A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is arriving on HBO on January 18, 2026, with all the medieval energy and hype in full effect, very typical of a Game of Thrones spinoff series. During a fun interview with Nerdist, Peter Claffey, portraying Ser Duncan aka Dunk the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, provided a comparison that no one foresaw; he claimed that Dunk was less sexy, less confident, and less charismatic than Geralt of Rivia.It is an ideal tease, suggesting a touch of the moody, monster-hunter approach in The Witcher, only with Dunk’s own mix of clumsy charm and big-hearted effort. That small joke tells a lot about what the show could be like, not that dark just for the sake of it, but more character-driven, humorous, heartfelt and surprisingly wholesome than one would assume.What Peter Claffey said about Dunk from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Geralt in The WitcherWhen one mentions Geralt of Rivia, they imagine a silent and strong warrior with white hair, a huge sword, and a calm confidence, as Henry Cavill made popular. When Claffey says that Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is less sexy, less confident than Geralt, he is making two points.To start with, Dunk exhibits some of the classic knight characteristics: he is tall, protective, and constantly falling into conflicts. Second, the word “less” matters. Dunk is not a sullen monster-hunter; he is a good man, a little clumsy, who is struggling to be a knight and still learning how to be one. In conversation with Nerdist, Peter Claffey claimed:“That first season of The Witcher with Henry Cavill, my brother! To be honest with you, I’ve told myself that I’m not allowed to have a PlayStation. I do not get anything done. But I went home for a while after and watched my brother play The Witcher 3. And I watched The Witcher. But Henry Cavill’s Geralt, I feel, there is this kind of this comparison where it’s like Dunk, he’s kind of a less sexy, less confident, less charismatic Geralt of Rivia.”The Witcher comparison provides the viewers with a familiar point of reference but the difference is the key. Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has a warm, funny, and heart-warming vibe instead of dark and edgy. Claffey went as far as to watch The Witcher and play The Witcher 3 with his brother to get the tone, just enough to get the feel and not copy it.What does this say about the tone of A Knight of the Seven KingdomsCalling Dunk a "less sexy, less confident Geralt" actually encapsulates the entire vibe of this show. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms plays in the same fantasy world of swords, honor, and messy politics but with a much warmer, more approachable tone. Rather than the really dark and lonely mood of The Witcher, Dunk's story is so much more down-to-earth, full of fumbling inn moments, sincere attempts at knighthood, and great, hearty choices that make him lovable.It also demonstrates how HBO is extending the range of fantasy: you get the brooding monster hunter and the kind, clumsy hedge knight. Fans of darker fantasy will still get great fights and world-building, with decidedly more charm and humor. Claffey's comparison works as a clever promo move, inviting The Witcher fans in while promising that Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is his own sweet, slightly bumbling hero.For more such insights on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, keep following Soap Central.