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One key distinction between The Lord of the Rings and GOT is illustrated by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for a century after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. Such inquiry fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Delving into Knighthood in Different Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They encounter multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a recent panel, the actor reflected on one major difference between GOT and LOTR: the core meaning of knighthood.

“This world that George has built, it contains a lot more dark and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he stated. “And for a lot of people in this world, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For a person to have the actual chivalric honor in that realm is something to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to maintain the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. I think it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the discussion, the actor attempted to soften that comment, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fan communities and put him squarely in the middle. Of course, this led to a deeper interview to delve into his perspective on how chivalry varies between the universes of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

According to the star, a major part of the difference stems from the contrasting styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“There is so much more integrity evident [in Tolkien’s world] because of the adult themes in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey said. “Characters rise to power in roles and status by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. With 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 believing knighthood is harder, the actor argues that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while trying to be a decent warrior.

The Burden of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A warrior with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the ethically blurring stress that comes from attempting to survive the scheming of the realm from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the pressure of chivalry across the series, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people under oath are forced to go against their morals, and the impact to them psychologically.

However, although being a knight in Westeros may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is quick to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the greatest that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass any day of the week,” he declared, “I believe George would concur.”