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A central difference between The Lord of the Rings and GOT can be illustrated by an often-cited observation from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the details of his rule remain vague. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Exploring Chivalry in Two Realms

HBO’s next GOT series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They face multiple perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. At a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of knighthood.

“This world that Martin has created, there are a lot more dark and adult themes that are explored. A lot of treachery and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to find your way,” Claffey stated. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For a person to have the actual chivalric honor in that world is something to genuinely admire, particularly in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that knighthood has probably forgotten in Westeros through his journey in Ashford. In my view it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, the actor tried to walk back that statement, fearing it might spark a war between the two fan communities and put him squarely in the middle. Naturally, this led to a deeper conversation to further explore his perspective on how chivalry varies between the worlds of GOT and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

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

“You find so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey said. “Characters rise to power in positions and rank by committing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. With the epic series that is LOTR, you see so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of believing knighthood is more difficult, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable knight.

The Burden of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with some status must have mental confusion,” he remarked, referring to the morality-clouding anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the perspective of a humble fighter. Viewers have witnessed the stress of knighthood throughout the series, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals under oath are compelled to go against their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.

That said, while being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to concede that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that LOTR has to present.

“Aragorn beats Dunk any day of the week,” he declared, “I’d say Martin probably agrees.”