Another Game of Thrones prequel is here, but it's not what you think it is.

Within the first five minutes of the new buzzy HBO show A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, I knew this show was nothing like what I expected.

The latest expansion of George R.R. Martin's vast world of Westeros is set roughly 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones.

The plot revolves around Ser Duncan the Tall (aka Dunk), a courageous but naive hedge knight, and his diminutive, sharp-witted child orphan squire, Egg.

From the outset, the show's creators give a playful wink-wink to the audience. The iconic GoT theme music begins to play before immediately cutting out and showing Dunk literally taking an explosive sh*t all over what diehard fans might expect from this show.

This ain't a GoT carbon copy. This show is the crude, gross, inappropriate cousin of Game of Thrones — but it's also way more fun.

Far removed from the political tension that simmers under the surface of GoT and other prequel, House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a stripped-back, far simpler narrative.

Watch the trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms here. Post continues after video.

The narrative focuses on the duo's journey to a tournament at Ashford Meadow where they encounter various Targaryen princes and other Westeros oddballs.

Basically, imagine Heath Ledger's medieval rom-com, A Knight's Tale, but no one has bathed or seen the sun in decades. In Ledger's stylish shoes is former rugby player Peter Claffey as the towering Dunk, who acts opposite young actor, Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg.

The cast is rounded out by Bertie Carvel as Baelor Breakspear, Finn Bennett as the cruel Aerion Targaryen, and Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen.

The series is based on Martin's popular novellas, collectively known as The Tales of Dunk and Egg, with the first season specifically adapting The Hedge Knight. George R.R. Martin is heavily involved as a co-creator and executive producer, working closely with showrunner, Ira Parker, to ensure the adaptation stays true to his material.

This is something of a passion project of Martin, as it's been in development and production for roughly five years, having first been announced by HBO back in 2021.

Martin himself praised the adaptation for its accuracy, and fans of the novellas won't be disappointed with how closely it follows The Hedge Knight.

The revered author's passion bleeds through every scene of this six-part series. The show is, above all, a story with a lot of soul.

The beating heart of the show is the chemistry between Peter Claffey (Dunk) and Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg), who nail the chalk-cheese dynamic and make for one of the most endearing duos in Westeros history.

Image: HBO Max.

Despite being a relative newcomer to acting, Claffey truly shines in this role, and by sharing the screen with Ansell, their natural chemistry keeps the audience engaged even during the show's most low-stakes drama.

That said, the show does focus a whole lot on this lovable duo, rendering some of the smaller parts — especially some of the women — as coming across as underwritten and not fully fleshed out as characters.

Fans of the often grim Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon could be in for a surprise with this series, which is drastically different in tone.

This series leans heavily into humour, almost feeling like something of a buddy comedy at times. GoT fans who enjoyed some of the travelling episodes with Arya and Brienne riding through the Seven Kingdoms will be especially drawn to this prequel.

By filming on-location in Northern Ireland, the show has a tactile and grounded feel.

But the show's pros could be its cons for some who hoped for another series stacked with CGI-heavy backdrops, massive war scenes and sweeping dragons.

Sorry folks, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a world away from that side of Westeros. In its place is a truly charming little story that makes space for much more character development while championing the ultimate underdog.

By the end of Game of Thrones, every episode that aired in the prestige HBO slot felt like a harrowing mini-movie. In contrast, these six episodes feel like a breezy 40-minute comedy.

Don't worry, it'll still scratch your GoT itch, but it's a far more accessible and comforting watch than anything that's come from Martin's mind so far.

Feature image: HBO Max.