The heart of the series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the bond between Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). In an interview with Film Inside, the duo looked back on their very first day shooting together and how initial jitters quickly turned into the effortless chemistry fans adore.
Quick read:
- Peter and Dexter got off to a rocky start
- Their very first scene together involved a lot of heavy work
- After that, they clicked and everything flowed smoothly
Credit: HBO
First impressions: Awe and instant spark
Dexter didn’t mince words about meeting Peter:
“The first time I saw Peter I thought, ‘What am I doing here?’ I’m joking. The first time I saw Peter he was absolutely amazing, and we had great chemistry together.”
Peter felt the same pull. Their connection clicked right away, even if the very first take felt “a bit off” to the both of them.
The chaotic debut scene
Their opening day doubled as Dunk and Egg’s first proper meeting in episode 1. Peter mentioned that it was a dialogue-heavy, action-packed sequence involving packing bags, handling horses, and a takedown from horseback.
“It was nerve-wracking. We were trying to nail the right tone and emotion for their relationship while juggling all these practical things. It was tricky at the start, but we discovered it that night. After that, it was a piece of cake.”
Once they locked in the dynamic, everything flowed naturally.
Off-Set bonding sealed the deal
The on-set breakthrough was made off-camera. The pair spent a lot of time together doing arcade outings, chess battles (Dexter reportedly dominated), line runs, and casual hangs.
“We got a great relationship through arcades, being with each other, playing chess, and all these different things,” Dexter shared.
That constant real-life companionship made their performances feel lived-in and authentic.
From a shaky first scene to “piece of cake” ease, Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell proved that the best on-screen duos often start with real off-screen connection.
From being “tricky at first” to “a piece of cake” bond.
