Game of Thrones Actor Shares Spicy Opinion on Lord of the Rings Chivalry

A central difference between The Lord of the Rings and GOT can be highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for a century after the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his governance remain vague. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Realms

The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into these complexities through the beloved tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a comic con discussion, the actor reflected on one significant difference between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“This world that George has created, it contains a lot more sinister and adult themes that are explored. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” Claffey stated. “For a lot of people 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 a quality to genuinely admire, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. In my view it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that statement, fearing it might spark a conflict between the two fan communities and put him squarely in the middle. Of course, this led to a deeper conversation to further explore his thoughts on how chivalry differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

As per the star, a major part of the distinction comes down to the contrasting styles between these two iconic fictional settings.

“You find so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] because of the mature content in GOT and Martin’s creation,” he explained. “People get so far in positions and rank by committing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more honor, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than believing chivalry is more difficult, Claffey believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while trying to be a honorable warrior.

The Burden of Knighthood in Game of Thrones

“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the stress of knighthood across the series, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals under oath are compelled to betray their morals, and what it does to them internally.

That said, while being a knight in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“Aragorn defeats Dunk every time of the year,” Claffey declared, “I believe George would concur.”