The new HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms deliberately abandons the iconic Game of Thrones theme music in its opening scene, signalling a tonal break from its predecessor. Composer Dan Romer explains the choice was intentional: cutting the famous theme short mid-scene tells audiences this spin-off, which follows humble hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire rather than the political power struggles of the Iron Throne, demands its own distinct sound.

Romer says showrunner Ira Parker's team had initially edited early cuts of the show to spaghetti Western cowboy music, drawn to its feel but aware it wouldn't suit the medieval Westeros setting. The resulting score blends orchestral and bluegrass-style strings with both lute-like and acoustic guitars, aiming for a more intimate, whimsical tone reflecting the show's smaller-scale, "small folk" focus rather than the sweeping drama of the original series.