When you have as rich a history as the world of Westeros does in George R.R. Martin’s unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire saga, and you have a hit television series adapting the novels, obviously, there is room for exploitation and brand extension. HBO and HBO Max have fulfilled a desire to see more of this world, first with House of the Dragon (the third season begins next week) and now the Dunk and Egg novellas.
For those unfamiliar, Martin penned three novellas featuring Ser Duncan the Tall and Prince Aegon Targaryen (nicknamed Egg for his bald head), which appeared in various anthologies between 1998 and 2010 with promises of more to come. These stories feature familiar landscapes and characters, as they are set about 90 years before the events of A Game of Thrones.
The six-part first season debuted on January 18, and a second season is in production, expected next year. Warner Home Entertainment is releasing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Complete First Season tomorrow in Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD. These adapt the first novella, The Hedge Knight, and reintroduce us to the world as we focus on Dunk (Peter Claffey), an earnest knight now operating after Ser Arlan of Pennytree, his mentor, died. Along the way, he is followed by Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), trying to have a life before the family’s expectations chain him to court.
While GOT deals with rival families and ruling Westeros, the goals here are far more modest and attainable. With the Targaryen’s firmly ruling, we focus instead on Dunk, who wants a sponsor so he can compete in a local tourney and prove himself. He needs better gear, a place to sleep, and asks little of the world.
He is surrounded by various levels from street urchins to princes, but it’s all from Dunk’s ground-level view of life. It’s refreshing in its simplicity (and certainly far easier to follow). Each short episode (none last more than 45 minutes) advances those goals as many come to recognize the purity of Dunk’s spirit, despite his inexperience in courtly manners or intrigue.
While the series is populated with interesting supporting players, it works because of the chemistry between Dunk and Egg. Despite their differing sizes and ages, they form an undeniable rapport.
The 4K t2160p transfer retains the grounded, tactile verisimilitude of the Game of Thrones universe, making practical sets and outdoor locations pop with excellent HDR contrast and deep blacks. The release includes an immersive Dolby Atmos audio track that brings the clashing of tourney lances and the ambient sounds of the medieval environments to life.
Unlike some HBO releases, the Special Features go beyond the extras found on the streaming service. As a result, there is more to enjoy, and these include:
- Building A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Welcome to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Extended)
- A Knight in the Making documentary series
- Ashford Meadow Set Tour
- Blooper reel and character spotlights
English (US) · 