🔗 Share this article

A central difference between LOTR and GOT can be illustrated by an often-cited observation from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. This type of questioning fuels Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their mighty beasts have died out. At a recent panel, the actor commented on one significant difference between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that George has created, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to find your way,” he stated. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it works; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the true knightly valor in that realm is a quality to really look up to, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world through his journey in the tourney. In my view it requires a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the discussion, Claffey tried to soften that comment, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fan communities and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, this led to a deeper interview to further explore his perspective on how knighthood varies between the universes of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Clashing Tones in Fictional Realms

According to the star, a major part of the distinction stems from the contrasting tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he said. “Characters rise to power in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more honor, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

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

The Weight of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he remarked, pointing to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a humble fighter. Viewers have seen the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals bound by vows are compelled to go against their morals, and the impact to them internally.

That said, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that LOTR has to present.

“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass any day of the year,” Claffey declared, “I’d say George probably agrees.”