New Game Of Thrones Spinoff Showrunner Reveals The Book Change That Is A “Mistake… I Stupidly Left Out Of The Scene”

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Peter Claffey as Dunk on his horse in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1

Published Feb 11, 2026, 6:51 PM EST

Matthew Rudoy is one of ScreenRant's Movie & TV News Editors. He covers the latest in movie & TV news, with a focus on major franchises like Star Wars, The Boys, and Game of Thrones. He wrote lists for ScreenRant from 2017-2022, became a news writer in 2023, a senior staff writer in 2024, and an editor in 2025.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner Ira Parker admits that one book change in season 1 was a "mistake."

Based on George R.R. Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, critics' reviews for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have been stellar, leading to a "Certified Fresh" 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While audiences are more divided, as indicated by a 73% score, the series has received a great deal of praise for being faithful to the source material, which kicks off the adventures of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).

Given this faithfulness, during a Reddit AMA, Parker was asked about the decision not to include the moment from The Hedge Knight where the common folk are cheering for Dunk before his Trial of Seven, and he asks the blacksmith, Steely Pate, "What am I to them?" Steely Pate's reply is "A knight who remembered his vows." Parker explains that this moment was in the script at one point before it "fell out." He regrets the omission but believes the heart of the original scene remains in the adaptation. Check out his response below:

Honestly it was a mistake on my part. Not my first not my last on this show. That scene was in the script at one point, then fell out. I agree that "a knight who remembers his vows" is the soul of this story, but I think that is still very much at the core of the show, even if I stupidly left out this scene... it may not be said explicitly, but Dunk's actions remain the same.

Most of the comments in response to Parker's answer in the AMA express their appreciation for his refreshingly honest remarks, along with those who are unbothered by the change, including one who says, "the soul of the story is absolutely in the show." Despite the missing exchange from the novella, the series shows instead of tells the fact that Dunk is a knight who remembers his vows.

This is made clear in the way Dunk saves the innocent Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) from Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) during A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3's ending. It is further cemented at the end of episode 4 when Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) doesn't fight with his own family, but instead chooses Dunk because the hedge knight is abiding by his vows while Aerion and others at Ashford are only helping themselves.

Dunk's stirring speech in episode 4 about the other lords and knights having forgotten their vows also communicates what Steely Pate tells him in the book. Between the episode's 9.7 rating on IMDb and many celebrating Dunk's speech and Baelor's decision on social media, the message of Dunk's story appears to be resonating strongly with the majority of the audience, regardless of the changes.

The Game of Thrones spinoff is confirmed to be continuing, with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 renewed before season 1 premiered on HBO and HBO Max. Season 2 adapts the novella The Sworn Sword, and while Parker is honest about more "mistakes" being inevitable, he has also endeared himself to fans and found a wide-ranging audience that is deeply invested in the show.

The final two episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 will be released on HBO and HBO Max on February 15 and 22 at 10 p.m. ET.