A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Season 1: Shorter Runtime Explained

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Compared to shows like House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a more compact story, with shorter episodes. This new HBO series, based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, is the third to be set in the world of Ice and Fire.

Set roughly between the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place during a more peaceful period in Westeros’ history. Because it’s a less complex time, the story itself is also more straightforward, which is likely why this ASOIAF series is shorter than others.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Season 1 Is Only Six Episodes

The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will have just six episodes, debuting on Sundays at 10 PM Eastern Time starting January 18, 2026. This is shorter than the usual ten episodes of Game of Thrones and the eight episodes of House of the Dragon. It’s the same length as the controversial eighth season of Game of Thrones, and many fans weren’t happy with that short season.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’ Episodes Are Shorter Than Other GOT Shows

Compared to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has fewer episodes, and each episode is also shorter. The first episode is just 42 minutes long, with subsequent episodes running between 31 and 37 minutes. It’s a pretty quick series to watch all the way through.

Why A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Season 1 & Its Shorter Episodes Make Sense

The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms being shorter is a good thing. It only covers one story, The Hedge Knight, which is the beginning of the Tales of Dunk and Egg series. Six episodes, each around 30 to 40 minutes long, feels like just the right amount.

Many shows try to stretch their stories too thin, but with just six episodes, we’ll get a complete story without it feeling unnecessarily drawn out. More shows should learn from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – sometimes, less is more.

Ira Parker, one of the show’s creators, initially expected it to have more episodes. He said, as a big fan of Game of Thrones and a writer on House of the Dragon, he’d assumed each season would consist of ten hour-long episodes (according to Collider).

Parker initially thought the new season would weave together stories from all the short novels. But he was happy to learn it would only be six episodes long.

I was really pleased when they decided on six half-hour episodes. It allows us to tell each story like a shorter novel, focusing on Dunk’s introduction to this world and building it up gradually. We can take our time, be more personal, and offer viewers a satisfying, immersive experience.

While it might not be as epic as Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms still delivers a satisfying story within its shorter timeframe.

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2026-01-18 19:18