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A key distinction between The Lord of the Rings and GOT is highlighted by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, 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 inquiry fuels Martin’s own fantasy world, often plunging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Realms

HBO’s next GOT series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite tale of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They encounter multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a recent panel, Claffey commented on one significant difference between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. Much treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it works; this was true 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 world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to uphold the morals that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world 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 tried to soften that comment, concerned it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, it prompted a follow-up interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

According to the star, a major part of the difference comes down to the contrasting tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“You find so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] due to the mature content in GOT and George’s world,” Claffey said. “Characters rise to power in positions and status by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more honor, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of thinking knighthood is more difficult, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate while trying to be a honorable knight.

The Burden of Chivalry in Westeros

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of the realm from the perspective of a humble fighter. Audiences have witnessed the pressure of chivalry across the series, with figures like Criston Cole in HotD 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.

That said, while being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, the actor is quick to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that LOTR has to offer.

“The Ranger beats Dunk any day of the week,” he declared, “I believe George would concur.”