Content Warning: This article contains references/videos to slavery, violence, and murder. Viewers' discretion is advised.
When House of the Dragon is released August 21st, 2022, on HBO, fans of Game of Thrones will get to witness the epic history of the Targaryen family. While the fandom is quite excited that they will finally get to see the civil war play out, there is a little bit that is disappointed that they won't get to see their favorite Khaleesi in action anymore since this is way before her time (however, that shouldn't mean fans should rule out a cameo or reference to Daenerys in the Jon Snow spinoff).
Given that many fans believed season 8 made a major disservice to Daenerys character arc by making her turn into a villain, there are some that are hoping that the spinoff (or even the prequel) might be able to redeem her legacy. After all, there had been a few occasions where she was capable of providing compassionate or wise advice that certainly helped several characters in their darkest times.
Daenerys Refuses To Ignore Important Social Issues
"Let The Priests Argue Over Good And Evil. Slavery Is Real. I Can End It. I Will End It. And I Will End Those Behind It."
One of the best Daenerys Targaryen episodes is when she surprises everyone by tricking the master of the Unsullied before taking over the army and freeing the enslaved so that they can choose whether or not to join her of their own free will.
Even before she had much power, Daenerys was uneasy with the concept of people being enslaved since it went against a principle and basic human right that everyone is (and should have been) entitled to. Therefore, it's not surprising that when she begins to accrue power, she uses her platform to do good and refuses to ignore the growing socio-political issues like the other powerful houses were doing.
Putting Viserys In His Place
"I am a Khaleesi of the Dothraki! [...] The Next Time You Raise Your Hand To Me Will Be The Last Time You Have Hands."
At first glance, this quote sounds cruel and leaves the impression of violence. However, fans know that the one person holding Daenerys back from her true potential was her selfish, power-hungry brother Viserys.
Given that Viserys had already proven himself to be a power-hungry and corrupt individual, it's not at all surprising that Daenerys eventually began to question whether he was fit for the throne. In fact, fans were delighted to see her finally put her foot down to his incessant whining and show him that he had no authority over her or anyone else; that he should start respecting people more. It was certainly one of her more empowering moments in the show.
Daenerys On Her War With The Patriarchy
"I'm Not Going To Stop The Wheel. I'm Going To Break The Wheel."
Daenerys offers some of the shadiest burns in the series, but she's also one of the characters to make the most profound statements. Throughout the series, it's clear that the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms have always had the upper hand, doing everything for themselves at the expense of the common people.
By trying to take back her birthright as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, she doesn't want to place her family back on top of the ever-turning wheel of power. By saying this quote she's proven her intentions are not just for power, but to balance out the imbalance of power in the world.
Daenerys Makes Sure To Maintain Her Responsibilities And Duties
"I Will Not Let Those I Have Freed Slide Back Into Chains. I Will Not Sail For Westeros."
Fighting for people's freedom is a reoccurring theme within Daenerys' storyline. While some fans of the series think that all she was ever after was regaining the power her family once had and she felt she deserved, she disputes this theory with her actions.
When chaos starts to descend on Meereen following the enslaved becoming free citizens and the Golden Harpy trying to take out her soldiers and source of power, it's suggested that she sail her army to Westeros to fulfill her dreams. Instead, she decides to do the right thing and stay in Meereen because she accepts that she has a duty of care to the citizens and wouldn't abandon them until she was certain that they would be safe.
Daenerys Can Make Hard Decisions
"Don't Ever Presume To Touch Me Again Or Speak My Name."
Daenerys has very few people she knows she can trust throughout the series, but Jorah Mormont proves to be one of her best friends. However, when she learns Jorah was feeding information to King Robert before he became dedicated to her, she chose to do the right thing as a ruler and send him away.
It was a heartbreaking moment seeing Jorah plead with his queen and have her say this line to him. Despite the fact that it was a difficult decision for her to make, she knew she couldn't continue to be surrounded by people that proved untrustworthy as she had promises to uphold and a responsibility to keep.
Daenerys' Thoughtful Ruling
"It Seems To Me That A Queen That Trusts No One Is As Foolish As A Queen Who Trusts Everyone."
Most of the people Daenerys allies herself with end up turning on her in the final season. However, it was her final acts that proved villainous that made her dedicated council turn on her. Before she destroys King's Landing, she is very thoughtful about who she chose to trust.
By saying things like this, she proved to be a thoughtful queen. She could never know who to truly trust, but she had to take chances and allow people to prove themselves or otherwise end up with no allies. While it was her trust in people that led to her death, it also allowed her to be viewed as a competent, intelligent queen.
Daenerys Acknowledges Her Family's Problematic History
"Our Fathers Were Evil Men, All Of Us Here. They Left The World Worse Than They Found It. We’re Not Going To Do That. We’re Going To Leave The World Better Than We Found It."
Daenerys is one of the most likable characters in Game of Thrones, largely due to her determination and benevolent acts. She proved she had her eyes set on the Iron Throne, but she also made a point that she did not want to be what her forefathers were in Westeros.
She was not ignorant to the fact that her father was an evil man, though many people around her liked to remind her of the terror that was the Mad King. When introduced to Theon and Yara Greyjoy, she says this line before agreeing to ally with the Iron Fleet. She didn't want to restore the order of the world, but change the ways in which it functioned to improve everyone's way of life.
Faith In Herself
"Do You Know What Kept Me Standing Through All Those Years In Exile? Faith. Not In Any Gods, Not In Myths And Legends. In Myself. In Daenerys Targaryen."
Though gods and legends play a major role in this world, Daenerys is one of the few characters that doesn't humor these beliefs. While she has no choice but to eventually believe in the Army of the Dead, she chose before to focus on people and actions.
Though she ends up a powerful queen by the end, she was not handed the position. She proved her worth by persuading the Dothraki, freeing the enslaved, and eliminating any corrupt figures that were found through her travels. Though she was feared because of her dragons, it was her faith in herself that led to so much success and earned her the love of her followers.