Game of Thrones Star Shares Controversial Opinion on LOTR Knighthood
A central difference between LOTR and Game of Thrones is highlighted by a famous remark from George R.R. Martin. “What was Aragorn’s tax policy?” Certainly, Aragorn reigned for a century after the conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, but the details of his governance remain vague. Such inquiry fuels Martin’s own fantasy world, often dragging his protagonists into ethical gray areas in a way the LOTR hero never would.
Delving into Chivalry in Two Realms
HBO’s next GOT series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into these complexities through the fan-favorite story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Egg (the young star). They face a series of dangerous exploits in an age when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the throne but their mighty beasts have died out. During a recent panel, Claffey commented on one significant difference between GOT and LOTR: the core meaning of chivalry.
“The universe that Martin has created, it contains a lot more sinister and mature subjects that are explored. Much treachery and backstabbing, and it's hard to navigate,” Claffey said. “For a lot of people in this world, it works; this was true for Petyr Baelish for a long time. For a person to have the true chivalric honor in that realm is something to really look up to, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s commitment to uphold the morals that knighthood has largely abandoned in Westeros on his quest in Ashford. In my view it requires a lot more to be a knight than it does in Tolkien’s world.”
Following the panel, Claffey tried to walk back that statement, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fan communities and put him squarely in the middle. Naturally, it prompted a deeper interview to delve into his thoughts on how chivalry differs between the worlds of Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.
Divergent Themes in Fantasy Worlds
According to the actor, a major part of the difference stems from the clashing tones between these two legendary fantasy worlds.
“You find so much more honor present [in Middle-earth] because of the mature content in GOT and George’s world,” Claffey explained. “People get so far in positions and status by committing hideous things and betraying others, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more nobility, and aside from the dark Vala or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like fairy tale evil.”
Instead of believing knighthood is harder, the actor believes that in Westeros it’s tougher to maneuver while trying to be a decent knight.
The Weight of Knighthood in Game of Thrones
“A knight with a certain rank must have mental confusion,” he said, referring to the ethically blurring anxiety that stems from attempting to survive the politics of Westeros from the perspective of a low-born knight. Audiences have seen the stress of knighthood throughout the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT exploring how individuals bound by vows are compelled to go against their principles, and the impact to them internally.
However, while serving as a warrior in Westeros may be harder than in Middle-earth, Claffey is quick to admit that his role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no match against the best that LOTR has to present.
“The Ranger defeats Dunk’s ass any day of the year,” he said, “I’d say Martin probably agrees.”
