Three Prophesies Fulfilled – And Daenerys’s Comeback Arc

Published May 6, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi Guys – thank you for awakening the dragon (English major) in me with your thoughtful podcasts.

One of the things that has troubled me about season 8 is that the “magic” of Dany has been lost. She seems too much of a trope of a girl insecure in her relationships. I know there has to be an actual reason for this turn, and not some bullshit misogyny. Because we now have Cersei, Arya, Sansa and Dany battling it out while Jon Snow looks all season 1 lurking in the background. Those are some strong ass ladies. And because I have faith in MYSELF, damnit! I digress…

I think there are now 3 prophesies fulfilled (or in the process thereof) and we are missing them as the metaphorical forest through the Weirwood trees. I think we miss them because we want the prophecies to have some greater meaning, where all the tiles click into place and it solves the end of GoT. I think it is more subtle than that, which is as it always has been.

1. Dany has BEEN Azor Ahai/the Princess who was Promised. Dany forged Lightbringer (the dragons) by tempering the blade (birthing the dragons) in the blood of her lover (Khal Drogo funeral pyre). “When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone.” Salt and smoke, the red comet, yadda yadda yadda. Jon Snow doesn’t even come close. We want him to be Azor Ahai because he is the “good” one. But classic heroes are characteristically “good.” We forget that as viewers because we want a magic perfect puzzle clicking into place. That only exists once and his name was Hodor. You don’t get two Hodors. Also, being a hero doesn’t mean that person necessarily wins the game of thrones.

2. Dany has finally been betrayed 3 times. Once for blood was Mirri Maz Duur, once for gold was Jorah, and now once for love is Jon for love of his family. This is bringing her to the depth of the shadow (see next). I was a believer that Tyrion would be the one to betray her, but he has kept faith in ways that amazes me and redeems him. I think he is also going to play a big part in the completion of…

3. Quaithe’s Prophesy: To go north, you must journey south, to reach the west you must go east. To go forward you must go back and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow.
Here, it is quite simple to debunk the first three lines, as she had to go to Kings Landing prior to Winterfell, conquer Meeren before the Iron Throne, and had to travel all the way back to the beginning to get a khalasaar from Vaes Dorthrak before she could move forward. The phrase that was hard to reckon with was the last – pass beneath the shadow before seeing the light. There is talk that the shadow that she had to pass beneath is actually Drogon’s, but I think the shadow is a “dark period.” She is in now of returning to isolation and aloneness in which she started the show as scared and alone (the final phase of to go forward you must go back) before she can see the light, which in this case would be a revelation of what her person destiny really is. I also think “pass beneath the shadow” is also a reference to her family’s history, e.g., the biases that we viewers (and the people in her world) project on her as a result of what we know about her father and brother. Quite simply, we are doubting her. But she doesn’t need us, or Jon, she only needs faith in herself. If anyone knows that your family doesn’t dictate you as a person, it is Tyrion, and I think he will have a role to play in reminding her of that.

I think her destiny to the world is to be Azor Ahai, but I think her personal destiny (or, “the light”) is to be enlightened and understand what matters is family/home. She has been searching for family/home, since day 1, and I think family/home is the central Theme of GoT. I put them together because I think a home can be a place or a person. (Neither here nor there, but I think her last words to Jorah were something along the lines of “you are home,” which was what both he and Dany expressed a longing for in season 1). She has been fighting all along for home in a place (her destiny, the iron throne, king’s landing), but in truth what she has wanted all along is a belonging. Her remark on Dragonstone about thinking it would feel different to be “home” was familiar to me as a disappointment due to her projecting that longing on a place. I think she will realize that she has found that by seeing Jon with his family, and I think she will see that in her unborn child (yes, I am a birther). I rewatched the prophesy scene from the House of the Undying and she was able to tear herself away from what she think she wants (the Iron Throne, dead Khal Drogo and her unborn child) for what she needs – her real live family, the dragons.

Jury in my court is out on whether she lives, but I do think we are going to see a hell of a character arc in the next two episodes. Don’t write my girl off yet.

Cheers,
The Mad Queen herself, Maddy Devine

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