Daenerys Targaryen

**Daenerys Targaryen** (Emilia Clarke) was a main protagonist of *Game of Thrones* who became the main villainess of the series' final two episodes: "The Bells" and "The Iron Throne" (airdates May 12 and 19, 2019).

## Backstory/Events (Seasons 1-7)

She was the only daughter of King Aerys II Targaryen (better known as the Mad King for his dangerous obsession with a flammable liquid known as wildfire) and his sister/wife Rhaella Targaryen. Daenerys's mother died shortly after she gave birth to her on a night during which a summer storm raged. Daenerys was also the younger sister of Viserys and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen—with the latter secretly marrying Lyanna Stark and having a child with her named Aegon Targaryen, who then came to be known as Jon Snow (another main protagonist of the series). Being taken into exile as a baby, Daenerys was initially amenable and submissive because of Viserys' browbeating and manipulative nature; he often told his sister that the Iron Throne was stolen from their family. Located in the city of King's Landing on the continent of Westeros, the throne in question sat in a castle called the Red Keep and was one that the ruler of a monarchy known as the Seven Kingdoms sat on.

In the show's first season, her arranged marriage to Drogo (a warlord of the Dothraki—nomadic house-mounted warriors) helped her discover her potential and self-esteem. After the death of Viserys and Drogo along with managing to hatch three dragons (named Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion), the series' progression saw her traveling the continent of Essos (located east of Westeros and separated from it by the Narrow Sea), gathering a vast army, conquering three cities, and then abolishing slavery throughout Essos. However, Daenerys also came to be known for a rash of bloodthirsty and ruthless decisions she made about her enemies, with her friends and advisors having to talk her out of it before it escalated to extremes.

Sailing to Westeros with her forces in preparation of taking the Iron Throne for herself, the seventh season saw her displaying conceited behavior towards others more than she did in previous seasons; all the while, she formally styled herself as Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Rightful Heir to the Iron Throne, Rightful Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, the *Khaleesi* of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains. Meeting Aegon/Jon for the first time in episode 7.03, "The Queen's Justice," they gradually fell in love with each other and had their first sexual tryst in the season's finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf." However, the previous episode, "Beyond the Wall," saw the Night King (the leader of the White Walkers—an ancient race of ice creatures who were once humans) kill Viserion before bringing him back to life and having him melt the Wall (a fortification separating the Seven Kingdoms from the rest of Westeros) in said finale.

## Heel Turn/Death (Season 8)

In the first two episodes of the show's eighth and final season, Daenerys and Jon (the *true* heir to the Iron Throne due to his heritage) aided their forces and allies in preparing for an inevitable battle against the Night King and his forces. Jon also learned about his parentage and confided the truth to Daenerys but had no intention of pressing his claim for the throne. In episode 8.03, "The Long Night," Daenerys, Jon, and their forces battled the Night King and his army. The battle ultimately concluded with the deaths of all White Walkers and their undead forces—including their leader and his dragon. In "The Last of the Starks," Daenerys begged Jon to keep the truth of his parentage secret from everyone forever as she feared people would prefer Jon and seat him on the throne over herself, despite Jon's abdication in favour of Daenerys. Jon insisted he owed his sisters the truth of who he is and was certain that his sisters would keep the secret, reassuring Daenerys that he, Daenerys, and his family can all live together. However, Daenerys was unconvinced. Though Jon swore his sisters to secrecy before allowing them to know his parentage, Sansa felt compelled to tell Tyrion, who told Daenerys's advisor, Varys.

Later, Daenerys was ambushed on her return to Dragonstone by Euron Greyjoy and his Iron Fleet. They killed Rhaegal and captured Daenerys' handmaiden Missandei. Missandei was later executed at the behest of Queen Cersei Lannister (the twin sister/lover of Jaime and also the older sister of Tyrion), sending Daenerys into a grief-stricken state. Additionally, when it came to Jon and Daenerys's physical intimacy, Jon was unable to overcome their familial ties and pulled back from their sexual relationship.

In episode 8.05, "The Bells," Varys tried to convince Jon to take the throne but Jon refused to betray Daenerys. Daenerys learned about this from Tyrion and she executed Varys for treason by dragonfire. Later, she and her forces arrived at King's Landing and defeated the city's defenses. At this, the Lannister soldiers and citizens surrendered to Daenerys, ringing the titular bells. As they rang, Daenerys turned heel—succumbing to her sorrow and rage upon silently realizing that the residents of Westeros never wanted to have her as their queen, nor would they love her. She then cemented her transformation into a villainess by having Drogon burn the city, killing the surrendered Lannister soldiers along with tens of thousands of its residents. Her forces took the lead from her by indiscriminately massacring anyone they could get their hands on. Regarding Cersei, she perished while hugging Jaime when debris crushed them after Drogon attacked the Red Keep with fire.

In episode 8.06 and the series finale, "The Iron Throne," the delusional woman sentenced all of Cersei's remaining soldiers who survived the Battle of King's Landing to death before giving a speech during which she named Grey Worm (Missandei's lover) as the commander of all her forces. She then declared she "liberated" the people of King's Landing before announcing she will conquer the world and "liberate" the world's people from "tyrants" who refuse to submit to her authority. Stating to Tyrion that freeing his older brother was treasonous, Tyrion (who was her closest advisor as the Hand of the Queen) confirmed her suspicions before reminding her of her decision to set fire to everyone in King's Landing and publicly resigning. Furious at his words and his decision, Daenerys ordered Tyrion to be arrested; later on, she admired the Iron Throne as she approached it.

Jon entered the remains of the throne room after having a discussion with Tyrion in his cell, during which Tyrion urged a resistant Jon to kill Daenerys for becoming the people's greatest threat but Jon struggled with the prospect due to his love for her. In the throne room, Daenerys touched the throne with her left hand and prepared to sit on it, recounting the details of the conquest of her ancestor King Aegon I Targaryen to Jon. However, Jon angrily confronted Daenerys for her burning the city, killing of civilians, and execution of surrendered soldiers. Daenerys rationalized her actions as "necessary" and refused mercy and forgiveness because they "can't hide behind small mercies." With Jon tearfully begging her to agree to a "world of mercy," Daenerys explained it will be once her new world is established and that she knows "what is good." When Jon asked her about everyone else who believes they know what is good as well, Daenerys replied, "They don't get to choose."

She embraced Jon and urged him to "build the new world" alongside her since it was "[their] reason," saying they would "break the wheel together." Heartbroken, Jon replied by saying that she was his queen "now... and always" before sharing his final kiss with her and reluctantly stabbing her in her heart with a dagger. Being caught by her lover as fell, blood escaped from her nose and her mouth as Daenerys displayed bewildered anguish before dying in Jon's arms as he grieved.