The Shocking Truth Behind Daenerys' Destructive Decision in Game of Thrones

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In the penultimate episode of Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen underwent a drastic transformation, becoming the Mad Queen. The shocking moment occurred when she decided to unleash destruction upon King's Landing. The reason behind her violent actions stemmed from the deep loss she had already experienced, having lost everyone and everything dear to her. In the episode titled "The Bells," Daenerys, riding her dragon Drogon, successfully defeated the forces of Euron Greyjoy's Iron Fleet, the Golden Company, and the city's defenses against dragons. However, despite the surrender signaled by the ringing of bells, Daenerys inexplicably snapped and proceeded to massacre the city using her dragon's fire.

This fiery scene, which symbolized Daenerys' complete transformation into the Mad Queen, was a divisive moment in the Game of Thrones finale. Drawing inspiration from her father, Aerys II Targaryen, also known as the Mad King, Daenerys forced the citizens of King's Landing to endure the horrors experienced during Aerys II's tyrannical reign. This action confirmed the fears of both her enemies and allies, who believed she possessed the potential for such madness. It surprised long-time viewers of the show, who had witnessed Daenerys' evolution from a hesitant Targaryen heir into a bold conqueror determined to dismantle the oppressive society of Westeros. Nevertheless, the sudden descent into madness by Daenerys Targaryen was not entirely without precedent.

Why Dany Burns King's Landing

Initially, at the beginning of the war against Cersei in Game of Thrones, Daenerys strongly desired to burn King's Landing to the ground, but Tyrion managed to persuade her otherwise. In fact, when Season 7 commenced, Daenerys appeared unbeatable, poised to conquer Westeros with ease. She had a formidable assembly of loyal supporters, including Tyrion as Hand of the Queen, Lady Olenna Tyrell of Highgarden, Ellaria Sand, the Sand Snakes of Dorne, Theon and Yara Greyjoy's Iron Fleet, along with Varys and Missandei.

Furthermore, Daenerys commanded her devoted Unsullied army led by Grey Worm, the powerful Dothraki horde, and her dragons Rhaegal, Viserion, and Drogon. It seemed impossible for her to fall to Cersei's forces. Nevertheless, due to miscalculations made by Tyrion, Daenerys consistently suffered losses throughout the conflict, except for the Loot Train Battle, in which her dragons secured her victory. By the time she arrived at Winterfell for the Great War against the Night King in Season 8, Daenerys had experienced significant reductions in her military strength, with her allies Ellaria Sand and Olenna Tyrell already deceased.

Also, Yara was captured by Euron Greyjoy, resulting in the loss of her Iron Fleet. Additionally, the devastating loss of Viserion occurred, as he was killed and transformed into the Night King's ice dragon. Despite the presence of her lover Jon Snow, it was at Winterfell that Daenerys experienced her most personal tragedy—Jorah Mormont, her oldest and dearest friend, sacrificed his life defending her during the Battle of Winterfell. The anguish continued as the Great War was won, and Daenerys suffered even more heartbreak. Returning to Dragonstone, she was ambushed by Euron who mercilessly killed Rhaegal. Moreover, on Cersei's command, Missandei was captured and brutally beheaded before Daenerys' eyes.

Dany Had Lost Everything

In "The Bells," it dawned upon Daenerys that her closest allies and trusted companions from Essos had vanished. Apart from Grey Worm, who mourned Missandei almost as deeply as Daenerys herself, everyone else claiming allegiance to her hailed from Westeros. To add to her woes, they conspired in secrecy, spreading the news that Jon Snow was indeed Aegon Targaryen, the son of her deceased brother Rhaegal. Despite Daenerys' desperate pleas, Jon revealed his true lineage to his family, Arya and Sansa Stark, and without hesitation, Sansa swiftly divulged the information to Tyrion.

After Tyrion informed Varys, the Spider embarked on a mission to rally the noble families of Westeros to support Jon's claim to the Iron Throne rather than Daenerys'. It was an inconvenient truth for Daenerys that Jon, as the true heir, had a stronger claim. Despite some fans feeling that Daenerys' sudden transformation into the Mad Queen was jarring and unearned, her capacity for ruthlessness had been evident throughout Game of Thrones.

There is a valid argument that Daenerys' descent into madness contradicts her seven seasons of character development, during which she had resisted her Targaryen instincts and strived to rule fairly and justly. However, from Daenerys' perspective, she was betrayed by her Westerosi advisers, and the people from Essos whom she trusted the most were taken away from her while she was doing her utmost to save the realm. With Jorah and Missandei gone, those who remained, such as Jon and Tyrion, betrayed her for the greater good of Westeros, ultimately resulting in the deaths of Daenerys and Bran the Broken, who assumed the Iron Throne.

Westeros Burned Daenerys First

In Essos, Daenerys exuded an irresistible charm, garnering love wherever she ventured. Her numerous accomplishments were a testament to her unwavering self-belief. However, the harsh reality awaited her in Westeros, a land where her reception was marred by skepticism and a lack of affection. This was largely due to the unpleasant collective memory associated with the Targaryens. Even Tyrion observed Sansa's resolute determination not to trust Daenerys, and despite her attempts at friendship, the Lady of Winterfell declined any possibility of a truce.

As Daenerys emerged victorious in King's Landing, it became evident that, despite all she had sacrificed, Westeros remained unwilling to place their trust in her or embrace their new Targaryen ruler (as symbolized by Jon's hesitance to show affection). Left with no other option, Daenerys resorted to instilling fear in its inhabitants. She was undeniably the sole contender in Game of Thrones who possessed the necessary qualifications for ruling, having dedicated years to mastering the art. Her arrival in Westeros was driven by a genuine desire to dismantle the existing flawed system and construct a superior world. However, the actions of her Westerosi allies revealed a desire to preserve the broken status quo instead.

From the commencement to the culmination of the Game of Thrones saga, it was Westeros that proved to be her downfall, leading to Daenerys' ultimate loss in her pursuit of the Iron Throne. Consequently, driven to the brink, she subverted her frustrations, anguish, and pure outrage upon King's Landing. While some may perceive Daenerys as inherently wielding madness and manifesting her true self, one could argue that it is the realm of Westeros itself that instilled this "Mad" Queen persona in her, compelling her to offer them what they craved — and what they truly deserved.

Why Daenerys Still Isn't GoT's Villain

Despite her controversial twist as the antagonist in season 8, Daenerys is not the ultimate villain in Game of Thrones. Instead, she represents the brutal nature of Westeros and serves as a reflection of the destruction that has occurred throughout the history of this world. Moreover, she serves as a cautionary symbol for what could happen if the current path is not altered. This reality was likely realized by Tyrion when he advocated for Bran the Broken to become the ruler. He believed that it was preferable to have a leader with extensive knowledge rather than one with excessive firepower.

Daenerys' journey is often overlooked by many fans. Despite Khal Drogo being a beloved character, it cannot be forgotten that he committed the heinous act of raping her. The fact that she forgave him and this was not properly addressed is a major criticism of season 1. However, it serves as a prime example of how the cruelty in Essos and Westeros shaped Daenerys into the Mad Queen. She is a ruthless liberator who has suffered great losses in a hostile world, leading her to react in horrifying ways while wielding immense power. Nevertheless, she does not possess the same level of sadistic cruelty as Ramsay Bolton or Joffrey Baratheon, who dehumanize others.

Daenerys, the Dragon Queen of Game of Thrones, has a rich backstory and a noble mission, making her too grounded to be seen as the true villain. Instead, she should be likened to her dragons - a natural force corrupted into a destructive storm, rather than the healing rains that could have washed away the arrogance of Westeros.

House Of The Dragon Gives Daenerys' Madness More Context

The final story arc of the Dragon Queen in Game of Thrones is further explained in House of the Dragon, where her ancestors, some of whom have the infamous Targaryen madness, provide context. The Targaryen madness is not only a result of centuries of incest but also the blood magic that runs within the Valyrian family. This madness indirectly led to the catastrophic events of the Dance of the Dragons, where House Targaryen came close to annihilating itself. House of the Dragon portrays this madness in different forms, such as prophetic insight or dragon dreaming in characters like Helaena or Aegon, or impulsive bloodlust in characters like Daemon or Aerys II. This twist in the Dragon Queen's storyline is not unexpected for those familiar with the Targaryen bloodline.

Westeros will always remember Daenerys as the Targaryen who burned King's Landing, and lived up to her father's reputation as The Mad King, but none of those opposed to her were surprised by her actions — it was only those in her thrall, and the audience, who were shocked. Now that much of the latter has seen House of the Dragon, however, Dany becoming the Dragon Queen feels about right for one of the few remaining Targaryens in Game of Thrones.

Daenerys' Decision Won't Be Expanded On In The Jon Snow Spinoff

Among the numerous Game of Thrones spinoffs in development, only one is set to occur after the conclusion of the original series. Talks have been held regarding a spinoff centered around Jon Snow, illustrating his life with the Wildlings Beyond the Wall after his reign as the King in the North. Certain fans even speculated the potential return of Daenerys in this new series.

After Jon murders Daenerys in the finale, Drogon seizes her lifeless body and takes flight. Speculation among fans suggests that the dragon might be transporting her to Valyria, where a Red Priest or Priestess could potentially resurrect her, replicating Melisandre's feat with Jon Snow in season 6. However, Emilia Clarke, the actress who portrays Daenerys, unequivocally declares (via: Extra) that "I wouldn't be in it." This revelation is not surprising since reviving Daenerys would not offer a more rational explanation for her actions; the show already depicted her as a difficult character to empathize with.

Rather than resurrecting Daenerys, a more fitting tribute to her demise would be to explore Jon Snow's subsequent narrative. Although Daenerys was perceived as the antagonist in the end, with Jon emerging as the tragic hero who had no choice but to end her life, the situation is considerably more intricate. The potential spinoff could delve into Jon's journey of accepting his culpability in enabling Daenerys to follow a destructive path that culminated in the devastation of King's Landing in Game of Thrones.