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A key difference between The Lord of the Rings and GOT is illustrated by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain vague. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Delving into Chivalry in Two Realms

HBO’s next GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter multiple dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their mighty beasts have died out. During a comic con discussion, the actor commented on one major contrast between GOT and LOTR: the core meaning of knighthood.

“This world that Martin has created, it contains a lot more dark and adult themes that are explored. A lot of betrayal and deceit, and it's hard to find your way,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it pays off; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For somebody to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is something to really look up to, particularly in the land of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world through his journey in the tourney. In my view it takes a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Tolkien’s world.”

Following the discussion, Claffey tried to soften that comment, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fan communities and place him right in the crossfire. Of course, it prompted a deeper interview to further explore his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms

According to the star, a major part of the difference comes down to the clashing tones between these two legendary fictional settings.

“There is so much more honor evident [in Middle-earth] because of the adult themes in GOT and Martin’s creation,” he said. “People rise to power in positions and status by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the epic series that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than believing knighthood is harder, the actor argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s more difficult to navigate while trying to be a honorable warrior.

The Burden 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 trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Viewers have seen the pressure of chivalry throughout the franchise, with figures like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals under oath are forced to go against their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

That said, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to admit that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that LOTR has to present.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he declared, “I’d say George probably agrees.”