Emilia Clarke’s early defense of Daenerys completely contradicts her shocking villain turn in Game of Thrones’ explosive final season.
Starred as an underdog queen everyone rooted for, Daenerys Targaryen, aka Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones, freed slaves, rode dragons, and dreamt of a better world. However, by season 8, she pulled a full 180, burned down King’s Landing, and left us furious, confused, and betrayed. Sounds familiar, right? And what made it worse?
Well, Clarke once passionately defended Dany’s intentions years before the finale even aired. She said(via Heyuguys),
Unlike many other characters in the show, she doesn’t have an egotistical need or desire or want for ‘the Iron Throne’, it’s something that is her destiny, that she genuinely doesn’t have any control over.
Today, looking back at her statements, it sounds wildly off considering how things ended. Sure, Dany’s destiny went rogue, no doubt in that, but it took the whole plot with it and gave us a broken heart.
How Emilia Clarke’s Claims About Daenerys Contradict Game of Thrones Season 8 Ending
For nearly a decade, Daenerys Targaryen was literally the heart of Game of Thrones. Like she was the fireproof queen with a conscience who liberated slaves, punished tyrants, and stood up for the little guy (yep, we’re talking about Tyrion Lannister). Of course, we rooted deeply for her because she seemed different. She didn’t just want power; she wanted to change the world. And honestly, for a long time, it looked like she might actually do it.
But then came the final season, and suddenly she went from queen of the people to full-blown war criminal in one dragon ride. In season 8, Daenerys didn’t just burn down Cersei’s army or take out the Iron Fleet; we could have accepted that if she had done the damage to them. But when she went full rage and scorched an entire city- children, mothers, and innocent civilians, while the bell rang in surrender, she didn’t even try to stop.
No, she was no longer a queen with a conscience; she became a straight-up villain. And this makes Emilia Clarke’s old statement about her character feel wildly delusional. She said,
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. If she didn’t have to do it, then she probably wouldn’t… she just realises what her options are and has to take an incredibly difficult choice.
Though Clarke may have truly believed that back then, since it was years before the final season aired. Like we never expected that, she wouldn’t have either. Moreover, Clarke was always fiercely protective of the character she poured her soul into. However, looking at the brutal massacre in King’s Landing, her quote feels almost contradictory in retrospect.
| Game of Thrones | 8 Seasons | 9.2/10 IMDb | 89% RT | 2011-2019 |
Dany or Clarke, it’s not a “difficult choice” when you light up a whole city after it’s already surrendered. It’s a character collapse.
What Really Happened to Daenerys’ Body After Jon Snow Stabbed Her?
In Game of Thrones season 8, Jon Snow stabs Daenerys, the Drogon melts the Iron Throne like it’s a cheap souvenir, and then? He gently picks up her body and flies east. That’s it. I mean, HBO didn’t even give us the closure of the main character who was riding the fans’ army throughout seasons, and just rolled the credits.
Well, here’s the thing: my theory says Drogon took her somewhere sacred, maybe in Valyria or Volantis, and gave her a proper Targaryen send-off. Dragonfire cremation isn’t just dramatic, it’s their tradition. It’s an honor. It’s love. Moreover, the dragon raised his mother in fire, and in fire, he let her go.
It’s actually a most fitting goodbye, quiet, painful, with no crowds, no eulogies, just Drogon- flame and ash. The kind of farewell only a dragon can give. So no, I don’t think she’s coming back. And I don’t want her to. Let her legacy stay tragic and powerful, not twisted by what-ifs. She was fire and blood; she deserves to rest in it.
