Game of Thrones Actor Reveals Controversial Take on LOTR Chivalry
A key difference separating The Lord of the Rings and GOT is illustrated by an often-cited remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his governance remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s own fantasy world, often dragging his protagonists into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.
Exploring Chivalry in Two Realms
HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will delve into this moral mud through the fan-favorite tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Egg (the young star). They face multiple dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a comic con discussion, Claffey reflected on one significant contrast between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the core meaning of knighthood.
“The universe that Martin has created, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. Much betrayal and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of people in this world, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to maintain the morals that knighthood has largely abandoned in Westeros 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 attempted to soften that comment, concerned it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Of course, this led to a follow-up conversation to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the worlds of GOT and LOTR.
Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms
As per the star, a major part of the difference comes down to the contrasting styles between these two iconic fantasy worlds.
“You find so much more integrity evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the adult themes in GOT and George’s world,” he said. “Characters get so far in roles and rank by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. With the glorious trilogy that is The Lord of the Rings, you see so much more honor, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”
Instead of thinking chivalry is more difficult, the actor argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to navigate while attempting to remain a honorable knight.
The Burden of Knighthood in Westeros
“A warrior with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he remarked, referring to the ethically blurring anxiety that stems from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born fighter. Viewers have seen the pressure of knighthood across the franchise, with figures like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals bound by vows are compelled to go against their principles, and what it does to them psychologically.
That said, while 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 is no match against the greatest that LOTR has to offer.
“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he said, “I’d say George would concur.”
