This is the same reason I dislike the pairing of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. The show's version of Jon/Daenerys wouldn't be a good endgame due to how it goes against what the show is. Endgame, for all my non-shipping readers, is the relationship that lasts until the last scene of a book, movie, ect.
Hopefully the books will give readers a much more satisfactory storyline between those two. But all we have now to go on is the show's version and so that is what I will talk about today.
Fantasy and Science Fiction are two wildly misunderstood genres. There is a thought among some that if your story is either of those two genres, it is a lesser work. That there is some literary definition that qualifies them as having to be separated from the rest of literature. There are science fiction and fantasy stories that are considered classics like Stranger in a Strange Land or The Mists of Avalon, but a good majority are just dismissed.
Another misconception about fantasy is that you don't have to have rules. If there are fire breathing dragons or people coming back from the dead, you no longer have to worry about making logical sense. Such as in Game of Thrones you don't have to worry about characters traversing distances faster than is possible because dragons exist.
The thing is that rules need to be established so that readers/viewers/listeners can be properly invested in a story. How can we worry about the fate of Jon Snow if we don't know what is deadly? How can we get invested in one of Littlefinger's plots if he is written out of character?
Even the dragons have rules about what they can and can't do. There are rules over who can ride them. There is enough information for viewers to know when something bad is about to happen to them.
I will admit that the details viewers and readers get concerned about is confusing at first glance. But then, after thinking for a bit, it makes perfect sense. In fantasy people are taken into worlds that aren't Earth and so they'll latch onto anything that is familiar.
The Lord of the Rings deals with the fear of technology. Yet if one doesn't want to look at real world comparisons, one doesn't have to due to the series taking place in Middle Earth. Which, again, doesn't exist.
Game of Thrones draws inspiration from real life events. The Red Wedding didn't just come to George R.R. Martin but was a combination of two events. This drawing from history makes me think of the series as Historical Fiction hidden inside of High Fantasy.
King Robb Stark fell in love with the woman Talisa and married her out of love. This even though he had promised to marry another. Desires of the heart are extremely powerful and potent. They will subdue logic so that their needs are met. In another series this would lead to good things as love is supposed to conquer all. Game of Thrones, though, rewards this love by one of the most shocking scenes in television history.
Time and time again this show has subverted tropes and doesn't give viewers what they expect. No one is safe and that gives the show some of its thrills. The relationship between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen is predictable both in Season 7 and being endgame. The two fan favorites/heroes ending up together is what most fiction has promised us.
Why would the show give us such a predictable ending after showering us with the unexpected?
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In Game of Thrones there seems to be a revulsion to romantic love and marrying for love. The romances in the show have a beautiful taste even if they burn on the way down. Every relationship based purely on love doesn't end up well for all parties involved.
Jon Snow and Ygritte loved each other and due to them being on opposing sides, their relationship couldn't last. She was killed while debating whether or not to kill the bastard. As stated before, Robb's relationship with Talisa brought about the Red Wedding. Tyrion Lannister loved Shae and she ended up betraying him.
Before the show starts Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark's relationship brought about a war and their deaths. Jorah Mormont married Lyneese Hightower out of love and ended up both disgraced and in exile.
Falling in love in Game of Thrones is a nasty affair. It is never as simple as following your heart. Even when you keep your distance from your heart, you can still die in nasty ways protecting the ones you love.
So the storyline between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen shouldn't have been so cliche. If you have seen an 80's movie, you can guess how the hate will turn into love. It should've left viewers on the edge of their seats worrying what this pairing would mean for the two lovers.
Last season hinted at Daenerys making a political marriage to help secure her claim to the Iron Throne. She should've entered into a political marriage with Jon Snow to secure the North's loyalty. Then there could be numerous instances where viewers were left to wonder if the marriage had merely been for political reasons or if the Targaryen loved the bastard.
The question of if Daenerys loved Jon shouldn't have been answered by the end of the season. It would've made for some interesting conversations until the final few episodes.
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Dealing with Daenerys Targaryen should've tested Jon's limits. Especially as he was falling for her. He had loved another before and had Ygritte die in his arms. In that relationship he had had to hide his true intentions from the woman he loved. That should've influenced how Jon approached Daenerys: would he be more open with her or just as secretive because of Ygritte?
Unlike his relationship with Ygritte, he has the fate of the North as well as Westeros in his hands. He has always been one for duty. Him not thinking of a political marriage makes sense due to him not being familiar with politics. But his unfamiliarity with politics shouldn't have lead him to bend the knee when he didn't have to.
While I do think Jon should be on the throne, he didn't prove himself a king in the seventh season of Game of Thrones.
Yet after all the time spent in Meereen Daenerys would surely figure out how she should approach conquering the Seven Kingdoms. But after the seventh season of Game of Thrones, it doesn't seem like she learned anything and that plot is now pointless.
Daenerys wouldn't have been the most competent queen, but she would do much better than she did in the show's universe. She would have started with a political marriage as she would have known about how much the North had sacrificed to gain independence. She would have also known how Jon Snow had gained the title of king even though he had been born a bastard.
Daenerys could have encountered trouble having the Dothraki learning to adapt to Westerosi culture. And Cersei Lannister would've taken any small mistake to build on her platform of xenophobia. As one example.
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In the seventh season, Daenerys should've done more to establish what she meant by 'breaking the wheel'. Her way could be claiming the Iron Throne so she can establish dominance and from there she can start to change things. So her conquering Westeros isn't something that should be dropped.
Daenerys should have had at least one conversation with Tyrion Lannister or Jorah Mormont about establishing a backup plan in case she dies. In that same conversation, or another, she should have explained more about what kind of world she is aiming to make.
There could have been interesting discussions about what would qualify as the 'best' kind of government. Between Daenerys, Jon Snow, and Jorah there are enough viewpoints to make that conversation both interesting and compelling.
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There are fan theories about Jon and Daenerys being drawn to each other because of their blood. That their Targaryen heritage makes them fall in love and they can't resist the call. However, this is never stated or hinted at in canon. It would be more than interesting if that was the case. But how to do that without one or both knowing they are related?
This could be accomplished by Daenerys talking about her brother Rhaegar to Jon more. The bastard would realize he greatly admires the man and feels a connection to him. Daenerys could even bring up the point she would've married her brother if she were born earlier. That statement could hint both at incest and the growing relationship between the two lovers.
As for the downside of incest, something I'd only state in a post about Game of Thrones, the two could talk about Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister. There could be a snide comment about that pairing during conversations about strategy.
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The show didn't do that. The pair had one scene on the beach that was supposed to paint them as balancing each other but failed. Jon didn't put a new idea in Daenerys' head but repeated something Tyrion Lannister had said earlier. So her agreeing with the bastard could've merely been her testing Jon or needing to hear what she believed from someone else.
If done properly the balancing act would've added to the symbolism of ice and fire. It would've given me so much to talk about on the symbolic level.
It is my opinion that fans don't know what they want. It's not that their feedback is unappreciated, it's the fact that they shouldn't be in charge of dictating what a film/show/ect. does. There's a difference in creators agreeing a certain plot point failed so they change it in the sequel/next season and looking what most people want so they do that.
This is a long winded way of saying I'm not expecting my thoughts on how to improve Jon/Daenerys to have been implemented if there was a time machine. However, I do feel they are much better ways to do the ship than what the show did.
So what missteps did the show make?
Yet there was no political intrigue between the two. No sign that Daenerys knew how to handle negotiating with the people she wished to rule. I guess she figured that with continually demanding Jon bend the knee that he eventually would. And at the moment she said he didn't have to, he did.
The only good thing we got out of that subplot was memes. That's how I retained my sanity through the bad writing.
But with the utter incompetence shown in the seventh season of Game of Thrones, it makes the Meereen plot pointless. Daenerys learned nothing from her time as a queen. While the show doesn't do a good job at making Sansa Stark appear clever, she still learns from her past mistakes. Something the Targaryen didn't accomplish.
Daenerys burns the Tarlys alive which makes even Tyrion Lannister remember her father. She thinks that the best way to form an alliance with Jon Snow is to not respect his title of King or have any understanding of what the North sacrificed for its independence. She even fails in her role of conqueror,
Daenerys may believe she is the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, but she wouldn't be a good pick.
Game of Thrones Season 7 took a toll on Jon's character. While he had made poor decisions before, at least they helped the story overall. Him trying to save Rickon Stark was a stupid move as Sansa had warned him about Ramsay using manipulation the previous night. But it gave us an exciting Battle of the Bastards where Ramsay was finally taken down. The battle could've started better, but it leaves such a warm feeling in me that Jon's decision is relegated to only a minor complaint.
The latest season of Game of Thrones had Jon make a decision that made absolutely no sense and didn't lead to anything that left a warm feeling in me. No it wasn't that he agreed to go beyond the Wall and never argued against it.
Before I reveal that decision...The North paid for its independence with blood. It risked much to get away from the Iron Throne. Jon Snow was given the title King of the North after he had given Winterfell back to House Stark. Why did the North originally give up its independence? Because a Stark decided he would rather do so than see his people burn by Aegon Targaryen's hands.
The original conflict between Jon and Daenerys Targaryen began when he refused to give her the North. This was a smart decision as he didn't trust her yet and knew it wasn't wise to anger the Northern lords. He wouldn't risk the North's honor just because a Targaryen asked him to bend the knee.
After he returned to Eastwatch after nearly dying, Daenerys realized what she thought was important wasn't. She had seen the army of the dead and was more than willing to lend Jon support without the need for him to bend the knee.
Yet he bent the knee no more than a second after Daenerys said he didn't have to. He risked the North's wrath just because...I honestly don't know. It could be that he wanted to please her after causing the death of one of her dragons. It could be that he was so in love with her that he acted so irrationally.
In any case his decision to bend the knee and give up Northern independence shows why the man shouldn't be given any power.
Daenerys Targaryen takes all three of her dragons to rescue Jon beyond the Wall. She risks the lives of some of the deadliest creatures of Westeros. And why? Because she has a crush on Jon Snow who she has only known...well, the show doesn't do a good job with showing the passage of time. According to behind the scenes info she was also going to rescue Jorah Mormont to repay him for all the times he risked everything for her. But that doesn't really help her case at all.
Jon has been able to lie in the past. While with the Wildlings he was able to hide his true intentions. This even when he was in love with Ygritte and so he was dealing with remembering his greater duty. Yet he was unable to lie while in the Dragonpit. He could've lied to Cersei Lannister about having bent the knee to Daenerys Targaryen. But he didn't and afterwards defended his action by giving a speech about the dangers of lying. While it was a great speech, it was wildly out of place both for the situation and character.
The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer has many problems. Ranging from writing abuse as a relationship goal to having one of the most boring final confrontations in a series. Even fans of the series loathed how Breaking Dawn built up a final battle all for it never to happen.
The one way that Twilight shines is that there's a better love story in it than the show's version of Jon Snow/Daenerys Targaryen. At least the vampire novels showed a 'realistic' progression of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen's relationship.
Game of Thrones tried to do a Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and Jorah Mormont love triangle without giving much screentime to Daenerys and Jorah. Even though Twilight readers knew Bella would end up with Edward, a good majority of New Moon was devoted to showing why Jacob Black would be a good match for her.
But due to the recent writing of the show, especially Season 7, I don't see Jon/Daenerys as a good choice for endgame now. The only way I see them staying together by the end of the show is because the showrunners don't want to upset viewers.
Even though the seventh season of Game of Thrones butchered Jon Snow/Daenerys Targareyn, the show could still save this pairing. There are various themes and plotlines that could lift this pairing from the ashes into something memorable. Or the show could let the ship waste away in mediocrity.
I don't think the writing can recover from last season, but there is the tiniest bit of hope in me that next season will be an improvement. More like a speck, in all honesty.
But back to Jon/Daenerys...In Season 8 it is a good assumption to make that Jon and Daenerys both learn of the bastard's true heritage. In the first real trailer for the season, there are moments that make it appear his heritage has been revealed. At one point he walks over to the two remaining dragons as if preparing to ride one of them. While non-Targaryens can ride dragons, I don't see why he would attempt such a feat if he didn't know his true heritage.
This would be the first season where Jon and Daenerys would know of his heritage, thus giving the show an opportunity to focus on incest. How their sex scene was done indicated the showrunners want us to focus on incest. So that should be explored next season.
We could get how differently Targaryens and Starks deal with incest. This could start a divide between the two. Will Jon's words to Theon about being both a Greyjoy and Stark bring him closer to Daenerys? Will Jon's upbringing and need for honor drive him away from the woman he met last season? Will Daenerys understand Jon's disgust as she was brought up to think of incest as a good thing?
So many enticing angles to explore. And, of course, Jon's initial disgust. I've been waiting two seasons for him to find out and I need that reveal to be worth it.
In the show's history, there has not been a fairy tale romance quite like Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. That is one of the reasons it feels so out of place. In any other series this would signify that they will end up with one another. That their love can cut through the darkness and save the world. But Game of Thrones is not like that.
In Season 8 the show should play around with that theme. For one reason or another, there is a great hardship because of their love for one another. This hardship should flow with the rest of the story and not just be there for dramatic convenience.
Jon was raised as a bastard of Winterfell because his parents were both victims of Robert's Rebellion. He didn't know of his real parents because that knowledge would mean his execution. So it would be safe to assume that if he ever got a woman pregnant he wouldn't want the child to suffer his fate.
Someone's upbringing greatly affects how they interact in the world. I have abandonment issues which does affect my relationship with my husband. Just because I'm now an adult doesn't mean I can get over my childhood even when it's merely on a subconscious level. IT by Stephen King does a good job at showcasing how traumatic childhoods affect people even into adulthood.
Jon would not want his child not to know him and yet staying with Daenerys would mean continually committing incest. This could cause some well done drama. If the writers don't mess it up, that is.
In Game of Thrones she has been doing everything she can to get the Iron Throne. It has become one of her biggest character traits. So it would be a little interesting to see her bow down to Jon Snow as the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. It would also be shocking.
This action would be Daenerys admitting her imperfections of being a ruler. She'll admit in one action that she had learned nothing from Meereen. That she is a much better conqueror and more stable minds would be better for Westeros. That Jon is the kind of man that should be on the Iron Throne. That ruling the Seven Kingdoms is not the most important thing in her life. That she is able to humble herself before others.
But as sitting on the Iron Throne is so important to Daenerys, I doubt this will happen.
Yet there are other things going on in the final season. Other character arcs and plot points that need to be finished. In my mind the conflict with the Night King should overshadow everything else. I am hoping it doesn't take just one battle for the dead to be defeated. But with the length of the battle scene being hyped up I worry the War for the Dawn will be over quickly.
So how to portray the conflict Jon will be going through about Daenerys? Have him say that he will tell her his decision after the conflicts with the Night King and Cersei Lannister are resolved. He'll decide they need to stay allies to survive and afterwards he'll be able to think logically about his choice.
But before he can make a decision, she dies. At that point Jon will declare his love for her and wishes he had told her before. However, the fact he declares his love for her after she dies will make viewers suspicious. It would leave fans with this question: Did Jon declare his love for Daenerys because she died or does he really love her?
Leaving the actual decision up in the air will allow fans to debate it for years after the show has finished.
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Prophecies are always hard to interpret as they're not always meant to be taken literally. The Azor Ahai Prophecy is one of the more famous prophecies and fans have spent years trying to figure it out. Trying to figure out if Lightbringer is a literal or metaphorical sword. If it is the same prophecy as The Prince Who Was Promised. If the prophecy is about the White Walkers. Or if the Night King is Azor Ahai.
It would be a disservice to the fans if the Azor Ahai Prophecy had one of the most predictable answers in Game of Thrones history.
Remember you can submit ideas for future posts HERE. I also talk about other fandoms, so don't feel that you have to only submit ideas for Game of Thrones posts.
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