It’s been three years since the most popular series until its last season, Game of Thrones has, concluded. Those years have left fans waiting for a new yet similar series to take over. While no one can truly predict how a series will be received, there’s one that promises to fill the fantasy void. In 2018, George R. R. Martin confirmed there would be a spin-off in the form of a prequel.
House of the Dragon will be based on Martin’s novel Fire and Blood which takes place 200 years before GOT and during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen and ultimately leads to the Dance of the Dragons civil war. Game of Thrones brought us one of the most beloved characters in television history, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), and only revealed little glimpses of her family’s history. It’d probably be a great idea to rewatch a few episodes that showed some of the Targaryen’s secrets and what we could anticipate to watch in the prequel.
Winter is Coming (Season 1, Episode 1)
The series premiere primarily focuses on the meeting of the Starks, Lannisters, and Baratheons after the Hand of King’s death. Across the sea, Prince Viserys Targaryen forces his sister, Daenerys, to marry the Dothraki warlord to claim an army to conquer Westeros.
Immediately we feel sympathy for Daenerys’ situation. The way she subtly handles what she’s forced into, she begins to become a likable character and one worth rooting for.
A Golden Crown (Season 1, Episode 6)
After establishing in Episode 4 that Daenerys fights against Viserys and states he would be a poor conqueror, Viserys doesn’t let up and continues to grow impatient for his reconquer of the Seven Kingdoms. In Episode 6, Daenerys is unscathed as she takes one of her dragon eggs out of the fire. She is put through a ritual to proclaim her unborn son will be the Khal to unite lands. Writhing in anger and jealousy, Viserys threatens Daenerys and her unborn son, which leads to Drogo giving him the crown he promised and pours molten gold on Viserys, killing him.
This episode is one of the many turning points for Daenerys as she sits and watches her brother scream to his death. “He was no dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon.” While Drogo ultimately killed Viserys, Daenerys could’ve very well stopped him. She let it happen, and her expression showed no remorse.
Fire and Blood (Season 1, Episode 10)
As Drogo falls into a catatonic state and Daenerys loses her unborn son, his followers continue to abandon their leader. Daenerys tries to take matters into her own hands as she mercy kills Drogo. Daenerys claims herself as Queen and submerges herself into the burning pyre. By dawn, Jorah and the remaining followers find her in the ashes, unharmed with three baby dragons, the firstborn in 300 years.
This episode provides significant plot twists and most crucial moments for Daenerys. Not only does the show establish that dragons can live, but the scene is vital for Daenerys’ turning point in her quest toward the Seven Kingdoms. The moment also demonstrates how powerful the Targaryens are, and there are sure to be moments like this in House of the Dragon.
And Now His Watch Is Ended (Season 3, Episode 4)
After exchanging her dragons for the Unsullied army, Daenerys continues to be insulted in Valyrian by the slave-trader, Kraznys, of Astapor. In one of the most epic moves, speaking fluent Valyrian, Daenerys orders her new army to free every enslaved person and commands her dragon to kill Kraznys. After the battle, Daenerys gives the Unsullied a choice to leave. They all choose to remain by her side.
Even though Daenerys technically does the right thing of freeing the Unsullied. This is an ultimate power move and demonstrates how much good she can do with the power she already has. It’s also a bit too bold of a movement because it shows she’ll stop at nothing to gain more control.
Book of the Stranger (Season 6, Episode 4)
Overall, season 6 explores the conflicts between Daenerys and the Khals of Dothraki. In this episode, the Khals don’t allow her to return to Meereen. To prove herself again, Daenerys stands before the Khals and accuses them of being unsuited to lead. Before she’s about to be attacked by the Khals, she sets the temple ablaze and is the only one to emerge unharmed. The Dothraki finally accept her as their leader.
As Daenerys emerges from the flames, she again secures another army willing to follow her. The moment gives her another upper hand on her quest as she regains her three dragons by her side. This also demonstrates the limit doesn’t exist for how far she’ll go for possession of the Iron Throne.
The Winds of Winter (Season 6, Episode 10)
Bran re-enters a vision at the Tower of Joy and discovers Ned finding Lyanna covered in blood from childbirth. Lyanna pleads with Ned to protect her son from Robert Baratheon, who insists on killing the baby if he knows the true parentage. It is revealed to Bran that Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen.
For Daenerys’ particular storyline in episode 10, she proclaims Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) the Hand of the Queen, and with all of her alliances finally gathered, she departs for Westeros. The long-awaited fan theory of R+L=J was ultimately proven correct and revealed Daenerys isn’t the only Targaryen who can rightfully sit on the throne. The Winds of Winter further proves since the start, writers knew what they were doing through foreshadowing.
The Spoils of War (Season 7, Episode 4)
Season seven finally brings Jon and Daenerys together as she vows to fight for the North— only if he bends the knee to which it resists. Daenerys considers attacking King’s Landing with her dragons, to which Jon responds, “her followers believe she can change the world, but if she destroys the city, she will be just another tyrant.” Daenerys rides Drogon to lead a Dothraki attack on Jaime Lannister’s forces near the end of the episode.
When it comes to battles, Daenerys is the most powerful in Westeros. It’s one of the first episodes where there is someone on Daenerys side who tries to tell her what to do. Since episode one, Daenerys has always only had her interest in mind. While her army is rightfully attacking another fleet, there is no hesitation in her voice or movements.
The Bells (Season 8, Episode 5)
Daenerys resigns herself to using fear to rule Westeros. Tyrion pleads with her to spare the innocent people of King’s Landing if she hears the surrounding bells ring. She appears to agree with Tyrion until the ending of the episode. Daenerys and her army arrive at King’s Landing. She looks upon the city her ancestors built and reflects how far she’s come and all she has lost. As the bells toll, Daenerys, on top of Drogon, flies into the city to destroy it— the armies, the buildings, and the people she once swore to rule and protect, making her become the Mad Queen.
The Bells received the most negative feedback regarding Daenerys story arc before her demise, as claims were made this was uncharacteristic of the Queen of Dragons. However, “Valar Morghulis” (Season 2, Episode 10) and “Blood of My Blood” (Season 6, Episode 10) foreshadowed and predicted the fate of Daenerys. Since episode one, Daenerys and the story of the Targaryens have been like a dragon’s fire. It is powerful and beautiful but leaves behind so much devastation.
