The 30 most iconic moments from Game of Thrones, ranked

3. Daenerys’ dragons are born

The first season finale of Game of Thrones is powerful in large part because of Daenerys Targaryen and her newborn dragons. Throughout the season, it’s hinted that the dragon eggs she receives on her wedding day may be more than just decorative. During the final episode, Daenerys climbs on Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre and proves that to be true. She births three dragons, the likes of which haven’t been seen in over a hundred years.

The birth of Daenerys’ dragons is crucial to the show for three reasons. The first is that it brings magic and the supernatural to the forefront. Whereas dragons, White Walkers, and other supernatural elements are hinted at early in the show, Daenerys’ dragons prove that they’re more than just legends. The series would continuously introduce more supernatural elements to the point where they post more of a threat than the political machinations of the human characters, and it all started here.

The second reason this scene is so important is that the existence of the dragons brings Daenerys one step closer to claiming the Iron Throne. Yes, she’s far from becoming queen here, but whether she would have been able to pursue the throne at all without her children is debatable at best. Her dragons not only gain her support and followers in the earlier seasons, but they allow her to do things — conquer regions, destroy enemies — she may not have been able to do on her own.

And finally, the dragons will likely be crucial to battling the Night King and his army in season 8. This is a stirring, magnificent moment that ushers in a new era for the show.