When it comes to a Game of Thrones universe series, there’s one thing we’ve started to expect. That is the opening theme from the series, and yet, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms mysteriously avoids it.
There is a moment that feels like it’s going to include it. Just after burying Ser Alyn of Pennytree, Dunk swears to do his best for the horses, and then it feels like the perfect time to deliver the opening credits. However, the series opts for foul bodily functions. It quickly sets the tone for the series, but you may have wondered what happened to the Game of Thrones opening credits.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn’t as grand
We were warned of this back in October 2025. Gizmodo shared that Ramin Djawadi wasn’t returning to do the music for the Westeros-set series. Instead, the series was opting for a clean slate for a very different era of Westeros.
Showrunner Ira Parker spoke to Entertainment Weekly about it, sharing that it just felt right not to have the grand opening. Not only are people a little tired of hearing it — apparently, because I’m not — but it doesn’t quite fit the tone of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
To be fair, the score of the Game of Thrones opening is large and beautiful, and it showcases the many locations that we find ourselves in when it comes to the characters. It connects to the larger scale production that both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn’t like that. It’s a refreshingly tighter story, with just Dunk’s POV on show. With that, it means a less grand opener.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms opts for a title card
There isn’t any sort of opening credits for the series, so it’s not just the music that differs. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has just a title card to tell you of the show you’re watching, and from there, the music is tonally different.
The title card is plain, and it’s simple. This is just the way things are for Dunk, who is often told he’s stupid. However, Dunk is to-the-point and minimalist. He comes from nothing, and the way the title card sits in each episode reminds us of that.
It’s a great change to the series. Plenty of elements of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms connects to the universe as a whole, but the tone of the series helps to set this one apart. And you don’t need to know the other two shows to be able to thoroughly enjoy this one.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs on Sundays at 10/9c on HBO and streams on HBO Max.