In HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, actor Sam Spruell steps into the role of Prince Maekar Targaryen, the stern, widowed father of protagonist Egg and a man haunted by his own shortcomings. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Spruell revealed that he turned directly to George R.R. Martin’s source material to shape his on-screen performance.
Quick read:
• Sam Spruell read the original The Hedge Knight book before acting it out on screen
• He noted the scripts stayed very close to the book, helping him stay faithful to the character
• Maekar will not appear in the show’s second season
Credit: HBO
Respecting the source material
Referring to The Hedge Knight, the first of Martin’s Dunk and Egg tales, Spruell said,
“I definitely read the novella that the first season is based on. The scripts and the novella are really very similar. The fans seem to love that the show follows the book so closely, so for me it made sense to read it and then just play the script.”
That decision has struck a chord with viewers. Fans praised the approach as professional and humble, noting how Spruell sought to understand Maekar as Martin wrote him rather than imposing a personal reinterpretation. The novella, set nearly a century before Game of Thrones, follows hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg, secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen through a tournament that spirals into deadly conflict.
The fatal joust and Maekar’s breaking point
Maekar, Egg’s father, emerges as a key figure in the series, who’s proud, insecure, and desperate to see his youngest son rise above the failures of his older brothers. Spruell described Maekar as a man living in the shadow of his charismatic older brother Baelor, the heir to the Iron Throne.
“He’s a single father who feels he’s failed his sons,” the actor explained.
After Baelor dies in a tragic jousting accident, killed unintentionally by Maekar’s own mace, the prince tries to salvage control. He offers Dunk a place at Summerhall and take Egg as his squire, only to be rejected. When Egg chooses to ride off with Dunk and lies about having his father’s blessing, Maekar is left humiliated.
Spruell noted the physical demands of the role as well, especially the fatal mace strike on Baelor, which relied on stunt doubles and careful choreography. While Maekar is confirmed to not appear in season 2, Spruell left open the possibility that his character’s lingering resentment could ripple into future stories. The actor’s preparation reflects the broader strength of the series, that is respect for the source material.
