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One key distinction separating The Lord of the Rings and GOT is illustrated by an often-cited observation from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain vague. Such inquiry drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Realms

HBO’s next GOT series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the beloved story of Dunk (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They face a series of perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During 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 chivalry.

“This world that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he stated. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it works; it did for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the actual 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 commitment to maintain the morals that knighthood has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. I think it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the panel, the actor attempted to walk back that comment, concerned it might ignite a war between the two fan communities and put him squarely in the middle. Of course, it prompted a deeper conversation to further explore his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the universes of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

As per the star, a significant part of the difference stems from the clashing tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“You find so much more integrity evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey said. “Characters get so far in roles and rank by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more honor, and other than Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of thinking chivalry is more difficult, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent warrior.

The Weight of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that stems from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the perspective of a low-born knight. Viewers have witnessed the stress of chivalry throughout the franchise, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how people under oath are compelled to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

That said, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to concede that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“The Ranger beats Dunk any day of the week,” Claffey said, “I’d say George would concur.”