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One central difference separating The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones is illustrated by a famous observation from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his rule remain vague. Such questioning drives Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn never would.

Delving into Knighthood in Two Realms

The upcoming GOT series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the throne but their mighty beasts have died out. During a comic con discussion, the actor reflected on one major difference between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“The universe that Martin has created, it contains a lot more dark 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 Westeros, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For somebody to have the actual knightly valor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in this world on his quest in Ashford. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

After the discussion, the actor tried to walk back that comment, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, this led to a deeper conversation to further explore his perspective on how chivalry differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

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

“You find so much more honor evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the adult themes in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” he explained. “People rise to power in roles and status by committing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more nobility, 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 believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to navigate while trying to be a decent knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he remarked, referring to the ethically blurring stress that stems from attempting to survive the politics of the realm from the perspective of a low-born knight. Viewers have witnessed the pressure of chivalry throughout the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how individuals under oath are forced to betray their principles, and what it does to them internally.

That said, while serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is still willing to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“Aragorn beats Dunk any day of the year,” Claffey said, “I believe George probably agrees.”