“Mission successful”: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner opens up about George R. R. Martin’s praise for the show

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiered on HBO Max on January 18, 2026, and so far, it has been winning hearts. The show follows the adventures of Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight and Egg, his squire. So far, the show has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% and been praised for its comedy, well-written characters, and for the way it connects to the characters and houses Game of Thrones through subtle details.

Moreover, the show and showrunner Ira Parker have recently received the medal of approval from George R. R. Martin, which shows that the author is actually pleased with this adaptation. Speaking with Esquire, Ira Parker opened up about Martin's praise for the show.

Ira Parker on George R. R. Martin praising A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the second spin-off of Game of Thrones, and the first spin-off, House of the Dragon isn't going the way Martin wanted. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Martin has recently spoken about his creative differences with House of the Dragon showrunner, Ryan Condal, and how his relationship with Condal is currently

"abysmal"

While Martin is still working with Condal for House of the Dragon Season 3, he doesn't feel the show is his story anymore. But he is much happier with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, as he praised it on his blog, saying,

“I’ve seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well."

Martin also said,

"This one ranks as one of the best stories I’ve ever written, and I am so so so pleased that Ira Parker, Ti Mikkel, Aziza Barnes (may they rest in peace), Owen Harris, and our astonishing cast and crew did right by them."

Parker has evidently been on the same page as Martin regarding A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and speaking to Esquire, he opened up about the show getting praised by Martin. He said,

"In my early conversations with him, it was clear how close he was to this material, and how much he loves the stories and these characters. I made it my mission to make him happy this season. So, the fact that that is the case? Mission successful. I hope everyone else likes it too. But yes, this one was written for him. It's been a good working relationship, and he's been very helpful through this process. So, I'm glad he likes it."

It is great to know that Parker has understood how much Martin's stories mean to him, and has adapted the stories of Dunk and Egg as accurately as possible. It is also a relief to the fans that the show is in the hands of someone who is deeply devoted to sticking to the source material.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3, The Squire will be released on HBO Max on February 1, 2026. The released episodes of the show are streaming on HBO Max.

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