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A central difference between The Lord of the Rings and GOT can be highlighted by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, the King of Gondor reigned for a century after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his governance remain vague. This type of inquiry drives Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn never would.

Delving into Knighthood in Two Realms

HBO’s next GOT spinoff, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the beloved story of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face a series of perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line still holds the throne but their mighty beasts have died out. During a recent panel, Claffey commented on one major contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that George has built, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey stated. “For a lot of individuals in this world, it pays off; it did for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For a person to have the actual chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that chivalry has probably forgotten 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.”

After the discussion, Claffey attempted to walk back that statement, fearing it might ignite a conflict between the two fan communities and place him squarely in the middle. Of course, this led to a deeper conversation to delve into his perspective on how knighthood differs between the worlds of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

As per the actor, a significant part of the distinction stems from the contrasting tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey said. “Characters get so far in positions and status by doing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than believing chivalry is more difficult, Claffey believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate while trying to be a decent knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, referring to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the perspective of a humble knight. Viewers have witnessed the stress of knighthood across the series, with figures like Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people under oath are compelled to go against their principles, and the impact to them internally.

That said, although serving as a warrior in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to admit that his role in The Hedge Knight is no match against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk any day of the week,” he said, “I’d say Martin probably agrees.”