Game Of Thrones: 5 Ways The Show Changed Daenerys Targaryen From The Books (& 5 Ways She Stayed The Same)
HBO's Game Of Thrones veered from the Song Of Ice And Fire book series from its fifth season onward. Most character depictions, including the fiery Daenerys Targaryen, were altered for the small screen as storylines were adapted. Many of the Mother of Dragons' core qualities were changed for the show, offering fans a varying perspective of her character.
Game Of Thrones didn't change Daenerys completely, however. Most of Dany's arc throughout the series is book accurate, including her time with the Dothraki and her conquest in Slaver's Bay, and manage to capture her character's essence. Here are five ways Dany differs from the books, and five ways she stayed the same.
10 Changed: Her Age
Most of the main characters in George RR Martin's Song Of Ice And Fire book series are significantly younger than their show counterparts, including Daenerys. Dany is 13 at the beginning of the first book, A Game Of Thrones, and is around 15 years old in the most recent installment, A Dance With Dragons.
Dany was aged up in the first season of Game Of Thrones due to the graphic nature of her storyline. The new Khaleesi is 17 when she marries Drogo, having been born during Robert's Rebellion, and in her early twenties when she died.
9 Stayed The Same: Naming The Dragons
The show remained faithful to the books during the birth of Dany's dragons. The grieving Khaleesi places her petrified dragon eggs on Khal Drogo's funeral pyre, sacrificing Mirri Maz Durr to the flames before walking into the inferno herself.
Daenerys survives the fire that brings life to her dragons. In both the books and the show, she names her newly hatched children Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion after her fallen husband and brothers.
8 Changed: First Flight On Drogon
Daenerys takes to the skies on Drogon for the first time during season 5's "The Dance Of Dragons." The Sons of the Harpy attack the Queen of Meereen and her forces during the fighting games at Daznak's Pit. All hope seems lost for the Mother of Dragons until her wayward son returns to rescue her.
The scene plays out significantly different in the books. There is no attack by the Sons; the scent of blood from the fighting draws Drogon's attention, prompting Dany to forcibly tame her dragon with a whip before taking flight.
7 Stayed The Same: Adapting To Dothraki Culture
The Dothraki are integral to Dany's journey in the books and the show. At the beginning of the story, Daenerys is wed to Khal Drogo in exchange for an army for her brother, Viserys. The new Khaleesi is forced to adapt to a vastly different culture quickly as she travels through the Dothraki sea.
Dany initially struggles with her new nomadic lifestyle. Eventually, she embraces Dothraki customs and imbibes strength from her new role, styling herself as Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea.
6 Changed: Her Gentle Heart
Jorah Mormont remarks that Daenerys has a gentle heart during season 2, but Dany's show counterpart was depicted as more violent than her book incarnation. In A Song Of Ice And Fire, the Mother of Dragons is less impulsive and aggressive, seeking peaceful resolutions before resorting to ruthlessness.
Season 5 of Game Of Thrones sees Daenerys feed former slave owners to her dragons in the catacombs. This foreboding moment never occurs in the books, as Dany tries to avoid unleashing her uncontrollable dragons.
5 Stayed The Same: Freeing The Unsullied
Dany's triumphant sack of Astapor from season 3 was another moment that was largely faithful to the books. In A Storm Of Swords, Daenerys visits Slaver's Bay seeking an army. Appalled by the brutal treatment of the Unsullied, Dany tricks the masters and frees the slaves, leading an uprising in the city.
The Mother of Dragons pretends to be ignorant of Kraznys' insults and agrees to trade Drogon for the Unsullied, before revealing she can speak Valyrian and unleashing her dragon in retribution.
4 Changed: The House Of The Undying's Visions
The House of the Undying differs greatly in its depiction from the books to the show. In A Clash Of Kings, Daenerys is invited by the warlocks whilst in Qarth. The Targaryen queen willingly enters the House of the Undying with Drogon on her shoulder instead of being lured to rescue dragons.
The biggest differences are the visions Dany receives whilst inside. In the show, Daenerys sees the destroyed Red Keep before reuniting with Drogo and Rhaego. Dany's visions in the books are more prophetic, including a representation of the Red Wedding and a prediction from Rhaegar.
3 Stayed The Same: Conquest In Slaver's Bay
Dany's show arc remained mostly accurate during the middle seasons of Game Of Thrones. After freeing the Unsullied, Daenerys sets her sights on the other cities of Slaver's Bay and leads a conquest against slavery.
Dany earns her moniker as the Breaker of Chains by overthrowing the masters of Yunkai and Meereen. True to the books, the Targaryen queen rejects the decision to sail for Westeros, electing to remain in Meereen to oversee her conquest against slavery.
2 Changed: Speech At The Gates Of Qarth
Daenerys makes a foreboding speech at the gates of Qarth in season 2. Dany implores the Thirteen to allow her khalasar refuge from the Red Waste. When they refuse, Daenerys threatens to burn Qarth in the future with her dragons, foreshadowing King's Landing's destruction in season 8.
The situation plays out differently in the books. After taking refuge in Vaes Tolorro, Daenerys is invited to Qarth by Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Pyat Pree, and Quaithe, who travel to the Khaleesi "seeking dragons."
1 Stayed The Same: Ruling Meereen
The Targaryen queen establishes a kingdom for the first time in season 4. Daenerys becomes Queen of Meereen after taking the third city of Slaver's Bay. Instead of continuing to Westeros, the Breaker of Chains stays in Meereen to settle the chaos and learn how to rule.
Dany makes the same decision after taking Meereen at the end of A Storm Of Swords. A Dance With Dragons features her tenuous reign as Queen as she struggles to bring peace to the city. Many details of Daenerys' arc were lost in her translation to the small screen, but her show counterpart remained faithful in other ways.
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/2Y6jV5k
No comments