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A key difference separating The Lord of the Rings and GOT can be highlighted by an often-cited observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for a century after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain vague. This type of questioning fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Knighthood in Different Realms

The upcoming GOT spinoff, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a recent panel, the actor reflected on one major difference between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has created, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of betrayal and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he stated. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For somebody to have the actual knightly valor in that world is a quality to really look up to, especially in the world of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. I think it takes a lot more to be a warrior 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 delve into his thoughts 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 comes down to the clashing tones between these two iconic fictional settings.

“You find so much more honor evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the mature content in GOT and Martin’s creation,” Claffey said. “People rise to power in positions and rank by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more nobility, and other than the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than believing knighthood is harder, the actor argues that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate 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 remarked, referring to the morality-clouding stress that stems from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a low-born fighter. Viewers have witnessed the pressure of knighthood throughout the series, with characters like Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how people bound by vows are forced to betray their morals, and what it does to them internally.

However, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the year,” Claffey said, “I’d say Martin probably agrees.”