A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Thrilling Jousting & Immersive Combat

Warning! Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2 ahead!

House of the Dragon may have intense dragon battles, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has managed to raise the bar through much simpler means. Of course, all of this builds on the violent reputation of Game of Thrones, which featured high-intensity fantasy battles on a large scale. We had the Battle of the Blackwater, Battle of the Bastards, and the Sack of King's Landing, among others, each of which was spectacular. When Game of Thrones came to an end, audiences were eager to see more dragons in action, and House of the Dragon didn't disappoint.

Throughout Game of Thrones, we heard all about the absolute devastation caused as dragon faced dragon on the battlefield. House of the Dragon, set during the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, has delivered in every way, and we continue to look forward to the spectacle of each new season. In the meantime, however, we have the most recent Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms​​​​​. There are no dragons, but the show is far from boring.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' Jousting Is Absolutely Thrilling

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, so there are no dragons in Westeros during this time. Additionally, there are no challengers for the Iron Throne (mostly), so we won't get any of those massive-scale battles. Instead, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 revolves entirely around those Westeros tournaments we've heard so much about, where the central spectacle is the joust.

Episode 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 came with the official start of the Tourney at Ashford Valley, which will be the first that Ser Dunken the Tall participates in. The opening event saw around 10 knights meet in the lists at the same time, all while a massive crowd of spectators cheered on the violence.

Jousts were never the center of attention in Game of Thrones, so there was nothing particularly exciting about these events. However, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms went all out with meticulously thought-out cinematography and special effects. Between knights biting off fish heads and throwing them into the crowd, or horses stampeding toward fallen jousters, it was tough to keep from inching toward the edge of our seats.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' Combat Connects Easily With Modern Viewers

Something that stood out about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' jousting is that it felt a lot like watching a modern (albeit more intense) sporting event. It's similar to the approach of the 2001 movie A Knight's Tale, which paired a medieval adventure with contemporary music and character behavior. These projects allow viewers to connect with this ancient sport, adding another layer of intense entertainment through a more immersive experience.

As exciting as fantasy battles and dragon matches are, they are, by nature, unrelatable to modern viewers. It's part of the appeal of fantasy. However, there's something to be said about drawing parallels between a fantastical world and the experiences of the modern age. It creates a uniquely exciting experience. Since A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows such an endearingly simple protagonist, there could have been no better approach.

Release Date January 25, 2026

Network HBO

Showrunner Ira Parker

Directors Owen Harris

Writers George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker

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  Peter Claffey

  Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall

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