GOT Star Shares Controversial Take on Lord of the Rings Chivalry

A central distinction separating LOTR and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn ruled for a century after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain vague. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn never would.

Exploring Chivalry in Two Fantasy Worlds

HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Dunk (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They face a series of dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have died out. At a recent panel, Claffey commented on one major contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.

“This world that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he stated. “For a lot of individuals in this world, 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 a quality to really look up to, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. So I really adore Dunk’s need to maintain the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in this world through his journey in Ashford. I think it requires a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, the actor tried to walk back that statement, concerned it might spark a war between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Of course, this led to a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the universes of GOT and LOTR.

Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds

According to the actor, a major part of the distinction stems from the clashing styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.

“There is so much more integrity evident [in Tolkien’s world] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey explained. “Characters get so far in roles and rank by doing hideous things and betraying others, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and other than Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”

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

The Burden of Chivalry in Game of Thrones

“A warrior with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he remarked, referring to the ethically blurring stress that stems from trying to navigate the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Viewers have witnessed the stress of chivalry throughout the series, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jamie Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how people under oath are compelled to betray their principles, and what it does to them psychologically.

That said, although being a knight in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to admit that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass any day of the week,” Claffey declared, “I believe George probably agrees.”