Game of Thrones Season 6: Signs That Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Is A Villain


Emilia Clarke’s beloved Daenerys may not fall so far from her Targaryen tree.

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains information about Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 9.

Daenerys and her dragons took back Meereen, and they may have enough ships and an army large enough to set sail to Westeros, but will she be a good leader? All signs point to her being a villain. However, she is not insane like her father the Mad King.

Daenerys’ solution to her problems always seems to lead to her burning her enemies. A concerned Tyrion Lannister reminded the Khaleesi that her plans are not “entirely different” from her father.

In this week’s “Inside the Episode” segment of Game of Thrones, the show’s head writers discussed her status:

“I think Dany’s been becoming a Targaryen ever since the beginning of Season 1,” said David Benioff, with D.B. Weiss continuing, “She’s not her father, and she’s not insane, and she’s not a sadist, but there’s a Targaryen ruthlessness that comes with even the good Targaryens.”

This seems to suggest that the writers still see her as “good” for Targaryen standards. While dismissing any notion that Daenerys is insane, they don’t rule out the idea that she may be a villain or bad leader in her quest for Westeros.

The show has repeatedly shown that she is an excellent conqueror, but her dialogue suggests she won’t be efficient leader. Due to her family name, is it unlikely that Daenerys will receive a warm welcome in any of the Seven Kingdoms.

Daenerys’ righteous moral code will play a part as to why she will be in constant conflict with all of the amoral leaders in the kingdoms. Khaleesi has shown that she is more willing to burn her enemies than to compromise. All of the ideas to negotiate rather than kill come from Tyrion.

Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys is leading to a rule of tyranny. In an earlier episode, one of her closest confidants summed up her character. Daario stated, “You weren’t made to sit on a chair in a palace.” Khaleesi replied, “What was I made for?”

“You’re a conqueror, Daenerys Stormborn.”

She seems to embrace this role as a conqueror, which also indicates that she won’t be very effective sitting in a palace at King’s Landing.

How will the Queen deal with inequality in Flea Bottom, overpopulation, the religious Sparrows, and other powerful family houses? There are also the White Walkers to deal with – and an allegiance with Jon Snow in the North, if he can keep it.

Tyrion Lannister may end up in a similar situation to the one that Jamie Lannister found himself in. He may have to kill Daenerys in the distant future if she proves that she is not so different from her father.

If Khaleesi is to invade Westeros, her timing couldn’t be better, Game of Thrones writer David Benioff states:

“You’ve got a woman who has somehow formed an alliance where she has a Dothraki horde, a legion of Unsullied, she’s got the mercenary army of the Second Sons, and she has three dragons who are now pretty close to full grown. So if she can make it all the way across the Narrow Sea and get to Westeros, who’s going to stand in her way?”

While she may not end up being a villain in a Ramsey Bolton and Joffrey Baratheon way, her potential ineffectiveness as a ruler combined with her ruthless nature may end up being bad for Westeros.

Khaleesi has one potential ally in Yara. In a behind-the-scenes segment, Emilia Clarke is enthusiastic about a potential relationship between the two even though it seems unlikely. “There’s mild flirtation, which is exciting to say the least,” she said “I mean, get rid of Daario, bring on the ladies.”

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]

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