'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' seizes the small-story moment in prestige TV with Dunk and Egg

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ser Duncan is tall, but his story is small.

And Ira Parker, showrunner of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdom,” HBO's latest entry to the “Game of Thrones” universe that has charmed and disarmed viewers with its humble story of big, raw, aspiring knight Dunk and his tiny, cue ball-bald squire Egg, says it's going to stay that way.

“If anything, I’d say Season 2 might feel even smaller,” Parker said. “It’s not at all busy and everything. There’s almost some loneliness creeping into this.”

Parker spoke to The Associated Press from the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, where he's making the second season of the show based on George R.R. Martin's series of novellas about the journeys and adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and his sidekick whose nickname obscures his true identity.

After eight sprawling seasons of “Game of Thrones” and two seasons of the almost-as-epic “House of the Dragon,” some worried about Westeros fatigue when “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” arrived in January. Instead, it was enthusiastically embraced by fans and plenty of newcomers. People seemed to want a world with no dragons or clashing kings, just an overgrown orphan without a last name trying to become somebody.

Everything about the show is scaled down. Season 1 had just six episodes averaging about 35 minutes, all of them centered entirely on Dunk and Egg.

“It is 100% a function of the underlying material,” Parker said. “We don’t want to have to stretch the story. We like building out the world and hanging out with our characters and having some fun in Westeros. But we don’t want to have odd little side quests.”

Smaller stories may be having a moment in elite TV. “The Pitt,” last year’s best-drama Emmy winner and a favorite to repeat the win, is set almost entirely in one part of one hospital. “Pluribus,” the acclaimed Apple TV+ show that will give it Emmy competition this year, has a single main character.

“Game of Thrones” was also the mother of all Emmy contenders, getting more nominations during its full run than any drama ever.

This little brother of a show could get a little Emmy attention too when nominations are announced next month after a voting period that started Thursday. Its two stars, each as unlikely to find themselves in the spotlight as the characters they play, could both get acting nominations.

Peter Claffey, who plays Duncan, is a 6-foot-5, 29-year-old former professional rugby player who has had a steady stream of supporting roles since switching to acting in 2019 but nothing remotely like the title role in a franchise series.

When he got the Egg gig, Dexter Sol Ansell was plenty experienced for a 9-year-old. (He’s 11 now.) But now he’s become a memeable charmer as the little hairless scamp who’s devoted to Dunk but sitting on big secrets.

They were both big, and lucky, finds for Parker and his team. Dexter was the first kid they looked at for Egg. And he and Claffey have established an off-screen rapport that translates to the screen.

“They’ve just been growing up together and they’re coming up together and they really do talk to each other like brothers now,” Parker said. “There’s an aspect of that that you just can’t create.”

Parker himself has a humble background and isn't used to being the center of such attention. He wrote for shows including “The Last Ship,” “Better Things” and, crucially, “House of the Dragon” before having this gig, and a sort of stardom, fall into his lap.

The sophomore year, however, is going a little roughly.

“Worst experience of my life,” Parker said, smiling but not entirely joking.

Season 2, based on Martin's 2003 novella “The Sworn Sword,” is set in a drought that they’re supposed to be recreating in Spain. But Gran Canaria is getting historic downpours.

“The whole story is about the drought,” he said. “The whole story is somebody damming the water to keep it from someone else.”

But he spoke to AP after a day of sun, with hope for more.

“If we can somehow manage to corral this thing back into its box of sunshiny-ness,” he said, “I think we’re going to have something special.”

FILE - Ira Parker appears at the HBO Max Launch Party in London, England, on March 25, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand batting great Kane Williamson announced his immediate retirement from international cricket on Friday, ending a standout career in which he scored 33 test hundreds and became one of the top players in the modern game.

The decision was announced by the New Zealand’s men’s cricket team on X and in a full statement on New Zealand cricket's website.

“New Zealand’s most prolific all-format run scorer and arguably greatest ever batsman Kane Williamson has confirmed his retirement from international cricket effective immediately,” the statement read. "Williamson’s announcement brings an end to a glittering 16-year international career that has seen him play 378 games for his country (in all formats), setting countless batting records and earning the respect and admiration of the cricketing world."

The 35-year-old Williamson scored 9,515 test runs at an average of 54.06 and with a highest score of 251.

He also scored 7,256 one-day international runs with 15 hundreds and an average of 48.69, as well as 2,575 T20 runs.

Williamson, the former captain, said the time felt right to step away.

“I’ve thought about it for a while, but over the last few days it’s become clear now is the right time," he said. “I’ve always felt a strong drive and hunger for international cricket, and I take pride in knowing I’ve given it my all in every match I’ve played for New Zealand."

A graceful and versatile batter with huge powers of concentration, the right-handed Williamson was considered among the four recent modern batting greats alongside India's Virat Kohli, Australia's Steve Smith and England's Joe Root — known as the Fab Four.

Williamson's remarkable ability to play the ball late using his soft hands and sumptuous drives off the back foot were trademarks of his game.

An occasional spinner, he also took 30 test wickets and 37 ODI wickets with his offbreaks.

Williamson was also an immensely respected player among opposing teams and known for his sense of fairness in defeat — such as when New Zealand lost a dramatic World Cup final to England in 2019 in all-time classic.

Two years later, in another thriller, Williamson led New Zealand to become inaugural world test champions with victory over powerhouse India.

“It’s a team I love, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of it for so long. It will continue to be dear to my heart,” he said. “I leave feeling optimistic about where this group is heading. There’s a huge amount of talent, and a real desire to do something special with this New Zealand team."

New Zealand coach Rob Walter paid tribute to Williamson.

“Anyone who’s had the privilege of working with Kane understands he is a very special player and person," Walter said. “His numbers and batting skills speak for themselves, but it’s what he means to this Black Caps team, as well as world cricket that will be his legacy."

“Kane’s always put the team first and although we’re disappointed to see him go, we’re happy to know he’s content and at peace with his decision."

Williamson's international retirement comes during his nation's three-test series against England, with the second test scheduled to start next Wednesday at The Oval.

It means his last contributions to New Zealand were nought and 18 during the first test defeat on a difficult pitch at Lord's.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand's Kane Williamson leaves the pitch after losing his wicket during the second day of the test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

New Zealand's Kane Williamson leaves the pitch after losing his wicket during the first day of the test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)