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A key distinction separating LOTR and GOT can be highlighted by a famous remark from the GOT author. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn ruled for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fantasy world, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.

Delving into Knighthood in Two Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next GOT spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They encounter a series of dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, the actor reflected on one major difference between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the core meaning of knighthood.

“The universe that George has created, there are a lot more dark and adult themes that are explored. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to find your way,” he said. “And for a lot of people in this world, it pays off; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For a person to have the actual knightly valor in that realm is something to really look up to, particularly in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that knighthood has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. In my view it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, the actor tried to soften that statement, concerned it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Of course, this led to a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fictional Realms

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

“There is so much more integrity present [in Middle-earth] due to the mature content in GOT and George’s world,” he explained. “People get so far in roles and status by doing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Rather than thinking chivalry is harder, Claffey argues that in Westeros it’s more difficult to navigate while trying to be a honorable knight.

The Burden of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A warrior with some status must have mental confusion,” he remarked, pointing to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a low-born fighter. Viewers have witnessed the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in GOT demonstrating how individuals bound by vows are compelled to go against their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

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 is no match against the best that The Lord of the Rings has to present.

“The Ranger defeats Dunk any day of the year,” Claffey said, “I’d say George probably agrees.”