How will HOTD resolve Daenerys’ controversial Game of Thrones episode? When the final season of Game of Thrones aired in May 2019, many were shocked and dissatisfied with the show’s breakneck pace, abandoned character stories, and lackluster shocks…but one of the show’s significant turning points is turned out to be the most controversial of all.
Even as she journeyed to reclaim her legacy as a Targaryen, audiences supported Daenerys Targaryen as she sought to reclaim the mighty Iron Thrones of Westeros. For all her bloodshed and devastation, it’s clear that Daenerys leaves behind a trail that appears to be for justice and righteousness at first glance. However, when it comes to “The Bells,” Daenerys takes an extremely dark turn.
Emme D’Arcy’s portrayal of Rhaerys Targaryen in HOTD may help resolve a Game of Thrones plot point involving Daenerys Targaryen. This book, which takes place in a Westeros very different from what we see in Game of Thrones, begins some 200 years before the events shown in the HBO series. Similar to how Game of Thrones will be compared to its prequel, HOTD has the potential to alter the program itself, shedding new light on events, locations, and more.
This is especially true for the Targaryens, whose story will be told in much more detail in House of the Dragon. In Game of Thrones, there have never been more than two Targaryens in an instant. With the help of House of the Dragon, we can learn a lot more about the Targaryen family and Daenerys herself, which will help us better understand her actions and motives.
Parallels between Daenerys and Rhaenyra
Part of Rhaenyra’s story reminds me of the highly controversial turn Daenerys took in Game of Thrones Season 8’s “The Bells.” His character was questioned about how drastically he changed in this episode, especially without any explanation or justification. She kept her promise to take what she felt was rightfully hers by blood and fire.
There are parallels between Daenerys and Rhaenyra despite the House of the Dragon trailer making them more relatable. However, it is simple to represent the first as the counterpart of the second in this scenario. For most of Dany’s story, the Iron Throne belongs to her family, and both Dany and Jon are driven by a desire for power, backed by dragons and vast armies. Both would stop at nothing to get the job they believe is theirs. As a result, they make horrible, and sometimes disastrous, judgments because they believe they have the right to rule.
Neither Daenerys nor Rhaenyra had high goals when they came to Westeros and conquered King’s Landing, but they left it worse off than when they arrived. It’s important to note that this has been part of Rhaenyra’s HOTD tale from the start, so it’s not a new development. After establishing the civil war between the Houses of Targaryen, the focus of the series will be to show how dedicated and ruthless she is to hold onto the Iron Throne and protect her family at all costs.
As a replacement for Daenerys, this tale has the potential to succeed where Daenerys’ story failed. Despite Rhaenyra’s growing cruelty, viewers can see the reasons for her actions, unlike Daenerys in Game of Thrones’ “The Bells.” Rhaenyra isn’t a standout leader, but viewers can watch that play out in the end.
A better understanding of the conclusion
It should be noted that for Dany and Rhaenyra, taking control of King’s Landing marks a turning point in their stories: Dany dies soon after, while for Rhaenyra it takes longer, but once she has it In fact, the little people turn against her and she faces the harsh realities of authority.
As a result of all of this, we’ll have more context for Daenerys and Game of Thrones’ ending; we will know what happens when someone is denied their birthright and have the equivalent of nuclear weapons, and we will know how someone who was once considered a power for good can become so twisted .
It is essential to evaluate Rhaenyra on her own merits. Still, she will serve as an intriguing point of contrast with Daenerys, who is probably a better or at least more ethical person, but who is pursuing the same path. While “The Bells” should have shown Daenerys’ thought process better on her journey to destroying King’s Landing, Rhaenyra gives us a better understanding of how she came to that conclusion.