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One key distinction between LOTR and Game of Thrones is highlighted by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor reigned for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his rule remain vague. Such questioning drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Exploring Chivalry in Different Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. During a recent panel, the actor commented on one significant contrast between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“The universe that Martin has built, there are a lot more sinister and adult themes that are explored. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to navigate,” he said. “For a lot of individuals in Westeros, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For somebody to have the actual chivalric honor in that realm is something to genuinely admire, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that knighthood has largely abandoned in this world on his quest in Ashford. In my view it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, Claffey attempted to soften that comment, concerned it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a follow-up interview to further explore his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the worlds of GOT and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

According to the star, a significant part of the distinction comes down to the contrasting styles between these two iconic fictional settings.

“You find so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in GOT and George’s world,” he explained. “Characters get so far in positions and status by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of believing chivalry is more difficult, Claffey argues that in Westeros it’s more difficult to navigate while trying to be a decent knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a humble knight. Viewers have witnessed the stress of knighthood across the franchise, with characters like Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals under oath are compelled to go against their principles, and the impact to them internally.

However, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, the actor is still willing to admit that his character in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk every time of the week,” he declared, “I believe George probably agrees.”