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One central distinction between LOTR and GOT can be highlighted by an often-cited remark from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, the King of Gondor reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his rule remain vague. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn never would.

Exploring Knighthood in Different Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the beloved story of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the Iron Throne but their mighty beasts have died out. At a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one major contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, it contains a lot more sinister and adult themes that are presented. A lot of betrayal and deceit, and it's hard to find your way,” he stated. “And for a lot of people in this world, it works; it did for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that realm is something to genuinely admire, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain 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 warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the panel, the actor attempted to walk back that comment, concerned it might spark a war between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a follow-up interview to further explore his thoughts on how chivalry varies between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

As per the actor, a major part of the difference comes down to the contrasting tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] because of the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he said. “Characters get so far in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. With the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than believing knighthood is harder, the actor argues that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that stems from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a humble knight. Audiences have witnessed the stress of knighthood across the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people under oath are compelled to betray their principles, and the impact to them internally.

However, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is quick to concede that his role 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 week,” he said, “I believe Martin probably agrees.”