Get Yourself a Squire Who Looks at You the Way Egg Looks at Dunk: HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Premieres Tonight at 10pm ET

In a world scarred by dragons, thrones, and endless betrayals, sometimes the greatest stories aren’t about kings or conquerors—they’re about a giant of a man with a simple heart and the sharp-eyed boy who chooses to follow him. Tonight, January 19, 2026, as the clock strikes 10pm ET on HBO and HBO Max, Westeros opens a quieter, more intimate chapter with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This six-episode first season, premiering with “The Hedge Knight,” adapts George R.R. Martin’s beloved novella The Hedge Knight, the first in his Tales of Dunk and Egg series. Far from the sweeping wars of Game of Thrones or the fiery politics of House of the Dragon, this prequel set roughly 90 years before the main series delivers something rarer: genuine warmth, humor, honor, and the unbreakable bond between an unlikely knight and his even unlikelier squire.

The tagline couldn’t be more perfect for fans craving a different flavor of Westeros: “Get yourself a squire who looks at you the way Egg looks at Dunk.” It’s a meme that’s already flooding social media, capturing the pure, wide-eyed admiration that young Aegon Targaryen—known simply as Egg—directs at Ser Duncan the Tall. In a franchise often defined by cynicism, betrayal, and grimdark realism, this dynamic feels like a breath of fresh air. Egg doesn’t just serve Dunk; he idolizes him, believes in him, challenges him, and stands by him through every foolish decision and heroic impulse. Their relationship isn’t built on power or manipulation—it’s built on mutual respect, shared hardship, and the quiet promise that someone out there sees you as better than you see yourself.

Peter Claffey embodies Ser Duncan the Tall, or Dunk, with towering physicality and surprising vulnerability. Standing at an imposing height, Dunk is a hedge knight: no lands, no lord, no fancy armor—just a sword, a horse, and a code of honor that’s as stubborn as it is naive. Claffey, an Irish actor with a background in rugby and modeling, brings a raw authenticity to the role. Dunk isn’t a polished warrior like Jaime Lannister or a brooding anti-hero like Jon Snow; he’s a former Flea Bottom street fighter who stumbled into knighthood after his mentor’s death. His size makes him intimidating, but his gentle eyes and awkward kindness reveal a man who’s more comfortable protecting the weak than claiming glory. In early episodes, Claffey’s performance shines in small moments: the way Dunk hesitates before accepting Egg as squire, the quiet pride when he teaches the boy to swing a sword, the flash of panic when danger threatens his young charge.

Opposite him, Dexter Sol Ansell delivers a breakout performance as Egg. Shaved head, sharp tongue, and an intellect far beyond his years, Egg is no ordinary stable boy. Ansell, a young British actor with credits in independent films, captures the character’s blend of mischief, loyalty, and hidden depth. Egg’s gaze at Dunk isn’t mere hero worship—it’s recognition. In a world where nobility is often synonymous with cruelty, Dunk represents something Egg craves: genuine goodness. Their banter crackles with humor—Egg’s dry wit cutting through Dunk’s earnestness like a well-placed dagger. Yet beneath the comedy lies profound emotion. Egg looks at Dunk the way we all wish someone would look at us: with unwavering faith, even when we doubt ourselves.

The story begins simply. Dunk, fresh from burying his old master Ser Arlan of Pennytree, travels to the tourney at Ashford Meadow hoping to win a place in a lord’s service. Along the way, he encounters Egg, a runaway stable boy insistent on becoming his squire. Dunk reluctantly agrees, and their journey spirals into intrigue when Dunk defends a young woman from assault, earning the ire of powerful lords. What starts as a personal quest for honor escalates into a tournament fraught with danger, where old grudges, family secrets, and the shadow of the Targaryen dynasty loom large.

Adapted faithfully yet expanded for television, the season explores themes of class, identity, and what it truly means to be noble. Dunk, a commoner knighted by circumstance, clashes with blue-blooded knights who view him as an upstart. Egg, secretly a prince in disguise (Aegon V Targaryen, future king known as “the Unlikely”), hides his royal blood while learning the value of humility from a man who has none of the privileges he was born with. Their partnership becomes a microcosm of Westeros itself: the highborn and the lowborn, the mighty and the meek, finding common ground in shared trials.

Supporting cast members elevate every scene. Daniel Ings brings sly charm to a key knightly rival, while Shaun Thomas adds grit to the ensemble. George R.R. Martin himself serves as co-creator and executive producer, ensuring the spirit of his novellas remains intact. Showrunner Ira Parker and directors like Owen Harris and Sarah Adina Smith craft a visual style that’s grounded and intimate—lush forests, muddy roads, roaring tourney crowds—without the overwhelming spectacle of prior series. Practical effects dominate: real jousts with heavy lances, authentic medieval combat choreography, and costumes that feel lived-in rather than pristine.

The trailers have teased heart-pounding action: Dunk charging into melees with brute force, Egg dodging through crowds with clever agility, and tense confrontations in torch-lit tents where words cut deeper than swords. Yet the show’s true power lies in quieter beats—the campfire conversations where Dunk teaches Egg about justice, or the moments Egg defends his knight’s honor with fierce loyalty. In one memorable line from the books (and echoed in promos), Egg declares, “I’m your squire. It’s my place to worry.” That devotion, that simple act of choosing to stand beside someone, resonates in a franchise often dominated by isolation and treachery.

For longtime fans, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers Easter eggs and foreshadowing. Dunk and Egg’s adventures connect directly to the main A Song of Ice and Fire saga—Egg grows up to become King Aegon V, whose reign influences the Targaryen decline leading to Robert’s Rebellion. References to Blackfyre rebellions, ancient houses, and prophecies hint at larger forces, but the focus stays personal. This is a story about two wanderers finding purpose in each other, not about iron thrones or white walkers.

Critics and early viewers have praised the shift in tone. Where Game of Thrones grew increasingly dark, this series injects hope and humor without sacrificing Martin’s signature complexity. The friendship between Dunk and Egg feels earned, organic, and deeply moving. It’s the kind of bond that reminds us why we fell in love with Westeros in the first place—not for the violence, but for the humanity beneath it.

As episode one airs tonight, the Continent welcomes a new legend. Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg aren’t destined for crowns or conquests; their legacy is quieter, truer. They remind us that heroism isn’t always about winning—sometimes it’s about having someone believe in you enough to follow you into the fray.

So tune in at 10pm ET on HBO and HBO Max. Pour a horn of ale, settle in, and witness the birth of one of fantasy’s most endearing duos. Because in a world full of Lannisters and Targaryens scheming for power, there’s something revolutionary about a hedge knight and his squire simply trying to do right.

Get yourself a squire who looks at you the way Egg looks at Dunk.

The hedge knight rides tonight.