'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' show runner admits cutting key book moment was a 'mistake'

A fan noted omission of a scene between Dunk and Steely Pate, in which he calls him 'a knight who remembered his vows'

Ira Parker, showrunner of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has admitted that removing a specific moment from George R.R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight novella was “a mistake,” addressing fan criticism about a missing line many consider central to the story’s message.

During a recent Reddit AMA, a fan pointed out that the adaptation omitted a memorable exchange between Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and the blacksmith Steely Pate, in which Pate calls Dunk “a knight who remembered his vows.” The line is widely viewed by readers as capturing the moral heart of Dunk’s character.

Parker responded candidly: “Honestly 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.” He also acknowledged the significance of the moment, adding, “I agree that ‘a knight who remembers his vows’ is the soul of this story… even if I stupidly left out this scene.”

Despite the omission, Parker suggested that the theme still resonates throughout the series, even if the exact wording does not appear on screen. Dunk’s actions, he implied, continue to reflect the values and vows that define him.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones prequel based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, has largely been praised for its character-driven storytelling and fidelity to the source material. Still, as with any adaptation of a beloved book, fans have closely scrutinized changes made for television.

Parker’s candid admission highlights both the pressures of adapting iconic literary works and the creative challenges of translating nuanced character moments from page to screen.