Why A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS Didn’t Use the Books’ Original Title
When HBO adapts a George R.R. Martin story, the title usually sticks pretty close to the source material. Game of Thrones came straight from A Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon made it clear we were diving into Targaryen history.
So when it came time to bring the beloved Dunk and Egg novellas to the screen, you’d think the obvious move would’ve been to call the show… Dunk & Egg.
Not so fast.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, but the series almost had a very different name. And according to showrunner Ira Parker, the decision to change it came from the man himself.
“Early on, George was like, ‘Just don’t call it Dunk & Egg—it sounds like Laverne & Shirley. It sounds like a sitcom,'” Parker revealed to Variety.
Dunk & Egg does have a buddy-comedy ring to it. Parker was on board with changing it. He assured Martin that landing on something new would be “absolutely fine.” Still, as the series neared completion, he had a moment of doubt.
“When we were putting the final touches in the post-production process, I did sort of waver a little bit. I said, ‘Everyone’s just gonna call it Dunk & Egg, so why don’t we call it that?'”
It’s a fair point. Fans have been using “Dunk and Egg” for years. It’s catchy. It’s familiar. It rolls off the tongue. But cooler heads prevailed.
“Then I was talked down by my assistant that it wasn’t a wise idea. And I agree. It’s nice to see a show called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and come there to find out that it is just a little lighter and has some fun, rather than setting people up with Dunk & Egg and you sort of know what you’re gonna get.”
That’s where things get interesting. The title A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms carries weight. It sounds epic, sweeping, and prestigious. But the actual story of Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire Egg has a different vibe than the political chaos of Game of Thrones or the fiery drama of House of the Dragon. It’s smaller in scale, more personal, filled with heart, and fun humor.
Parker also spoke about a cheeky moment in the season finale that nods to one of Westeros’ technicalities. As longtime readers know, Egg points out that there are actually nine kingdoms at that point in history, not seven. The show leans into that, with on-screen titles temporarily shifting the name in the final moments.
“That’s maybe me getting a little too jokey,” Parker said. “People may hate it or crucify me for that, but there’s a bit of a lighter touch to these shows … I like it.
“Enough of the wonderful creatives that I worked with liked it, too. It came from an honest place. It’s all true. It’s nine kingdoms at that point. We want to make Westeros a fun place to hang out, even when terrible, terrible things are happening and everyone’s sad, just like real life … even in a bad spot, Dunk and Egg are still Dunk and Egg again.”
Even when the world around them is falling apart, Dunk and Egg bring a different energy to the Seven Kingdoms. Their adventures aren’t about who’s clawing for the Iron Throne. They’re about honor, loyalty, friendship, and occasionally getting in way over your head.