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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Ira Parker, the showrunner for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has acknowledged that a change made to the story in the first season was an error in judgment.

The new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on George R.R. Martin’s story The Hedge Knight, has been very well-received by critics, earning a 95% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers seem a bit more split, giving it a 73% score, but overall the show is praised for staying true to the original story and introducing the characters of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).

During a Reddit Q&A, someone asked George R.R. Martin’s writing partner, Sara Catriona Collins, why a scene from The Hedge Knight didn’t make it into the show. The scene shows commoners cheering for Dunk before his Trial of Seven, and Dunk asking the blacksmith, Steely Pate, “What am I to them?” Steely Pate responds, “A knight who remembered his vows.” Collins explained the scene was originally in the script but was ultimately cut. She expressed regret over leaving it out, but feels the scene’s core message is still present in the adaptation. You can find her full answer below.

I made a mistake, and it wasn’t the first or last on this show. That scene was originally in the script, but we ended up cutting it. I agree that the idea of a knight upholding his promises is central to the story, and I believe that still comes through, even though I accidentally omitted this scene. It might not be stated directly, but Dunk’s behavior still reflects that core principle.

Many people responding to Parker’s comments in the AMA praised his honesty, and some weren’t worried about the changes made from the original story. One commenter even said the show still captures the heart of the tale. Although a scene was left out of the adaptation, the series effectively shows Dunk’s dedication to his knightly oaths rather than simply stating it.

Dunk’s honorable nature is evident when he rescues Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) from Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) in the final moments of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3. This is reinforced at the end of episode 4 when Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) sides with Dunk instead of his own family, recognizing that Dunk is acting with integrity while others at Ashford are only looking out for themselves.

Dunk’s powerful speech in episode 4, where he reminds the other lords and knights of their promises, echoes a conversation he has with Steely Pate in the book. With the episode receiving a 9.7 rating on IMDb and fans praising both Dunk’s speech and Baelor’s choice online, it’s clear that the core message of the story is connecting with viewers, even with some differences from the source material.

The Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been renewed for a second season even before the first season finished airing on HBO and HBO Max. The second season will be based on the story The Sworn Sword. While the show’s creator admits there will likely be some issues along the way, he’s connected with viewers and built a dedicated fanbase.

The last two episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ first season will premiere on HBO and stream on HBO Max on February 15th and 22nd at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.

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2026-02-12 02:52