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A central difference between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain vague. Such questioning drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Realms

HBO’s next GOT series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. During a comic con discussion, the actor commented on one major contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that George has built, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” Claffey stated. “For a lot of individuals in Westeros, it pays off; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For a person to have the actual knightly valor in that realm is something to really look up to, especially in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need 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 knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the discussion, the actor attempted to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a follow-up conversation to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

According to the actor, a major part of the difference comes down to the contrasting styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “Characters get so far in positions and status by committing terrible acts and betraying others, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than thinking chivalry is harder, Claffey argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to navigate while trying to be a decent knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A warrior with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, referring to the ethically blurring stress that stems from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a humble fighter. Viewers have witnessed the pressure of chivalry across the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals bound by vows are forced to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

However, although being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is quick to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“The Ranger beats Dunk any day of the year,” Claffey said, “I believe George probably agrees.”