31 Things We Learned from the Game of Thrones Women

Image via HBO

9. Family doesn’t always equal loyalty.

Daenerys Targaryen

This sentiment may work for the Starks, but the remaining Targaryens are a different story in Season 1. Viserys felt no duty to do right by his sister; rather, he insisted that she do as she was told. Perhaps it’s all part of the patriarchy of this medieval world, but that doesn’t make it any less distasteful. Viserys forced Daenerys into submission, because where else would she go? What would she do without him, the only family left to her? She had no supporters of her own.

The tables turned when she married Khal Drogo and became khaleesi of his Dothraki horde. Daenerys had a taste of power and prestige, and used it against her brother as much as he’d lorded his own power over her in the past. She turned on him when he thought she never would. Daenerys grew into the woman we know her to be now because of what happened to her and how terrible Viserys ended up being to her. In the end, Viserys very fittingly died at his sister’s order, freeing her of his wrath so she could make his ambitions her own. She rid herself of the abuse and tyranny of her brother and did what was best for her.