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One key distinction between LOTR and GOT is highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, the King of Gondor reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain vague. This type of inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Exploring Knighthood in Two Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next GOT spinoff, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into these complexities through the fan-favorite tale of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. At a recent panel, Claffey reflected on one major difference between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of chivalry.

“This world that Martin has built, it contains a lot more dark and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it's hard to find your way,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it works; this was true for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For a person to have the actual knightly valor in that realm is something to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that knighthood has probably forgotten in this world on his quest in the tourney. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, the actor tried to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Of course, it prompted a deeper conversation to further explore his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

According to the actor, a major part of the difference comes down to the clashing tones between these two legendary fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor evident [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “Characters get so far in roles and rank by committing terrible acts and betraying others, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy 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 storybook villainy.”

Rather than thinking chivalry is harder, Claffey argues that in Westeros it’s more difficult to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.

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 perspective of a humble fighter. Viewers have witnessed the stress of knighthood across the series, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals under oath are compelled to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

That said, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he said, “I believe George probably agrees.”