HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is earning widespread acclaim from both critics and fans, with many hailing the latest episode as the series’ finest yet.
Episode 4, titled “Seven,” currently holds a 9.7 rating on IMDb, making it the show’s highest-rated episode and ranking it among the top episodes in the entire Game of Thrones franchise since Season 7’s “The Spoils of War.”
Fans have particularly praised the show’s faithful adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s source material. Yet, despite its success, the episode isn’t without its flaws. Showrunner Ira Parker recently acknowledged making a significant misstep in bringing the story to the screen, a rare admission from someone otherwise celebrated for their careful handling of the material.
During a recent Reddit AMA, one fan asked Parker about his decision to omit an exchange between Dunk (Peter Claffey) and the blacksmith Steely Pate (Youssef Kerkour) just before the trial-by-combat at the Ashford Meadow tourney in Martin's novella The Hedge Knight. When riding out to face judgment by the seven knights, Dunk is greeted by several smallfolk who step forward to bless him and wish him well.
Dunk, believing the crowd is there to just watch him die, is both surprised and moved by their warm wishes. But also confused, he asks Pate, “Why? What am I to them?” and Pate replies, “A knight who remembered his vows.”
As the Reddit commenter points out, this exchange is thought by many "to be the soul and the moral of the entire novella."
The fan explains, “The impact comes not just from the exchange itself, but its careful placement at Dunk’s lowest point, before he realizes any champions have answered his call … It’s an odd choice given how faithful you’ve otherwise been to the novella.”
As it turns out, Parker agrees with the sentiment, and openly acknowledges it "was a mistake on my part. Not my first, not my last on this show."
"That scene was in the script at one point, then fell out," Parker admitted. "I agree that 'a knight who remembers his vows' is the soul of this story, but I think that is still very much at the core of the show, even if I stupidly left out this scene... it may not be said explicitly, but Dunk's actions remain the same."
Given that Dunk demonstrates his commitment to his vows, it's understandable why the showrunner opted not to have a character spell it out for the audience. Still, considering how striking the line is and the show's generally sincere tone, including it could have worked just as well. Regardless of its omission, “Seven" stands out as one of the best episodes in the entire Game of Thrones series.
My only gripe is having to wait until Sunday to see how the trial-by-combat plays out. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother," will be released on February 15, 2026.