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A central distinction separating The Lord of the Rings and GOT can be highlighted by a famous remark from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for 100 years after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain vague. This type of inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Exploring Chivalry in Different Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the beloved tale of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter multiple dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a recent panel, Claffey reflected on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“This world that George has built, there are a lot more sinister and adult themes that are presented. A lot of treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” Claffey stated. “And 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 actual chivalric honor in that world is something to really look up to, especially in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to maintain the ethics that knighthood has probably forgotten in this world on his quest in Ashford. In my view 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 statement, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, it prompted a follow-up interview to further explore his perspective on how knighthood differs between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

As per the star, a significant part of the distinction comes down to the contrasting tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “People rise to power in roles and rank by committing terrible acts and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more honor, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than believing knighthood is more difficult, Claffey believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to maneuver while trying to be a honorable knight.

The Burden of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from trying to navigate the scheming of the realm from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of chivalry across the series, with figures like Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people under oath are forced to go against their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

That said, although being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk any day of the week,” Claffey declared, “I’d say George would concur.”