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A central difference between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones is highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, the King of Gondor reigned for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. Such questioning drives Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Knighthood in Two Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their mighty beasts have died out. At a comic con discussion, Claffey reflected on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the core meaning of chivalry.

“This world that George has built, there are a lot more sinister and adult themes that are presented. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to find your way,” Claffey stated. “For a lot of individuals in this world, it pays off; it did for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the true knightly valor in that world is a quality to genuinely admire, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in the tourney. In my view it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the panel, the actor attempted to soften that comment, fearing it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, it prompted a deeper conversation to delve into his perspective on how knighthood differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fictional Realms

As per the actor, a significant part of the difference comes down to the clashing tones between these two legendary fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” he said. “People rise to power in positions and rank by committing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and aside from the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than thinking chivalry is more difficult, Claffey believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable knight.

The Burden of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A knight with some status must have mental confusion,” he said, referring to the ethically blurring stress that comes from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the stress of knighthood throughout the series, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how individuals under oath are compelled to betray their morals, and the impact to them psychologically.

However, while being a knight in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Middle-earth, the actor is still willing to admit that his character in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that LOTR has to present.

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