Game of Thrones made us cheer for a character who killed two family members in one episode — here’s how they pulled it off.

Game of Thrones pulled off a legitimate gaslight job with one of its so-called “fan-favorite” characters. We were all practically told to cheer, clap, and meme the moment even though this character cold-bloodedly murdered two of their own family members in the same damn episode. And somehow, folks, we just rolled with it.

Looking back, it’s crazy how the show dressed it up as a “power move” and not the straight-up family massacre it was. Call it prestige TV magic, but it doesn’t change the fact that we were lowkey manipulated into rooting for someone who clearly crossed a very messed-up line.

Game of Thrones made us cheer for Daenerys after she killed her husband and child 

Game of Thrones made us cheer for Daenerys Targaryen right after she pillow-mercy’d her husband and let a vengeful witch cook her unborn baby. And we called it “power.”

After Mirri Maz Duur’s spell left Khal Drogo breathing but not living, Dany knew her fierce warrior wouldn’t want to stay trapped in that state. So, she smothered him with a pillow. Just hours after losing her unborn son, thanks to that same spell. Two lives. One episode. And still, the world hailed her as Khaleesi rising.

But you know what? George R.R. Martin originally had something even colder planned. Back in 1993, in his pitch for the books, Daenerys was supposed to kill Drogo herself to avenge Viserys — the same brother she ended up despising on-screen. Not sure how one would like that. Khal was nice to her, and he called her cute names.

Martin wrote that once Viserys got himself killed by pushing Drogo too far, Dany would bide her time and then slay Drogo for it, before disappearing into the wilderness. Dragon eggs? She’d stumble upon them after the kill, while being hunted by Dothraki. Total lone-wolf energy.

Thankfully, Martin rewrote it. Viserys became pathetic, Drogo became beloved, and Dany’s fire-walk-from-the-funeral-pyre moment with three dragons became iconic. That shift made her story richer, deeper, and more tragically epic.

But when you zoom out, the truth still hits: Game of Thrones dressed up Daenerys’ darkest choices as strength. The show didn’t flinch when she made them, and neither did we.

Game of Thrones deaths that hit hardest: Ned Stark’s shocking end

Game of Thrones made it clear early on: no one’s safe. And when Ned Stark (Sean Bean) gets beheaded in Season 1 on orders from ‘King’ Joffrey, it hits HARD (I might’ve cried). The guy was the moral backbone of the show, trying to stop the Lannisters from taking over Westeros. But they cut his head off in front of a crowd and called him a traitor.

Ned’s brutal death set the stage for what became Game of Thrones’ trademark: shocking, heart-wrenching kills. Rob Stark’s death in season 3 hurt too. Fans were left reeling, and it was clear that this was just the start of the madness.