The Shocking Revelation That Altered the Fate of Every House of the Dragon Targaryen in Game of Thrones

Summary

Daenerys Targaryen's portrayal in Game of Thrones differed significantly from her character in the books, as the show omitted the distinctive Targaryen trait of purple eyes.

The decision to eliminate the purple eyes was made for practical reasons - purple contact lenses were seen as distracting, and using CGI was too complex. However, the purple eyes held significance in the lore of A Song of Ice and Fire, representing the power and ancient Valyrian lineage of House Targaryen. Despite the change in eye color, Daenerys' Targaryen heritage remained unquestioned.

Game of Thrones omitted a crucial detail about Daenerys that ultimately impacted the entire Targaryen family in both the HBO series and its prequel spinoff, House of the Dragon. Emilia Clarke's portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones was initially portrayed as an important character in George R. R. Martin's Westeros narrative. Although she was initially seen as a submissive princess, Daenerys utilized her family's complex history and her own personal tragedy as motivation to gain power. By the conclusion of Game of Thrones season 8, Daenerys not only claimed the Iron Throne but also demonstrated her ability to pose a significant threat to the Seven Kingdoms.

Instead of becoming the founder of a new Targaryen dynasty, thus becoming the first family ruler since "The Mad King" Aerys II Targaryen, Daenerys followed in her father's footsteps and lost her sanity before being assassinated by Jon Snow. While Game of Thrones deviated from the source material, particularly as the show outpaced the books, the ultimate outcome of Dany's journey in the novels remains uncertain. Nevertheless, notable disparities between the book and the show were evident from the beginning, especially in terms of character appearances. While Daenerys' onscreen portrayal often aligns with the book description, there is one specific detail that the show neglected to include, which is difficult to overlook.

Why Daenerys & Other Targaryens In Game Of Thrones & HOTD Don't Have Purple Eyes

Daenerys and the Targaryen family are famous for their platinum white hair, but they also possess another distinct feature: purple eyes. In George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, Targaryens are renowned for their purple eyes. However, this distinctive trait was not depicted in HBO's Game of Thrones or the upcoming series House of the Dragon, which heavily focuses on House Targaryen. The decision to omit Targaryens' purple eyes was not a creative one, but rather a practical one.

According to Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, mentioned during the season 1 DVD commentary (via PopCulture), using purple contact lenses proved to be distracting and utilizing CGI options was too complex. There were even rumors that Emilia Clarke (who played Daenerys) and Harry Lloyd (who portrayed Viserys Targaryen) experimented with purple contact lenses to capture the family characteristic, but found them to be uncomfortably impractical. Consequently, the HBO series opted for Clarke's natural green eyes, and House of the Dragon followed suit by disregarding the purple eye detail.

Why Targaryens Having Purple Eyes Is An Important Detail

The Targaryens considered the omission of purple eyes a significant change since it was a characteristic associated with their powerful Valyrian ancestry. In Westeros, their distinctive eye color, ranging from shades of purple to indigo and violet, was seen as a symbol of their authority. The presence of purple eyes and platinum hair among Targaryens served as a constant reminder to the Seven Kingdoms of their formidable presence, as it was rooted in their Valyrian bloodline. Despite HBO's decision to exclude purple eyes in Game of Thrones, the acknowledgment of Daenerys' Targaryen lineage remained unquestioned. House of the Dragon, with its focus on House Targaryen and their intricate historical significance in Westeros, further emphasizes the uniqueness of this royal family, both in positive and negative aspects.

Source: PopCulture