For those who believe the fan theory that Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen will end up together in the final season of Game Of Thrones, Emilia Clarke would like to politely disagree. In Clarke's opinion, a union, romantic or otherwise, between her character and Jon Snow, who just so happens to be her nephew, won't happen for one very important reason. No, not the "happens to be her nephew" reason. Dany doesn't need a man on Game of Thrones to help her take back the Iron Throne, thanks.
In an interview with S/ Magazine, the actor said Khaleesi has "ultimately put aside her own need for a man." That's because, Clarke explained, "she is so engaged and wrapped up in leading and being the queen and ruling and fulfilling her birth right that the idea of someone coming in and sharing that title [Queen of the Iron Throne] is probably something she's not comfortable with." Of course, Cersei Lannister currently holds that title, but can't imagine she will for long.
Clarke's explanation makes sense. Khaleesi has always been a feminist first and the mother of dragons second. Time and time again, she's made it clear that she is in charge and can rule all on her own. And her resume proves that.
Dany has survived the heat of the Dothraki, quite literally. She survived a burning not once, but twice. She destroyed the masters of Slaver’s Bay with a little help from those dragons of hers and became a great liberator. She's used the underestimation of the powerful men she's met against them to acquire in just a couple of months a gold fortune, an army consisting of 8,000 men, and ships to take her to King's Landing. And all of this led her to the Season 6 finale, where she's seen riding off into the sunset to take back the throne she feels is rightfully hers.
In that same episode, Dany left her boyfriend Daario Naharis behind because she knew the journey to King's Landing was one she had to take alone. That's why the rumor that Dany and Jon Snow would end up together never really added up. While it's certainly not out of the question that two relatives would get together on Game Of Thrones — hello, the incestuous relationship of Jaime and Cersei Lannister — in an attempt to take power, it's never seemed as if Dany's needed a co-leader. A right hand man, sure. Tyrion has been a helpful person to have by her side. But there is no question that she is the one in charge.
That's powerful to see, since not every decision Dany has made has been a good one, but yet she still persists. She never stops trying to complete her mission, which is to help those who need her help on her quest to be the highest ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Clarke has always seen Dany as a woman that stands alone in her power. In a 2015 interview with The Wrap, she said that it was Queen Elizabeth that inspired her take on Khaleesi. "Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth was something I watched a lot in preparation for Season 1," she said. "And the fact that it's rooted in reality, to know I was able to replicate a real, strong female leader." So bow down to Khaleesi, the one who is vying for a throne of her own.
