GOT Actor Shares Spicy Take on Lord of the Rings Chivalry
A key distinction between The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones can be highlighted by an often-cited observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Indeed, the King of Gondor ruled for a century after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way Aragorn never would.
Exploring Knighthood in Two Fantasy Worlds
HBO’s next Game of Thrones series, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (the actor) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They face a series of dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a recent panel, the actor commented on one significant contrast between Game of Thrones and LOTR: the very definition of knighthood.
“The universe that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are presented. Much treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to navigate,” he stated. “For a lot of people in Westeros, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a considerable period. For somebody to have the true knightly valor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, especially in the land of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain the morals that chivalry has largely abandoned in Westeros through his journey in Ashford. In my view it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”
Following the panel, the actor tried to soften that statement, fearing it might ignite a conflict between the two fandoms and place him squarely in the middle. Naturally, it prompted a follow-up interview to further explore his thoughts on how chivalry varies between the universes of GOT and LOTR.
Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds
As per the actor, a significant part of the distinction stems from the clashing tones between these two iconic fantasy worlds.
“You find so much more honor evident [in Middle-earth] because of the adult themes in Game of Thrones and Martin’s creation,” Claffey explained. “People get so far in roles and status by doing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is LOTR, you witness so much more honor, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”
Rather than believing chivalry is more difficult, the actor argues that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a decent knight.
The Weight of Chivalry in Game of Thrones
“A knight with some status must have mental confusion,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that comes from trying to navigate the politics of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born fighter. Viewers have witnessed the pressure of chivalry throughout the franchise, with characters like Criston Cole in HotD and Jamie Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals bound by vows are compelled to go against their morals, and what it does to them internally.
However, although serving as a warrior in Westeros may be more difficult than in Middle-earth, Claffey is still willing to admit that his character in The Hedge Knight is no match against the greatest that LOTR has to present.
“Aragorn beats Dunk every time of the year,” he declared, “I believe George would concur.”