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A key difference between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, the King of Gondor ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his governance remain vague. This type of inquiry drives Martin’s personal fictional universe, often dragging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Exploring 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 tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a comic con discussion, Claffey commented on one major contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of chivalry.

“This world that Martin has built, there are a lot more dark and mature subjects that are presented. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” Claffey said. “For a lot of individuals in this world, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to really look up to, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to uphold 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 Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, the actor tried to soften that comment, fearing it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and put him squarely in the middle. Naturally, this led to a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry varies between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fictional Realms

As per the actor, a significant part of the difference comes down to the clashing tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“You find so much more honor evident [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in GOT and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “People rise to power in positions and rank by doing hideous things and betraying others, literally and figuratively. In the epic series that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of thinking chivalry is harder, Claffey believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent warrior.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that stems from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a humble fighter. Viewers have seen the stress of knighthood across the series, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people bound by vows are compelled to go against their principles, and the impact to them internally.

However, although serving as a warrior in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to admit that his character in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the year,” he declared, “I believe George would concur.”