Game of Thrones Actor Shares Spicy Take on LOTR Chivalry

A key distinction between LOTR and Game of Thrones is illustrated by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the details of his rule remain vague. This type of questioning drives Martin’s personal fantasy world, often plunging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.

Exploring Chivalry in Different Realms

The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They face a series of perilous adventures in an age when the Targaryen line continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a comic con discussion, Claffey reflected on one significant contrast between GOT and The Lord of the Rings: the very definition of chivalry.

“The universe that Martin has built, there are a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. Much betrayal and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” he stated. “For a lot of individuals in this world, it works; this was true for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For a person to have the actual knightly valor in that world is something to really look up to, especially in the land of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in this world through his journey in Ashford. I think it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”

After the discussion, Claffey tried to walk back that comment, concerned it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, it prompted a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry differs between the universes of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.

Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds

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

“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey said. “People get so far in roles and status by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and other than Morgoth or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”

Instead of thinking chivalry is more difficult, Claffey believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to navigate while trying to be a decent warrior.

The Burden of Chivalry in Westeros

“A knight with some status must have some head fog,” he remarked, referring to the morality-clouding anxiety that comes from trying to navigate the scheming of the realm from the vantage point of a humble knight. Audiences have witnessed the stress of knighthood across the series, with figures like Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating how people under oath are compelled to betray their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.

However, while serving as a warrior in the Seven Kingdoms may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor is quick to concede that his character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wouldn’t stand a chance against the best that LOTR has to offer.

“Aragorn beats Dunk’s ass every time of the year,” Claffey declared, “I believe George would concur.”