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One central distinction between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by an often-cited remark from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. This type of inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Knighthood in Different Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They encounter multiple dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. At a comic con discussion, Claffey reflected on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, there are a lot more dark and adult themes that are explored. A lot of betrayal and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey stated. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that world is something to genuinely admire, particularly in the world of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s need to uphold the ethics that knighthood has probably forgotten in this world on his quest in the tourney. I think it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the panel, the actor attempted to walk back that statement, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, it prompted a follow-up conversation to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the universes of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

According to the actor, a major part of the distinction stems from the clashing styles between these two legendary fantasy worlds.

“You find so much more integrity evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “Characters rise to power in positions and status by committing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. In the epic series that is LOTR, you witness so much more nobility, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than thinking knighthood is more difficult, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate while attempting to remain a decent warrior.

The Burden of Knighthood in Westeros

“A warrior with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the stress of chivalry across the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how individuals under oath are forced to go against their morals, and the impact to them psychologically.

However, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult 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 The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the week,” he declared, “I believe Martin probably agrees.”