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One key difference between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones is illustrated by a famous observation from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, the King of Gondor reigned for a century after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain vague. This type of inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They face a series of dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a recent panel, Claffey reflected on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the core meaning of chivalry.

“This world that Martin has built, it contains a lot more dark and mature subjects that are explored. A lot of betrayal and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” he stated. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For a person to have the actual chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to really look up to, particularly in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain the morals that chivalry has probably forgotten in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. I think it requires a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the discussion, Claffey tried to soften that statement, fearing it might spark a conflict between the two fan communities and put him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a follow-up conversation to further explore his perspective on how chivalry differs between the universes of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

According to the star, a major part of the distinction stems from the contrasting tones between these two legendary 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. “People rise to power in roles and rank by committing terrible acts 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 Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than believing knighthood is harder, Claffey argues that in Westeros it’s more difficult to maneuver while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the perspective of a humble fighter. Audiences have witnessed the stress of chivalry across the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how individuals bound by vows are compelled to go against their principles, and what it does to them psychologically.

However, while being a knight in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is still willing to admit that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the week,” he said, “I believe Martin would concur.”