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A central difference between LOTR and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by an often-cited observation from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, the King of Gondor reigned for a century after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. This type of inquiry fuels Martin’s own fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn avoided.

Exploring Chivalry in Two Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next GOT series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into these complexities through the beloved story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). 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 died out. At a comic con discussion, the actor commented on one significant difference between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“The universe that George has created, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. Much treachery and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey stated. “For a lot of people in Westeros, it works; it did for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For somebody to have the actual chivalric honor in that world is a quality to genuinely admire, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. In my view it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the panel, Claffey attempted to walk back that statement, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, this led to a follow-up interview to further explore his perspective on how knighthood varies between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

According to the actor, a significant part of the difference stems from the contrasting tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in GOT and George’s world,” Claffey explained. “People get so far in roles and status by doing hideous things and betraying others, literally and figuratively. With the epic series that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and aside from Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of believing knighthood is more difficult, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s more difficult to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.

The Burden of Knighthood in Westeros

“A warrior with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, referring to the morality-clouding stress that stems from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a low-born knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of chivalry throughout the series, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals under oath are forced to go against their morals, and what it does to them internally.

That said, while serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is still willing to admit that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he said, “I believe George would concur.”