One thing's for sure, no one is safe in Game Of Thrones Season 8. Not even Daenerys Targaryen. While she's built her army and trained her dragons in hopes of taking back the Iron Throne from anyone who dares gets in her way, there have been signs all along that Dany will die in Game of Thrones Season 8. It's sad, of course, but there have been prophecies that seemingly predict her demise, clues that her power is bound to be usurped by some of Westeros' other major players, and... well, let's just say the power hungry don't often fare so well in the Seven Kingdoms.
There have even been some scary moments throughout the previous seven seasons that tease that Dany's ultimate fate might not be that different from that of her father, the Mad King's. The world Song Of Ice And Fire author George R.R. Martin created is a mad, mad, mad one after all. And it's a bit maddening for its fans, too, who often have the characters we root for the most taken away.
Since Game Of Thrones' final season won't return until 2019, there's time to re-watch the series and question Khaleesi's fate. But, before that happens, it's worth taking a look at the seven signs that could mean that Daenerys isn't long for this world.
1. She Lost Her Dragon
Since she is the Mother of Dragons, it's hard not to believe that losing one of her precious children won't have some serious consequences. Especially since the death of Viserion resulted in The Wall coming down. "My dragon could not have died for nothing, so this is now so important," Emilia Clarke told Entertainment Weekly. "For the first time, you’re starting to see her defenses broken." But the real question is: could having her defenses broken eventually break her?
Dany isn't one to hold back, often putting herself and her dragons in danger to assert her dominance, but now she is vulnerable. Her decision to save Jon Snow resulted in Viserion being killed by the Night King. It's likely that the leader of the White Walkers will try to pick up two more dragons to end this war. It's possible Dany could lose all three of her dragons before this is all through, and that loss could lead to her own demise.
2. She's In Love With Jon Snow
Of course, she doesn't know that he is her nephew yet, but, once she does, it's going to complicate things. Jon Snow being a true Targaryen means that Dany is no longer the heir to the Iron Throne, which might make him her enemy. But some think that this romance actually hints that Jon Snow is Azor Ahai. After all, the prophecy states that the Prince Who Was Promised will kill the one he or she ("prince" in High Valyrian is actually gender neutral, meaning it could also be the Princess That Was Promised) loves in order to create the Lightbringer sword that can take down the Night King and his armies.
Dany could be Jon Snow's great love, which would mean that she will have to die in order for the prophecy to come true. Her death could be the key to saving the world.
3. She Could Go Mad, Just Like Her Father
To prove her strength, Dany's done her fair share of questionable things — like using her dragons to burn the Lannister army and incinerating Randyll and Dickon Tarly when they refused to bend the knee to her. This decision was a sign of deliberate cruelty, which one might call mad. That's a word that Dany probably doesn't want to be associated with, since her father Aerys was the Mad King, whose infamous line was "Burn them all."
After the pain of losing her dragon, there is the question of whether Dany will be able to keep herself from going the mad route since mental illness runs in her family. This doubles when she's up against an unstable queen in Cersei, who tends to bring the worst out of people. If Dany should go mad, it's hard to believe she'll fare any better than her father, who was killed by Kingslayer Jaime Lannister.
4. She Gave A Speech That Pretty Much Mirrors One Khal Drogo Gave
The speech was about her prowess in war. The problem is that Drogo gave a similar speech before losing his life. In her speech, Dany sounds powerful, just like Drogo, but there was a violent edge to this speech that had many asking, if Daenerys actually the villain of this story.
However, since giving that speech, she's become more vulnerable and doesn't feel as powerful as she once did. Thus, there's a sense that this moment could foreshadow her demise just like that of her late husband.
5. George R.R. Martin Isn't Kind To Conquerors
Dany's conquering, for the most part, has been seen as a good thing. She's a Robin Hood-like character, who is taking from the haves and giving to the have nots. But, as Polygon pointed out, Song Of Ice And Fire author George R.R. Martin often makes these characters pay for asserting their power on others.
Examples include Stannis Baratheon and Robb Stark losing their lives after showing great power. Dany could easily follow that path, especially since she's already been described as a "conqueror" by her former lover Daario. That could have been a hint that she's not immune to being cut down by Martin in the end.
6. She Had That Vision In The House Of The Undying
Back in Season 2, Dany had a vision in the House Of The Undying in which she enters a tent beyond The Wall only to see Drogo and the son she lost. Since winter is here and the White Walkers are making their way beyond the Wall, this could be a sign that she won't make it through the Great War. But, as one Redditor named Try_Another_NO pointed out, a more telling sign could be the feeling Dany has about the Iron Throne in the vision: "She approaches the throne, and reaches out. But we know, and she quickly realizes, that if she seizes the throne in this vision, she is doomed."
Her sense of dread means she's not supposed to be Queen, but is supposed to die so others can live. While that may seem sad, Pop Sugar notes, Dany may get her happy ending in the form of a chance to be with Drogo and her baby in the afterlife.
7. The White Walkers Are Actually The Heroes Of The Story
This isn't the most popular Game Of Thrones theory out there, but The Washington Post made the case that White Walkers are the heroes of the show. In fact, they're actually the most redeemable characters because they were created by the Children of the Forest as "revenge for man’s hubris and cruelty, a way to check his onslaught against nature." Unlike humans, the White Walkers kill for a distinct purpose — to teach humans a lesson. If you believe this theory, then it's inevitable that all our favorite GOT players, including Khaleesi, will have to die so the White Walkers can win. It's just that's simple.
There are many that won't want to see Dany lose her life at the end of Game Of Thrones, but these signs show that it may be inevitable. To be honest, it may not be a bad thing.
