It has been seven years since Emilia Clarke portrayed Daenerys Targaryen in <em>Game of Thrones</em>, yet her legacy continues. The character’s death at the hands of Jon Snow (Kit Harington) in the series finale remains a contentious issue, but regardless of Game of Thrones‘ controversial ending, Dany is one of the most significant TV characters of the modern era, if not all time.
This legacy has persisted into HBO’s expansion of its Westeros franchise: the two releases so far, <em>House of the Dragon</em> and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, have focused, to varying degrees, on House Targaryen. Additionally, the first-ever Game of Thrones movie will also center on this family, focusing on Aegon’s Conquest. Much of this is due to George R.R. Martin’s source material, but it is also a testament to Daenerys’ popularity.
This was evident again recently with Clarke’s appearance at the 2026 Emmys, where she joined House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy (who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen) to present the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series. While it was enjoyable to see these two worlds collide, it also underscored a harsh reality for the prequel.
House Of The Dragon Doesn’t Compare To Game Of Thrones
The appearance of Clarke and D’Arcy centered around Clarke presenting in High Valyrian, delivering a lengthy speech that D’Arcy humorously translated as simply “Good evening.” However, it was evident how thrilling it was for everyone—both in the audience and watching at home—to see Clarke almost slip back into her role after seven years away.
House of the Dragon is at times an excellent show, and its cast is particularly outstanding (D’Arcy delivers one of the best performances in the Game of Thrones franchise, deserving Emmy consideration next year), but it has not achieved the same level as Thrones. This is not solely about quality—though that is largely true—but more about cultural cachet and relevance.
Seven years later, Clarke stepping onstage to speak High Valyrian feels like a genuine moment that likely wouldn’t resonate with the current cast of House of the Dragon, nor would it have the same impact seven years after its conclusion. A character like Daenerys possesses a reach and recognition that transcends far beyond the series, something that the prequel has yet to accomplish.
This can be attributed to several factors. While House of the Dragon‘s viewing figures are substantial, it exists within a more fragmented TV landscape where audiences are divided among various streaming platforms and view content at different times and paces more than ever before. Additionally, its own production timeline—with two-year gaps between seasons—has hindered its growth compared to how Thrones returned each spring consistently.
Of course, Game of Thrones‘ ending also contributes to this situation to some extent. The notion that season 8 diminished interest in the show and online discussions about how “no one talks about it anymore,” have always been exaggerated because the show has remained successful on streaming platforms and continues to appear on piracy charts years later. However, some decline due to that negativity is expected and hasn’t necessarily aided House of the Dragon in achieving similar heights, though it’s less significant than other factors.
Clarke’s appearance at the Emmys serves as a reminder of how special Game of Thrones was during its time—something that may have been taken for granted. It was true watercooler TV, one of the last pop-culture phenomena capable of dominating conversations week after week, year after year, and even now it holds an allure that House of the Dragon cannot replicate.
Daenerys Shouldn’t Return In The Game Of Thrones Franchise
Image via HBO/MovieStillsDB
The appearance of Clarke alongside D’Arcy was a delightful intersection of two shows—and two Targaryens separated by over a century in-universe—but it’s also an occurrence that cannot happen too frequently. After all, they cannot simply repeat this next year or in subsequent years. Indeed, Clarke’s appearances as Dany or even in related contexts have been sparse in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue.
This isn’t necessarily negative. Regarding Daenerys herself, there is no real need to see her character again. Her cameo appearance (for which Clarke did not return) as part of Daemon Targaryen’s visions in House of the Dragon‘s season 2 finale served as a fitting conclusion because it connected both the past and future of House Targaryen within the world of Game of Thrones.
03
Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragons from petrified eggs . Which o f th e following is NOT one o f her dragons?
✓ Correct! Balerion “the Black Dread” was Aegon th e Conqueror’s dragon , who died o f old age over a century before th e events o f th e show . Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon , Rhaegal , and Viserion —named after Khal Drogo , Rhaegar , and Viserys.
✗ Dracarys! Th e answer is Balerion . Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold). Balerion th e Black Dread was Aegon th e Conqueror’s mount , dead long before Daenerys was born.
04
Th e Red Wedding is one o f th e most shocking moments in TV history . At whose castle does this massacre take place?
✓ Correct! Th e Red Wedding took place at Th e Twins , th e castle o f House Frey . Lord Walder Frey violated th e sacred guest right by slaughtering Robb Stark , Catelyn Stark , and their bannermen during th e wedding feast o f Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.
✗ Dracarys! Th e answer is Th e Twins . Walder Frey’s castle —two towers spanning th e Green Fork —was where he broke sacred guest right to massacre th e Starks . “Th e Lannisters send their regards” remains one o f th e show’s most chilling lines.
05
Jon Snow wields a Valyrian steel bastard sword given to him by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont . What is th e sword’s name?
✓ Correct! Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword that was th e ancestral weapon o f House Mormont . Jeor gave it to Jon after he saved th e Lord Commander from a wight , replacing th e bear pommel with a white wolf for House Stark.
✗ Dracarys! Th e answer is Longclaw . Ice was th e Stark greatsword (melted down by Tywin Lannister), Heartsbane belonged to House Tarly , and Oathkeeper was one o f th e two swords forged from Ice . Longclaw is th e Mormont blade Jon carries throughout th e series.
06
<span c l a s s=”g t-question-text “Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand o f th e King to which ruler , expertly managing th e defense o f King’s Landing during th e Battle o f th e Blackwater?
✓ Correct! Tywin sent Tyrion to serve as Hand in his place during Joffrey’s reign . Tyrion brilliantly orchestrated th e defense against Stannis Baratheon’s fleet using wildfire , though he received no credit and was nearly killed in th e battle.
✗ Dracarys! Th e answer is Joffrey Baratheon . Tyrion served as Joffrey’s Hand o f th e King in Season 2 , appointed by his father Tywin . He later served as Hand to Daenerys , but it was under Joffrey that th e Battle o f th e Blackwater took place.
07
<span c l a s s=”g t-question-text “Jon Snow ’s true parentage is one o f th e show’s biggest reveals . What is his real Targaryen name , given by his mother Lyanna Stark?
✓ Correct! Lyanna Stark named her son Aegon Targaryen . He is th e legitimate son o f Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna , who were secretly married . This made Jon th e true heir to th e Iron Throne —a fact that changed th e course o f th e final season.
✗ Dracarys! Th e answer is Aegon Targaryen . Lyanna whispered th e name to Ned Stark in th e Tower o f Joy . Jon is th e son o f Rhaegar Targaryen (not named after him), making him Aegon —a name carried by many Targaryen kings , including th e Conqueror himself.
08
<span c l a s s=”g t-question-text “In th e series finale , who is chosen by th e lords and ladies o f Westeros to rule th e Six Kingdoms as king?
=✓ Correct ! Bran Stark —now Branth=e Broken —was chosen as king o=fth=e Six Kingdoms atth=e Dragonpit council . Tyrion argued that Bran’s story wasth=e most compelling reason to rule . Sansa became Queen inth=e North ,and Jonwas sent backto thes Wall.
=p>=✗ Dracarys ! Th=e answeris Bran Stark . Tyrion nominated Bran atth=e great council , arguing“whohas abetter storythan Branth=e Broken?” Sansa was crowned Queen inthe independent North ,Jon returnedto thes Wall,and Tyrionservedas Bran’s Hando=fth=e King.
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