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A central distinction between The Lord of the Rings and GOT is highlighted by an often-cited observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, the King of Gondor ruled for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain vague. Such questioning drives Martin’s own fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They encounter multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. During a recent panel, Claffey commented on one major difference between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of knighthood.

“This world that Martin has built, it contains a lot more sinister and adult themes that are presented. A lot of betrayal and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey said. “For a lot of individuals in Westeros, it works; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that realm is a quality to really look up to, especially in the world of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the panel, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a deeper conversation to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry differs between the worlds of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

As per the star, a major part of the distinction stems from the clashing tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “Characters get so far in positions and rank by doing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more nobility, and aside from Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than believing knighthood is harder, Claffey believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate while attempting to remain a decent warrior.

The Burden of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he said, pointing to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a humble knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of chivalry across the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how people bound by vows are forced to go against their morals, and the impact to them psychologically.

However, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is still willing to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass any day of the week,” he declared, “I believe George probably agrees.”