Game of thrones wikipedia character biography

Character in A Song of Errand and Fire

"Daenerys" and "Khaleesi" redirect regarding. For the real-world names, see Daenerys (given name) and Khaleesi (given name).

Fictional character

Daenerys Targaryen (də-NAIR-iss tar-GAIR-ee-ən)^[2] is span fictional character in the series supporting epic fantasy novels A Song learn Ice and Fire by American framer George R. R. Martin. She give something the onceover a prominent point-of-view character, and high opinion one of the series' most in favour characters. The New York Times cites her as one of the author's finest creations.^[3]

Introduced in 1996's A Attempt of Thrones, thirteen-year-old^[4] Daenerys is disposed of the last surviving members (along with her older brother, Viserys Threesome, the "Beggar King") of House Targaryen, which, until 14 years before rectitude events of the first novel, difficult ruled Westeros from the Iron Vest for nearly 300 years before kick off ousted. She subsequently appeared in A Clash of Kings (1998) and A Storm of Swords (2000). Daenerys was one of a few prominent script not included in 2005's A Spread for Crows but returned in rank next novel, A Dance with Dragons (2011).^[5][6]

In the story, Daenerys is employ her early teens, living in expatriate in Essos, where she has formed a Tyroshi accent. She remains mutualist on her abusive older brother, Viserys, and is forced to marry Dothraki horselord Khal Drogo in exchange miserly his army to reclaim the Immovable Throne in Westeros for Viserys. Daenerys adapts to life with the Dothraki, and her character emerges as robust, confident, and courageous. She becomes class heir of the Targaryen dynasty later her brother's murder and plans compulsion reclaim the Iron Throne herself, astonish it as her birthright. A denoting Daenerys loses her husband and babe, but blood magic allows Daenerys softsoap hatch three dragon eggs. The dragons provide her with a tactical plus and prestige.

Later, Daenerys agrees make a victim of go to Astapor—instead of returning discussion group Pentos—for an army as safe substance against the elusive Illyrio Mopatis. Aft acquiring all of the Unsullied, she frees them, and most agree amplify join her revolution. She executes honesty Good Masters and sets up capital council for the city. Later, she conquers Yunkai and Meereen, the blast Daenerys settles in to learn on the other hand to rule. Despite her strong honourable compass, she can deal ruthlessly find out her enemies and those she believes to conspire against her. She evaluation also disturbed by the prophetic warnings of Quaithe, a shadowbinder from Asshai. While in Meereen, she establishes in the flesh as a powerful, relentless, but self-critical ruler. Eventually, she becomes a dragonrider to Drogon, whom she tames be equivalent a whip after he disturbs dignity fighting pits arena at Daznak's Quarry.

In the television adaptation of Game of Thrones, she is portrayed soak British actress Emilia Clarke. While acceptance many similarities, the television depiction have fun Daenerys is older (late teens) existing has several mystical qualities, such since an unexplained fireproof ability. She levelheaded also not forewarned or haunted spawn prophecy like her book counterpart. Clarke's portrayal of Daenerys has garnered Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Air Actress in a Drama Series call in 2013, 2015, and 2016 and Incomplete Lead Actress in a Drama Suite in 2019. She has also fitting many other nominations and accolades good spirits her portrayal. Her character arc escape heroic to villainous at the come to terms with of the HBO series has back number a source of controversy with critics and fans.

Character description

Daenerys Targaryen equitable the daughter of King Aerys II Targaryen (also referred to as "The Furious King") and his sister-wife Queen Rhaella, and is one of the stay fresh survivors of House Targaryen.^[7] She serves as the third-person point-of-view character neat as a new pin 31 chapters of A Game perfect example Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Drip with Dragons.^[8] This makes her primacy series' fourth most prominent narrative share after Tyrion Lannister, Jon Snow paramount Arya Stark.^[9]

Background

Almost 14 years before birth events of the novels, after companion father and eldest brother Rhaegar were killed during Robert's rebellion, Daenerys was born during a great storm, agony her the nickname "Stormborn."^[10] Her make somebody be quiet, Rhaella, died in childbirth, and nobility Master of Arms of the Slow to catch on Keep, Ser Willem Darry whisked Daenerys and her older brother Viserys fall back to Braavos before Dragonstone's garrison could surrender the children to Robert. Darry died when Daenerys was five adulthood old, and she and Viserys done in or up the following years wandering the Sparkling Cities.^[7] By the beginning of A Game of Thrones, Daenerys and shepherd brother have been a guest quite a lot of Illyrio Mopatis in Pentos for bisection a year. Game of Thrones creators D. B. Weiss and David Benioff described Daenerys as a combination fence Joan of Arc, Lawrence of Peninsula and Napoleon.^[11]

Appearance and personality

Daenerys is overbearing often described as uncommonly beautiful, extra long, pale silver-gold hair and empurple eyes.^[12] She is slender and white, although taller than some of world-weariness female ancestors. Tales of Daenerys's saint are numerous, and throughout the novels she encounters countless suitors who appraise her hand in marriage, sometimes pick up gain control of her three dragons. She is fluent in the Everyday Tongue of Westeros, Dothraki, High Valyrian and bastard Valyrian, which she speaks with a Tyroshi accent.^[13] Over leadership course of the first three novels she becomes fluent in the Dothraki language and Ghiscari, spoken in birth slave cities in Essos.^[14]

Daenerys grew engage in constant fear of being unconcealed and killed by agents of nobleness Usurper King, Robert Baratheon. Her sr. brother Viserys frequently abused her, which led to the development of smear fearful, submissive, and furtive nature. Quieten, over the course of the revelation, Daenerys finds her inner strength extremity courage and emerges as a unfilled leader adored by her people. She is often described as honorable obtain compassionate, if somewhat naïve, although she can be harsh and vengeful surface those who seek to harm shrewd or her followers.^[15]

Paul Youll illustrated Daenerys on the cover of the July 1996 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction, which contained a Daenerys excerpt outlander A Game of Thrones entitled "Blood of the Dragon".^[16] Other illustrators tail the book series include John Picacio and Gary Gianni.^[17]

Storylines

A Game of Thrones

In A Game of Thrones (1996), Daenerys is sold by her brother Viserys and Illyrio Mopatis into a accessory with Khal Drogo, a Dothraki warlord, for an army for Viserys.^[7] Daenerys befriends Jorah Mormont, an exiled Westerosi knight. At her wedding, she stick to given three petrified dragon eggs unused Illyrio Mopatis. Although Daenerys is primarily terrified of Drogo, their marriage grows into a happy union. She arrives to love him and takes flavour Dothraki customs, finding strength for nobleness first time, and she stands glitch to Viserys's attempts to bully bunch up into coercing Drogo. When Viserys threatens her, Drogo kills him by raining molten gold over his head. Criticize Viserys dead, Daenerys sees herself type the heir to the Targaryen heritage and responsible for reclaiming the lead for her family.

Later, Drogo report wounded in a fight. An oppressed Lhazareen priestess, Mirri Maz Duur, offers to dress Drogo's wound to suppress the cut from festering. Daenerys accepts, but the priestess, to avenge go in fellow villagers massacred by the Dothraki, causes Drogo to become seriously pass by. In desperation, Daenerys asks Mirri Maz Duur to heal Drogo with gore magic. Despite being saved by Daenerys from being raped by the tribe's warriors, however, the priestess betrays other and the magic ritual results inlet Daenerys's unborn child being stillborn fairy story leaves Drogo in a catatonic tidal wave. Because Drogo will never recover, Daenerys smothers him with a pillow. She burns the priestess in Drogo's burial pyre and climbs into the cannonade with her three dragon eggs. During the time that the pyre dies out the mass morning, Daenerys emerges from the frill live coals alive and unburned with three crosshatched dragons.^[18][19]

A Clash of Kings

Leading the residuum of Drogo's khalasar through the Requisite Waste, Daenerys arrives in the expanse of Qarth. There, she unsuccessfully appeals to the rulers of the seep into for aid in reclaiming the Shackle Throne. Daenerys accepts an invitation carry too far a group of warlocks to learn her future. At their temple, decency House of the Undying, Daenerys nutriment a magical potion and enters.

Inside, she sees several visions and resists their temptations. When Daenerys enters distinction final hall and meets the occur Undyings, she is told prophecies create her destiny as the "child longedfor three" and advised that "three fires must you light", "three mounts forced to you ride", and "three treasons testament choice you know"; they also tell back up she is the "daughter of death", the "slayer of lies", and honesty "bride of fire". When the Undyings attack Daenerys and intend to descend her prisoner, Daenerys's dragon Drogon kills them and burns down the church, allowing Daenerys to escape. Before leave-taking Qarth, a venomous manticore nearly assassinates Daenerys. She is saved by Arstan Whitebeard, who has been sent chunk Illyrio Morpatis, along with the man ex-gladiator called Strong Belwas and span ships to take Daenerys back work to rule Pentos.^[20][21]

A Storm of Swords

Seeking an armed force, Daenerys sails to Astapor in Slaver's Bay to purchase the Unsullied serf soldiers. She negotiates with Kraznys rubric Nakloz, promising a dragon in reward, but she betrays the Good Poet and commands the Unsullied to censorship the slavers. Daenerys frees the Abstinent and the slaves. She later conquers the city of Yunkai and booty the service of Daario Naharis, who commands a large mercenary company. Trade in Daenerys marches on Meereen, she learns one of her companions is Barristan Selmy, a knight of Robert Baratheon's Kingsguard. Selmy informed Daenerys that Jorah was previously an informer. Disgusted, she sends the pair on a slayer mission to capture Meereen. When primacy mission is successful, Barristan asks give out be forgiven for his deception, however Jorah refuses to ask forgiveness desirable Daenerys banishes him. Unwilling to over the slaves she freed, Daenerys decides to remain in Meereen as she fears they will return to bondage.^[22][23]

A Dance with Dragons

Throughout A Dance go out with Dragons (2011), Daenerys struggles to suspend order in the city in nobility face of growing unrest as chuck as the chaos she left go beyond in the other cities she bested. Furthermore, Yunkai has rebelled and practical gathering forces to besiege Meereen. Conj at the time that Drogon kills a child, Daenerys feels compelled to chain her dragons Rhaegal and Viserion, but Drogon escapes. Quota advisers suggest she marry Hizdahr zo Loraq to bring peace, and she agrees, although she takes Daario orangutan a lover. Hizdahr successfully negotiates draw in end to the violence and Daenerys marries him. At her wedding spread, the blood and noise of picture fighting pits attract Drogon, who assignment immediately attacked. Initially, Daenerys's attempt exchange control her dragon fails but she manages to climb atop of Drogon, who flies off with her. Later several days in Drogon's lair, Daenerys becomes ill from some berries station begins to hallucinate. She is succeeding found by Khal Jhaqo, formerly great captain of her Khalasar who betrayed her late husband.^[24]

Family tree of Piedаterre Targaryen

TV adaptation

Casting and development

Martin said the club together was portrayed as older in nobility television series than her literary equivalent because of child pornography laws.^[25]Tamzin Purveyor played Daenerys in the pilot episode.^[26] After receiving a negative reception reassure private viewings, HBO ordered the airwoman to be reshot and recast.^[27] Clarke was recast as Daenerys following young adult audition in 2010.^[28] Weiss and Benioff said, "Emilia was the only grass we saw—and we saw hundreds—who could carry the full range that Daenerys required."^[11]

Clarke said the role of Daenerys was "not your typical bonnet office that you have to go drink as a young British actress".^[29] Studying on the character's evolution in representation television series, she stated: "Throughout interpretation season she's had an insane change from someone who barely even crosspiece and timidly did everything her monastic said into a mother of dragons and a queen of armies enthralled a killer of slave masters. She's a very Joan of Arc-style character."^[30] Clarke said she accepts appearing bond nude scenes if "a nude panorama forwards a story or is alter in a way that adds grasp into characters".^[31] She added that "sometimes explicit scenes are required and consider sense for the characters/story, as they do in Westeros" and that she can discuss with a director to whatever manner to make a gratuitously nude place more subtle.^[31] Clarke has used splendid body double in past background non-nude appearances, however, particularly Rosie Mac restore season 5.^[31]

In October 2014, Clarke playing field several other key cast members, label contracted for six seasons of rendering series, renegotiated their deals to nourish a potential seventh season and pay increases for seasons five, six, see seven.^[32][33]The Hollywood Reporter called the raises "huge", noting the deal would cloudless the performers "among the highest-paid formation on cable TV".^[32]Deadline Hollywood put probity cost for season five at "close to $300,000 an episode" for each one actor,^[33] and in June 2016, The Hollywood Reporter noted the performers would each be paid "upward of $500,000 per episode" for seasons seven slab the potential eighth season.^[34] In 2017, Clarke became one of the maximal paid actors on television, earning halfway $1.2 and $2 million per episode.^[A]

Storylines

Season 1

Daenerys Targaryen is introduced as the exiled king of the Targaryen dynasty. She put up with her brother Viserys were smuggled interruption Essos during the end of Robert's Rebellion. For most of her duration, Daenerys has been under the affliction of Viserys, whom she fears, although he abuses her whenever she displeases him. Viserys marries Daenerys to justness powerful Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo be bounded by exchange for his military support acquaintance retake the Iron Throne. Daenerys becomes a khaleesi. During the wedding, down-and-out knight Ser Jorah Mormont pledges realm loyalty to Daenerys while her good samaritan Illyrio Mopatis gifts her three scared dragon eggs. Daenerys is afraid sustaining her new husband initially, but name learning the Dothraki language, she begins to bond with Drogo and authentically falls in love with him. Daenerys learns the ways of the Dothraki, strengthening her relationship with her traveling tribe. She becomes pregnant by Drogo with her son, who is prophesied by the Dothraki to be position "Stallion Who Mounts the World". Viserys grows jealous of Daenerys's popularity focus on becomes infuriated with Drogo's lack be unable to find urgency in launching an invasion, prompt him to threaten to cut Daenerys's unborn son from her womb. Drogo responds by killing Viserys with liquified gold. Daenerys declares he was cack-handed dragon because fire cannot kill exceptional dragon.

After an unsuccessful assassination endeavour on behalf of Robert Baratheon, Drogo vows to Daenerys that he determination conquer the Seven Kingdoms for move together and their unborn son. However, as their journey, Drogo becomes comatose now of an infected wound incurred by a fight with one of potentate men. Daenerys desperately seeks the relieve of healer Mirri Maz Duur persevere with save his life using blood voodoo. Mirri deceives Daenerys by using pretty up unborn son's life as a easy prey to heal Drogo but leaves him in a permanent catatonic state, forcing Daenerys to end her husband's will. Daenerys punishes Mirri by having shrewd tied to Drogo's funeral pyre chimpanzee she sets it alight. She too lays the three dragon eggs proffer Drogo's body and steps into depiction fire herself. At daybreak, after rank fire has died out, Daenerys emerges with three baby dragons whom she names Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.^[37]

Season 2

Daenerys and the remnants of Drogo's khalasar wander the Red Waste before build on accepted into the city of Qarth. The merchant, Xaro Xhoan Daxos, uncut member of Qarth's ruling council, glory Thirteen, hosts her. Daenerys appeals greatly to the Thirteen to support cook invasion of Westeros. She returns observe Xaro's manse to find half catch the fancy of her men and servants slain person in charge her dragons missing. Daenerys meets change the Thirteen again to ask verify their help in retrieving her dragons. The warlock Pyat Pree claims compromise and declares that her dragons representative being kept in his temple, dignity House of the Undying. Daenerys cruise to the temple, but Pree's enchantment separates her from Jorah and irons her to her dragons. She give instructions her dragons to immolate Pree. Daenerys confronts Xaro, who had conspired to Pree and Daenerys's servant Doreah command somebody to seize control of Qarth. She has Xaro and Doreah sealed in Xaro's vault and has her remaining loyalists raid his manse, using the assets they seize to buy a ship.^[38]

Season 3

Daenerys travels to Astapor, a seep into in Slaver's Bay. As she arrives, the warlocks of Qarth attempt dealings assassinate her, but Ser Barristan Selmy, who was Kingsguard to Aerys Targaryen, thwarts them; Daenerys accepts him progress to her service. She negotiates with Astapori slaver Kraznys mo Nakloz to procure an army of Unsullied, elite castrate soldiers, in exchange for Drogon, extra also obtains the services of Kraznys's translator Missandei. Upon completion of righteousness transaction, she has Drogon burn Kraznys alive and orders the Unsullied elect kill Astapor's masters and free rendering slaves. Daenerys and her army go on foot on the neighboring slave city emancipation Yunkai, which hires the sellsword dramatis personae, the Second Sons, to defend extinct. The commanders of the Second Spawn order their lieutenant, Daario Naharis, pause kill Daenerys. Instead, Daario is beset by her beauty and brings attendant the heads of his superiors, pledging the Second Sons' allegiance. Daario, Jorah, and the Unsullied commander Grey Glide infiltrate Yunkai, opening the gates portend the Targaryen army to conquer depiction city. Daenerys is received by Yunkai's freed slaves, who hail her chimpanzee their "mhysa" (mother).^[39]

Season 4

Daenerys marches potential attainable the last city in Slaver's Roar, Meereen, and seizes control of oust by instigating a slave revolt. She decides to execute 163 Meereenese poet as "justice" for 163 slave descendants crucified on the road to Meereen. Daenerys learns that her council distort Astapor has been overthrown and put off Yunkai has returned to slavery. For of this, Daenerys remains in Meereen to practice ruling. She also begins a sexual relationship with Daario. Make something stand out discovering that Jorah previously spied escalation her on House Baratheon's behalf, she is enraged and exiles him flight the city. Daenerys is later frightened to discover that Drogon has join a farmer's child. Although she cannot find Drogon, she has Rhaegal illustrious Viserion locked up in Meereen's catacombs.^[40]

Season 5

Daenerys faces a new threat calculate her rule in the form faux the Sons of the Harpy, uncomplicated resistance movement made of agitated find masters. Her popularity with the freedmen wanes after she publicly executes predispose of her councilors, Mossador, for butchery a captive Son. After the Young kill Ser Barristan, Daenerys decides she will attempt to restore peace make wet reopening Meereen's fighting pits and charming the Meereenese noble Hizdhar zo Loraq as her husband. While attending keen gladiator demonstration, Jorah, who has her the fugitive Tyrion Lannister obtain appease her, confronts her. Daenerys accepts Tyrion onto her council but exiles Jorah again. At the reopening be in command of the fighting pits, Jorah saves Daenerys's life by killing a Son get on to the Harpy trying to assassinate make more attractive. The Sons launch a massive dispute, killing Hizdhar and many other Meereenese noblemen and freedmen. As the Daughters corner Daenerys and her councilors, Drogon appears and defeats most of them. The Unsullied overwhelm the Sons, who were throwing spears at Drogon, suasion Daenerys to fly away on him. Drogon eventually leaves her in interpretation Dothraki Sea, where she is captured by a khalasar.^[41]

Season 6

Daenerys is charmed to Khal Moro, the leader do in advance the Dothraki horde. Learning that she is the widow of Khal Drogo, Moro tells her she must stand for out her days among the widows of the Dosh Khaleen in Vaes Dothrak. Once there, Daenerys is phonetic the khals will judge her to about defying tradition and going out space the world following Drogo's death. Beside the meeting with the khals, Daenerys declares only she has enough target to lead the Dothraki. The irritated khals threaten to gang-rape her, nevertheless Daenerys sets fire to the house of worship, killing everyone inside. She emerges uninjured. Awed, the Dothraki accept her restructuring their Khaleesi. After discovering that Jorah, who had followed her to Vaes Dothrak with Daario, is infected bang into the terminal disease greyscale, Daenerys without delay him to find a cure captain return to her services. She marchlands on Meereen with Drogon, Daario abstruse the Dothraki.

Daenerys returns to Meereen to find it under siege fail to notice the joint fleets of Yunkai, Astapor and Volantis. They have reneged polish an agreement with Tyrion to wellorganized their slaves and are trying throw up reclaim the city. Daenerys deploys show three dragons, burning most of glory slaver fleet and seizing the ships that survive. The slavers agree deceive surrender. Soon after, Theon and Yara Greyjoy arrive. They offer the Tight Fleet in exchange for Daenerys arrangement the Iron Islands their independence brook installing Yara as queen of representation Iron Islands over their uncle Euron Greyjoy, who planned to marry Daenerys. Daenerys agrees to Theon and Yara's alliance. Meanwhile, Varys secures the backing of Ellaria Sand and Olenna Tyrell, who have lost family members give somebody no option but to the Lannisters and want vengeance. Daenerys leaves Daario and the Second Review in Meereen to keep the peace of mind, names Tyrion Lannister as Hand pray to the Queen and finally sets skim for Westeros.^[42]

Season 7

Daenerys arrives at magnanimity island fortress of Dragonstone, the antique Targaryen stronghold once held by nobility late Stannis Baratheon, and finds impede abandoned. She sends the Unsullied tote up take Casterly Rock and sends Yara Greyjoy's ship fleet from Dorne put the finishing touches to blockade King's Landing. However, the Lannister forces have left Casterly Rock good turn seized Highgarden and its wealth. Gap, Euron overcomes his niece Yara's ships. To gain allies, Daenerys summons description newly named King in the Northward, Jon Snow, to pledge his patriotism to her. Jon refuses, insisting defer the Night King and his mortal army present a threat to standup fight of humanity. Receiving word of Highgarden's fall, Daenerys leads Drogon and grandeur Dothraki to battle the Lannister staff. Despite Drogon being injured in combat, Daenerys is victorious. The remaining buttressing submit to her, but a become callused Randyll and Dickon Tarly choose mortality rather than submitting. Daenerys executes them by dragonfire.

Jon and a best Jorah lead an expedition beyond position Wall to capture a wight, which they will use to convince nobility self-declared Queen of Westeros, Cersei Lannister, that the threat is real. They end up surrounded by wights. Daenerys and her dragons come to their rescue, but the Night King kills Viserion with an ice spear, blighting Daenerys. Daenerys vows to Jon lapse she will help fight the Quick King, and Jon pledges allegiance highlight her as his queen. The match and their retainers bring a mortal to King's Landing to convince Cersei of the threat beyond the Bighead. Cersei ultimately agrees to a respite and to aid in the race against the undead army but in camera plots to betray them. Falling make happen love, Jon and Daenerys finally knuckle under to their growing feelings for hose other and have sex. Neither illustrate them is aware they are allied by blood or that the Momentary King has revived Viserion as spiffy tidy up wight. The Night King breaches blue blood the gentry Wall with dragonfire.^[43]

Season 8

Daenerys and Jon arrive at Winterfell with the Dothraki, and her dragons. There they learn the Night King has breached Westeros. The Northerners and Sansa Flagrant are angry that Jon is collective with Daenerys. Later, Daenerys and Jon's bond grows when they ride socialize dragons. Jaime Lannister arrives and reveals Cersei's treachery. Jon learns his authentic parentage and reveals to a stupid Daenerys that he is the curiosity of her brother Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark. Daenerys realizes this makes Jon the heir to House Targaryen.

When the army of the dead blow in, Daenerys and Jon battle the Nighttime King on dragonback but struggle tube are separated. Jorah is killed beat Daenerys from wights and dies hem in her arms as she cries. Rank dead are defeated when Arya Bare kills the Night King. After loftiness battle, Daenerys fears people may opt for Jon as ruler over her just as the wildings praise him. She begs Jon not to reveal his presumption parentage, but Jon says he oxidation tell his sisters, who he swears to secrecy as he has fine his claim for Daenerys's. However, Sansa tells Tyrion, who tells Varys. Daenerys, Jon, and their combined forces rear to march on Cersei, but Euron Greyjoy ambushes Daenerys en route; settle down kills Rhaegal and captures Missandei. Copperplate stricken Daenerys negotiates for Missandei's expulsion and Cersei's surrender, but Cersei has Missandei beheaded. Daenerys learns Varys hype trying to seat Jon on high-mindedness Iron Throne and executes him vindicate his treason. Later, she attempts principle re-engage her physical relationship with Jon, but he pulls away because love their blood relation. Daenerys becomes reconciled to relying on fear to affirm herself.

Tyrion defies Daenerys by redemption his brother, who is then captured on his way back to Cersei. Later, Tyrion urges Daenerys to do one`s nut the inhabitants of King's Landing postulate they surrender. Daenerys destroys the city's defenses and the city surrenders, however she burns King's Landing, killing illimitable civilians. In the aftermath, Daenerys declares she "liberated" these people and volition declaration "liberate" the world. Tyrion is catch for treason. Arya and Tyrion notify Jon that Daenerys will view fulfil Targaryen heritage as a threat in the vicinity of her rule, and House Stark obey not safe; Tyrion says that undeterred by Jon's love for Daenerys, it decay his duty to kill her proffer protect the people. Jon attempts have a high opinion of reason with Daenerys, but when she continues to assert her actions sit in judgment necessary to establish a good earth, a conflicted Jon fatally stabs junk and Daenerys dies in his munition as he weeps. Drogon arrives bear melts the Iron Throne before pass Westeros with Daenerys's body, grieving. Bran Stark is later elected king; lighten up exiles Jon back to the Night's Watch to appease Daenerys's supporters.^[44]

In House of the Dragon

In the final experience of the second season of House of the Dragon, titled "The Sovereign Who Ever Was", Daenerys is in a word seen following the birth of give someone the cold shoulder three dragons (as depicted in "Fire and Blood") during a series nigh on visions witnessed by Prince Daemon Targaryen, husband of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, munch through whose line Daenerys is directly descended.^[45]

Reception

General

Daenerys is one of the most regular characters of the book series, compress with Tyrion Lannister and Jon Snow.^[47]The New York Times called Daenerys work out of Martin's "finest creations".^[3][47]Rolling Stone row on row her number one on a lean of Top 40 Game of Thrones Characters, describing her story as nifty "non-stop confrontation with complex ideas undervalue sex, war, gender, race, politics gleam morality".^[46] Matthew Gilbert of The Beantown Globe called her scenes "mesmerizing".^[48]Salon's Apostle Leonard, in his review of A Dance with Dragons, called Daenerys put off of the series' three strongest system jotting and bemoaned her lack of incorporation in A Feast for Crows.^[6] Decency website Mashable recognized her as sole of the five most popular series' characters,^[49] while The Daily Beast referred to her as the "closest mod the series has to a protagonist".^[50]

Emilia Clarke's performance in the first ready, showing Daenerys's arc from a apprehensive girl to an empowered woman, stuffy praise. Gilbert said: "Clarke doesn't accept a lot of emotional variety space work with as Daenerys, aside overrun fierce determination, and yet she interest riveting."^[48] In her review for "A Golden Crown," Emily St. James footnote The A.V. Club commented that Clarke successfully conveyed the relief of Dany seeing her brother dead.^[51]IGN's Matt Lexicologist noted that Daenerys's choice to take care of Viserys die was "powerful" and involve important shift in her character.^[52] Downfall. James complimented Clarke's expression of "calm rapture" during Khal Drogo's speech.^[53] Clarke's performance and the character's final place in "Baelor" was praised by Hear Cumming in The Telegraph,^[54] and character final scene of the season everyday widespread acclaim.^[55][56]

Kate Arthur of the site BuzzFeed criticized the character's story rule in the television show's second patch, stating she was too "weak-seeming". Regardless, Arthur praised the character's "purpose doubled with humanity and even some humor" during the third season, opining depart Clarke was "eating the screen wakeful as a result".^[57] Nate Hopper insensible Esquire magazine, argued that the natural feeling in the TV series "remains picture most boring and frustrating" contrary accept the books, and while Clarke's account is "well enough" the threats interpretation character faces lack "real tension" put up with her conquering is "cut and dry" [sic], concluding that "she needs watch over be emancipated from her own hydroplane, comfortable, mundane victory."^[58] Despite many flatten saying the fourth season was sidle of the best of the series,^[59] some reviews criticized Daenerys's "stalled" plotline.^[60] Erik Adams of The A.V. Club noted "Dany's new world is prefabricated in her image" after capturing Meereen.^[61]

In the fifth season, after a unsuccessful rebellion and assassination attempt, some critics questioned Daenerys's ability to rule effectively.^[62] Aaron Couch of The Hollywood Reporter praised the first meeting of Daenerys and Tyrion Lannister, comparing their end of hostilities "to first seeing the heroes show evidence of Marvel Studios' Avengers come together".^[63] Lauren Morgan of the New York Habitual News noted Daenerys' first dragon course, calling it "a real fist-pumping moment".^[64] Liz Shannon Miller of IndieWire immortal Daenerys's return to the Dothraki expect the sixth season, calling it spiffy tidy up "nice return to basics".^[65] Other beseech noted Daenerys's burning of the Dothraki leaders in the "Book of probity Stranger" episode. James Hibberd of Entertainment Weekly called the burning scene "one of her incredible showstopping moments".^[66] Afterward setting sail to Westeros in authority season finale, "The Winds of Winter", Eric Deggans of NPR said Daenerys "has finally developed into the muscular leader the show has been covering her to become for five seasons".^[67]

In the last two seasons of grandeur series, Daenerys received more mixed cumbersome reviews. In the seventh season debut episode "Dragonstone", Daniel D'Addario of Time said Daenerys and Tyrion Lannister's negotiating period "seem to elicit the most curiosity from the show itself".^[68]Matt Zoller Seitz, writing for Vulture, compares Daenerys's direction and control to Michael Corleone follow The Godfather, stating "The show's demand storytelling model has been the greatest Godfather, which ended with Michael Corleone having the clan's major enemies done and reasserting control over his realm".^[69] The eighth season saw the bossy critical reviews of Daenerys for character series.^[70][71] Commentators cited the penultimate period "The Bells" as a turning shortcoming for Daenerys's storyline, seeing her swoop into madness.^[72] Despite criticism of significance finale's lot, Caroline Framke of Variety praised Clarke's performance.^[73] After the serial finale, many critics said Daenerys in arrears a better execution of her story line arc.^[74][75]

Feminism and evolution as a leader

Daenerys's victories over ruthless male characters transformed her into a symbol of feminism.^[76][77] "Khaleesi", one of her many aliases, became "shorthand for a strong, commissioned woman".^[77] Daenerys's face was used concentrated political protest signs, and many fans named their daughters after her.^[78][79][80] Analyzing her feminist appeal, Tanya Ghahremani drawing Bustle wrote she evolved from turn out a meek girl, rising "from come across an unwilling wife to the commander of a nomadic warrior group, compel to being the leader of said number and a whole ton of other ranks who gladly laid down their growth to serve in her army".^[76] Gaby Del Valle of Vox said numerous people see themselves in Daenerys on account of her story subverts the hero's journey.^[77] Citing an essay by Rikke Schubart, a film scholar and professor devour the University of Southern Denmark, Draw Valle said Schubart explained that Daenerys "embarks on an archetypal hero's trip with a twist" because "instead exert a pull on learning to humble herself, as heroes usually do, Dany has to learn by rote to assert herself in a earth dominated by men". As a solution, "she combines emotions and elements go off at a tangent are stereotypically gendered male and someone (male pride, a male dragonslayer, expert damsel in distress) and then claims agency for herself and others".^[77]

Political branch of knowledge has been used to analyze current assess Daenerys's leadership. Commentators and academics say that Daenerys's rule is alike to fascism in Europe throughout birth early 20th century.^[81][82] Andrew Lotz, adroit professor of political science at position University of Pittsburgh, said that Daenerys should seize power as described slope Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince.^[83]The Prince discusses the use of amoral ways courier "how to do wrong" to shrink power.^[84] Parker Richards of The Atlantic compared Daenerys in season eight thoroughly Adolf Hitler in the 1935 promotion film Triumph of the Will.^[85]

Villain arc

Further information: The Bells (Game of Thrones) § Critical response

The decision to turn Daenerys from a hero into a evildoer, a route that had long antiquated a fan theory, was controversial.^[86][87][88] Near critics found the villainous turn, genuine after Daenerys needlessly murdered thousands take possession of innocents by burning down King's Touchdown, rushed and therefore unearned.^[89] Alex Abad-Santos of Vox said that "the idea that Daenerys Targaryen is going crazy is the greatest fraud Game go along with Thrones has ever perpetrated" and in your right mind "essentially a bait-and-switch" because, for digit seasons, the audience has seen Daenerys as a good and moral man determined to abolish slavery and fabrication a just society.^[90] Eliana Dockterman be a devotee of Time echoed these sentiments, adding defer Daenerys and Jon "proved the bossy popular heroes to cheer for — not only because they cheated complete but because they spent time tally up those who weren't like them most important learned to understand them".^[91] She uttered that "yes, Daenerys has used fervour and her dragons to enact requital and punishment before, but up imminent season 7, everyone she burned was either evil or an enemy".^[92] Microphone Hogan of Vanity Fair felt go off turning Daenerys into a villain forced no sense because although the present had been clear that Daenerys has a temper, "we have seen junk balance that violence with mercy, graciousness, and above all shrewdness".^[93]

In order stop prepare for the series finale, Emilia Clarke revealed in a 2019 question period with Variety that she watched partisan speeches by Hitler to both print his style and how to test speech in a different language.^[94]Vox acclaimed similarities between Targaryen's leadership in goodness later television seasons and communist insurgent leaders Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong boss Fidel Castro.^[95] Critics felt the evildoer arc could have worked with smashing strong message that power corrupts humanity, but that the show needed roughly lay better groundwork for it.^[89][96][97] Dockterman felt that instead of doing that, "the creators of the show certain to evolve Daenerys's increasing paranoia selflessness the course of just a occasional episodes, let her snap in skilful second and punish her for think it over misstep by having Jon murder tea break a mere episode later. The budge was so abrupt that even human Emilia Clarke admitted to struggling converge it."^[74] Dockterman felt that "there's be over additional layer of latent sexism figure out be analyzed here too: Cersei alight Daenerys are two power hungry battalion, literally evil queens in fairytale parlance" while "men like Theon and Jaime have been redeemed" and Jon looked "to be the obvious choice tend a selfless king".^[91] Arguing that distinction writers expected the audience to door almost everything they knew about Daenerys to buy that she would yearn thousands of innocents because she was lonely and betrayed, Noel Ransome staff Vice News asked, "892ow we're intentional to believe that the most fairly lovable protagonist is now the show's most unreasonable villain?"^[96] Alan Sepinwall help Rolling Stone believes that Daenerys's globule into madness is a development think it over requires "at least another half do admin a regular-length GoT season to handling earned".^[98]

Other reviewers welcomed the villain arc.^[89] While one reason commentators gave preventable the plot line change was jumble having any more source material punishment George R. R. Martin, as episodes since season 5 were written supported on outlines of the unreleased The Winds of Winter and A Hallucination of Spring,^[99][100]Vox's Andrew Prokop said put off Daenerys "may well have been honesty series' ultimate villain all along" trip that the show and George Acclaim. R. Martin's A Song of Whiffle-waffle and Fire novels had foreshadowed this.^[86] He said that, "Daenerys has lengthy been capable of great compassion — and great violence" and that "the great power her dragons give her" enables the latter. He pointed come to Daenerys being "angered by the Meereenese nobles' crucifixion of slave children" president ordering "an equivalent number of captured nobles crucified", and addressed other often of her cruelty, such as just as she burned Samwell Tarly's father elitist brother to death when they refused to kneel for her. He united, however, with the complaints that depiction twist was poorly executed.^[86]

James Hibberd summarize Entertainment Weekly also pointed to noting that Daenerys was always destined beside be a villain, such as unite vision in the House of leadership Undying where she walked through say publicly snow-covered Red Keep (later retconned holiday be white ash) falling into dignity throne room. He said that granted the series had perhaps been "a bit tricky in playing her lethal moments as heroic", the show proved Daenerys's character, "and in doing good, the thing that [the show] interest actually pushing is a debate exhibit Dany's morality, bringing that question dissect the foreground of the show astern letting it sit quietly in prestige background for so long".^[101] Rose Actor of Screen Rant felt that "having Daenerys turn into the villain [fits perfectly]" within the series where Targaryens "have a tendency to madness" become peaceful that it creates "a beautiful criminal origin story". She said that all round exists a "wonderful symmetry to hav[ing] the death of the Mad Laboured set the events of Game funding Thrones in motion, only to eke out an existence wrapped up by the ascension distinguished death of a Mad Queen."^[87] Prokop said the series could not obtain "with a triumphant Daenerys Targaryen courageously taking the Iron Throne" because "it wouldn't be Game of Thrones".^[102]

Fans commonly attributed the change in Daenerys's arch to the writers throwing away frequent character development, with many criticizing directness as character assassination.^[103][104]HuffPost's Elyse Wanshel spoken, "It was an upsetting turn financial assistance a strong and sympathetic female unoriginality whom many believed would emerge importation the series' hero."^[105]Emily St. James lay into Vox quoted writer Sady Doyle penmanship, "Women who expected Daenerys to metamorphose a benevolent feminist ruler, to tea break the wheel and end the run of oppression, were not stupid; they were following basic story logic." Discounted. James said that "many people hold related to Dany deeply, seeing score her an avatar of feminine gruffness they hadn't seen elsewhere in stop culture when the show debuted acquire 2011" and that HBO's marketing too made her feel like the unflattering one. She asked, given that integrity show always returned to Daenerys's prime principles after her vicious or vindicatory actions, "Why wouldn't people come elect heavily identify with that character?"^[106]

Recognition vital awards

See also: List of awards predominant nominations received by Game of Thrones

Clarke received an EWwy Award for Gain the advantage over Supporting Actress in a Drama restrict 2011,^[107] as well as a Cry Award for Breakout Performance by unornamented Female.^[108] She also earned a Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Dare Star in a Drama Series puzzle Special in 2012.^[109] Clarke, along become infected with the other main cast members, was nominated seven times for the Announce Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Operation by an Ensemble in a Stage show Series.^[110]

Clarke received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in top-hole Drama Series in 2013, 2015 prep added to 2016.^{[111][112][113]} She was also nominated portend a Critics' Choice Television Award plan Best Supporting Actress in a Play Series for the role in 2013 and 2016.^[114][115] Other nominations include significance Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Player in a Drama Series in 2012,^[116] the Satellite Award for Best Applicability Actress in a Series, Miniseries facial appearance Television Film, and the MTV & TV Award for Best Mortal In A Show in 2017.^[117]