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A key difference between LOTR and GOT can be illustrated by a famous observation from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, the King of Gondor ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. Such inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Knighthood in Two Realms

The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the beloved story of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a recent panel, Claffey commented on one significant difference between GOT and LOTR: the core meaning of knighthood.

“This world that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and adult themes that are presented. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” he stated. “For a lot of people in this world, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For a person to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to uphold the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in the tourney. In my view it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the discussion, Claffey attempted to walk back that statement, concerned it might ignite a conflict between the two fan communities and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, it prompted a follow-up interview to further explore his perspective on how chivalry varies between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

According to the actor, a significant part of the distinction comes down to the contrasting tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he said. “Characters rise to power in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more nobility, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of believing chivalry is more difficult, the actor argues that in Westeros it’s more difficult to maneuver while attempting to remain a honorable knight.

The Burden of Chivalry in Westeros

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of the realm from the vantage point of a low-born fighter. Audiences have seen the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in GOT exploring how people under oath are compelled to go against their morals, and the impact to them internally.

That said, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass any day of the year,” Claffey said, “I believe George probably agrees.”