One central distinction separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by a famous remark from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, the King of Gondor reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his rule remain unexplored. Such questioning drives Martin’s own fantasy world, often dragging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.
HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the beloved story of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They encounter multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, the actor reflected on one significant difference between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.
“The universe that George has created, it contains a lot more dark and adult themes that are explored. Much betrayal and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he stated. “For a lot of individuals in this world, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For a person to have the actual knightly valor in that realm 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 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 discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, it prompted a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry varies between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.
According to the star, a major part of the distinction stems from the clashing tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.
“You find so much more integrity present [in Tolkien’s world] because of the mature content in GOT and Martin’s creation,” Claffey explained. “People rise to power in roles and rank by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more nobility, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”
Instead of believing chivalry is harder, Claffey argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to navigate while attempting to remain a decent knight.
“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that comes from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a humble knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of knighthood throughout the series, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals bound by vows are compelled to betray their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.
That said, although 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 best that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.
“Aragorn defeats Dunk every time of the week,” Claffey said, “I’d say Martin would concur.”
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