6 Years Later, Daenerys Targaryen Looks Like The Real Winner Of Game Of Thrones

Six years on from her demise, Daenerys Targaryen continues to shape Game of Thrones‘ future. Daenerys burning King’s Landing was a moment that turned the already rumbling season 8 backlash up to a whole other level. Still, that response hasn’t deterred HBO from turning Thrones into a true franchise, with multiple spinoffs in various stages of development, and Dany, in a way, remains at the heart of it all.

It’s true that Daenerys’ Game of Thrones ending was ultimately a tragic one, as she was killed by Jon Snow in front of the Iron Throne. But that shouldn’t detract from her character arc – nor Emilia Clarke’s work as part of Game of Thrones‘ cast – and that’s reflected in HBO’s plans for the franchise. Dany herself may never be coming back, but her legacy is being keenly felt.

Game Of Thrones’ Spinoffs Are Obsessed With House Targaryen

There are several Game of Thrones spinoffs in the works, and many of them are about House Targaryen. There is already, of course, House of the Dragon, which takes its name and story from the family’s rich history in Westeros. That show will return for two more seasons, with season 3 expected sometime in 2026. This year will add another to the mix thanks to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which involves other notable members of House Targaryen, set around 90 years before Game of Thrones.

Still, there will be more. An Aegon’s Conquest show, telling the story of how the Targaryens took over Westeros, is also in development. And, if that weren’t enough, HBO’s Head of Drama Series and Films, Francesca Orsi, teased another, telling Deadline:

“We have other spinoffs that we’re working on right now, one of which – which I won’t get into – is very promising, and it is still the Targaryen line.”

That suggests it’s another Targaryen spinoff, separate from Aegon’s Conquest. There are certainly plenty of options – George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book covers part of their history in Westeros, and there are more stories besides. It could be the Blackfyre Rebellions (a series of uprisings by legitimized Targaryen bastards), or about the succession of Aegon the Conqueror and his sons, or even the Targs before they came to Westeros, centering on the Doom of Valyria. Whatever it may be, though, it connects to Daenerys.

Game Of Thrones’ Future Is Daenerys’ Legacy & Proves Her Ending Didn’t Ruin It

Dany has long been the show’s most defining character. After all, more parents were naming their kids Khaleesi than they were calling them Jon Snow; people are more likely to cosplay as her than anyone else. If you said the name Daenerys to someone who hasn’t watched the show, they’d probably still have at least some idea of who you meant. Her Valyrian looks and dragons were some of the show’s most important and recognizable elements in terms of iconography and marketing, and that’s what HBO is capitalizing on.

Game of Thrones’ spinoffs focusing on House Targaryen is, in a very large part, directly because of Daenerys. She is the major reason why so many viewers are invested in them, giving substance to go with the spectacle of the dragons, and a huge reason for its enduring popularity. The Targaryens dominated Westeros history, so it’s fair to say that spinoffs would’ve included them regardless, but would they be shaping the entire franchise in this way without Dany? I don’t think so.

Hell, Daenerys is, so far, one of the only Game of Thrones characters to show-up in another spinoff, appearing in Daemon Targaryen’s vision in House of the Dragon‘s season 2 finale (the other was the Three-Eyed Raven, albeit unrecognizable from Thrones). The prequel even started by using Dany’s birth as a reference point for its timeline. She was, and remains, crucial to the whole franchise, and her controversial death cannot take that away.

Could Daenerys Herself Ever Return In A Game Of Thrones Spinoff?

Although Daenerys made a cameo in House of the Dragon, it’s unlikely her future could ever go beyond that. It’s plausible similar appearances could be used in other visions – such as in the Aegon’s Conquest show, to connect everything together – but it would risk dulling the effect. Or, if HBO were to ever make a spinoff about Robert’s Rebellion then, in theory, Daenerys’ birth could be shown to further set up the main show.

In terms of a proper return, though, that’s near impossible to pull-off. The only way to do so would be to confirm the theory that Drogon took Daenerys’ body to a Red Priestess to be resurrected, which would allow her to come back in a big way. I’d never say never to that, because so many wild things have happened with franchise/IP returns, remakes, and so on in recent years, but it’s certainly not likely (nor do I think it’d be a great idea). However, Daenerys doesn’t need to return for her legacy to continue defining Game of Thrones.