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One central difference between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by a famous observation from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, the King of Gondor reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his rule remain vague. This type of inquiry drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next GOT series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into this moral mud through the beloved tale of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter multiple perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one significant contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that George has built, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to find your way,” he said. “And for a lot of people in this world, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the true knightly valor in that world is a quality to really look up to, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that knighthood has probably forgotten in this world through his journey in the tourney. In my view it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the discussion, the actor attempted to soften that comment, concerned it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, it prompted a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

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

“You find so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey said. “Characters get so far in positions and status by doing hideous things and betraying others, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more nobility, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of thinking chivalry is more difficult, the actor argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to navigate while attempting to remain a decent knight.

The Burden of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, referring to the ethically blurring anxiety that stems from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a low-born knight. Viewers have seen the stress of knighthood across the series, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how people under oath are forced to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

That said, while being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is still willing to admit that his character in The Hedge Knight is no match against the best that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn beats Dunk every time of the year,” Claffey said, “I believe George would concur.”