f anyone deserves a seat on our beloved fantasy epic’s eponymous Throne, it’s resilience-epitomising dragon-hatcher Daenerys Targaryen.
Though she first hit our screens as a manipulated runaway, the Breaker of Chains has gone on to rule multiple cities, free thousands of slaves, build powerful armies and political alliances, and legitimately resurrect the notion – and reality – of dragons.
Now that Game of Thrones season 8 is nearing its increasingly devastating finale, here’s your need-to-know guide on the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen.
Who is Daenerys Targaryen?
Deep breath; Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons – otherwise known as Dany – is one the most significant characters in Game of Thrones.
To understand why, we need to take a quick look at Westeros and its history. When the first season of Game of Thrones hit our screens, King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy) was on Westeros’ throne – having become ruler via a coup against the previous monarch, King Aerys II of the Targaryen family.
Aerys, who was also known as the Mad King (not an auspicious nickname for anyone in power), was deposed and killed because of his violence and cruelty. He had three children: Rhaegar, Viserys, and a daughter named Daenerys. Rhaegar, his wife Elia and his two (known) children were all killed before the show began while Viserys and Daenerys were smuggled into exile, growing up many miles away from their homeland.
Following the death of cruel and ambitious Viserys in season one, Daenerys became her father’s heir and determined to retake the Iron Throne of Westeros for herself.
Her status as the true Targaryen ruler was cemented, for many of us, after she managed to successfully hatch three dragons – the first of such creatures seen for many years. All done by stepping into a pyre with the eggs and emerging unscathed.
While the dragons started off tiny and arguably adorable, they have since grown into three monstrous, fire-breathing powerhouses (a little like when you adopt a micro pig and then find out it isn’t a micro pig after all).
Likewise, Daenerys has evolved from a frightened young girl – sold into marriage by her brother – to a fierce, stately Queen, well able to command the respect and loyalty of her armies and followers.
Your average throne-seeker couldn’t waltz in Winterfell with a troop aligned to traitors, let alone claim the castle, and receive little more than nay-saying in return.
Of course, now that she and her lover/nephew Jon Snow have learned he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, her life’s work is hanging in the balance. And losing Jorah, Rhaegal and Missandei within days of each other will not help her handle it well. Especially with such a strong sense of justice (which, thanks to her own experiences of being sold into marriage, was instigated through powerful empathy for slaves).
Who is Emilia Clarke, the actress who plays her?
Clarke, who is 32, shot to fame as Game of Thrones’ Daenerys – well and truly getting the Queen of all breakthrough roles.
Prior to that, the Berkshire-born British actress had taken on a few stage roles and had a guest appearance in the soap Doctors, but was virtually unknown.
In fact, she almost missed out on her career-making role as the part originally went to a different actress, Tamzin Merchant.
Merchant starred in an unaired pilot but showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff later decided to replace her, for undisclosed reasons. (Jennifer Ehle, who originally played Catelyn Stark, was also replaced, and large parts of the pilot were reshot.)
Since 2011, when the first season of the show began, Clarke has had prominent roles in a number of Hollywood films, including Terminator Genisys (2015) and heartbreaking romance Me Before You (2016).
She also played Han Solo’s childhood best friend, Qi’ra, in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Clarke recently opened up about suffering a potentially fatal brain haemorrhage – a kind of stroke which left her unable to recall her own name – in 2010.
She did so to launch a charity aimed at supporting young people with brain injuries, SameYou.
What has happened to Daenerys so far in Game of Thrones?
Season one
Sold by her brother as a bride to Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo. When Drogo died, Daenerys gained her dragons at his funeral pyre. Drogo’s followers acclaimed her their new queen.
Season two
In desperation, Daenerys and her followers sought refuge in Qarth, but became enmeshed in a plot to seize control of the city.
Season three
Daenerys acquired an army of elite Unsullied warriors at the slaver city of Astapor. She turned them on their slave-masters, sacking the city and freeing the populace. She then moved against the city of Yunkai, also run by slavers. With the aid of mercenary company the Second Sons, she conquered the city and once again freed all slaves.
Season four
Daenerys besieged the last great slave-city, Meereen, overthrowing it with the aid of a slave rebellion. However, she learned that the other cities she liberated had returned to slavery and, in addition, that she had lost control over her dragons.
Season five
Daenerys engaged in a political marriage with prince Hizdahr zo Loraq in the hope of stabilising the region. However, she was faced with revolt in her own city that killed her new husband. Her dragon, Drogon, rescued her from the fray, only to leave her many miles away, in the heart of a hostile Dothraki raiding party.
Season six
Daenerys freed herself from the Dothraki in such terrifying style that they again swore to follow her. Returning to a besieged Meereen, she crushed the slave-masters once and for all. Allying with Iron Islanders Theon and Yara Greyjoy, she set out on their fleet towards a waiting Westeros.
Season seven
After arriving at island fortress Dragonstone, she sent the Unsullied to take Casterly Rock and her Greyjoy ships to King’s Landing. Unfortunately, the Lannisters left Casterly Rock in favour of Highgarden and Euron overcame Yara Greyjoy’s fleet. Looking for allies, Dany summoned Jon Snow (the new King in the North) to bend the knee. Trying to shift the focus to the threat of incoming White Walkers, Jon refused. She then took Drogon and the Dothraki to destroy the Lannister army’s supply caravan – although her beloved dragon was injured. The survivors pledged their allegiance, except for Randyll and Dickon Tarly – whom she burned alive.
When Jon went beyond the wall to capture a wight, the Night King’s army came to meet (and kill) them. Jon and his forces were saved in the nick of time by Daenerys and her dragons. However, the Night King then gored Viserion to death with an icy spear.
Dany vowed to help Jon continue the fight and he finally bent the knee to her. The pair then brought the wight to Cersei, who agreed to fight with them (which we know is only going to last as long as a betrayal can be brewed). Unaware they are related by blood, Jon and Daenerys then had sex. Yikes.
Season eight
After arriving in the North and being handed (albeit begrudgingly) control of Winterfell, Daenerys enters many tense conversationals with the wary townspeople and leaders of Winterfell. While working through their obvious dislike of her, she is told her dragons aren’t eating and takes it upon herself to take Jon on his first-ever dragon ride in response. Their intimacy continues through the second episode until Jon, who has recently been told of his true parentage, breaks the Iron Throne-tossing ice. Seemingly ill-prepared for the Battle of Winterfell, Daenerys finds it extremely difficult to see simple battle tactics through. In the end, she loses most of the Dothraki, many allies, and – most upsettingly – Ser Jorah before being saved by Arya’s assassination of the Night King.
With attention turned towards the Iron Throne, Dany takes a small fleet to King’s Landing but is ambushed by Euron Greyjoy and the Golden Company en route. They kill Rhaegal, capture Missandei, and generally wreak havoc on the seas. Furious, Daenerys commits to a forward assault on the capital which results in the Targaryen and her dwindling army watching as her closest confidante (Missandei) is beheaded.
Why don’t people like Daenerys?
While it’s impossible not to have sympathy for Daenerys when watching the show, it’s important to remember that, for all the poor people of Westeros, she’s essentially just another conquering aristocrat riding in from foreign lands to wreak havoc, convinced that her bloodline entitles her to the throne.
She has also shown a darker, more ruthless side in recent years, which has led some to speculate that she could one day transform into an outright antagonist, following in the footsteps of her father Aerys.
Showrunner Dan Weiss, however, has cautioned against this theory.
“She’s not her father and she’s not insane and she’s not a sadist, but there’s a Targaryen ruthlessness that comes with even the good Targaryens,” he said in 2016.
Is Daenerys evil?
If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, it wouldn’t be a stretch for the series’ assumed protagonist to take a Skywalker turn towards the dark side.
Though we’ve been rooting for the Targaryen since day one, she has often blurred the lines between good an evil. Freeing slaves, then killing innocents who refuse to bend the knee. Intending to take the Throne to break the wheel, but taking little care in how she gets there.
Without the aide of advisors Jorah (sob), Varys and Tyrion, we have seen her become prone to merciless judgement and – though this doesn’t make her inherently evil – rash decision-making. Her moral compass could be compromised without strong counsel.
The scene is set, too. In season 8’s first episode we saw Daenerys show no remorse for the murder of Samwell Tarly’s father and brother. Then, when she learns of Jon’s true parentage in episode 2, a visibly uncomfortable and threatened Queen (understandably – she’s been sleeping with her nephew unknowingly and he has the right to snatch her life’s singular dream from under her). There may be very little high ground to stand on for much longer. Especially as the episode 4 trailer seems to show her skipping right past mourning and encouraging survivors to do the same so she can claim the Iron Throne.
Fans have theorized that, in a story based on morality’s shades of grey, it would be a fitting end to have the real villain reveal herself as our power-corrupted Mother of Dragons.
