Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin revealed that Daenerys Targaryen’s wedding night was originally supposed to be loyal to the books.

When one is making an adaptation of a work as iconic as Game of Thrones, there are several things to keep in mind. Considering how the book series had some of the most dedicated fans in the fantasy genre long before the series came around, it is not surprising that there was a lot of pressure when the show was being made.

With this in mind, one would assume that the series was very cautious about the changes it chose to make from the book to the screen, trying to make it as minimal as possible. However, it would seem that they were more than comfortable taking a few liberties here and there, even in the very first episode of the series.

There is no better example of this than the story of the two pilots and how Daenerys Targaryen’s wedding night went down in them.

Daenerys Targaryen’s Wedding Night—Screen vs Page

One of the most important moments in Daenerys Targaryen’s story throughout the season of Game of Thrones has to be her wedding night in the first season. In the very first episode of the series, fans see a scared girl get pushed around by her brother, forced to marry a man she had never met before or approved of, and then raped by her new husband.

The latter of the bunch had to be the harshest of them all, being forced to watch a battered down girl have even more taken from her in the span of less than an hour. Although the scene is impactful in many ways, many would be surprised to know that it was not loyal to the books in one very big way.

In the books, there is a very clear indication and understanding that Drogo waits for Daenerys to consent before he proceeds with anything. The change has been quite debated among fans. Some argue that the scene takes away from the personal growth and empowerment arcs that her character goes through in the later seasons, with the original scene showcasing that the fire she finds in the later seasons has always been within her.

At the same time, many agree that the series did a good job with the change as it showcases the power and cultural imbalance between the two characters. Although there is no denying that this is a point of conflict within the community, many would be surprised to know that there was another version of the scene that almost made the cut, starring someone else in the role of Daenerys.

Game of Thrones Almost Did It By the Book

Despite being one of the most successful shows of all time, there are several things that fans do not know about Game of Thrones. One of the biggest and most surprising pieces of detail pertaining to the series is the fact that Emilia Clarke was not the first choice for the role of Daenerys Targaryen.

Before Clarke put on the skin of the Mother of Dragons, the role was originally given to Carnival Row actress, Tamzin Merchant. Although another actor being considered for a big role is no surprising tale, how far production went with her as the character is quite surprising.

During an interview with Time Magazine, George R.R. Martin revealed that when Merchant’s casting as the character went all the way to filming the pilot of the series. However, at one point in the early stages of the first season, the decision was made to go with Clarke instead.

We had an original pilot where the part of Daenerys was recast, and what we filmed the first time, when Tamzin Merchant was playing the role, it was much more true to the books. It was the scene as written in the books. So that got changed between the original pilot and the later pilot.

While Merchant did not get to star as the character for long, she managed to do one thing differently. The writer also confessed that her iteration of Daenerys’s wedding night was completely loyal to the books. Following everything as perfectly as it could, the first version of the scene was completely different from what ended up in the show.

Although many fans would disagree with the change and the removal of Daenerys’s consent, there is no denying that the final product added a lot more to her character.