🔗 Share this article

A key difference between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by a famous observation from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, Aragorn reigned for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his governance remain vague. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Knighthood in Two Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into this moral mud through the beloved story of Dunk (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. At a comic con discussion, the actor reflected on one significant contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“This world that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. Much betrayal and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it works; this was true for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that world is something to genuinely admire, particularly in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world on his quest in the tourney. I think it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, Claffey attempted to soften that comment, concerned it might ignite a conflict between the two fan communities and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a follow-up interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

According to the star, a major part of the distinction stems from the clashing styles between these two iconic fictional settings.

“There is so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “Characters get so far in roles and status by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of believing chivalry is more difficult, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.

The Weight of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that comes from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the perspective of a humble knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of chivalry throughout the series, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals bound by vows are forced to go against their principles, and what it does to them internally.

That said, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is quick to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that LOTR has to present.

“Aragorn beats Dunk every time of the week,” Claffey declared, “I believe Martin probably agrees.”