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A key difference separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, Aragorn ruled for a century after the events of Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They encounter a series of dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their mighty beasts have died out. At a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one significant contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“This world that Martin has created, there are a lot more sinister and adult themes that are explored. A lot of betrayal and backstabbing, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of individuals in Westeros, it pays off; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For a person to have the actual chivalric honor in that world is something to genuinely admire, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s need to uphold the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in the tourney. In my view it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a conflict between the two fan communities and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a follow-up interview to delve into his perspective on how knighthood varies between the worlds of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

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

“You find so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” he explained. “Characters get so far in positions and rank by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. With the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more nobility, and other than the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of believing knighthood is harder, the actor argues that in Westeros it’s more difficult to navigate while trying to be a honorable warrior.

The Burden of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he said, referring to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals under oath are compelled to go against their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.

That said, although serving as a warrior in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, the actor is still willing to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight is no match against the best that LOTR has to present.

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