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One key distinction between LOTR and GOT can be illustrated by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, Aragorn reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his governance remain vague. This type of questioning fuels Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn avoided.

Delving into Knighthood in Different Realms

The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. At a comic con discussion, the actor commented on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, there are a lot more dark and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and deceit, and it’s challenging to find your way,” he said. “And for a lot of individuals in Westeros, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that world is a quality to genuinely admire, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in Westeros through his journey in Ashford. I think it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the discussion, the actor attempted to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a conflict between the two fan communities and put him right in the crossfire. Of course, it prompted a deeper conversation to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry varies between the universes of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

As per the star, a major part of the distinction comes down to the clashing styles between these two legendary fantasy worlds.

“There is so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey explained. “Characters rise to power in positions and rank by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of believing chivalry is more difficult, the actor argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable knight.

The Burden of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a humble knight. Audiences have witnessed the stress of knighthood throughout the series, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in GOT demonstrating how individuals under oath are compelled to betray their principles, and what it does to them internally.

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

“Aragorn beats Dunk every time of the week,” Claffey declared, “I’d say Martin probably agrees.”