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A key distinction between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by an often-cited observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. Such inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Realms

The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved tale of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face multiple perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a recent panel, Claffey commented on one major contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“The universe that Martin has built, it contains a lot more sinister and adult themes that are explored. A lot of treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to navigate,” he stated. “And for a lot of people in this world, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For somebody to have the actual chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. I think it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, concerned it might spark a war between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Of course, it prompted 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

According to the actor, a major part of the difference stems from the clashing styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor evident [in Tolkien’s world] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey explained. “Characters get so far in roles and status by committing terrible acts and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more honor, and other than Morgoth or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of believing knighthood is more difficult, the actor argues that in Westeros it’s more difficult to maneuver while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.

The Weight of Knighthood in Westeros

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the ethically blurring anxiety that stems from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a humble fighter. Audiences have seen the pressure of knighthood throughout the franchise, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people bound by vows are forced to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

However, while being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, the actor is quick to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the year,” he said, “I’d say Martin probably agrees.”