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A key distinction separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by an often-cited remark from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, Aragorn reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. This type of inquiry drives Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Exploring Chivalry in Two Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next GOT spinoff, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite tale of Dunk (the actor) and Egg (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 fearsome dragons have died out. During a recent panel, Claffey reflected on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of chivalry.

“The universe that George has created, there are a lot more sinister and adult themes that are presented. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it works; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the actual knightly valor in that world is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to maintain the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world through his journey in the tourney. I think it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the panel, the actor tried to soften that statement, fearing it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, this led to a deeper interview to delve into his perspective on how knighthood differs between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

According to the star, a major part of the difference stems from the contrasting styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor evident [in Middle-earth] because of the adult themes in GOT and George’s world,” he said. “People get so far in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than believing knighthood is more difficult, Claffey believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent knight.

The Weight of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of the realm from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals bound by vows are forced to betray their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.

However, while being a knight in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is still willing to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the greatest that LOTR has to present.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk every time of the year,” Claffey declared, “I believe Martin probably agrees.”