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A central distinction separating The Lord of the Rings and GOT is illustrated by an often-cited observation from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, Aragorn ruled for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. Such inquiry drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn avoided.

Exploring Knighthood in Two Realms

HBO’s next GOT spinoff, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the beloved tale of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. At a recent panel, the actor commented on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, there are a lot more dark and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and deceit, and it's hard to find your way,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of individuals in Westeros, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to really look up to, particularly in the land of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world on his quest in Ashford. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Of course, it prompted a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fictional Realms

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

“There is so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in GOT and Martin’s creation,” he said. “People rise to power in roles and rank by committing hideous things and betraying others, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than believing chivalry is more difficult, the actor argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent knight.

The Burden of Knighthood in Westeros

“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the ethically blurring anxiety that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a humble knight. Audiences have witnessed the stress of chivalry throughout the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in GOT exploring how people under oath are forced to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

However, while being a knight in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, the actor is quick to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight is no match against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the year,” Claffey said, “I’d say George would concur.”