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A key distinction separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by a famous observation from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, Aragorn ruled for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his rule remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn never would.

Exploring Knighthood in Two Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming GOT spinoff, The Hedge Knight, will delve into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their mighty beasts have died out. At a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that George has built, it contains a lot more dark and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” he said. “For a lot of individuals in this world, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is something to really look up to, particularly in the land of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the morals that knighthood has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. In my view it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the discussion, the actor tried to walk back that comment, fearing it might spark a war between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a deeper interview to further explore his perspective on how chivalry varies between the worlds 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 comes down to the clashing styles between these two iconic fictional settings.

“You find so much more integrity present [in Tolkien’s world] because of the adult themes in GOT and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “Characters get so far in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more nobility, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of believing chivalry is harder, the actor believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to navigate while attempting to remain a decent warrior.

The Burden of Knighthood in Westeros

“A knight with some status must have mental confusion,” he said, referring to the morality-clouding anxiety that stems from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have witnessed the pressure of knighthood across the series, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how individuals bound by vows are forced to betray their principles, and the impact to them internally.

However, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the year,” he declared, “I believe George would concur.”