Daenerys Targaryen's transformation into the Mad Queen in the second-to-last episode of Game of Thrones was a shocking moment for fans. The attack on King's Landing, where she burned the city to the ground, was one of the most shocking moments on the show. However, there were several reasons why Daenerys took such drastic action.
In the episode titled "The Bells," Daenerys, riding her dragon Drogon, single-handedly won the Battle of King's Landing. She destroyed Euron Greyjoy's Iron Fleet, wiped out the Golden Company, and eliminated the city's anti-dragon defenses. When the bells rang, signaling Cersei Lannister's surrender, Daenerys snapped and massacred the city with dragonfire.
While some viewers were surprised by Daenerys' descent into madness, there were earlier indications that she had always harbored a desire to burn King's Landing. At the start of her war with Cersei, this was her goal, but she was talked out of it by Tyrion. However, as she continued to suffer losses and betrayal, including the deaths of her loyal allies and the revelation of Jon Snow's true heritage, she felt increasingly isolated and desperate.
Daenerys had faced numerous challenges throughout her journey to conquer Westeros. She had amassed a powerful army and dragons, and it seemed that victory was within her grasp. However, as she lost her military strength and her closest supporters, including Jorah Mormont and Missandei, she became increasingly vulnerable. The Westerosi people refused to trust or love her, and her attempts to save the realm were met with opposition and betrayal.
Ultimately, Daenerys felt that she had been failed by Westeros and its broken system. She believed that her only recourse was to make the people fear her, since they could not trust or love her.
Despite her actions, Daenerys is not the ultimate villain of Game of Thrones. She is a product of the cruelty and betrayal she experienced in both Essos and Westeros. Her transformation into the Mad Queen serves as a cautionary tale for the future of Westeros if nothing changes. As the upcoming spinoff series, House of the Dragon, will explore, Daenerys' madness has historical context within her Targaryen bloodline.
While there have been talks of potential Game of Thrones spinoffs, including a Jon Snow series, there is no plan to bring Daenerys back.
In conclusion, Daenerys Targaryen's transformation into the Mad Queen and her burning of King's Landing were shocking moments in Game of Thrones. However, there were several reasons for her drastic actions, including her isolation, loss of loved ones, and betrayal. Her descent into madness was a product of the cruelty and mistrust she faced in Westeros. She is not the ultimate villain of the show but serves as a cautionary reminder of the destructive potential of power.