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One key difference between The Lord of the Rings and GOT is highlighted by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain vague. This type of questioning drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Exploring Chivalry in Different Realms

The upcoming GOT series, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a comic con discussion, the actor commented on one major difference between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of knighthood.

“This world that Martin has built, there are a lot more dark and mature subjects that are presented. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to find your way,” he stated. “For a lot of people in Westeros, it pays off; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the actual chivalric honor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that knighthood has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in the tourney. I think it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the discussion, Claffey attempted to soften that statement, fearing it might spark a war between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Of course, this led to a deeper interview 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 major part of the difference stems from the clashing tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey explained. “People rise to power in roles and rank by committing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. With the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more honor, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

Rather than thinking knighthood is more difficult, Claffey believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.

The Weight of Knighthood in Westeros

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the scheming of the realm from the vantage point of a humble fighter. Audiences have seen the pressure of knighthood across the series, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in GOT exploring how people bound by vows are compelled to betray their principles, and the impact to them psychologically.

That said, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, the actor is quick to admit that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that LOTR has to offer.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk’s ass every time of the year,” he said, “I believe Martin probably agrees.”