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Carolyn Jenkins
Published Feb 2, 2026, 8:15 PM EST
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Carolyn Jenkins is a voracious consumer of film and television. She graduated from Long Island University with an MFA in Screenwriting and Producing where she learned the art of character, plot, and structure. The best teacher is absorbing media and she spends her time reading about different worlds from teen angst to the universe of Stephen King.
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In every way that matters, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the antithesis of Game of Thrones. The most recent spin-off of the George R.R. Martin universe trades a huge ensemble cast and multiple locales for a more intimate, humorous series. Though A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is only released in 30-minute increments, it is exactly what the brand needs. Game of Thrones threw in the towel on character-driven plot points, and the new series is a return to form.
The story of Dunk and Egg is heartfelt and breathes life into a franchise that has been on the air for over a decade. Episode 3, entitled “The Squire,” however, calls back to a feature that has appeared in every iteration of Game of Thrones since its first premiere. During the Ashford Tourney, the bond between Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Soll Ansell) grows stronger, as they wait for a time when the hedge knight can properly enter the lists. One of their adventures is surprisingly ominous, as the pair gets their fortunes told. Egg is particularly disturbed as the woman tells him, “You shall be king, and die in a hot fire, and worms shall feed upon your ashes, and all who know you shall rejoice in your passing.”
Dunk views the prediction like a jest, but Egg clearly takes it more seriously. The knight doesn’t know it, but Egg is none other than Aegon Targaryen, the fourth son of Prince Maekar. He eventually becomes known as “Aegon the Unlikely” because he is so low in the line of succession. However, the fortune teller is right, and he is eventually crowned, Aegon V. This scene doesn't appear in the novella, “The Hedge Knight,” but is an invention of the series. It is the rare prophecy that fans can take at face value, even if Game of Thrones doesn't have the best luck with it.
‘Game of Thrones’ Has Never Handled Prophecies Well
Prophecies have always shaped the world of Game of Thrones, whether they stuck the landing or not. The Prince Who Was Promised prophecy is the biggest indicator of this. The legend of Azor Ahai is barely touched on in the series, but it was theorized that when this figure was born again, it would be the flaming sword that brought The Long Night to an end. Game of Thrones became quite notorious for how it handled this storyline and was a big reason why fans turned against it when the series finale premiered. Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) may have been the one to kill the Night King, but there was no confirmation as to how this fit in with the prophecy. To add insult to injury, House of the Dragon doubled down on the prophecy of the Prince Who Was Promised.
Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) believes she has a rightful claim to the throne because she knows about Aegon’s dream of fending off the cold of The Long Night. This was a misstep for House of the Dragon because fans remember all too well that there is no satisfying conclusion to the prophecy. Game of Thrones even erased one of the more interesting prophecies about how Cersei’s (Lena Headey) demise would come about. It is foretold that she will lose all of her children, which does happen in the series, but the additional detail about Valonqar killing her was left out. Cersei believes that the Valonqar who will choke the life from her is Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), which is why she has been so paranoid about him for most of her life.
Volanqar translates to “little brother” in High Valyrian, which means Tyrion is a good contender. What she doesn’t consider is the fact that Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is also her little brother, as well, since he was born after her. It is likely that in the book series, Jaime will be the one to kill Cersei in the end, though the adaptation failed to follow through on this plot point.
Prophecies rarely come at face value, which is what makes them so fascinating to unravel. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms also presents a prophecy, but this one is fairly straightforward. There is no mystery about what the fortune teller tells Egg, as fans know this will all come to pass. Presenting a prophecy is tricky business, especially with how the Game of Thrones universe has fumbled them in the past. It also contradicts the tone that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms seems to be going for.
These short episodes are not about great houses or a fight for the Iron Throne. Egg’s presence at the tourney eventually helps him develop love for the common people, even if he does ascend to the throne. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shows the worth that people outside of King’s Landing have and how those stories are important, too. This prophecy detracts from that, even if it foreshadows Egg's tragic demise.
What Happens to Aegon V?
Egg is shocked about his prediction for good reason. It hints at his Targaryen lineage, but it is also a surprise for him. At the time of the prediction, he did not have a direct line to the throne. His uncle Baelor Breakspear (Bertie Carvel) is the Prince of Dragonstone and heir apparent. Baelor also has sons of his own, so it would be inconceivable at this time to think that Egg’s father, Maekar (Sam Spruell), would be in contention. Even so, this is exactly what happens. Egg ascends the throne after the premature deaths of his uncle, father, and two older brothers. Egg’s third brother is Aemon Targaryen, who, at the time of the series, is currently at the Citadel. He eventually goes to the Night’s Watch, which takes him out of the running for the Iron Throne.
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Want deeper context on Aegon V, prophecies, and Targaryen lore? Subscribe to the newsletter to get focused, source-grounded analysis and lore deep dives that unpack motives, consequences, and worldbuilding. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.The horrifying part of the prophecy, however, comes after Egg becomes Aegon V. The fortune teller states that he dies by fire, and those who know him rejoice in his death. This piece of history refers to the tragedy at Summerhall, which is referenced repeatedly in A Song of Ice and Fire. King Aegon V becomes obsessed with bringing dragons back from extinction. The story goes that at Summerhall, he started a fire by trying to hatch dragon eggs. Aegon, his son, and Dunk all die in the fire. Those who are supposedly glad of his death are actually other houses of nobility.
Because of Egg’s time with Dunk, he gained affection for commoners. Egg’s right to the throne was contested because the noble houses didn’t want someone who empathized with the peasantry to be deciding their fate. Egg tried to implement policies that went against the nobility in favor of the common folk, which made him many enemies. This is a dark end for Egg, but then again, Targaryen stories rarely end happily. Game of Thrones fans know what fate is waiting for Rhaenyra and have seen enough carnage to last a lifetime on House of the Dragon. Targaryens live by their words, “fire and blood,” and will continue to do so.
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A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Action Fantasy Adventure Release Date January 18, 2026 Network HBO Showrunner Ira Parker Directors Owen Harris Writers George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker
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Peter Claffey
Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall
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Dexter Sol Ansell
Egg
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