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The delightful HBO series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” brings to life a host of unforgettable characters, including the talented puppeteer Tanselle, played by Tanzyn Crawford. Ser Duncan the Tall, portrayed by Peter Claffey, finds himself smitten with Tanselle and requests her artistic touch on his worn-out shield. The tale takes a dramatic turn when Prince Aerion Targaryen, played by Finn Bennett, assaults Tanselle after one of her puppet shows, believing she insulted the Targaryens. This confrontation leads to Dunk defending her honor and subsequently being jailed. However, Tanselle’s storyline takes an abrupt pause as she does not reappear in the show’s first season, leaving viewers wondering about her fate.
HBO
In the episode named “Seven,” Baelor Targaryen, depicted by Bertie Carvel, reveals to Dunk that Tanselle might face treason charges due to Aerion’s relentless pursuit of retribution, adding to Dunk’s mounting troubles. Yet, when Dunk revisits the site of the altercation, Steely Pate, played by Youssef Kerkour, informs him that Tanselle has wisely chosen to escape to Dorne following the incident. Fortunately for Dunk, she leaves behind a beautifully painted shield with Pate as a token.
Being a native of Dorne, Tanselle’s decision to return home rather than confront a potentially biased trial orchestrated by the Targaryens is logical. In the season finale, “The Morrow,” Egg, played by Dexter Sol Ansell, subtly hints to Dunk about traveling to Dorne, suggesting they might enjoy the puppet shows there. This is Egg’s playful nudge for Dunk to seek out Tanselle.
In George R. R. Martin’s novellas, Dunk and Egg indeed venture to Dorne in search of Tanselle. Despite attending numerous puppet shows, their quest to find her proves fruitless. Though Dunk is disheartened, he continues to cherish dreams of Tanselle and a future together. However, she remains absent in subsequent tales, “The Sworn Sword” from 2003 and “The Mystery Knight” from 2010.
Fans should remember that adaptations can diverge significantly from their literary origins. The “Game of Thrones” series famously deviated from the books as it advanced beyond Martin’s published works, including “The Winds of Winter” and an expected concluding novel. Similarly, “House of the Dragon” introduced its own storyline changes, some of which did not sit well with Martin.
In the source material, Dunk doesn’t find Tanselle
HBO
However, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” promises a different approach. Showrunner Ira Parker assured The Hollywood Reporter that the series will adhere closely to Martin’s vision. Parker stated, “In my very first meeting with George, before I officially had the job, I promised I wouldn’t put anything in that he didn’t want.” Thus, the destiny of Dunk and Tanselle’s relationship remains securely in Martin’s hands.
Now, before anyone gets too upset about this fading love story, remember that the “Game of Thrones” show made controversial changes to events from the books. Famously, the show overtook the source material, as Martin hadn’t written “The Winds of Winter,” much less a finale novel, and thus plotted its own course and conclusion to the story. In addition, “House of the Dragon” made its own changes to the story, some of which upset Martin.
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdom” showrunner Ira Parker claimed to The Hollywood Reporter that this series will not do anything without Martin’s approval, though. “In my very first meeting with George, before I officially had the job,” Parker said, “I promised I wouldn’t put anything in that he didn’t want.” So, the fate of Dunk and Tanselle’s relationship lies in the hands of the author.
