One of the most prominent characters in Game of Thrones is Daenerys Targaryen, believed to be the last remaining Targaryen in Westeros years after the fall of her family’s once-powerful house. Though when we first meet her she’s naive and vulnerable, her journey throughout the seasons is truly remarkable as she transforms into a confident and cunning leader.
She is an inspiration to fans of the show, including myself, and despite where you land on who the Prince That Was Promised prophecy is actually about, there’d be no Game of Thrones without Daenerys.
Whatever you prefer to call her — the Mother of Dragons, the Unburnt, “Dany” for short — there’s no denying her impact on the Seven Kingdoms and the A Song of Ice and Fire series as a whole.
We don’t know when we’ll be seeing the continuation of Daenerys’ story in George R.R. Martin’s next book The Winds of Winter, but while we wait, we’re looking back at the HBO show and choosing the character’s best and worst episodes. Dany is amazing, but we all can admit she’s certainly made mistakes.
Best Daenerys Targaryen episodes: “Mhysa”
I can’t lie, the Game of Thrones season 3 finale “Mhysa” makes me cry every time I watch it. And it’s completely because of Daenerys Targaryen and how much good she’s doing in the world. The episode sees Dany arrive at the city of Yunkai, where she is determined to free the enslaved population. She leads her army to conquer the city and in turn gains the affection of the slaves she freed, who call her by an adorable and significant name.
This episode is a big one for Daenerys. She commits further to ending oppression, solidifies her purpose as a liberator and enjoys a scene where the people of Yunkai circle around her and lift her up, calling her “Mhysa,” meaning “mother.” Dany is surprised by the positive response, and it’s apparent that this is one of her happiest moments in the show. It’s perfect.