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A key difference separating LOTR and GOT is highlighted by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, Aragorn reigned for a century after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain vague. This type of inquiry drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Knighthood in Two Realms

The upcoming Game of Thrones series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into this moral mud through the beloved tale of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. During a recent panel, the actor commented on one significant difference between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“This world that George has built, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to find your way,” Claffey stated. “And for a lot of individuals in Westeros, it pays off; it did for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is something to really look up to, especially in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to maintain the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in Ashford. I think it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the panel, the actor attempted to walk back that comment, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a follow-up conversation to further explore his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

As per the star, a significant part of the distinction stems from the contrasting styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey said. “People get so far in positions and status by committing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more nobility, and aside from the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than thinking chivalry is harder, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s more difficult to maneuver while trying to be a honorable warrior.

The Weight of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A knight with some status must have mental confusion,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that stems from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a humble knight. Viewers have witnessed the pressure of chivalry across the series, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how people bound by vows are compelled to go against their principles, and what it does to them psychologically.

However, although being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is still willing to concede that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that LOTR has to present.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” Claffey declared, “I’d say George probably agrees.”