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One key distinction between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones is highlighted by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain vague. Such questioning fuels Martin’s own fantasy world, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Knighthood in Different Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They face a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. At a recent panel, the actor reflected on one significant difference between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the core meaning of chivalry.

“The universe that George has created, it contains a lot more dark and adult themes that are presented. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey said. “For a lot of people in this world, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that world is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that knighthood 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 Tolkien’s world.”

After the panel, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fan communities and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a deeper conversation to further explore his thoughts on how chivalry differs between the universes of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

As per the actor, a major part of the difference comes down to the contrasting styles between these two legendary fantasy worlds.

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] because of the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he said. “Characters rise to power in positions and status by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more honor, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Instead of believing chivalry is harder, the actor believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while trying to be a honorable knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A knight with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he said, pointing to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have witnessed the stress of chivalry across the series, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how individuals bound by vows 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 Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to concede that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he said, “I believe Martin would concur.”