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One key difference between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by a famous observation from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often dragging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Realms

The upcoming GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved story of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. During a recent panel, the actor commented on one major contrast between GOT and LOTR: the core meaning of knighthood.

“This world that Martin has created, there are a lot more sinister and adult themes that are explored. A lot of betrayal and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey stated. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it works; this was true for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that world is something to really look up to, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to uphold the morals that knighthood has probably forgotten in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. In my view it requires a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the panel, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fan communities and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, it prompted a follow-up conversation to further explore his perspective on how knighthood differs between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

As per the actor, a significant part of the distinction stems from the contrasting tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor evident [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey explained. “People rise to power in roles and status by committing hideous things and betraying others, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than believing knighthood is harder, Claffey argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent warrior.

The Weight of Knighthood in Westeros

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that stems from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a humble knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of chivalry across the series, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how individuals under oath are compelled to betray their morals, and the impact to them psychologically.

However, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to admit that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that LOTR has to present.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he declared, “I’d say Martin would concur.”