Game of Thrones: Honoring our favorite Westerosi moms for Mother’s Day
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen – Photo: Courtesy of HBO
Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys Targaryen likely has the most merchandise available in relation to her motherhood status, despite not having any living human children throughout the course of the show. There is a power in maternity that she understands and claims for herself which resonates with viewers. Yes, mothers are Queens.
Daenerys may have lost her son before she could ever see him, but she has since adopted three dragons, been called “mhysa” by thousands from Yunkai, and carries that maternal energy into just about all her relationships, particularly with her conquered subjects. In “Kill the Boy,” Dany orders the heads of all the ruling families in Meereen be brought to her dragons as she tells them:
"Children. Some say I should give up on them. But a good mother never gives up on her children. She disciplines them if she must. But she does not give up on them."
In sharp contrast to the ferocity of her “children” in this scene, Drogon gives us a very tender moment in the recent episode “The Long Night,” when he cradles his mother in his wings upon seeing her grief. It’s not all about your mother being there for you. Sometimes she needs her kids too. To obtain sweetness and empathy from a dragon, you have to be one tough mama.
Catelyn Stark
Catelyn Stark was always the more balanced of mothers on the show. In season 1, we see her devoted to her fallen son, nursing him to health, then fighting off his attacker with her bare hands. She frees her greatest enemy, Jaime Lannister, to give her daughters a fighting chance in King’s Landing. She’s also not a terrible mother-in-law considering her new daughter’s union doomed her and her one free child. We even learn she has a soft spot for the “motherless child” Jon, even though she couldn’t bring herself to love him.
When Cat hears of Ned’s death, she is physically ill from grief. She takes a moment for herself but catches her breath as soon as she sees Robb needs her. Robb is attacking a tree and ruining his sword when she comes and embraces him, shushing him as he cries he wants to “kill them all.”
“My boy, they have your sisters. We have to get the girls back. And then we will kill them all,” She says, stroking his hair and comforting her oldest son. Even when she is just widowed, she never forgets her children, all of them.
Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Photo: Helen Sloan/Courtesy of HBO
Lyanna Stark
Lyanna Stark is the mother of the true heir to the throne. To her, though, what was more important than her son’s power and riches was his happiness and safety. When Jon/Aegon was born, Lyanna’s instructions for Ned were to secure her baby a home and a future rather than any titles or glory, much like the mom who doesn’t care what you decide to study in school, as long as you’re happy!