HBO returns to Westeros with ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ but one surprising absence raises eyebrows
After the massive success of 'House of the Dragon,' HBO recently debuted another 'Game of Thrones' spin-off, titled 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.' Based on George RR Martin's 'Tales of Dunk and Egg,' the premiere episode introduces the protagonist, Ser Duncan the Tall, known as Dunk (Peter Claffey), and his squire, Prince Aegon Targaryen, better known as Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). While the fantasy drama carries the classic charm of the 'Game of Thrones' franchise, there's one key element noticeably missing from the show, and we know exactly why.
Reportedly, 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' is the first 'Game of Thrones' series to feature no living dragons, with only puppet versions appearing onscreen. However, this absence ia not due to budget constraints but because it aligns with Westeros history, as all dragons are extinct during this period. Dragons won't return until 'Game of Thrones' Season 1, when Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) hatches them. The disappearance of dragons from the new show is also connected to the events of 'House of the Dragon,' which explores the brutal Targaryen civil war known as the 'Dance of the Dragons.'
The war proved catastrophic for the very creatures that defined Targaryen power. According to 'Fire and Blood,' there were around 20 dragons alive at the time of King Viserys I's death in 129 AC (After Aegon's Conquest), but by the end of the conflict in 131 AC, only four remained. Although historical records do not document the exact circumstances of their deaths, their absence from Westerosi history strongly implies that the surviving dragons eventually died out, leading to a long era in which dragons were believed extinct, until Daenerys' miraculous hatching in 'Game of Thrones.'
Notably, 'House of the Dragon' has already depicted several major dragon deaths, including Lucerys Velaryon and Arrax in Season 1 and Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) with Meleys in Season 2's Battle of Rook's Rest. Furthermore, many more losses came before the 'Dance of the Dragons' ended. As dragons vanished, so did their eggs, which eventually stopped hatching altogether. According to 'The Hedge Knight,' the novella that inspired 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,' the last surviving Targaryen dragon was weak and deformed and was seen in King's Landing shortly before its death in 153 AC.
According to reports, 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' follows HBO's weekly release model. The six-episode season kicks off on Sunday, January 18, with the premiere titled 'The Hedge Knight,' followed by 'Hard Salt Beef' on Sunday, January 25. Subsequent episodes will continue to roll out weekly, as per Town & Country. 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' is set about 75 years after 'House of the Dragon' and roughly 100 years before 'Game of Thrones,' with the first six episodes drawing from the first novella, 'The Hedge Knight.'
