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A central distinction between The Lord of the Rings and GOT can be highlighted by an often-cited remark from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, the King of Gondor reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. Such questioning drives Martin’s personal fictional universe, often plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming GOT series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They face multiple perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, the actor reflected on one significant difference between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of knighthood.

“The universe that Martin has built, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” he said. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For a person to have the true knightly valor in that realm is something to genuinely admire, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that knighthood has probably forgotten in Westeros through his journey in Ashford. I think it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the discussion, the actor attempted to soften that comment, concerned it might spark a war between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a follow-up conversation to further explore his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

According to the actor, a significant part of the distinction stems from the contrasting tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“There is so much more honor evident [in Middle-earth] due to the adult themes in GOT and Martin’s creation,” Claffey explained. “People get so far in positions and status by committing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of thinking knighthood is harder, Claffey argues that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while trying to be a honorable knight.

The Burden of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A warrior with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that comes from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born fighter. Audiences have witnessed the stress of knighthood across the series, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how individuals under oath are compelled to betray their morals, and what it does to them internally.

However, while serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to concede that his character in The Hedge Knight is no match against the greatest that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he declared, “I’d say George probably agrees.”