GOT Actor Reveals Spicy Take on Lord of the Rings Chivalry
A central distinction between LOTR and Game of Thrones is highlighted by a famous observation from George R.R. Martin. “How did Aragorn handle taxes?” Certainly, Aragorn ruled for 100 years after the events of Tolkien’s novels, but the specifics of his governance remain unexplored. Such inquiry drives Martin’s own fictional universe, often dragging his characters into ethical gray areas in a way Aragorn avoided.
Exploring Chivalry in Different Fantasy Worlds
The upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, aims to dive into this moral mud through the fan-favorite tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell). They encounter a series of dangerous exploits in an era when the Targaryen dynasty continues to occupy the Iron Throne but their fearsome dragons have gone extinct. At a comic con discussion, the actor reflected on one major contrast between GOT and LOTR: the very definition of knighthood.
“The universe that Martin has built, it contains a lot more dark and mature subjects that are presented. A lot of treachery and deceit, and it's hard to navigate,” he stated. “For a lot of individuals in this world, it pays off; this was true for Littlefinger for a long time. For a person to have the true chivalric honor in that world is something to genuinely admire, especially in the world of the Seven Kingdoms. I deeply appreciate Dunk’s need to maintain the morals that knighthood has largely abandoned in this world on his quest in Ashford. In my view it requires a lot more to be a warrior than it does in Middle-earth.”
Following the panel, Claffey attempted to walk back that statement, fearing it might ignite a war between the two fan communities 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 Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings.
Divergent Themes in Fictional Realms
As per the star, a major part of the distinction stems from the clashing tones between these two legendary fantasy worlds.
“There is so much more honor present [in Tolkien’s world] because of the mature content in Game of Thrones and George’s world,” Claffey said. “People rise to power in roles and rank by committing hideous things and stabbing people in the back, both physically and metaphorically. In the epic series that is The Lord of the Rings, you witness so much more nobility, and other than the dark Vala or Sauron, those pure evils, [LOTR] is a lot more like storybook villainy.”
Rather than believing knighthood is more difficult, Claffey believes that in the Seven Kingdoms it’s tougher to maneuver while attempting to remain a honorable warrior.
The Burden of Knighthood in Westeros
“A knight with a certain rank must have some head fog,” he said, pointing to the morality-clouding anxiety that comes from trying to navigate the politics of the realm from the perspective of a low-born knight. Viewers have seen the stress of chivalry throughout the franchise, with characters like Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon and Jaime Lannister in GOT demonstrating how people bound by vows are forced to go against their morals, and what it does to them psychologically.
However, while being a knight in the Seven Kingdoms may be harder than in Tolkien’s realm, Claffey is still willing to concede that his role in The Hedge Knight wouldn’t stand a chance against the greatest that The Lord of the Rings has to offer.
“The Ranger beats Dunk’s ass every time of the year,” Claffey said, “I believe George probably agrees.”
