🔗 Share this article

A key distinction separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones is highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, Aragorn reigned for 100 years 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 plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Exploring Knighthood in Two Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff, The Hedge Knight, will delve into these complexities through the fan-favorite tale of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has created, it contains a lot more dark and mature subjects that are presented. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” Claffey stated. “And for a lot of individuals in Westeros, it works; it did for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For somebody to have the actual knightly valor in that world is a quality to really look up to, especially in the land of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the morals that chivalry has probably forgotten in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. 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 soften that comment, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a deeper interview to further explore his perspective on how knighthood varies between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

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

“There is so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] due to the adult themes in GOT and George’s world,” he explained. “People get so far in positions and status by committing terrible acts and betraying others, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more nobility, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

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

The Burden of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A warrior with some status must have mental confusion,” he said, referring to the ethically blurring stress that comes from attempting to survive the scheming of the realm from the vantage point of a humble fighter. Audiences have witnessed the pressure of chivalry across the series, with figures like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in GOT exploring how people under oath are compelled to betray their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.

That said, while being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is still willing to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that LOTR has to present.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk any day of the week,” Claffey said, “I believe George probably agrees.”