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One central difference between The Lord of the Rings and GOT is highlighted by a famous observation from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, Aragorn reigned for 100 years after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. Such inquiry drives Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Realms

The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved story of Dunk (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They face a series of perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. During a recent panel, Claffey reflected on one significant difference between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“This world that George has created, there are a lot more dark and mature subjects that are explored. A lot of treachery and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey 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 knightly valor in that realm is a quality to really look up to, particularly in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. In my view it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the panel, Claffey tried to soften that comment, concerned it might ignite a war between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Of course, it prompted a follow-up interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

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

“You find so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “People rise to power in roles and status by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more nobility, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than believing knighthood is harder, Claffey argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.

The Burden of Knighthood in Westeros

“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he said, referring to the morality-clouding stress that comes from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals bound by vows are compelled to betray their principles, and the impact to them internally.

That said, although being a knight in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is still willing to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk any day of the week,” Claffey declared, “I’d say Martin would concur.”