Game of Thrones Star Shares Controversial Take on LOTR Chivalry
A central distinction between The Lord of the Rings and GOT is highlighted by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Indeed, Aragorn reigned for 100 years after the conclusion of Tolkien’s books, but the specifics of his rule remain unexplored. Such questioning fuels Martin’s personal fictional universe, often dragging his characters into moral ambiguity in a way the LOTR hero never would.
Exploring Knighthood in Two Fantasy Worlds
HBO’s next GOT series, The Hedge Knight, aims to dive into these complexities through the beloved story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (the young star). They encounter a series of dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. During a recent panel, the actor commented on one significant contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of chivalry.
“The universe that Martin has created, there are a lot more dark and adult themes that are presented. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it’s challenging to find your way,” Claffey said. “And for a lot of individuals in Westeros, it pays off; it did for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For a person to have the actual knightly valor in that realm is a quality to genuinely admire, particularly in the land of Westeros. So I really adore Dunk’s commitment to maintain the ethics that chivalry has largely abandoned in this world on his quest in Ashford. I think it takes a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”
After the panel, Claffey tried to walk back that statement, fearing it might spark a conflict between the two fandoms and place him right in the crossfire. Naturally, this led to a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how knighthood differs between the worlds of GOT and The Lord of the Rings.
Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds
According to the star, a significant part of the difference comes down to the clashing styles between these two legendary fantasy worlds.
“There is so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] because of the adult themes in GOT and Martin’s creation,” he said. “People rise to power in roles and rank by committing terrible acts and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. With the glorious trilogy that is LOTR, you witness so much more nobility, and aside from Morgoth or Sauron, those absolute villains, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”
Rather than believing knighthood is harder, the actor believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while trying to be a honorable knight.
The Weight of Knighthood in Westeros
“A warrior with some status must have mental confusion,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding stress that stems from attempting to survive the scheming of Westeros from the vantage point of a low-born knight. Viewers have witnessed the pressure of knighthood across the series, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in HotD and Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones demonstrating 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 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 The Lord of the Rings has to offer.
“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass every time of the week,” Claffey said, “I believe George probably agrees.”
