🔗 Share this article

One central difference separating LOTR and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. This type of inquiry fuels Martin’s own fictional universe, often plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Delving into Chivalry in Different Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into these complexities through the beloved tale of Dunk (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They encounter multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their mighty beasts have gone extinct. At a comic con discussion, the actor commented on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. Much treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he stated. “For a lot of individuals in Westeros, it pays off; it did for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For somebody to have the actual chivalric honor 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 maintain the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world on his quest in the tourney. In my view it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that statement, concerned it might ignite a war between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Of course, it prompted a deeper conversation to delve into his perspective on how chivalry varies between the universes of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

According to the star, a significant part of the distinction stems from the clashing styles between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more honor evident [in Tolkien’s world] because of the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” he said. “People rise to power in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and other than the dark Vala or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than thinking knighthood is harder, Claffey argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to maneuver while trying to be a honorable knight.

The Weight of Knighthood in Westeros

“A knight with some status must have mental confusion,” he remarked, referring to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a humble knight. Audiences have witnessed the stress of chivalry throughout the series, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people bound by vows are compelled to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

However, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is quick to admit that his character in The Hedge Knight is no match against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk every time of the week,” Claffey declared, “I believe Martin probably agrees.”