🔗 Share this article

One central difference separating LOTR and Game of Thrones is highlighted by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, Aragorn ruled for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his rule remain vague. This type of questioning drives 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 Two Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the beloved tale of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. During a recent panel, the actor reflected on one major contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of knighthood.

“The universe that Martin has built, it contains a lot more dark and mature subjects that are presented. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of individuals in Westeros, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For a person to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in this world through his journey in Ashford. In my view it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the panel, the actor tried to soften that comment, fearing it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and put him squarely in the middle. Naturally, this led to a deeper conversation to further explore his perspective on how knighthood varies between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

According to the star, a major part of the difference comes down to the clashing styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more integrity present [in Tolkien’s world] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” he explained. “People rise to power in roles and status by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and aside from the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

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

The Burden of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with some status must have mental confusion,” he remarked, referring to the morality-clouding anxiety that stems from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the pressure of chivalry across the franchise, with figures like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how individuals under oath are forced to go against their morals, and the impact to them internally.

That said, while being a knight in Westeros may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to concede that his character in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that LOTR has to present.

“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass every time of the year,” Claffey said, “I’d say George probably agrees.”