A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the latest Game of Thrones spinoff, and some critics are saying it’s on a par with the early seasons of the original.
Part of what’s made the series so great has been its realism, with the horses, costumes, and settings immersing viewers in mediaeval times.
Another highlight of the series has been the acting. The HBO title features a few familiar faces from London’s West End, who were all in exceptional form.
Realistic horse combat arguably the biggest draw of the series
Many commenters have been quick to point out that the show’s realism is one of its key strengths.
Although A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a fantasy, it draws a lot of inspiration from mediaeval England, and depicts what life would have been like in those days.
Horses are particularly popular in today’s entertainment industry, with games like the Big Racing slot giving players a different way to enjoy horse racing on the reels.
There have also been various horse-themed series such as Rivals, which have attracted a lot of viewers. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms uses horses in a different way, and this is a huge draw for viewers.
Along with featuring horses in a day-to-day scenario, the new Game of Thrones spinoff shows jousting tournaments.
Viewers get to see the noble steeds adorned in fine armour, as they charge at their opponents. Even though this was a popular form of entertainment hundreds of years ago, it was only shown a couple of times in Game of Thrones.
This greater focus in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was welcome, and it provided some of the best scenes in the series.
Series included incredible performances from some famous West End faces
To ensure that viewers get completely lost in the ancient world of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it required HBO to cast some excellent actors in key roles. One of the highlights of the series is Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen.
The actor is best-known for playing Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical on the West End, and his turn in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a far cry from that. He plays one of the most honourable characters in Westeros, and arguably delivers the greatest moment of the series in episode 4.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms features another West End legend in Daniel Ings, who spent the early years of his career putting in some amazing stage performances in the capital.
In the series, he plays Lyonel Baratheon and adds some hilarious comic moments. There’s also Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar, who many Londoners will have seen in plays like Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been a success not just because it expands the world of Game of Thrones, but because it completely absorbs viewers in Westeros.
This is done through incredible horse action and costumes, as well as some amazing performances from the cast.
Featured image: Kilyan Sockalingum on Unsplash
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