Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was built up to become one of major heroes in Game of Thrones, but that all came crashing down in the final season of the hit HBO series. Following the deaths of her two closest allies and feeling the Iron Throne she believed belonged to her slipping away, Daenerys then turned into the “Mad Queen.” She turned her fiery hate and vengeance to King’s Landing burning down everything in her path and sight. Including families. The Game of Thrones prequel show, House of the Dragon, could probably explain and better contextualize her controversial decent into madness.
Daenerys has shown signs over the years that she could turn into a villian like when she killed Randyll and Dickon Tarly, though probably justified, but out of character. Game of Thrones fans theorized that she would end up on the Iron Throne or have a more heroic death. Of course, neither happened.
House of the Dragon can shed some new light for Daenerys. The prequel takes place 170 years before the events in Game of Thrones focusing primarily on House Targaryen. That wasn’t possible in Game of Thrones because Daenerys’ story for her character was always to be alone and how she would rise as the Mother of Dragons and Queen of Westeros. There were also many contributing factors to her decent into madness — the deaths Jorah Mormon (Iain Glen) and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel), sensing that the people of Westeros were not loyal to her, and the big one, the hurt from Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) real identity and royal lineage. But perhaps, the Targaryen “madness” is inherent, which House of the Dragon can address in more detail.
It is said that when a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin. Fans weren’t able to see all that Game of Thrones. The only other Targaryens alongside Daenerys were her brother, Viserys, Aemon, and also Jon Snow, which was revealed later in the show. There were flashbacks of the Mad King Aerys II and Prince Rhaegar. So it seems to be a 50/50 chance of becoming “mad” when you’re a Targaryen. Aerys was dubbed Mad King for a reason, Daenerys became the Mad Queen in the final season, and Viserys was sadistic and cruel. While Aemon was kind and gentle, Rhaeger was beloved, and Jon Snow truly had Ned Stark’s honorable nature.
House of the Dragon can dive deep into the “Gods flipping a coin” idea because there will be so many Targaryens in the Game of Thrones prequel. Many of whom could be considered villainous, and at least one approaching madness.
For fans disappointed with Daenerys’ decent into madness, House of the Dragon won’t fix that, but it may at least put it all into context as the show will explore her lineage. There is an idea that the Targaryen bloodline carries the trait of insanity, and perhaps we will see how they reacted in times of civil war — The Dance of the Dragons.
House of the Dragon premieres January 1st, 2022 on HBO Max. Are you looking forward to seeing more Targaryens? Let us know in the comments below.
