentage points behind House of the Dragon season two, its standing could change quickly as reviews continue to roll in.
Praise and doubts
According to ScreenRant, reviewer Jordan Williams wrote that “Game of Thrones’ charm, heart, and humor have never been more enthralling,” calling it “Game of Thrones’ most endearing story and character study yet.” She awarded the season a 9/10.
Inverse critic Dais Johnston also highlighted the show’s restrained approach, describing it as “A small-scale story that brings to mind tales of medieval chivalry and Arthurian legends.”
Not all critics were convinced. Collider’s Therese Lacson gave the season a 5/10, writing that “it’s never been more evident that a good adaptation requires more than rigid adherence to the source material.”
USA Today’s Kelly Lawler was harsher, calling it “a pointless exercise in franchise-extension that scratches none of the original itches nor creates anything particularly exciting and new,” and rating it 1.5 out of 4.
What stands out
Despite differing opinions, reviewers largely agree on the strength of the cast. Performances from Peter Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg were frequently singled out, alongside Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon and portrayals of key Targaryen figures.
Critics also note that the show’s quieter, character-driven tone sets it apart from both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, a shift that some praise and others find limiting.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres January 18 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
Sources: Screenrant, Inverse, Rotten Tomatoe
