The legendary show Game Of Thrones was initially based on George R.R. Martin's book series A Song Of Ice And Fire. Over the course of the seasons, there was growing speculation that the 'ice' referred to Jon Snow, who associated with Winter and the North, while the 'fire' referred to Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons.
This theory would make all the more make sense considering that Jon and Daenerys became the most iconic couple on the show, despite how controversial they were. From beginning to end, their love story was a wild ride of trust, conflicts, love, and betrayal. Here we take a look at the 5 worst things Jon Snow has done to Daenerys, and the 5 worst things she's done to him.
JON: Not Bending The Knee For An Alliance
Although one of Jon Snow's biggest qualities is being a man of his word, this trait could be quite frustrating as it, at times, kept him from doing what was best for him and his people.
He sailed all the way across the sea to meet with Daenerys in person and warn her about an army of the dead that could not be beaten other than through an alliance between their two people. And yet, he refused to bend the knee to Daenerys when she asked, her only condition for the alliance. Mind you, he did eventually accept the Targaryen as his true Queen, amongst other things but his initial refusal fo the condition seemed a bit stubborn on his part. It was an expected condition--after all, why should Daenerys risk her army and her dragons fighting for Jon's people if they didn't even take her as Queen?
DAENERYS: Not Believing In The Army Of The Dead
Daenerys made a name for herself as the Mother Of Dragons by walking out of fire unharmed, and with three dragons - a species supposed to be extinct. She made the impossible happen. And yet, she is unable to believe Jon Snow when he tells her that the myth of the Night King and the White Walkers is real.
If Jon were using the threat of the army of the dead to get something out of her, her mistrust could be understood. But he is offering a useful warning, and he is proposing that they mutually help each other. There isn't much reason not to believe what he says. Still, it takes Daenerys visiting a dark, abandoned cave with strange, old paintings for her to realize that the threat is real.
JON: Letting Sansa Disrespect Daenerys
We know that Jon Snow is not really one to take sides. The crows and the wildlings had been at each other's throat for hundreds of years, but Jon Snow decided to put the war between the two groups to an end, and united crows and wildlings for the first time in history. When it came to Sansa and Daenerys--a much smaller and easier rivalry to end--Jon Snow seemed to deliberately stay out of it.
During Daenerys' stay at Winterfell, Sansa was arguably harsh to her. She acted wary and quite ungrateful towards Daenery's huge help. And although he was the only one who could have convinced Sansa to trust Daenerys, Jon barely interfered and Sansa's mistrust only grew.
DAENERYS: Asking Jon Snow To Bend The Knee
One thing that Jon Snow and Daenerys have in common is how stubborn and convincing they both are, although in very different ways. Whereas Jon listens to others, acts considerate and takes the time to explain his reasoning, Daenerys is more forceful, acting fierce and dominant to get people to agree to what she wants. When it came to forming an alliance against a common enemy, Jon and Daenerys were both trying to get the other to agree to their terms.
Although Daenerys ended up giving Jon an army before he bent the knee, as she asked, it initially seemed like she cared more about being recognized as Queen than about saving her people.
JON: Telling His Family About His Identity
Whereas season 7 was the rise of Jon and Daenerys, season 8 was their inevitable downfall. Everything pretty much, started going downhill when Jon Snow found out that he was the rightful heir to the throne. Of course, he reassured Daenerys that if it came down to it, he would refuse the throne for her.
But Daenerys was the more realistic of the two when she told him that the only way to secure her place on the throne was by strictly not telling anyone about Jon's real identity. Jon saw Sansa's mistrust towards Daenerys, so it was inevitable that telling Sansa would resolve in the secret being repeated.
DAENERYS: Suspecting Sam and Bran Of Lying
Daenerys had all the reasons to feel threatened by Sansa, but everyone else at Winterfell had been grateful to her, and gladly accepted her as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Perhaps Sam had reasons to dislike her, but he had a reputation for being knowledged and honest. When Jon Snow told her about his real identity, she was quick to accuse Sam and Bran of lying about it, supposedly because they were Jon's best friend and brother and didn't want Daenerys on the throne.
It was a brief moment of suspicion, but the fact that Daenerys would even think that Sam and Bran would lie to conspire against her just shows how paranoid she was about people trying to take what she saw as her place on the throne.
DAENERYS: Asking Jon To Lie To His Family
For Daenerys, finding out that she was her lover's aunt didn't seem as troubling as the fact that he had a claim to the throne. In fact, she felt so threatened by the information regarding Jon Snow's real name that she told him, plainly, that the only way for their relationship to survive was by keeping it a secret. Even to his family - people who Jon should have the right to inform.
After all, Jon and Daenerys remained in love and stayed together even after finding out that they were related, so that was not a big problem for them. Daenerys could have proposed that they rule Westeros together, but she seemed to want to secure her place on the throne without no one else, not even her lover.
JON: Not Comforting Daenerys About Her Losses
In just one day, Daenerys lost her closest friend, Missandei, and a second dragon, who was obviously like a child to her. Her losses sent her into isolation; she was feeling depressed, betrayed and lonely. Jon Snow and Daenerys may have been at a point of conflict at that time, but Jon could have momentarily pushed that to the side for Daenery's sake, to comfort her.
Instead, he managed to let her think that she had no love in Westeros. That's what she told Jon when they finally talk again, and although he replied that he loved her, he refused to kiss her, and she took it as a confirmation that there was only fear for here, and no love. And Jon just let her go.
JON: Killing Daenerys
There is no series finale that was as anticipated and as hated as the Game Of Thrones finale. There were numerous aspects of it that bothered both fans and actors, and one of those things was Jon Snow killing Daenerys.
The last episode opened with incredible cinematography that made Daenerys appear like a dictator. Although Tyrion tried to convince Jon Snow to do something to stop Daenerys' madness, it's doubtful that he was meant killing her. That's certainly not how most of us expected this Romeo and Juliet-like love story to end.
DANY: Destroying King's Landing
After their final argument, Daenerys left saying 'let it be fear'. By fear, she meant burning an entire city to the ground to win the throne, even after they had surrendered and the battle was supposed to be over. If Jon still had faith that she was good before, she proved him wrong.
Even throughout all the conflicts and betrayal, Jon had promised her that she was his Queen, something which Daenerys didn't really honor. Instead, she terrorized and destroyed King's Landing, slaughtering thousands of innocent--basically did everything that Jon was against.