GOT Actor Reveals Controversial Take on Lord of the Rings Chivalry
A key difference between LOTR and Game of Thrones can be illustrated by an often-cited remark from the GOT author. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for a century after the events of Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his rule remain unexplored. Such inquiry drives Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero avoided.
Exploring Chivalry in Different Realms
HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They face multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a recent panel, Claffey reflected on one major contrast between GOT and LOTR: the core meaning of chivalry.
“This world that George has created, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of treachery and backstabbing, and it’s challenging to find your way,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of people in Westeros, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that world is something to really look up to, particularly in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to maintain the ethics that chivalry has probably forgotten in Westeros on his quest in the tourney. In my view it requires a lot more to be a knight than it does in Middle-earth.”
Following the panel, the actor attempted to soften that comment, fearing it might spark a war between the two fandoms and put him squarely in the middle. Of course, it prompted a deeper interview to further explore his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.
Clashing Tones in Fantasy Worlds
According to the actor, a significant part of the distinction comes down to the clashing styles between these two iconic fictional settings.
“You find so much more honor evident [in Tolkien’s world] due to the mature content in GOT and George’s world,” he said. “Characters rise to power in roles and rank by committing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and aside from Morgoth or the Dark Lord, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”
Rather than believing knighthood is harder, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s tougher 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, referring to the morality-clouding anxiety that stems from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the perspective of a humble knight. Viewers have witnessed the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with characters like Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people bound by vows are compelled to go against their principles, and the impact to them internally.
However, although serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, the actor is still willing to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.
“Aragorn beats Dunk every time of the week,” Claffey declared, “I’d say George probably agrees.”