George R.R. Martin Helps Tanzyn Crawford to Enhance 'Tanselle Too-Tall' in New HBO Spinoff

George R.R. Martin, the architect of the A Song of Ice and Fire universe, has taken an unusually 'hands-on' approach to character development for HBO's latest prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The author reportedly collaborated directly with actress Tanzyn Crawford to flesh out her role as 'Tanselle Too-Tall,' a character whose literary counterpart was often viewed by readers as underserved in the original novellas.

The series, which premiered on 18 January 2026, focuses on the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). While the show has been hailed as one of the most faithful adaptations of Martin's work to date, the production team identified Tanselle—a Dornish puppeteer who serves as Dunk's initial love interest—as a role requiring more substantive depth for a television audience, as reported by WinterIsComing.net.

Expanding the 'Too-Tall' Narrative

In the original Hedge Knight novella, Tanselle is primarily seen through Dunk's eyes as a talented but vulnerable artist whose primary narrative function is to spark the conflict at the Ashford Tournament. To transition the character to the screen, Martin worked with showrunner Ira Parker to ensure Tanzyn Crawford had more 'agency and interiority' in the script.

According to interviews detailing the production's 'writing summit' in Santa Fe, Martin spent a week with the writing staff and cast members to discuss character logic. Showrunner Ira Parker noted that Martin read every draft of the first season, providing specific notes to 'fill out the world' and enhance secondary characters like Tanselle. This collaborative environment allowed Crawford to explore a version of the character that feels more rounded and integrated into the broader themes of duty and chivalry, according to Realnoe Vremya.

A 'Magician' at Drawing Characters

Lead actor Peter Claffey described Martin as a 'sweet, down-to-earth' presence on set whose grounded nature helped the cast embody their roles. However, it was his specific attention to the 'underwritten' aspects of the novella that provided the most value to the ensemble. Parker described Martin as a 'magician' at drawing universal stories, highlighting that the author was willing to allow 'jokey' or 'character-first' additions as long as they remained true to the soul of the characters, as reported by People.com.

This shift marks a significant departure from Martin's reported 'abysmal' relationship with other spinoff productions. By contrast, the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms team has praised his involvement, noting that his guidance helped turn what could have been a fleeting romantic interest into a standout performance for Crawford.

Fidelity and the First Season Arc

Despite these expansions, the series remains remarkably compact, consisting of only six episodes for its debut season. The decision to keep the scope 'smaller and smarter' allowed the writers to dedicate more screen time to individual character interactions rather than sprawling battles.

As the first season progresses toward its finale on 22 February 2026, the character of Tanselle is expected to play a more pivotal role in the emotional resolution of the Ashford story than she did in the original text. Critics have already noted that the chemistry between Crawford and Claffey 'sings even more on screen' than in the books, a success largely attributed to Martin's intervention in the early script phases, as cited by Britannica.

The series has already been renewed for a second season, set to adapt The Sworn Sword in 2027. Fans are hopeful that Martin's continued involvement will ensure that subsequent 'underwritten' characters from the novellas receive similar upgrades, as noted by Mashable.