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A key difference separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. This type of questioning drives Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Exploring Knighthood in Two Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, Claffey reflected on one significant difference between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of betrayal and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” he stated. “For a lot of people in this world, it works; it did for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For a person to have the true knightly valor in that world is a quality to really look up to, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to uphold the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in the tourney. I think it requires a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that statement, fearing it might spark a war between the two fan communities and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, it prompted a deeper conversation to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry varies between the worlds of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

As per the actor, a major part of the difference stems from the clashing styles between these two legendary fictional settings.

“You find so much more integrity evident [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” he said. “Characters rise to power in roles and status by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you see 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.”

Instead of thinking knighthood is more difficult, Claffey argues that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while trying to be a decent warrior.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, referring to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of chivalry across the franchise, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people bound by vows are forced to go against their principles, and the impact to them internally.

However, while being a knight in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is quick to admit that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that LOTR has to present.

“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass every time of the year,” Claffey declared, “I believe Martin probably agrees.”