The air crackled with anticipation as the puppeteer’s nimble fingers danced, bringing wooden figures to life. Each gesture, each tiny shift in expression, held the audience captive, but Dunk, the hulking knight, could only see the artist behind the performance. Little did he know, his awkward admiration was about to set in motion a series of events that would test his courage and Tanselle’s perception of heroes.
The first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms introduced its main duo—Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell)—along with supporting characters who will become more important as the season progresses. These include the Fossoways, Ser Steffon (Edward Ashley) and his cousin and squire, Raymun (Shaun Thomas), as well as Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford), a puppeteer who captures Dunk’s attention.
We learn more about Tanselle in episode two—but the main takeaways about her are that she’s a talented performer and that Dunk is smitten. At a recent A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms press day, io9 asked Crawford what Tanselle, one of very few female characters on the show, thinks of her admirer.
Tanselle’s Evolving View of Dunk
Think about the last time someone’s initial awkwardness eventually revealed something deeper. It’s that slow burn of discovery that makes relationships interesting, and it seems Tanselle experiences something similar with Dunk.
“I do think that initially it is quite one-sided,” Crawford explained. “I think Dunk is maybe not the most charming person initially. I don’t think there is a mutual attraction. Maybe like a wonder or a… I think she’s just puzzled by him more than anything. And then maybe as it progresses and she kind of sees the goofiness he has, maybe there’s like a little bit of something growing.”
Later in the season, Tanselle witnesses Dunk’s heroic side. “Having someone do such a grand gesture like Dunk does for her, I think, could change her feelings about him,” Crawford said. “But I like that it’s a mystery, like you’re not really sure.”
What Makes Someone Go From Puzzled to Intrigued?
The shift from bewilderment to curiosity often hinges on witnessing unexpected behavior. Dunk’s actions, especially his “grand gesture,” serve as a catalyst, disrupting Tanselle’s initial perception and prompting her to see beyond the surface. It’s a transformation rooted in action rather than mere words, a theme often explored in George R.R. Martin’s works.
Raymun’s Instant Connection with Dunk
Remember that feeling of instantly clicking with someone? Raymun experiences exactly that with Dunk. He is one of very few people at the Ashford tournament who immediately accepts Dunk as a friend. Thomas told io9 that the connection is instant for Raymun.
“I think it’s the initial meeting that they have when Raymun and Steffon are training,” Thomas said when asked when Raymun felt the spark of kinship. In the scene, Steffon is berating his cousin as they spar, even challenging the towering stranger to enter the ring. Dunk wisely chooses to move on.
“I think it’s the way Steffon communicates with Dunk, and he doesn’t react in a way that Raymun expects. That resonates with Raymun, and he sees something in him that draws him to want to know more. I think he makes that kind of his task, to get to know this giant of a man, a hedge knight who he has some sort of relation to, in the sense [that he also] feels like he’s a little bit ‘less than.’” This connection is a lifeline for Raymun, who feels like an outsider within his own family.
What Does it Mean to Feel “Less Than”?
Feeling “less than” can manifest in many ways—being overlooked, underestimated, or constantly compared to others. For Raymun, it seems to stem from his interactions with Steffon. Dunk’s presence, and more importantly, his reaction to Steffon’s behavior, provides Raymun with a sense of solidarity, as if he’s found someone who understands his silent struggle.
Dunk and Egg: A Bond Forged in Arcades
Consider those friendships that blossom unexpectedly, often cemented through shared experiences. Claffey said the bond that anchors A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ main characters extended off-camera too. It was solidified during his first and only chemistry read with Ansell—where the future Dunk met the future Egg.
“We met first in the final, or in the chemistry read, and they only did one chemistry read because I think we kind of clicked on that day,” Claffey told io9. “He is as George R.R. Martin said, he came straight out of the book. We clicked amazingly in the chemistry read, and then we had two months’ prep before we got into it, which was such a great help because I had so much horse riding to do, and he had a lot to do.”
He continued. “We were living around the same place in Belfast, right beside an arcade in the cinema, and we spent a lot of time in the arcade. I got to know him and got to know his family—they’re just really, really lovely, down-to-earth, nice people. I care about the little lad now, big time, and feel quite protective of him … I don’t know how he does it sometimes, but he’s got a great head on his shoulders, and I find him quite inspiring. He’s got a huge, huge career ahead of him, and it’s just an honor to be able to do this with him for sure.”
How Do On-Screen Relationships Translate Off-Screen?
Sometimes the chemistry you see on screen is genuine, a reflection of the actors’ real-life connection. In the case of Claffey and Ansell, their bond seems to have grown organically, fueled by shared experiences and mutual respect. This authenticity can translate into a more believable and engaging performance, adding depth to the characters they portray.
Their friendship is a the engine that drives the narrative, the very spine that holds the story together.
New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms arrive Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.
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With such intricate relationships forming, both on and off-screen, how will these connections shape the fate of Westeros?