A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms introduces Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Caffery), who is no stranger to sharp-eyed and eared fans of Game of Thrones. The newest Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is executive-produced by Ira Parker and George R.R. Martin and premieres January 18, 2026 on HBO Max.
In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Ser Duncan the Tall is a hedge knight sworn to no great house who ekes out a meager existence in Westeros. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 centers on Ser Duncan trying to improve his fortunes at a tournament at Ashford Meadow.
Ser Duncan meets a young bald boy named Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), who becomes his squire and loyal friend. Dunk and Egg star in three novellas penned by George R.R. Martin, The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight, which the first three seasons of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms plans to adapt.
When A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Ser Duncan The Tall Was Mentioned In Game Of Thrones
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Game of Thrones takes place about 90 years after A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Ser Duncan the Tall has already faded into legend by the start of Game of Thrones season 1, but the hedge knight-turned-Lord Commander of the Kingsguard is name-dropped throughout the series.
The first time Ser Duncan the Tall is mentioned by name is in Game of Thrones season 1, episode 3, “Lord Snow,” when Old Nan (Margaret John) offers to tell the injured Bran Stark (Isaac Hemstead-Wright) a story about Ser Duncan, who she says was Bran’s favorite.
The second time Ser Duncan the Tall is referenced is in Game of Thrones season 4, episode 1, “Two Swords,” when King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) flips through the Book of Brothers to taunt Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) about the blank pages in his entry.
The Book of Brothers is the tome kept by the Lord Commanders of the Kingsguard. Joffrey seeing Ser Duncan the Tall’s entry is the first time Game of Thrones delivered the context that Ser Duncan was Lord Commander.
In Game of Thrones season 8, episode 2, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” Jaime Lannister knights Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), bidding her to rise as a knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
In Game of Thrones’ series finale, “The Iron Throne,” Brienne of Tarth updates Jaime Lannister’s entry in the Book of Brothers and flips through the pages about Ser Duncan the Tall.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Egg Is Also Mentioned In Game Of Thrones
Egg was also mentioned once in Game of Thrones, by Maester Aemon (Peter Vaughan). When the 100-year-old Maester of the Night’s Watch was on his deathbed in Game of Thrones season 5, episode 7, “The Gift,” Aemon yelled out, “Egg!”
Game of Thrones revealed Maester Aemon was Aemon Targaryen, and he was a boy during the time of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas reveal how Aemon is related to Egg, and it’s a pivotal part of Egg’s story in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdom’s Trailer Shows A Different Side Of Westeros
A Knight of the Seven Kingdom’s shows Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg in areas of Westeros not often seen in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. The previous Game of Thrones series largely focused on the major locales of Westeros, like Winterfell, Dragonstone, and King’s Landing.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms goes to new and unexplored corners of Westeros.
Ser Duncan the Tall’s adventures with Egg shy away from the great castles of Westeros in favor of the day-to-day troubles and hopes of a hedge knight.
Powerful members of the Targaryen and Baratheon families cross paths with Dunk and Egg, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms goes to new and unexplored corners of Westeros.
Why Ser Duncan The Tall Is So Important In Game Of Thrones History
As A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will depict, Ser Duncan the Tall is, despite his size, an everyman in the Game of Thrones universe. Born into poverty in Flea Bottom, Duncan is not particularly bright, nor was much expected of him, but he has a good heart and believes in the principles of knighthood.
Ser Duncan the Tall proves to be a survivor who experiences great setbacks but also good fortune. Game of Thrones already established that Ser Duncan achieved the highest honor of a knight of the Seven Kingdoms by rising to become Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
The story of Ser Duncan is one of perseverance and maintaining one’s honor.
The story of Ser Duncan is one of perseverance and maintaining one’s honor in the face of treachery, deceit, and the machinations of the evil men of Westeros. Duncan also makes loyal friends and powerful allies, with Egg proving to be the most pivotal despite friction when their friendship begins.
The three George R.R. Martin novellas that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will adapt don’t end with Ser Duncan’s ultimate destiny, but if HBO’s series lasts multiple seasons, Ser Duncan’s overarching story proves a good man can triumph in Westeros.
