A prequel to what some consider the ‘best show ever made’ is set to premiere on HBO soon, making this a perfect time to revisit the original series.
The year 2026 promises to be significant not only for cinema but also for television. Series such as Euphoria, The Pitt, and Bridgerton are all slated to return with new seasons, offering plenty of entertainment throughout the year.
Continuing the success of a highly acclaimed TV series is a challenging endeavor. Yet, seven years after its conclusion, HBO is ready to take on the challenge.
The show often referred to as the ‘best show ever made’ is none other than Game of Thrones, the renowned fantasy drama developed by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books.
The narrative unfolds on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, focusing on the struggle among noble families for control of the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms.
Airing on HBO for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019, the show significantly boosted the profiles of actors like Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, and Maisie Williams. It emerged as one of the most influential and widely viewed TV shows of the 2010s, garnering an impressive 59 Emmy Awards.
Fans have given it a 9.2 rating on IMDB, with many describing the initial seasons as ‘practically perfect’.
While some viewers hailed it as the ‘best TV show ever made,’ others were less enthusiastic due to its controversial final season, which some labeled ‘disappointing’.
Since the conclusion of GOT, HBO has continued to explore the world of Westeros with House of the Dragon, a series set 200 years prior to the original, chronicling the Targaryen civil war known as the ‘Dance of the Dragons,’ featuring Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and her half-brother, Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).
This month, before the third season of HOTD is released later in the year, another eight-part GOT prequel will premiere, with HBO once again in charge of broadcasting.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is drawn from George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas.
Set approximately 90 years before GOT and 80 years after HOTD, still in Westeros, the series centers on the adventures of a humble hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), and his young squire, Prince Aegon Targaryen, also known as Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), long before Egg becomes King Aegon V on the Iron Throne.
As they journey across the Seven Kingdoms, they confront the harsh realities of medieval life.
Viewers can expect a more wholesome tale compared to the original series, with notably fewer dragons and explicit content.
Months before its premiere, in November, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms received approval for a second season, anticipated for release in 2027.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts on HBO on Sunday, January 18.
All eight seasons of Game of Thrones are currently available for streaming on HBO.