He is Ser Duncan the Great– but yes, like Dexter Sol Ansell’s pint-sized egg in this new featurette for A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsyou’ve never heard of him, you soon will. If this glimpse of Peter Claffey’s endearing performance is any indication, it will soon rise to the top of your favorites list as well. Game of Thrones-adjacent characters never trample Westeros.
We’ve seen Dunk in action so far in the trailers, but this is our best look at the hero from George RR Martin’s film. Tales of Dunk and Egg novels – at least until the series hits HBO in a few weeks.
Claffey remembers nervously throwing up during his first rehearsal and feeling self-conscious about it, only to be told, “That’s great, it’s like Dunk!” by showrunner Ira Parker. Claffey describes Dunk as a “typical outsider” at the start of A Knight of the Seven Kingdomslearning to make his way through Westeros without his recently deceased mentor, Ser Arlen of Pennytree.
His first stop is a nearby tournament, where he is soon sarcastically classified as a hedge knight – “like a knight, only” sadder“…and as Claffey explains, Dunk’s journey will involve confronting this clumsy naivety with the feeling that perhaps he could be a ‘glorious knight’ if he wanted to be.”
Claffey also briefly discusses the show’s stunts and unexpected sense of humor, and calls for work on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms “the greatest experience of my entire life.” The show premieres January 18 on HBO and a season two is already on the way.
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