The Small Council – Why Dany Went Mad Queen: Hints From Dragonstone

Published May 13, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hello Hosts,

I’ve been listening to the podcast for quite a while now (great work guys) but have not yet written in. I felt strongly inclined to do so following this week’s episode.

Many GOT viewers seemed to be surprised and confused by Dany’s seemingly sudden flip to Mad Queen status during the siege of King’s Landing. Upon first viewing, I was also quite caught off guard by this and thought that the Khaleesi’s rash decision to burn through hordes of innocent smallfolk was unreasonably out of character and extremely rushed and forced.

What I have come to realize – or at least what I consider to be my best working theory, is that Dany’s flip to Mad Queen status and subsequent sacking of Flea Bottom was masterfully foreshadowed through events that took place at Dragonstone earlier in this week’s episode.

Lord Varys, the crafty Master of Whisperers, always maintained that his true allegiance was to the realm (i.e. the smallfolk, country dwellers, and low-born villagers of the Seven Kingdoms, whom up until this point in the story seem to have been largely ignored by the main characters pining for the Iron Throne). For this reason, the character of Lord Varys was symbolic of the realm. When Daenerys discovered Lord Varys’ betrayal and carried out his fiery execution, her subsequent burning of the smallfolk in King’s Landing (i.e. the Realm) was foreshadowed.

After Lord Varys, the Spider has been reduced to a pile of ash- courtesy of Drogon, Dany retires to the castle for a fireside rendezvous with the ever-brooding Jon Snow. Dany appears to be seeking comfort from Jon, while also testing his love and loyalty by trying to determine whether her affections will be returned. Bashful Jon fails the test, with flying colors, as he cannot even bear to make prolonged eye contact with his ex-lover, aunt, and Queen. Dany, understandably, takes this slight quite personally and informs Jon that if she cannot have love, fear will serve in its stead.

This realization comes to Dany for a second time during the attack on King’s Landing. When the gates have fallen and the bells have rung, Dany is seen atop Drogon, mounted on a city wall. For half a second, Dany is bewildered and doesn’t seem to believe that the victory she has fought and waited her whole life to achieve is finally hers. Dany surveys the city, but instead of being met with cheers and praise, as she was by the slaves she liberated across the Narrow Sea, she is met with screams, fear, and terror. The people of King’s Landing do not, and seemingly will not love her. To them, she is a foreign invader comes to raid and plunder their city, burn their homes, and conquer their kingdom. Upon realizing this, and realizing everything she has sacrificed and lost in order to liberate a people that do not want or love her, Dany resolves to take what is hers through fear, and fear alone.

Thanks again, looking forward to the last few podcasts of the season, I can’t believe it’s almost over!

Racquel C.

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