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One key difference separating LOTR and Game of Thrones 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 rule remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into these complexities through the fan-favorite tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They encounter multiple dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. At a recent panel, the actor commented on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“The universe that George has created, there are a lot more dark and mature subjects that are explored. A lot of betrayal and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey said. “For a lot of people in Westeros, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For a person to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is something to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s need to uphold the ethics that knighthood has probably forgotten in this world on his quest in Ashford. I think it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the panel, the actor tried to soften that comment, fearing it might spark a war between the two fan communities and put him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a deeper interview to further explore his thoughts on how chivalry differs between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

As per the actor, a significant part of the distinction comes down to the clashing styles between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey said. “People rise to power in positions and status by committing terrible acts and betraying others, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than thinking knighthood is harder, Claffey argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to maneuver while attempting to remain a honorable knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the perspective of a humble fighter. Audiences have witnessed the pressure of chivalry throughout the series, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how people under oath are forced to go against their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.

That said, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is quick to admit that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

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