Is ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ kid-friendly?

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is undoubtedly the lightest Game of Thrones show yet.

Admittedly, that’s not a high bar to clear, given that both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are brimming with heavy subject matter. With their graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault, they’re not at all suitable for young audiences.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shrugs off its predecessors’ grimdark tones, opting instead for the more light-hearted tale of hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his new squire, the sassy young Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). But while the show offers up an all-around funnier, even occasionally wholesome view of Westeros, is that enough to make it kid-friendly, should any young viewers want a gateway into George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world?

Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms appropriate for young audiences?

The short answer is no. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is certainly light by Game of Thrones standards, but it’s still full of scenes and subject matter that parents may not want their kids to watch.

Ultimately, though, whether a child watches the show comes down to parental discretion. Read on for a spoiler-free guide to some of the adult topics audiences may encounter in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

For starters, violence is still very much on the table. The series takes place at a tournament, meaning there will be jousting and sword fighting. You can bet some of the competing knights won’t play fair, resulting in a solid amount of graphic injuries.

As an HBO show — airing at 10 p.m., no less! — A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms features its fair share of nudity, although it’s light on sex scenes. Instead, the nudity is mostly relegated to the background, apart from the occasional sequence involving key characters. The show also discusses sex work and alludes to sexual violence, and the dialogue is peppered with profanity.

For better or worse, these elements are all staples of the non-kid-friendly Game of Thrones universe, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms remains squarely part of that world.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.