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A central difference between LOTR and GOT can be illustrated by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, the King of Gondor reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. This type of inquiry fuels Martin’s own fantasy world, often dragging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.

Exploring Knighthood in Two Realms

HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff, The Hedge Knight, will delve into this moral mud through the beloved story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They face a series of dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, the actor commented on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.

“The universe that George has created, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it's hard to navigate,” he stated. “For a lot of people in Westeros, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that world is a quality to really look up to, particularly in the world of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

Following the discussion, the actor attempted to soften that comment, fearing it might spark a war between the two fandoms and put him squarely in the middle. Naturally, it prompted a follow-up interview to further explore his perspective on how chivalry varies between the universes of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

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

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] because of the adult themes in GOT and George’s world,” he said. “Characters rise to power in positions and status by doing hideous things and betraying others, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more honor, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

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

The Burden of Chivalry in Westeros

“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, referring to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the vantage point of a humble knight. Audiences have seen the stress of chivalry across the series, with figures like Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how people bound by vows are forced to betray their principles, and what it does to them internally.

However, although serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is still willing 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.

“Aragorn beats Dunk every time of the year,” he said, “I’d say Martin probably agrees.”