Double Good News: Actress Emilia Clarke Announces Engagement and Pregnancy md20

There is no shortage of opportunities to nitpick minor details with Game of Thrones, but for the most part, the show was well-received before falling off the narrative cliff in the final seasons. Readers can forgive small changes and surface-level shifts to characters, but it’s when the characters’ fit into the broader story is altered or diminished that it becomes a problem. With Daario specifically, the show watered down his dynamic with Daenerys. This simultaneously weakened his character and undercut a critical cog in Daenerys’ story line. Daario’s case is a microcosm of the problems the show created for itself down the road. By ignoring specific traits and plot points, even for a minor character, a ripple effect is created in the story.

Daario Naharis is a Stylish Sellsword in A Song of Ice and Fire

Daario Doesn’t Stand Out Among His Peers in Game of Thrones

As stated, Daario’s physical appearance isn’t the only issue with the Game of Thrones portrayal, but it is a problem. It may seem superficial to focus on a character’s specific clothing choices, but in Daario’s case, it is important. In A Song of Ice and Fire, Daario is presented as cocky, flamboyant and extremely theatrical. These traits are reflected in his appearance. His hair and beard are dyed multiple colors, shifting between blue and purple, which match his eyes. His nails were gilded blue, and he was known for dressing in loud colors. Daario is from Tyrosh, a Free City that is renowned for its vibrant culture. Tyroshi citizens are known for their gaudy dress and overly dramatic personal styles.

Daario’s culture heavily informs his distinct appearance in the books. In addition to representing himself as Tyroshi, Daario’s style reflects his chaotic spirit. When viewers first spy Daario in Game of Thrones, he appears to be just another sellsword. He looks relatively plain, and while it’s understandable that his book form might appear comical to viewers, it’s hard to believe that a happy medium couldn’t be found. Game of Thrones toning down Daario’s theatrical flair was also a missed opportunity on behalf of the show to represent Tyroshi culture on screen.

This unintentionally reduced the societal tapestry that is present in A Song of Ice and Fire. By presenting him as a generic mercenary, his on-screen debut was made lackluster as opposed to immediately catching the eye of viewers. The moment when Daario declares his loyalty to Daenerys plays out much differently in the books than in Game of Thrones. In the television series, viewers see Daario approach Daenerys in her tent as she is bathing.

He enters by taking Missandei as a hostage briefly before presenting Daenerys with the heads of the other captains of the Second Sons. He swears his sword to her and declares the Second Sons are hers to command with no one else present. In A Song of Ice and Fire, this moment is much more politically charged, as Daario comes to Daenerys in a formal setting as she is surrounded by her advisors. This not only has an impact on Daenerys, but Jorah and Barristan Selmy, who is still undercover as Arstan Whitebeard.

The fact that Daario’s betrayal of his captains occurs in front of Jorah and Barristan allows for their immediate reactions and political consequences. Her advisors warn her not to trust Daario, as he had just murdered his comrades and shifted his alliances swiftly. This blurs the moral lines in which Daenerys operates. She’s impressed by Daario’s actions, but also finds herself oddly attracted to him. In the books, she realizes she should be afraid of this man, but she isn’t. By accepting Daario into her inner circle, Daenerys invites the deeper rifts that would form from within her council later. Both Jorah and Barristan serve as moral counterpoints to the chaos that Daario Naharis represents. There is an aspect of passion that influences Daenerys with Daario.

Daario Naharis Was Recast & Rewritten in Game of Thrones

The Sellsword From A Song of Ice and Fire was Diminished Even Further

Image via HBO

While still a far cry from the Daario in A Song of Ice and Fire, Ed Skrein’s version of Naharis in Game of Thrones was unpredictable and intense, traits that were prominent in the books. Skrein has stated in interviews that he wished to play Daario for the long haul, but was dismissed from the series because of political reasons, and did not elaborate further. He was replaced by actor Michiel Huisman in season 4, with the character undergoing a significant change in appearance and approach. In truth, neither of the portrayals was close to Daario in A Song of Ice and Fire, but Ed Skrein’s version is more accepted by fans. For a character that was already watered down, the casting change cemented the downfall.

In contrast to Skrein’s portrayal, Huisman’s Daario was presented as calm, dependable and, unfortunately, largely forgettable. Skrein maintained a bit of the volatility that readers had become familiar with. Huisman’s depiction was even more devoid of the flair and arrogance that made the book version stand out. The dialogue became more standard, and his relationship with Daenerys shifted into a blossoming romance with no hint of the dangerous and lustful dynamic present in A Song of Ice and Fire. Huisman himself was not the issue here. Rather, the problem with Daario from the start had always been the writing. Game of Thrones flattened Daario into a loyal, bland companion without the complex moral ambiguity of the source material.

For viewers, the difference in the portrayals was strange and underscored the issues with the writing. Not only did the actor change, but so did the entire character. This was not just a Daario problem, either, but Daario serves as an example of the problem the writers had with minimizing morally gray characters. This can also be seen with Theon Greyjoy. Theon was ultimately made a passive figure in wait of redemption. In the books, Daario challenges Daenerys’ ideals, tempting her towards her darker urges. In Game of Thrones, he is reduced to a loyal lover and bodyguard. As the series continued, the sharp edges of many of the characters wore off, giving way to clear-cut heroes and villains.

The recasting hurt Daario less than the decision by the writers to make him easier to digest. The show missed an opportunity to explore how Daenerys is tempted and attracted to those who challenge her control and blur the lines of good and bad. When Daario exits Game of Thrones in season 6, it’s not because his character arc has been successfully fulfilled. By this point in the series, Daario had lost any narrative relevance to the story. The fact that he was no longer necessary or interesting enough to continue on falls on the shoulders of the writers. By sacrificing Daario Naharis’ depth and complexity early on, the showrunners back themselves into a corner, cornering the characters’ long-term importance.

Daario Naharis Deserved Better in Game of Thrones

HBO Failed to Capture The Spirit of the Character From A Song of Ice and Fire

Image via HBO

Beyond any casting decisions, the cautionary tale of Daario Naharis in HBO’s Game of Thrones highlights the show’s reluctance to embrace the unpredictable and morally gray aspects of his character that make him stand out in A Song of Ice and Fire. By stripping him of his exotic nuances, viewers are left with a bland representation. It’s a common thread that appears in the later seasons of the show, with others such as Euron Greyjoy suffering from the same fate. Fans of the show would be forgiven for thinking Daario to be only a footnote in Daenerys story based on the portrayal on-screen.

The unfortunate part is that diminishing Daario’s character and role also harms Daenerys. In A Song of Ice and Fire, he often pushes her towards potentially difficult decisions, and his presence makes her question what she truly wants. Daario serves as a mirror of sorts to Daenerys, making her reflect on the realities of ruling. Through him, she must decide to put duty ahead of personal pleasures.