House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale restores a character detail from the world in George R.R. Martin’s books that was cut from Game of Thrones. As can often be the case for fantasy novels being adapted to the screen, some character descriptions from Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books didn’t make their way into Game of Thrones. For instance, a notable early complaint about Daenerys’ depiction in Game of Thrones was that the show cut the intriguing trait of Targaryens having purple eyes. Of course, it wasn’t just the Targaryens whose physical appearances were changed.
One character who appeared extremely different from their physical description in the books was Daenerys’ paramour Daario Naharis, originally played by Ed Skrein before being recast with Michiel Huisman. With most of Daenerys Targaryen’s story taking place in Essos, her journeys allowed Game of Thrones to expand its worldbuilding by exploring different cultures outside Westeros. Daario Naharis was very representative of Tyroshi culture in the novels, yet some crucial details in his description were cut from the show. Now, as House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale reintroduces Tyroshi characters, the prequel revives some traits that were removed from Daario.
House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Triarchy Leaders Reveal What Daario Naharis Should Have Looked Like In GOT
Daario Naharis Dyed His Hair Blue And Purple In Game Of Thrones’ Books
On orders from Prince Aemond Targaryen, Tyland Lannister sails to the Free Cities to treat with leaders of the Triarchy in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 8. Tyland initially makes his case to Tyroshi and Myrish captains, one of whom notably has dyed blue hair. Martin’s books explain that Tyroshi people often dye their hair and beards bright colors, a detail that House of the Dragon finally adapts but that Game of Thrones ignored. Similar to House of the Dragon’s unnamed Tyroshi captain, Daario Naharis dyed his hair and beard blue and purple in Game of Thrones’ books.
However, when Daario Naharis made his show debut in Game of Thrones, he initially had light brown/blonde hair, with his second iteration giving him dark brown hair. Game of Thrones memorably muted the more flamboyant descriptions of Daario from the book, including changes to his hair colors, beard styles, and clothing choices. The Daario in Game of Thrones hardly reflected the character described by George R.R. Martin, whose book counterpart looks more similar to the Tyroshi captain in House of the Dragon season 2.
Game Of Thrones’ Recasts Made Changing Daario’s Book Description More Ironic
Game Of Thrones Had The Opportunity To Restore Daario’s Blue Hair
Interestingly, Game of Thrones season 4 had the perfect opportunity to restore the original description of Daario from the books with his jarring actor recast. When Game of Thrones recast Daario Naharis, his appearance was completely different from Ed Skrein’s version of the character, yet Michiel Huisman’s iteration was still a far cry from the book description. Instead, it took until House of the Dragon season 2 to finally reveal what the book version of Daario Naharis would look like in real life.
In a fantastical world where dragons hatch from eggs and the undead Night King and White Walkers hunt beyond the Wall, including a man with blue hair and a gold mustache wouldn’t be a stretch.
Considering he already felt like an entirely new character upon being recast, Game of Thrones could have easily brought back Daario with his book counterpart’s dyed hair, colorful clothing, and jewelry. It’s unclear why Game of Thrones decided to cut Daario’s book features, as it doesn’t seem likely that the changes were due to budget issues or obstacles to dyeing wigs various colors. In a fantastical world where dragons hatch from eggs and the undead Night King and White Walkers hunt beyond the Wall, including a man with blue hair and a gold mustache wouldn’t be a stretch.
Game Of Thrones Erased 2 Huge Characters Who Could Have Fulfilled Daario’s Cut Book Detail
More Blue-Haired Sellswords Didn’t Make It Into Game Of Thrones
Even if it was too late to restore Daario’s book appearance once he was recast, Game of Thrones had two other major characters who could have fulfilled his blue-haired sellsword description. Among the biggest book characters that Game of Thrones cut is Young Griff, who claims to secretly be Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell’s presumed-dead son Aegon Targaryen. Being raised by the Mad King Aerys’ exiled Hand, Jon Connington, both disguise themselves after Robert’s Rebellion as sellswords in the Golden Company named “Griff” and “Young Griff.”
To hide their identities, Griff and Young Griff both dye their hair blue, similar to Daario Naharis. The two claim that dyeing their hair blue is a way to honor Young Griff’s late Tyroshi “mother.” Perhaps because the truth about Young Griff’s identity had (and has still) yet to be confirmed in Martin’s books, Game of Thrones cut both Aegon “Young Griff” Targaryen and Jon “Griff” Connington from the show. Therefore, the show lost another two characters who, despite not actually being from Tyrosh, could have represented the location’s cultural customs that were absent from Daario Naharis’ TV depiction.
Game Of Thrones’ Next Spinoff Has A Big Choice To Make After HOTD’s New Tyroshi Character
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Will Introduce A Major Tyroshi Character In House Targaryen
During the long wait for House of the Dragon season 3, the Game of Thrones franchise will debut its next spinoff prequel show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, in 2025. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, the series follows the adventures of Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall, a hedge knight, and “Egg,” a young boy who becomes his squire. HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show explores another era in House Targaryen’s reign, about 90 years before Game of Thrones and 75 years after House of the Dragon‘s timeline.
One major character in House Targaryen’s family tree during this story will be Kiera of Tyrosh, the widow of the late Prince Valarr Targaryen. Kiera goes on to marry Prince Daeron Targaryen after her husband’s death, expanding her importance within the family and its issues regarding the Iron Throne’s succession. Kiera is expected to play a relatively bigger role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show than Daario Naharis did in Game of Thrones, which gives the TV universe its most prominent Tyroshi character yet.
As such, the upcoming prequel has an important decision to make with her after changing Daario, namely about whether A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will give Kiera dyed hair and a style more reflective of Tyroshi culture. Unlike Daario, Kiera isn’t given a detailed description in Martin’s books, so HBO’s upcoming show has more creative freedom when adapting her character. But, given House of the Dragon season 2’s new Tyroshi captain finally features the location’s signature dyed hair, it seems likely that Kiera could appear in the new spinoff with colorful hair and a clothing style traditional to Tyrosh.
