A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS Is the Great Westeros ‘Sports Movie’

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Many great sports movies follow a familiar pattern. They tell compelling stories about athletes or teams striving for success, whether it’s to win a championship, overcome past failures, or prove their worth. These stories aren’t just about winning; they’re about proving something to themselves and to others. Along the way, the characters face challenges that test their limits. The film usually builds to a climactic, high-stakes final competition where the hero must dig deep, using everything they’ve learned, endured, and dreamed of to achieve something extraordinary.

This formula is common in many popular films – think Rocky, The Natural, Hoosiers, Major League, and countless others. These stories usually focus on underdogs because it’s simply more enjoyable to cheer for them. This perfectly captures the essence of the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. HBO’s prequel isn’t just another story of knights and battles; it’s essentially a grand, Westeros-based sports movie.

Dunk, an orphaned commoner from the slums, is a classic underdog hero – the kind you see in inspiring sports movies. He’s like the ‘Rocky Balboa’ of the Seven Kingdoms, except his upbringing was even tougher, spent in a literal sewer and training in back alleys instead of a gym. What makes Dunk special is that he’s truly good and honorable, which is rare in a dangerous world. He’s incredibly easy to support, and we desperately want him to succeed, even when the odds are stacked against him. Plus, he has the ideal villain: a confident, privileged prince who represents everything Dunk isn’t. Their rivalry is exactly what you’d hope for in a compelling sports story.

Though the Trial of Seven felt like a sporting event, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms always focused on Dunk’s quest for recognition. His journey began at the Tourney of Ashford, where he hoped to prove himself as one of Westeros’s top warriors, even if just for a moment, and improve his circumstances. While Westeros doesn’t have professional sports, it does have exceptional athletes, and tourneys determine who is considered the best – a victory there could mean a better life.

Dunk felt sick to his stomach, a sign he understood the risks of the upcoming tournament at Ashford – even in a fair fight, jousting was incredibly dangerous. However, he wasn’t going there expecting to lose his life; he wanted to compete with the best and give it his all, even knowing he wasn’t as skilled. For Dunk, simply competing with honor meant more than winning any prize; it was about proving himself, and that was his true goal.

When Dunk arrived at the tournament, he immediately started to feel nervous, just like in a classic sports movie. Seeing the other competitors – well-trained knights in shining armor with the crowd cheering them on – made his anxiety worse. But Dunk knew that winning wasn’t just about strength and skill; it was also about mental toughness. He decided to overcome his doubts and prove himself, not only to the other knights, but to honor the memory of Ser Arlan.

Though not perfect, the old knight held strong beliefs and instilled a sense of right and wrong in Dunk, sharing all his knowledge of life and fighting. Just like any athlete – whether a boxer, baseball player, or jouster – needs a coach to guide and motivate them, coaches are essential to compelling sports stories, just as important as the athletes themselves.

Most sports movies aren’t about life or death, though the original Rollerball is a notable exception and well worth watching. What makes A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms stand out is its unique setting. Unlike typical sports films, this one takes place in a fantasy world where combat is used as a form of justice. While championships often bring out the best in athletes, imagine how much more intense it would be if losing meant certain death. Very few sports movies raise the stakes this high.

Ser Duncan was nearly defeated by Aerion Brightflame, but somehow managed an incredibly unlikely win – a victory almost unheard of in the history of the Realm. It had been a century since anyone had fought a Trial of Seven. On one side were two determined Targaryen princes, three of the Kingsguard, and an ambitious knight desperate for recognition. Facing them was a relatively untrained hedge knight, a newly-knighted novice, and a man fighting with a broken leg. Even with Prince Daeron intentionally falling, the odds were overwhelmingly against Ser Duncan’s team – it was a massive mismatch.

What really stood out about Dunk’s victory in the Trial of Seven wasn’t just that he won, but how he won. The best sports movies create a moment of genuine doubt – even if you’ve seen them many times – where you truly wonder if the hero can overcome the odds. They make you feel the weight of everything working against them, all the obstacles and self-doubt. It’s especially powerful when a worthy opponent stands in their way. That feeling of uncertainty, that knot in your stomach, is what makes the eventual triumph so meaningful.

This often happens when someone facing a challenge pushes themselves further than they thought possible, discovering a hidden inner strength. Whether motivated by personal goals, a belief, loved ones – past or present – or a desire to help others, they achieve something that seemed impossible. It’s what they have to do when everyone doubts them, when both their mind and body are telling them to quit: they find a way to persevere.

There’s something about sports movies that makes them endlessly rewatchable – those powerful moments just never get old. I could listen to Egg beg Ser Duncan to stand up forever, echoing the same words Ser Arlan once said to Dunk. And I’ll always love seeing Roy Hobbs challenge Bobby to find a winner, or Norman Dale tell his team how much he cares for them. Jake Taylor confidently calling his shot and then perfectly bunting? Amazing. Watching Dunk overcome unfair accusations, rising from the mud and from the streets of Flea Bottom? It still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

Hearing those two words – “Get up.” – always hits me. I’m a huge fan of sports movies, and for me, this moment really captures everything I enjoy about them. They aren’t just about the game itself; they’re about the years of dedication and hard work that lead up to a single, defining moment. It’s about reaching a goal that once seemed out of reach, and finally achieving the impossible. Even though this story takes place in Westeros, it perfectly embodies that feeling.

Few things are as satisfying when executed flawlessly. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms achieves this perfectly, telling a classic underdog story—even though the world of Westeros doesn’t have traditional sports.

Mikey Walsh writes for TopMob. He’s a big fan of the movies Vision Quest and Breaking Away, and you can find him on Bluesky at @burgermike. He also enjoys debates about the Targaryen kings!

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2026-02-18 01:34