HBO’sGame of Thronestook many creative liberties with its characters, including several changes to Daenerys Targaryen. The fantasy epic TV series is adapted fromGeorge R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firebook series, a prolific set of fantasy novels that’s been ongoing since the release of 1995’sA Game of Thrones.Throughout the five existing novels, readers follow many of the figures fromGame of Thronesas “point of view characters,“examining Martin’s world from their perspective.
Daenerys Targaryen is among the most prominent POV characters, and seeing the world from her perspective allows for a ton of material that theGame of ThronesTV series changed or left out entirely. There areelements of Dany’s backstory, general personality, and political conflicts in Essos that don’t exist in the show. Fans of the television adaptationare familiar with Daenerys' descent into madness in theGame of Thronesending, but there’s a lot more to her character that may bring her to that point in the novels, with Martin’s thick volumes never shying away from detail.
10Daenerys' Physical Traits Are Different In Game Of Thrones
Daenerys Has Purple Eyes & Silver Hair In The Books
Perhaps the most widely known change to Daenerys Targaryen from book to show is her physical appearance. Like many characters inGame of Thrones,Dany is aged-up for the purpose of the TV series. In the books, she’s in her early teens at the beginning ofA Game of Thrones, adding horror to her and Khal Drogo’s wedding and sex scene. Many of the younger characters were aged up in the show for similar reasons.
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In the books, Daenerys is importantlydescribed as having silver hair and purple eyes, traits that represent unique, majestic Valyrian beauty. While silver hair became the marquee for Dany’s iconic look inGame of Thrones, the show toned down the fantasy aspect by not giving her purple eyes. Another crucial physical element is that Daenerys has her hair burnt off at the end ofA Game of Throneswhen she rises from the flaming pyre with her newborn dragons. It takes multiple novels for her hair to grow back.
9Daenerys' Backstory Has More Exposition In The Books
The House With The Red Door Adds Mystique To Dany’s Origins
Viserys mentions his and Daenerys' backstory inGame of Thronesseason 1, but the book creates important elements that are far more mysterious, leading to major theories. Importantly, Daenerys has memories of childhood in Braavos, whereshe commonly describes a house with a red door that had a lemon tree outside of it. Dany reflects on this memory several times, particularly inA Game of ThronesandA Dance with Dragons.
Many theories point to the possibility that she actually grew up in Dorne, suggesting her parents may not be who she thinks they are.
Perhaps what’s most fascinating about this narrative element is the fact thatGeorge R.R. Martin explicitly states that the cold, harsh climate of Braavos is not suitable for growing trees, particularly those with citrus fruits. There’s something clearly wrong about what Dany recalls from her childhood and the location she believes she grew up in. Many theories point to the possibility that she actually grew up in Dorne, suggesting her parents may not be who she thinks they are.
8Daenerys Experiences Different Visions In The House Of The Undying
Dany’s House Of The Undying Visions Are More Prominent
There are many changes made to the Qarth plotline inGame of Thronesto embellish the story, which is rather brief inA Clash of Kings. First, Danaerys doesn’t need to threaten her way into the city; she’s invited. Second, she doesn’t go to the House of Undying to rescue her dragons, as they aren’t stolen in the books. Instead,she goes there to understand her fate, and she sees numerous visions of her futurethat have given audiences material to theorize about for decades.
Thechanges to the House of the Undying narrativein the show are some of the most frustrating, as they remove some of the most fascinating mystical elements fromGame of Thrones. In the books,she even sees a vision of her older brother Rhaegar, who mentions the Prince That Was Promised prophecy, which has major implications onA Song of Ice & Fireand the more significant fantastical events at work. In the TV series, she simply sees a frozen Iron Throne room and gets some closure with Khal Drogo.
7Daenerys Has A Loyal Follower Named Strong Belwas
Game Of Thrones Removes Several Supporting Characters
ThroughoutGame of Thrones, Daenerys accumulates numerous followers, many of whom get cycled through rather quickly. For example,Dany’s handmaiden, Irri, gets killed off rather early on the show in season 2, despite still being alivein the books. There are other followers who are left out of the TV adaptation entirely, such as Strong Belwas, whose crucial moments typically get left to other characters like Daario or Barristan.
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Belwas joins Dany’s company at the end ofA Clash of Kingsand continues to be one of her chief supporters throughout the saga. ByA Storm of Swords,Belwas is part of Dany’s queensguard and serves her faithfully, even eating a poisoned locust for her inA Dance with Dragons, which he barely survives. In Dany’s siege of Meereen, she’s challenged to a contest of champions, where Belwas defeats the defender on her behalf. In the show, this matter is handled by Daario Naharis.
6Someone Tried To Kill Daenerys With Poisoned Locusts
An Attempted-Murder-Mystery Is Afoot In Meereen
While the Meereen chapters aren’t typically anyone’s favorite inA Dance with Dragonsand have typically resulted in the book receiving criticism for filler, they do create an interesting mystery. Before Dany is forced to flee the fighting pits on dragonback, similar to how she does in the show,Dany’s husband, Hizdahr zo Loraq, encourages her to eat honeyed locusts which have been prepared for her as part of a banquet. Luckily, Belwas taste tests the locusts for her, before she has the chance to.
Later affirming that the locusts were poisonous,a mystery of attempted murder becomes a plotline leading intoThe Winds of Winter. Hizdahr is among the primary suspects, as are the Sons of the Harpy, Daario Naharis, Quentyn Martell, and more. This plotline is left out of the TV series entirely and is one of the many ends Martin is left to tie up in the sixth volume.
5Daenerys Isn’t The Only Targaryen In The Books (Allegedly)
Aegon Targaryen Will Contest Daenerys For The Iron Throne
Game of Thronesfans know Jon Snow to be another Targaryen, but this isn’t what’s being referred to, as Jon’s parentage still hasn’t been confirmed in the books. However, there is anothercharacter named Young Griff, who appears to be a Targaryen in hiding and surfaces during the events ofA Dance with Dragons. He claims to be Aegon Targaryen, the son of Rhaegar and Elia Martell, who was believed to have been killed by The Mountain in the Sack of King’s Landing decades earlier.
It’s commonly believed that this plotline will tie to Daenerys' descent into madness, as Aegon technically has the better claim to the Iron Throne.
Young Griff has been in hiding for years, and now with the help of Jon Connington, Illyrio Mopatis, and more,he’s meant to be planted on the Iron Throne to restore the Targaryen dynasty. At the end of the most recentA Song of Ice & Firenovel, Young Griff and his forces have laid their foundation in the Stormlands and intend to move toward King’s Landing. It’s commonly believed that this plotline will tie to Daenerys' descent into madness, as Aegon technically has the better claim to the Iron Throne.
4Quaithe Is More Important In A Song Of Ice & Fire
ASOIAF Doesn’t Downplay Its Mystical Characters
Game of Thronesaudiences may remember Quaithe as the woman with a strange mask who appears in season 2, says some mysterious things and then disappears forever. This is another aspect of the Qarth plotline where the TV series chose to downplay the more mystical elements of the saga, asQuaithe remains important in theA Song of Ice & Firenovels. After being introduced inA Clash of Kings, Quaithe returns twice more.
InA Storm of Swords, Daenerys witnesses a dream of Quaithe, who repeats her strange message from the previous book, telling Dany she must “pass beneath the shadow,” causing Dany to question who Quaithe is truly loyal to.Daenerys then has two visions of Quaithe inA Dance with Dragons, warning her not to trust those who seek her dragons. This continued mysterious presence seems vital to the story of the books.
3Quentyn Martell Tries To Tame One Of Daenerys' Dragons
Quentyn Martell Gets Burnt By Rhaegal At The End Of A Dance With Dragons
The Dorne plotline is seen as one of the biggest botched narratives inGame of Thrones, as a majority of the important characters from the books are left out of the TV series entirely. InA Dance with Dragons,Doran Martell’s son, Quentyn, is sent to Meereen to treat with Daenerys, offering her a marriage proposal for alliance in Westeros. In the show, Varys brokers an alliance between Daenerys and Dorne through Ellaria Sand, who’s somehow taken over the noble house.
In an attempt to tame Viserion, Quentyn is burnt by Rhaegal, severely injuring him and causing his death days later.
Despite knowing that Dorne would be a valuable ally to her, Daenerys has her current focus set on Meereen during the novel, and she declines Quentyn’s offer. Not wanting to leave Meereen without any success,Quentyn hopes to use his Targaryen blood, which traces back generations, to tame one of Dany’s dragons. In an attempt to tame Viserion, Quentyn is burnt by Rhaegal, severely injuring him and causing his death days later.
2Victarion Greyjoy Hopes To Control One Of Daenerys' Dragons
Victarion Greyjoy Has Just Arrived At Meereen
Victarion Greyjoy is another character left out ofGame of Throneswhose presence is rather important toA Feast for CrowsandA Dance with Dragons. In the former,Victarion loses the kingsmoot to his brother, Euron Greyjoy, becoming an asset to Euron’s plansfor power and control in Westeros. Having acquired a dragon horn, Euron intends to use the tool to control one of Daenerys' dragons. He sends Victarion as an envoy to Meereen to arrange a marriage between her and Euron.
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Of course, in classicA Song of Ice & Firefashion,Victarion has the bright idea that he should take Daenerys and the dragons for himself, and he arrives at Meereenat the start ofThe Winds of Winter. Despite Dany not being present in the city, Victarion’s presence should be one of the main narratives going forward for her, as he’s one of theGame of Thronescharacters who could ride a dragon, using the horn for himself.
1Differences In Daenerys' Supporters In ASOIAF
Missandei Is Literally 10
Daenerys' main supporters in the TV show include Jorah Mormont, Missandei, Grey Worm, and Barristan Selmy, all of whom have some notable differences in the books. To start,Jorah’s arc with greyscale in the series doesn’t happen in the books, with this narrative instead happening to Jon Connington. He also hasn’t reunited with Daenerys, as he arrives in Meereen after she’s left the city, leaving his fate with her uncertain.
As for Missandei, Daenerys' translator is one of the most notably different characters in the books, as she’s literally a child. Missandei is still Dany’s translator, but she’s only ten years old when introduced in the novels. Grey Worm fulfills a similar role in the novels, but he’s far less prevalent than in the series, and, of course, has no romantic relations with Missandei. As for Ser Barristan, the character died prematurely inGame of Thrones, and he’s still very much alive in Meereen at the end ofA Dance with Dragons.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
