Game of Thrones season 8 episode 4, The Last of the Starks was one of the most disturbing episodes of the season so far. Yes, I say so despite witnessing the bloody war in episode 3 and waiting in anticipation for the war at King's Landing, which is slated to claim many more lives.
And the discomfort comes from where the writers of the show are taking one the most of powerful female characters of the series, Daenerys Targaryen. There were little bits and pieces scattered around since season six that hinted at the ‘Mad Queen’ theory, and now we are very close to finding out if it comes true after all.
Dragon Queen on the Edge
We have seen Daenerys Targaryen being pushed to the wall little by little as this last season of the show has progressed.
Daenerys has lost her loyal friend Jorah Mormont, her two babies – Rhaegar and Viserion – most of her Dothraki army, many Unsullied, and now her best friend and confidante Missandei. Her support is dwindling and circle of confidantes is getting smaller.
And while she won many hearts and earned the loyalty of the Dothraki and the Unsullied across the seas, the North hasn’t acknowledged her for all the help she offered them in the battle against the Night King. Instead, they are busy gushing over Jon’s dragon-riding skills. And Sansa is out there protecting the interests of the Starks and seems to dislike the queen from her core.
The racism of the North was clear from the looks they gave Greyworm and Missandei the moment they rode into Winterfell!
Anyway, to top off the non-acceptance, the man she loves, Jon Snow, has the better claim to Iron Throne (and now he is uncomfortable knowing that she is his aunt even though it’s pretty common among the Targaryens), something she has believed is her destiny and worked towards for years.
The party after the war is a big reminder for Dany that if the people Westeros come to know that Jon is the true heir to the throne, they’ll cast her aside in a heartbeat.
But as the episode progresses, Dany seems to be transitioning from being a sad queen to a mad queen.
Varys and Tyrion’s Conversation
Varys and Tyrion’s discussion on Dany’s mental state further sheds light on the fact that the writers want us to think that the dragon queen is now on the edge. Could it be a red herring, or foreshadowing Daenerys’ fall from grace? Which side will she end up on?
In Varys’ opinion, a reluctant ruler who does not want power would be perfect for the Iron Throne. “I worry about her state of mind,” Varys says, hinting at Jon being a more "temperate” and “measured” ruler to have. “If you consider that the best ruler might be someone who doesn't want to rule?” he tells Tyrion.
Emilia Clarke herself has hinted at where her character could go, unless she is fooling us completely.
“I think if I knew there was another season, maybe it wouldn’t have f*cked me up in the same way, but knowing that is going to be a lasting flavour in someone’s mouth of what (Daenerys) is. It just puts more weight on it. It becomes harder to separate you from the role when you’ve been with it for so long.”Emilia Clarke
While Varys is all set to betray the queen, Tyrion continues to believe in her, at least for now. Who do you believe in – Varys or Tyrion?
Cersei’s Master Plan
Cersei’s move to make Daenerys kill “thousands of innocent people” in order to take the Iron throne is a smart one. It sure will make Daenerys look bad in front of the very people she is hoping to free from a tyrant.
Daenerys has often tried to curb her Targaryan impulses and avoided following in her father Aerys Targaryen’s (The Mad King’s) footsteps.
If Missandei’s last words ‘dracarys’ and the anger on Dany’s face when she watched her body fall over the walls of King’s Landing are any indication, Daenerys seems set to burn them all. And honestly, I wouldn’t blame her for it, after everything she has gone through, especially this season.
For the sake of progressive writing, here’s hoping that the makers allow us to leave the show with a flawed, but powerful female character in the form of Daenerys, and not a ‘mad queen.’
And in any case, if anyone deserves the title of a ‘Mad Queen’, it would be Cersei. Remember, she burned down the Sept of Baelor, and killed innocents with wildfire to fulfill her personal agenda?
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