George RR Martin doesn’t make characters “bad.” The truly bad ones are bad from the get-go.
That is a gross misreading of his text.
Dany has always been destructive with a bad temper, though. That’s not “bad”that is just the logical consequence of her power coupled with her character.
That has always been part of her character: the fact that the victims of her temper have been typically evil people who, like, rape children; or force people to kill babies and kill their own dogs; or crucify kids to make a point; or dip children in honey and have them fight bears — all that has sort of masked the consequences of her temper. Because these people definitely deserve it, the audience feels.
Her victims are so evil and so despicable that we cheer when they are destroyed and we cheer at her intentions: freeing slaves and banning rape among the Dothraki, etc.
She’s a force of nature that, in the books at least, has set in motion an absolute upheaval across the society of Essos, an upheaval that threatens to destroy the slave-based order that has reigned in Essos for hundreds of years. It’s messy, as revolutions are, but it’s a revolution.
At the same time, in the book, Dany has always been concerned and worried about supplies and logistics; but has just never been quite able to make it work due mainly to the fact that she is a political novice and the problems she faces need a political master to navigate: a Tyrion or a Tywin or a Littlefinger.
Or else they are problems that are plain unsolvable.
As charismatic and courageous as she is; as much of a fighter who has fought her way from being a sex slave to the most powerful woman in the world…she doesn’t quite get high politics.
She knows something is going on…but she’s never sure what and her attention span wavers. In the books she is only 15, after all. She knows nothing…or rather, I should say she is but a young girl who knows not the ways of politics.
Dany needs a really strong and savvy advisor and she needs to take that advisor’s advice. That’s Tyrion’s whole role, supposedly, in the show.
But these elements in her character: her temper, her lack of political genius, her tendency to waver… could potentially result in disaster for Westeros. I think it’s clear it will: even though her heart is basically in the right place, I believe.
(I see the word “entitled”thrown around; but i dismiss it, because nearly every single character in the book is entitled. Unless we’re talking about…Davos or Penny, these people pretty much believe their place is the rightful one. The whole plot hinges on that, in fact.
It’s an accusation that makes no sense anyway; this story is not a medieval morality play and I think it’s weird that people see it that way. I wish people could see her as tragic rather than as “villainous”. But they keep trying to cram her in to this “villainous” box. Which, well… is just boring as shit.) Anyway.
But, the fact is, she is destined (I think) to do something that turns the audience against her: she is a prisoner of her character; that’s what makes her tragic.
Perhaps she’ll execute Tyrion, audience favorite, for treason. That’s my bet, anyway and might explain why the producers have been so intent on sanctifying Tyrion: because the multi-faceted grey character of the book is just not someone the typical fratboy and sorority sister who loves Game of Thrones is going to care about.
Is that “bad”? No. It’s not “bad.” It’s a decision that will come with consequences.
Tyrion swore allegiance to her and if he betrays her (and the foreshadowing seeds have definitely been sown: Derufin and Duilin are anything but subtle) she is as within her rights to execute him as Ned Stark was within his rights to execute the Night’s Watch deserter who was warning everyone about the White Walkers.
But though I don’t think it’s “bad” or evil, it probably would be unwise and there will be consequences.
Who knows? Jaime might end up the Queenslayer, no matter which direction he goes. Just idle speculation I know no spoilers.
But as to how her fans, the filthy casuals who name their kitties Khaleesi or whatever, as to how they will react when she starts making morally grey, destructive decisions that have terrible consequences for herself and other characters they love? Well, I don’t know.
The Seven Stages of Grief is a safe bet.
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