Game of Thrones Star Reveals Spicy Opinion on LOTR Knighthood

One central difference separating The Lord of the Rings and GOT is highlighted by a famous observation from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, Aragorn ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. This type of questioning drives Martin’s personal fictional universe, often dragging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Exploring Chivalry in Different Fantasy Worlds

The upcoming GOT series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, 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 multiple dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their mighty beasts have died out. At a recent panel, the actor commented on one major contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, it contains a lot more dark and adult themes that are presented. Much betrayal and deceit, and it’s challenging to find your way,” he said. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the actual knightly valor in that world is a quality to really look up to, especially in the world of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain the ethics that knighthood has largely abandoned in this world on his quest in Ashford. In my view it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, Claffey attempted to walk back that comment, concerned it might spark a war between the two fan communities and put him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a deeper interview to delve into his perspective on how chivalry varies between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

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

“You find so much more honor evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the adult themes in GOT and George’s world,” he explained. “People rise to power in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. With the epic series that is LOTR, you see so much more honor, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than thinking chivalry is harder, Claffey believes that in Westeros it’s more difficult to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent knight.

The Weight of Chivalry in Westeros

“A warrior with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, pointing to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the pressure of chivalry across the series, with characters like Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals under oath are compelled to betray their principles, and what it does to them internally.

However, while being a knight in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to concede that his character in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that LOTR has to present.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk’s ass any day of the week,” Claffey said, “I believe George would concur.”