Game of Thrones Actor Reveals Spicy Take on Lord of the Rings Knighthood
A central distinction separating LOTR and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. Such inquiry fuels Martin’s own fictional universe, often plunging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero avoided.
Exploring Chivalry in Different Realms
HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They face multiple perilous adventures in an era when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a recent panel, the actor commented on one major contrast between Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings: the core meaning of knighthood.
“The universe that George has created, there are a lot more sinister and adult themes that are explored. Much betrayal and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he said. “And for a lot of individuals in this world, it works; it did for Petyr Baelish for a considerable period. For somebody to have the actual chivalric honor in that world is something to genuinely admire, particularly in the world of Westeros. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the ethics that knighthood has probably forgotten 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, the actor tried to walk back that statement, fearing it might spark a war between the two fandoms and put him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a deeper conversation to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood varies between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.
Clashing Tones in Fictional Realms
As per the star, a major part of the difference comes down to the clashing tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.
“You find so much more integrity evident [in Middle-earth] because of the adult themes in GOT and Martin’s creation,” Claffey said. “Characters get so far in roles and rank by doing terrible acts and stabbing people in the back, literally and figuratively. In the epic series that is LOTR, you see so much more nobility, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”
Instead of believing chivalry is harder, Claffey believes that in Westeros 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 some head fog,” he said, referring to the ethically blurring anxiety that comes from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Audiences have witnessed the pressure of knighthood throughout the franchise, with characters like Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones exploring how individuals bound by vows are forced to betray their morals, and the impact to them psychologically.
That said, although serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Tolkien’s realm, the actor 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.
“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” he declared, “I believe George would concur.”
